Leadership Greater Chicago Selects 40th Class of Civic Leaders

Today, Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC) announced the 2025 Class of Signature Fellows, marking the 40th class selected for the region’s premier civic leadership development program. These 45 accomplished and diverse leaders represent a distinguished cross-section of professionals from the corporate, nonprofit, philanthropic, government and education sectors. During the 10-month civic leadership development program, using the city as our classroom, prospective LGC Fellows are immersed in major socioeconomic issues facing the region through full-day seminars, neighborhood site visits, conversations with subject matter experts and cultural events.

“More than forty years ago, the Signature Fellows Program was established to convene a diverse group of cross-sector professionals to explore and understand the issues facing the region, facilitate connections and friendships among these leaders and inspire a deep personal commitment to civic engagement, effecting positive change in the Greater Chicago Region,” said LGC Chief Executive Officer Myetie Hamilton. “I look forward to working with the exemplary leaders selected for the LGC Signature Fellows Class of 2025 to elevate impact across every sector and in every corner of the Chicago Region.”

Selection into the LGC Signature Fellows Program is based on a record of professional accomplishment, evidence of leadership skills, the potential to influence positive change and a commitment to the region. This year’s Class advanced through a highly competitive process that included a written application, letters of recommendation and in-person panel interviews. Those selected for the 2025 Signature Fellows Program share the organization’s commitment to lead bold, transformative change throughout the Chicago Region.

Presenting the LGC Class of 2025:

• Mayra Alarcon - Vice President of National Expansion, Skills for Chicagoland's Future
• Jake Barnett - Managing Director, Sustainable Investment Strategies, Wespath Benefits and Investments
• Karim Basaria - Partner, Sidley Austin LLP
• Jay Bhatt, D.O., MPH, MPA, FACP - Managing Director, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions and Health Equity Institute, Deloitte
• Libia Bianibi - Deputy Director, Building Equity & Alignment for Environmental Justice
• Alex Black - Chief of Staff, Resource Innovations
• Kemena Brooks - Director of Development, The Community Builders
• Patrick Carey - Senior Principal, Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies
• Dr. Jessica Chavez - Ruth D. and Ken M. Davee Vice President of Education and Chief Learning and Community Partnership Officer, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
• William J. Collins - Chief External Affairs Officer, Surge Institute
• Raven A. DeVaughn - Director, Illinois Department of Central Management Services
• Nila R. Diab - Chief of Staff, Chicago Commons
• NeAngela Dixon - Program Officer, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
• Caroline Donlin - Managing Director and Head, Engineering and Construction, BMO Commercial Bank
• Scott Frauenheim - Chief Executive Officer, Distinctive Schools & LEAP Innovations
• Nicholas Freeman - Co-founder & Chief Growth Officer, Innovare
• Lina Jean Fritz - Deputy Executive Director, OneGoal
• S. Mayumi "Umi" Grigsby - Chief of Policy, City of Chicago
• Bonita Harrison - Chief Executive Officer, Sunshine Management
• Nia J. Heard-Garris, M.D., MBA, M.Sc. - Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Attending Physician, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University
• Nathalina A. Hudson - Chief of Staff, Office of the Attorney General, State of Illinois
• Marla M. Izbicky - Counsel, Thompson Hine LLP
• Carolyn Jaw - Executive Vice President, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago
• Valencia Koker - Executive Director & Senior Vice President, City Year Chicago
• Rebecca Lindsay-Ryan - Chief Schools Officer, Big Shoulders Fund
• Charles E. Mayfield - Chief Operating Officer, Chicago Public Schools
• Nicole McCarthy - Vice President, Innovation & Venture, World Business Chicago
• Domonique F. McCord, A.M., LCSW - Chief Program Officer, Metropolitan Family Services
• Tovah McCord - Executive Director, Northern Illinois Community Initiatives, Southern Company Gas
• Brooke McKean - President and Co-CEO, REACH Pathways
• Andrew F. Merrick - Partner, Jenner & Block LLP
• Juan F. Ortiz - Senior Managing Director, Northern Trust
• Eddie Phillips, Ed.D. - Provost and Senior Vice President, National Louis University
• Catherine J. Rabenstine - Chief Operating Officer, American Red Cross of Illinois
• Joel Rodarte - Senior Vice President - Regional Manager, Wintrust Bank N.A.
• Rev. Brian Sauder - President & Chief Executive Officer, Faith in Place
• Mariangela "Merili” Seale - Deputy General Counsel & Managing Director, Cleveland Avenue
• Nirali Shah - Senior Director of Procurement and Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Obama Foundation
• Melanie Sillas - Executive Director, Chicago State Foundation
• Aisha Taylor - Partner, Boston Consulting Group
• Laron Taylor - Director, Blue Door Neighborhood Center, Health Care Service Corporation
• Meagan P. Tenety - Senior ESG Analyst, Ariel Investments
• Ricardo A. Trujillo - Assistant to President & CEO, Nicor Gas
• Stephanie Vasconcellos - Partner, Mayer Brown LLP
• Stephanie D. Willding - Chief Executive Officer, CommunityHealth

More than 1,500 leaders have successfully completed LGC’s world-class civic leadership development programs, and 83% of those individuals still reside in Illinois. A new class of leaders for the LGC Signature Fellows Program is selected each year, with the approval of the LGC Board of Directors. Upon successful completion of all program requirements, they are recognized as LGC Fellows. The application for the class of 2026 will open in October 2024.

###

About Leadership Greater Chicago

Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC) is the region’s premier civic leadership development incubator, delivering the knowledge and network to lead bold, transformative change. LGC convenes, connects, and activates the area’s most promising leaders around key socioeconomic issues through dynamic education and experiential activities. These diverse individuals represent the most prominent corporate, nonprofit, government, and education organizations.

LGC creates connectivity among its Fellows to positively impact not only themselves but their employees, their constituents, their clients, their neighbors, and their families. This connectivity is the backbone and strength of the LGC network, enabling leaders to leverage collective resources to make the Greater Chicago Region a more dynamic, inclusive, and collaborative community.

LGC Fellows are a distinguished group that includes former First Lady Michelle Obama; Managing Partner of Emerson Collective and former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; former Executive Chairman of Urban Partnership Bank David Vitale; Co-CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Ariel Investments John Rogers, Jr.; General Partner of Henry Crown & Company Steve Crown; Managing Partner, CAST US at Cleveland Avenue Andy Zopp; Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services for the State of Illinois Grace Hou; Chairman, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities Rachel Arfa; President of United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Brett Hart; Chancellor of Chicago City Colleges and MacArthur Genius Juan Salgado; President and CEO of Metropolitan Family Services Ric Estrada; and President and CEO of Access Living Karen Tamley.

Leadership Greater Chicago is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. To learn more, visit: lgcchicago.org.