Please join Step Up & host committee members
Katie Karakosta, Bee Li, Lynmarie Lane, Dani Brzozowski, & Dara O'Regan for one of Step Up's most anticipated events of the year, featuring a panel of female Presidents, CEOs, and other c-level business women from a variety of industries. These savvy executives will lend their expertise about how to rise in your career with emphasis on the female experience.
Attendees will enjoy:
- Complimentary cocktails and hors d'oeuvres
- Networking with dynamic women from 5:00-6:00 p.m.
- Sage advice from female industry leaders during the panel from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
- The event is followed by a reception for high level networking among Step Up’s Luminary Circle members and event sponsors from 7:30-9:00 p.m. You can upgrade now to join this exclusive group. A $1,000 Luminary Circle membership funds one year of after school programming for a Step Up teen girl.
- Also enjoy entry into Step Up’s Summer Sweepstakes if you join, renew, or upgrade your Step Up membership at any level or refer a friend before or during the event
This event is expected to sell out so reserve your tickets today!
Event Moderator:
Pamela McElvane, CEO, P & L Group, Ltd. and Founder & Publisher, Diversity MBA Magazine
Pamela is CEO of P & L Group, Ltd., a Chicago based business offering innovative & global approaches to diversity business solutions, serving Fortune 1000 companies. Diversity MBA Magazine was launched in 2007 as the flagship product of P&L Group, Ltd. Diversity MBA Magazine’s Awards Gala & Leadership Forum, leadership webinars, Minority Executive Leadership Journal Online and Diversity MBA Today Radio show are the additional products subsequently produced. These products are designed to recognize diverse leadership among corporate America’s emerging and executive leaders for their outstanding contributions and companies for their commitment to diversity. DiversityMBA Magazine ranks the 50 Out Front companies for the Best Places for Diverse Managers to Work. One of the most noted rankings by Corporate America. Her company also publishes Minority Executive Leadership Journal Online; a thought leadership publication; and www.diversitymbamagazine.com online and social media outlets.
While she has spent the past fourteen years publishing, Pam has many years of executive leadership experience within the insurance property and casualty industry. She was known for her business acumen to turn around unprofitable divisions and organizations. She is a champion of social responsibility, and is a Chicago area leader in this arena.
Her commitment to the community is witnessed through experience as Retired Board Chair for StreetWise, Inc. an organization dedicated to the empowerment of homeless men and women, served 8 years in this role; she is a director of Gamaliel Foundation, American Cancer Society, DePaul University Marketing Advisory Board, JBC Leadership Institute; and she sit on several small business advisory boards. Pam leads the membership committee of the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council her commitment to working with small businesses. Pamela speaks and provides board development workshops and seminars for the nonprofit organizations, universities, and small to midsize companies. She has served on more than 25 private and community boards in her career. She also serves as Triedstone’s Full Gospel Baptist Church’s Apostolic Strategy Team leader and is a faithful friend of Boardroom Bound.
Notable recognition includes 2009 Phenomenal Women, Chicago’s Black Women’s Expo; 2009 Boardroom Bound Service Award; Chicago’s Who’s Who Most Influential for 2006-2009; received a scholarship in 2007 to Dartmouth’s Executive Education for entrepreneurs’; honored by Triedstone Full Gospel Baptist Church as 2007 Entrepreneurship of the Year Award and nomination for ministry of the year. She has also received, 2005 Media Ambassador Award from Boardroom Bound, 2005 Woman of the Year Award from Who’s Who, 2005 Minority Business Enterprise Media Cornerstone award all for her work in diversity communications and leadership and a host of community service awards. Pam is also recipient of the Rosalee Stem Award (highest Alumna award given by UC Berkeley for exceptional academics and community service); Pamela has a B.A. in Social Welfare, and Sociology. She also received her M.B.A. in Finance and International Marketing from University of California Berkley, School of Haas; and a M.A. in Public Policy. Pamela is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish. Pamela is a mother of two boys, who are multicultural and bilingual, Joshua who 9 years old, and Cameron who is 6 years old.
Event Panelists:
Cheryle R. Jackson, Vice President, Government Affairs & Corporate Development, AAR Corp.
Cheryle R. Jackson is Vice President, Government Affairs and Corporate Development for AAR CORP., a leading provider of products and services to the commercial aerospace and defense industries. AAR CORP. (NYSE) was founded in 1951 and today has revenues of over $1.4 billion with 6,000 employees in 13 countries. Ms. Jackson is responsible for developing strategies to drive AAR’s growth, including the Company’s government relations, strategic partnerships and alliances, communications and branding activities.
Prior to joining AAR in March 2010, Ms. Jackson was appointed the first female president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League. In that capacity, she led one of the most transformational periods of growth at the venerable civil rights organization, shifting its focus from social services to economic development. Ms. Jackson also served as communications director for the Governor of Illinois and was the first woman and African American in the state’s history to hold that position. Previously, Ms. Jackson held senior-level government affairs positions with Amtrak, including vice president for public and government affairs and national director of state and local government affairs. She served as Amtrak spokesperson in 41 states, often during times of crises, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In addition, she served in various leadership capacities at National Public Radio (NPR), including vice president of communications and brand management and leading the network’s national marketing, advertising and public affairs operations.
Ms. Jackson currently serves as a director on the boards of Northwestern University, The Field Museum, the Executive Club of Chicago and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. In 2009, Ms. Jackson ran for U.S. Senate of the State of Illinois. Ms. Jackson is married to Charles Jackson and they reside in Chicago on the South side.
Jean E. Spence, Executive Vice President, Research Development & Quality, Kraft Foods
Jean Spence is Executive Vice President of Research, Development and Quality for Kraft Foods. She is responsible for research, product and packaging development, nutrition, quality, food safety & security and scientific affairs for Kraft Foods as a member of the Kraft Executive Team.
Spence joined Kraft in 1981 as a Research Engineer for Maxwell House coffee research and holds three U.S. and worldwide patents for her development work. She held a variety of management positions in Research and Development and Quality before being named Quality Assurance Director in 1993. She became Vice President of Technology in 1996 and Vice President, Worldwide Quality and Scientific Relations for Kraft Foods in 1999. In November 2001, she was appointed Senior Vice President of Worldwide Quality, Scientific Affairs and Compliance and was responsible for quality on a worldwide basis, coordinating global compliance programs, scientific relations, regulatory issues, microbiology, food safety and auditing. She was named to her current position in 2004.
Prior to joining Kraft, Spence worked in manufacturing as a Process Supervisor for Procter and Gamble in Staten Island, NY. Spence received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University and an M.E. in Chemical Engineering from Manhattan College. Jean represents the food industry on the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council. She is on the Executive Committee of GMA SRAC and is a Clarkson University Trustee. Jean lives in Wilmette, IL with her husband and two children. She likes to cook, garden, travel and ski.
In more than 150 countries, Kraft Foods markets the world's favorite food and beverage brands including Kraft cheese, Jacobs and Maxwell House coffees, Nabisco cookies and crackers, Philadelphia cream cheese, Oscar Mayer meats, Post cereals, and Milka chocolates.
Gail Ludewig, President and Chief Executive Officer, TotalWorks, Inc.
Gail’s interest in learning about what makes businesses succeed began in Pittsburgh where she spent more than seven years in decisive positions at Mellon Bank. During that time, she was exposed to businesses of various sizes, spanning a variety of industries. In her efforts to understand what made them work – or not work – financially, she dug deep into operational factors and market conditions. That same tenacious approach to learning still drives her today. She “officially” joined her family’s business in 1987, when she assumed the role of vice president and chief financial officer. In 2000, Gail became a third-generation owner of TotalWorks and assumed her current role as president and chief executive officer. Through her leadership and insight, TotalWorks has evolved from a typesetting shop to a marketing solutions provider and innovative leader developing solutions for catalog production, digital content management and the creation of marketing collateral materials across multiple channels.
Never one to sit quietly by, Gail lends her talents and support to several industry associations and community organizations. She is currently the chair of the board of directors for Chicago Foundation for Women and sits on the Advisory Board for POWER: Opening Doors for Women and on the Women of Achievement committee for the Anti-Defamation League. As a member of the Chicago American Marketing Association, Gail is involved in their B-to-B Committee activities. She served on the board of directors and is a former member of the executive committee of the IPA -The Association of Graphic Solutions Providers. She is an outspoken woman business owner and was a featured speaker at the Crain’s Small Business Forum: Women Business Owners Tell All. Gail attended Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and a Master of Science degree in industrial administration.
Kimpa Moss, Internal Client Service & People – National Leader, RSM McGladrey, Inc.
Kimpa Moss was named Internal Client Service & People – National Leader in February 2010. In this role she has responsibility for the People, Sales & Marketing, IT and PMD Matters areas.Since 2007, Moss had served as chief human resources officer for RSM McGladrey, responsible for people strategy, including recruiting, performance management and creating a learning environment. Her vision is an organization that inspires loyalty. One where employees want to continue their careers, help recruit new talent and serve as advocates in the marketplace.
Moss joined the firm in December 1986 as a tax specialist in the Champaign, Ill. office. Ten years later, she transferred to the Springfield, Ill. office where she played a key role helping financial institutions understand sweeping changes in tax law that allowed them to change their corporate tax status. Moss became sought after as an author on tax topics for national financial publications and guest lecturer for groups such as the Illinois Community Bankers' Association. In February 1998, she became a partner. Moss was selected to participate in the organization's Next Generation leadership development program in 1998. Three years later, RSM McGladrey promoted her to executive vice president – tax services. Under Moss' leadership, the tax practice grew on both the national and local level. She also served as senior vice president of integrated client services, working closely with leaders across the firm to develop and implement strategic plans.
Moss holds two master's degrees – one in Accountancy from the University of Illinois and another in Taxation from DePaul University in Chicago. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Illinois, graduating with high honors. Moss also worked as a teaching assistant at the University of Illinois teaching accounting and tax undergraduate classes.
Elizabeth A. Karlson, CEO, Chase Private Placements
Ms. Karlson is Head of Chase Capital Placement Group, a broker/dealer and branch of JPMorgan Securities, Inc. Chase Capital Placement Group focuses on placing all forms of capital beyond senior debt including mezzanine and subordinated debt and equity capital. The team serves the national middle market franchise across all industry sectors to offer a broader product offering with the help of an external investor network.
Prior to starting the Capital Placement Group, Ms. Karlson was a Senior Vice President and Market Manager in Chase Commercial Banking. She oversaw a group that managed and solicited banking relationships with companies in manufacturing, distribution, transportation and the professional services sector. Her team focused on companies headquartered in the greater Chicagoland area, and supported their needs both domestically and internationally. Ms. Karlson’s group worked with ownership and management on various strategic and financial issues including capital equipment and acquisition financing, pro-forma forecasting, revolving credit, domestic and international treasury management and investment services.
Ms. Karlson graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana, earning a B.S. in finance in 1988. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors for Shore Community Services for Retarded Citizens, Lincoln Park Zoological Society, and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. In addition to her philanthropic activities, Ms. Karlson is currently a member of the Senior Business Women’s Forum and the invitation-only Chicago Finance Exchange. Ms. Karlson currently resides in Riverwoods, Illinois with her husband Tom, and triplet daughters, Emma, Hannah and Caroline.
Generously sponsored by:
Silver Sponsor
Crescendo Apparel
For questions about this event, please contact Kristen at
kristenf@suwn.org or call 312.235.3277.
