2023 Bridge Awards Celebration

Thursday, November 16, 2023 | 5:30-9:00 PM | Marriott Marquis Chicago
 

Program Overview

Reception
5:30 – 6:30 PM 

Dinner & Program
6:30 – 9:00 PM

Mark Rivera
News Anchor and Reporter

2023 Bridge Awards
Media Sponsor

2023 Bridge Award Recipient

2023 CU Impact Award Recipient

View Photos From The Event

Chicago United’s Bridge Awards Celebration is Chicago’s premier event celebrating excellence in diversity, equity and inclusion in business.

Our theme this year is:
“Elevating Equity”

A highlight of the celebration, the presentation of Chicago United’s Bridge Award honors a company that has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in achieving diversity, equity and inclusion, especially at the board and highest executive levels within their organization. This award brings visibility to those who have led change and inspired others to follow, fostering multiracial leadership in business.

We will also recognize the 2023 Business Leaders of Color inductees. 

We look forward to gathering with our partners, friends, allies and supporters for an evening of celebration, united by
Elevating Equity.

Join the Milestone Celebration!

Chicago United celebrates its 55th Anniversary in 2023! We're marking this milestone by aligning it with the esteemed 2023 Bridge Awards Celebration. Expect an unforgettable event honoring the city's diverse business community and its champions.

Together, let's honor our past, celebrate the present, and shape the future. United, we are Chicago.

Marking 20 Years of Elevating Equity

This year, Chicago United's Business Leaders of Color (BLC) proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary, in sync with the 2023 Bridge Awards Celebration. Over the past two decades, BLC has spotlighted the wealth of diverse leadership talent in Chicago, recognizing 470 board-ready candidates.

Join us in commemorating this milestone of diversity and leadership. Together, we are Chicago United! 

Host Committee

As of September 25, 2023


Honorary Co-Chairs

John C. Robak
(Chicago United Board Chair 2021 - 2023)
Former Chairman & CEO
Greeley and Hansen

Kip Kelley
(Chicago United Board Chair 2019 - 2021)
CEO – North America Affinity
Aon plc

Gloria Castillo
Former President (2004 – 2020)
Chicago United

Robert MacGregor
Former and First Executive Director (1973 – 1980)
Chicago United

Committee Members

Gregory Case
Chief Executive Officer
Aon

Tim Crane
President and Chief Executive Officer
Wintrust Financial Corporation

Wendell Dallas
President and CEO
Nicor Gas

Kimberley Goode
Chief Communications and Social Impact Officer
BMO Financial Group

Stephen Harris
President
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois

Mark Heckler
Region President
Fifth Third Bank

Travis Hunter Jr.
Chicago Office Managing Partner
KPMG LLP

 

Reginald J. Miller
VP, People Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
McDonald’s Corporation

Gwendolyn Oglesby-Odom
Enterprise Vice President of Community Engagement
Advocate Health

Nichole Owens
Vice President, Distribution Operations
ComEd, An Exelon Company

E. Scott Santi
Chairman and CEO
ITW

Karriem Shakoor
SVP and Chief Information Officer
UL Solutions

Scott C. Swanson
President, Illinois
Midwest Territory Executive
PNC Bank

 

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Sponsorship opportunities are now available. To discuss sponsorship and for questions, please contact:
Gail Arrigo, Executive Vice President, at garrigo@chicago-united.org or 312.977.3066.

Thanks To Our Sponsors

*As of October 24, 2023

Presenting Sponsor

Chairman's Circle

Advocates for Change

Reception Sponsor

Corporate Citizens for Change

Leaders for Change

Azteca Foods Inc.

Bank of America

Beam Suntory

Cabrera Capital Markets

Comcast

Deloitte LLP

EY (Ernst & Young LLP)

Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin & Metropolitan Chicago

Governors State University

Grant Law, LLC

Tiffany Hamel Johnson and Derrick Johnson

The Kraft Heinz Company

Mesirow

MZI Group, Inc.

Next Generation, Inc.

Old National Bank

Purple Group

John C. Robak

SDI Presence LLC

Sidley Austin LLP

Slalom

SNtial Technologies, Inc.

Spencer Stuart

Trinidad Construction

UJAMAA Construction, Inc.

University of Chicago

University of Illinois Chicago

Valentine, Austriaco & Bueschel, P.C.

Wynndalco Enterprises, LLC

Friends of Chicago United

Aurora Austriaco
Santino Bibbo
Kathleen Caliento
Tim Crane
Cristina Foods, Inc.
Leslie Drish
Kimberly Evans Killion
Nicole Fritz
Richard Gamble
Cristy Garcia-Thomas
Virxhini Gjonzeneli
Kimberley Goode
Maurice Grant
Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P.
Patricia Hurley & Associates, Inc.
Heli Jaason

Matt Johanson
Nidhi Kapoor
Kip Kelley
Diana Kunz
Kenya McCarter
Robert R. McCormick Foundation
Nicole Owens
Aya Ozeki
Sam Pambah
Angela Putnam
John Sassaris
Katherine Scherer
John Stocchetti
Laura Thonn
Manika Turnbull