WOMEN’S BUSINESS COUNCIL

Presenting Sponsor

Empowering Women in Business: The Women’s Business Council

The Women’s Business Council aims to foster educational, networking, mentorship, and advocacy opportunities designed to support and advance women in both the business and nonprofit sectors. Our mission is to cultivate an inclusive community that empowers, educates, and elevates all women as leaders. By leveraging the resources of the Chamber, incorporating direct member feedback, and exploring unique differentiators, the Women’s Business Council seeks to become a premier platform for the advancement of women in the business and nonprofit arenas.

Key Functions

  • Educational Initiatives: Develop programs that provide insights into leadership, entrepreneurship, and emerging industry trends to support the professional growth of women.
  • Networking Opportunities: Facilitate events that allow women to expand their professional networks, find mentors, and build supportive communities.
  • Community Building: Foster a sense of community among women in business through events, discussions, and collaborative projects.
  • Mentorship Programs: Create structured mentoring opportunities that connect emerging women leaders with experienced professionals.

Join the Women’s Business Council

By joining the Women’s Business Council, members can benefit from a rich array of programs and initiatives tailored to support their professional journey and contribute to the advancement of women across all sectors.

Women’s Business Council Members

Chair

JPMorgan Chase

Susan Birnberg | Executive Director and Market Executive

Member

Avison Young

Damla Gerhart | Principal & Managing Director

Member

Bank of America

Nicolina Falcone | Financial Advisor

Sara DeCoste | Senior Vice President, Treasury Sales Manager of Illinois Global Commercial Banking

Member

Bernard & Co

Dakota Bernard Buschle | Owner and President

Member

BMO Bank N.A.

Stephanie Kline | Regional Commercial Head

Abby Morrison | Relationship Manager

Diana Talpa | Relationship Manager

Member

BMO US

Mea Konopasek | Director of senior Officer- Commercial Banker

Member

BP America

Kelly O’Neill | Fleet Product Manager

Member

Cara Collective

Kathleen Caliento | President & CEO

Member

CEC Industries, Ltd.

Tracy Lai | Chief Operations Officer

 

Member

Change Coaches

LaTonya Wilkins | CEO

Elizabeth Harris | Chief of Staff

Member

Chicago Bears Football Club

Mallorie Sanders | Manager of DEI

 

Member

Chicago Bulls

Maya Brown | Account Executive, Group Sales

Kim Hoefert | Ticket Executive

Member

Chicago Treasurers Office

Sharice Bradford | Director of Development

Member

Chuhak & Tecson

Loretto Kennedy | Principal

Jean Lin

Member

CIBC

Dawn Cardin | Managing Director, Private Banking

Member

City Colleges of Chicago

Susanne Brock | Associate Vice Chancellor – Business Sector Strategy

Member

Clayco, Inc.

Mary Person | Senior Vice President, Public Private Initiatives

Member

CME Group

Somya Bhagwagar | Senior Marketing Insights Analyst

Member

Cohera

Denise Favela | Account Executive

Member

Creospan

Praj Shah | CEO

Member

Cresco Labs

Fabiana Goldszal | Sourcing Manager

Member

Culloton+Bauer Luce

Natalie Bauer Luce | Firm President

Member

DLA Piper LLP (US)

Rachel Myung | Of Counsel

Member

Dykema

Paula Angelini | Senior Counsel

Laiza Goytia | Business Development and Marketing Manager

 

Member

Edelman

Gia Clarke | Account Executive

Michelle Clements | Vice president

Erin Delahanty | EVP, Earned Media

Brigit Hamidi | Executive Assistant

Amanda Han | Global Assistant Account Executive, Integrated Brand

Michelle Janssen | Senior Manager, U.S. New Business

Jamie Randall | Assistant Account Executive

Member

EPIC Academy

Nicole Johnson | Capital Campaign Director

Member

Executives’ Club of Chicago

Dorri McWhorter | President and CEO

Member

EY

Sarah Blabolil | Partner, Assurance

Saira Daroga | Assurance Manager

Genevieve Foster | Assurance Manager

Joanne Gamber | Audit Partner

Rebecca Krajewski | Assurance Senior Manager

Member

Fifth Third Bank

Brittany Hughes | Vice President Commercial Lending

Member

First Bank Chicago

Christina Bavery | Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Commercial Real Estate & Middle Market Banking

Sarah Gin | Senior Vice President, Middle Market Banking

Member

First Women’s Bank of Chicago

Amy Fahey | Board Chair

Member

FOCUS Training

Betsy Barnich | Director, Marketing and Business Development

Member

Fragomen

Anne Fox | Senior Associate

Member

FTI Consulting

Katie Bestenlehner | Managing Director, Corporate Reputation

Megan Burnet | Senior Director, People & Transformation

Elly DiLeonardi | Managing Director, Corporate Reputation

 

Member

Gateway to Learning

Kathryn Lavin | Executive Director

Member

Genesys Works

Kim Nicholas | Executive Director

Member

Global Leadership Resources incorporated- A Crestcom Company

Raquel Chole | President

 

Member

Global Prairie

Allissa Gehring | Director of Client Partnership

Member

GMA Construction Group

Erica Kirkwood | Vice President and General Counsel

Member

Google

Chinaza Nwaneri | Real Estate Portfolio Manager, Americas

Member

Greater Chicago Food Depository

Deborah Clair | Director of Corporate Relations

Vanessa Lewis | Corporate Relationship Senior Manager

Kate Maehr | Executive Director and CEO

Jill Rahman | Chief Operating Officer

 

 

Member

Hinshaw and Culbertson LLP

Megan Mathias | Partner

Member

Home Infusion Options

Ashley Berrettini | Director of Operations

Kristin Bowers | Director of Business Development

Member

House of Blues Chicago

Kristin Atlas | Director of Sales

Katie Larson | Director of Foundation Room Sales

Member

InDatAI Inc.

Bich-Thuy Le | Chief Data & AI Officer

Member

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Susan Birnberg | Executive Director and Market Executive

Leah Karimdadian | Vice President, Middle Market Global Banker

Member

Juvenile Protective Association (JPA)

Nicole Warren | Development Manager

Member

Kids Above all

Sarah English

Member

Lake Forest Center for Leadership

Kasia Ganko-Rodriguez | Director of Business Development

Sue Wynne | Business Development Director

Member

Laner Muchin

Eileen Lysaught | Of Counsel

Member

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

Laura Kanter

Maureen Larson | Partner

Member

mHUB

Elizabeth Andrews | Director of Advancement

Member

Morreale Communications

Kim Morreale Mcauliffe | President & CEO

Member

Motorola Solutions

Monica Mueller | Vice President, Government Affairs

Member

MSU Federal Credit Union

Karen Villaflor | VP of Commercial and Residential Leading – Illinois

Corena Wright | Branch Manager

Meredith Kilbridge | Chicago Branch Manager

Member

NAMI Metro Suburban

Monique Shelton | Vice President of Adult recovery services

Member

NASCAR Street Race Chicago

Beth Blackman

Julie Giese

Amanda Godwin

Caryn Grant

Alex Munoz

Michelle Weddige

Member

Nonprofit Utopia

Valerie Leonard | Member, Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

Member

Novo Nordisk, inc.

Michele Hansen | Regional Account Manager

Member

Oak Barrel Corporation

Evelyn Quek | Sales Operations Manager

Member

OnSite Partners

Maria Haberman | VP of External Affairs

 

Member

Operation Heroes Connect

Hashim Dempsey | Chief Security Officer

Aja Moore

Member

PNC Bank – Illinois

Jacki Stuckert | Assistant Director of Community and Client Relations

Member

Premier Services and Print Group, Inc.

Madison Wrzos | Business Development Representative

Member

Renovation Sells

Lisa Carrel | President

Member

Salesforce

Jin Lee | Partner Success

Member

Sikich LLC

Valerie Goldenberg | Field Director, CPA Services

Member

Skills for Chicagoland’s Future

Bridget Altenburg | CEO

Member

Southeast Chicago Chamber of Commerce

Frankye Payne | Executive Director

Zoe Saphir

Member

Spa In Your Space Mobile Spa & Wellness Events Company

Monica Harris | Owner

Member

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Reah Aitken | Sr. Development Director, Strategic Partnerships

Member

Tech Elevator

Claribel Quintana | Program Director

Member

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Raya Elias-Pushett | Organizational & leadership specialist

Lynessa Rico | Division Chair and Associate Professor

Member

The Urban Alliance

Chrislin Flanagan | Executive Director

Member

University Club of Chicago

Gabriella Tripicchio | Assistant Manager

Member

University of Chicago and University of Chicago Medical Center

Laura Markin | Executive Director Transformation & Strategy

Member

University of Illinois Chicago

Jennifer Creasey | Senior Director of State Relations

Member

Windy City Limousine

Monica Lopez | Director of Human Resources

Garrison Sanipass | National Sales Manager

Upcoming Women’s Business Council Events

Sorry there are no events at this time