Quad County Urban League announces lineup for inaugural Women’s Empowerment Summit

AURORA, Ill. - March 3, 2015 - PRLog -- (Aurora, IL) -- NBC5 Reporter Regina Waldroup will join Chicago radio personality Dolly McCarthy in emceeing theQuad County Urban League (http://www.qcul.org)’sinaugural Women’s Empowerment Summit on Friday, March 20 at the Marriott Oak Brook.  Keynote speakers for the event are Amy Hilliard (http://www.fashionfair.com), president of Fashion Fair Cosmetics and Beth Reese, (http://www.nicorgas.aglr.com)president of Nicor Gas.  The daylong event is entitled The New Feminine Mystique: Women, Leadership, Power and Having (Or Not) Having it All.

In addition to the keynote addresses from Reese and Hilliard there will be three empowerment panels.

The “Workplace Diversity Panel” will feature Kate Bensen, president and CEO of the Chicago Network; Cindy Burrell, president of Diversity in Boardrooms; Janice Parks, senior director of inclusion and community engagement, McDonald’s Corporation; Dr. Rebecca Sherrick, president of Aurora University and Dr. Tanesha Pittman, president, Universal Kingdom Enterprises will moderate.

Featured speakers for the “Women Can Have it All Panel”  are Eva Brown, vice president government and community relations for U.S. Bank; Patty Greene, manager community affairs & grassroots, Southwest Airlines; Valerie Corr Hanserd, director of government and public affairs, BP; Tonia Khouri, owner Green T Lawn Care and DuPage County Board Member; Nicole Johnson-Scales, senior vice president community development, Fifth Third Bank, and Dr. Toyah Wilson, licensed clinical psychologist, Enlightened Journeys Counseling Services.  Danielle Langford, president of Pinkempowers.com, will moderate the panel.

Capping off the day will be the “Women of Power Panel” featuring the event honorees discussing their journeys to success.  Each of the honorees was chosen for their commitment to leadership and extraordinary career success including mentoring others.  The honorees are Kim Hatchett, vice president, individual market operations Health Care Services Corporation; Cheryle Jackson, vice president government affairs and corporate development, AAR Corporation; Gloria Kazanova, CEO, Kazanova Management; Senator Karen McConnaughay, 33 District Illinois; Beth Reese, president, Nicor Gas; and Loretta Rosenmayer, founder and CEO, Intren.

“We are amazed by the depth of leadership and talent that the women who are joining us represent,” said Theodia Gillespie, president and CEO of the Quad County Urban League.  “Our audience will have unprecedented access to leaders from across the region who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise and we are more than excited by the buzz that this event is generating.”

The daylong event begins with a continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Tickets are $100 each and sponsorships are welcome.   For more information or to purchase sponsorships or tickets, e-mail events@qcul.org or call 630-851-2203.

About  The Quad County Urban League

Founded in 1975, the Quad County Urban League (QCUL) helps secure equal opportunities for all disadvantaged persons and people of color, including African Americans, women and persons with disabilities. Quad County Urban League is an affiliate of the National Urban League and is a United Way member agency. The QCUL serves DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties in Illinois.  Visit www.qcul.org for more information.

About Fashion Fair

Fashion Fair is a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson Publishing Company, LLC and was created for women of color by the late Mrs. Eunice W. Johnson, the creator of the Ebony Fashion Fair Show.  As a pioneering businesswoman, Johnson took the risk that most major cosmetic companies refused to take by entering the untapped market of makeup for women of color.

About Nicor Gas

Nicor Gas is the largest natural gas distribution company in northern Illinois and is responsible for delivering natural gas – an American, abundant and affordable energy source, safely and reliably to more than 2.2 million customers across Illinois. For more information, visit www.nicorgas.com.