Michele Berg
Deputy General Secretary Rotary International 2017 Brilliant Business Women
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FROM THE EDITOR
A
s we celebrate Evanston Woman’s first year, it has been a blessing to raise awareness by publishing a valuable tool that embraces our community organizations and small businesses. Thank you to the outstanding women you see everyday at work, events, schools, activities, places of worship, gyms, retail stores, and more. It’s about who we are in the now, and how we unite for a better tomorrow through education, resources, and community involvement. My mission is simple: unite, create opportunity, and raise awareness by acknowledging the everyday lady, the ‘Evanston Woman.’ So let us come together to celebrate the great community we have come to love. Please join me in the Grand Opening of Amercera Taco Shop on Small Business Saturday. (Nov. 25) - 512 Main Street.
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Linda Del Bosque Editor-in-chief
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Thank you to Michele Berg, Deputy General Secretary, Rotary International for leading the path for many of us and setting a brilliant tone in bringing our community together. Congratulations to all the women who are named 2017’s Brilliant Business Women.
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VOLUME 2 / ISSUE 1
CONTENTS
11 FEATURES 11 Brilliant Business Women Michele Berg, Deputy General Secretary of Rotary International Leads the Way of the 2017 Brilliant Business Women
DEPARTMENTS 5 Relationships A Collaborative Practice with Brigitte Schmidt Bell, P.C. 7 Wellness Fuel Your System with Evanston Athletic Club 9 Art/Life/Culture Moving Boxes with 2nd Act Players
Editor-in-Chief Linda Del Bosque Editors Kasimu Godfrey, Jean-Marire Freise, Netta Keesom Photography Chantal Pryor , Annette Patko Graphic Designer Maribel Lopez Advertising Office 847-722-5654 evanstonwoman.com evanstonwoman@gmail.com facebook.com/evanstonwoman
Copyright Š Evanston Woman Magazine, all rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from Evanston Woman Magazine.
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Coldwell Banker Residential Evanston is proud to have been serving the North Shore and Chicagoland community for over 35 years. Leaders in real estate technology, their online marketing and strategic advertising placement are unmatched in today’s marketplace. Coldwell Banker Evanston Realtors have an average of over 15 years experience in the industry. Coldwell Banker Evanston holds several events every year to benefit local charities.
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RELATIONSHIPS
A Collaborative Practice with Brigitte Schmidt Bell, P.C. BY RITA GHOSE, PARTNER COLLABORATIVE ATTORNEY AND MEDIATOR
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hildren are Evanston’s most important resource. Is it any wonder that an Evanston firm of three women lawyers want to protect that resource and save it from the detriments of contentious divorce and separation? People unhappy in their adult relationship often talk about staying together “for the sake of the children,” even when they are miserable themselves. Professionals who work with families would say, however, there are ways in which a “good” divorce or separation–one that takes the children’s needs into account first–can be better for the children than a miserable “intact” family. It is not news that children are impacted by divorce and separation–they usually have to learn to live in two homes, to remember to carry/take things from one home to the other, to be mindful of the differences between households, to cope with new adults (and sometimes new step-siblings). Yet what we know from research is that all of those things and the myriad other adjustments they have to make are all more easily handled when their parents are able to have an amicable relationship and are able to work through difficult situations and parenting disagreements in a productive and less-adversarial way. They can do this with the help of professionals whose focus is problem-solving rather than saber-rattling – i.e., Collaborative Practice.
Collaborative Practice was brought to Illinois in 2001 by, among others, Evanstonian Brigitte Bell of Brigitte Schmidt Bell, P.C., the founding Co-President of the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois. This year, the Illinois legislature finally recognized that process as unique by passing the Illinois Collaborative Process Act. Even before the Act was passed, however, professionals concerned about children have been offering this process to clients who want to protect their children during the divorce or separation process. What makes it different is this: the clients make a commitment not to use litigation to solve their problems, and the professionals build a team of neutral experts to help address the various issues that arise in a divorce: there are coaches to help deal with emotional issues, child/family specialists to deal with the children (including adult children when appropriate), financial neutrals to gather financial information and generate the kinds of reports that help couples make wise financial decisions, valuation experts if needed, and two attorneys specially trained in the skills of problem solving. It’s been called “mediation on steroids.” Families are complicated structures, and having mental health experts, financial experts, and divorce attorneys working together to help disentangle them in a team effort means a far better transition for the children. And isn’t that what it’s all about?
E VA N S TO N W O M A N . C O M 5
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Join us for our biggest event of the year! Fusion believes in the power of positive relationships to unlock student potential. This is a great opportunity to hear the stories of students and parents who have been impacted by our revolutionary approach, take a tour of our campus, enjoy some delicious hors d’oeuvres, and network with other community members.
Thursday, November 9th 5:00–8:00 p.m. Fusion Academy Evanston 847 Chicago Avenue, Suite 200 Evanston, IL 60202 Space is limited! Please RSVP to Loni Itah at Litah@FusionAcademy.com or FusionEvanston.com.
Gabrielle M. Brooks Director, India Hicks Inc. Schedule a “get together” with me for free Holiday Gifts! Email me or shop my virtual “India Hicks” site: www.indiahicks.com/rep/gmbrooks gmbrooks@comcast.net
WELLNESS
FUEL YOUR SYSTEM
Interview with Expert, Barbara Fine Evanston Athletic Club
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older temperatures can derail healthy eating and exercise goals over the winter, but a little planning can get you out of hibernation mode. Barbara Fine, a Certified Diabetes Educator and Registered Dietitian at Evanston Athletic Club, says being in tune with your own body’s needs as well as the specific needs of women will help you put your plan into action. Staying hydrated, eating a variety of nutrient-dense foods, and keeping active will allow you to feel your best year round. “A lot of women feel sluggish in the winter when there’s less sunlight, which provides our primary source of vitamin D. Since many women are already deficient in vitamin D, I recommend taking a supplement of 1000 IUs a day in addition to eating plenty of leafy green vegetables. This also helps with calcium absorption, which is especially important for women to build healthy bones,” says Fine. She suggests eating calcium rich foods and regularly engaging in weight bearing exercise, like walking or a Zumba class, to further promote bone health. Being properly fueled before a workout will allow you to exercise more efficiently and productively. “A piece of fruit with a little protein is a great pre-workout snack. The fruit gives you fiber and nutrients, and the protein will give you sustained energy. Cheese, peanut butter, or hummus are easy options,” says Fine. Spending a few minutes each week planning your meals and snacks so you have nutritious options already in the fridge will encourage you to make smarter choices when you may be tired and hungry and feel better overall. For more information, visit ChicagoAthleticClubs.com/ team-members/trainers/Barbara-Fine/ 1723 Benson Ave, Evanston, IL, 60201 (847) 866-6190 E VA N S TO N W O M A N . C O M 7
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ART/LIFE/CULTURE
Moving Boxes
with 2nd Act Players BY JOHN N. FRANK
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ow does a woman who once defined herself by the roles she played in others’ lives – caregiver, business pioneer, wife, mother – still feel useful and relevant as her health fails and the world she once knew fades away?
That’s the very profound question asked in the 2nd Act Players’ November premiere of a new two-act play, Moving Boxes. The play follows Faye, an elderly Italian-American, as she moves from her beloved New York after the tragedy of 9/11 and must find her place living near her adult son and a granddaughter she barely knows in Evanston. “This is very much a story about family, the roles we play in our families and how those roles change,” says John N. Frank, 2 nd Act Players’ founder and a co-author of the play along with his daughter, Jenny Frank. “This play is based on our own trials and tribulations of moving my mother here after 9/11,” Frank explains. “But anyone who has cared for an aging parent, or who has seen their family dynamic change over the years will relate to it.”
THE EVANSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
L AW R E N C E E C K E R L I N G , M U S I C D I R E C TO R
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 3 : 00 PM EVANSTON TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM GENERAL ADMISSION: Adults $25, Children $10 Family Package $70
Moving Boxes is Frank’s fifth play for the 2 nd Act Players, which he founded in 2013. “I asked Jenny to co-write this play with me to bring her perspective of what it’s like to discover who your grandmother is, and what family means,” he says. Jenny is a graphic designer by trade but has written several plays as well. She joined the 2nd Act Players board of directors this year and also serves as its resident graphic designer. From Jenny’s perspective, the story is very much about how older possessions, and older people, are still useful and should not be ignored in our throw-away, youth-oriented society, she says.
Family package: 2 Adults, 3 Children
PREFERRED SEATING: Advance Purchase Only
Adults $40, Children $15 Family Package $100
Get Tickets Now!
847.864.8804 www.evanstonsymphony.org North Shore Choral Society • Evanston Dance Ensemble The Evanston Symphony Holiday Gospel Choir Evanston Children’s Choir • ETHS A Cappella Choir Audience Sing-Along • Two renditions of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus And a BIG bonus for all kids from 1 to 101—a visit from Santa and his elves!
Performances of Moving Boxes will occur every Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon beginning Nov. 4 and running through Nov. 19 at Northminster Presbyterian Church’s theater at 2515 Central Park Avenue, Evanston. Tickets are $22 at the door, $17 if bought in advance online at: brownpapertickets.com/event/2720173. To read more about the 2 nd Act Players, go to its website: Evanston2ndactplayers.com
BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Michele Berg
Deputy General Secretary Rotary International
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on-profit organizations do some of the most important and fulfilling work on this planet. There are many cures for diseases, causes, and movements that have come into being directly due to the tireless work of these organizations. One of the biggest and well-known is Rotary International, a global network of people of action dedicated to making the world a better place through volunteer service. From clean water to basic education and literacy, Rotary members connect with communities to identify needs, gather resources and carry out impactful solutions to humanitarian challenges.
As deputy general secretary of Evanston-based Rotary International, Michele Berg leads the day-to-day operations of the membership service organization’s headquarters. Berg is also a member of the Rotary Club of Evanston and a board member of the Evanston Community Foundation. In both roles, she is helping to bring positive, lasting change to Evanston and to communities around the world. Berg has an undergraduate degree in Italian from Loyola University Chicago and earned her MBA in international business and marketing from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She states that she “always wanted to work for an international organization and it’s important for me to be aligned with an organization’s mission and feel that I’m contributing towards making the world a better place.” She has learned the most from her work experience and being around talented colleagues as well as other Rotary members. She is currently proud of the fact that polio cases in children have dwindled to fifteen this year, a 99.9 percent reduction since Rotary made its promise over 30 years ago to eradicate the paralyzing disease from the planet. On World Polio Day, Oct. 24, Rotary clubs throughout the world marked this historic progress, while urging continued community support to end this vaccine preventable disease. Berg spends her downtime balancing being a mother, wife and professional by cooking, entertaining and traveling with her husband and two young daughters. Her husband helps with that balance by being a stay-at-home parent. Recently, Berg provided a portion of her free time preparing for the Celebrate! Evanston Gala, which took place on October 5. She states, “the best thing was for me to realize that there isn’t a “navigate between.” I am both a professional and a wife and mother at the same time. Some evenings I work at the dining room table while my daughters do their homework. You fill the role of mother, wife and professional all at the same time. I’m grateful to work for an organization that allows flexibility and seeks to support its employees.” For more information on Rotary, visit rotary.org and endpolio.org.
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BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Ana Vela
Owner Amanecer Taco Shop Chicago and its surrounding suburbs have been a proud and thriving destination for many members of the Latino community. Many Latinos have thrived here in business and/or politics. Currently in Evanston, Amanecer Taco Shop is another thread in that ever-growing and ever-changing fabric of Latino culture and business. Ana L. Vela is the owner of Amanecer who sees herself as another role model for her community and other minorities. She was born in Laredo, TX and has called San Antonio home as well before establishing permanent roots here 7 years ago. Interestingly enough, Vela’s background is not in food but in product development via the educational publishing industry. She states “I have been able to utilize those same skills and processes [in] the food industry…I believe a successful food business not only requires good food but a good understanding of developing a brand and customer experience.” Vela claims one significant mentor and role model, Cynthia Lee, who was her first boss when she began her career at 17. She states “she taught me how to navigate and be successful in different business settings by being diplomatic, collaborative and doing everything at a level of quality I can be proud of.” She carries these lessons and continues to keep in touch with Lee even to this day. Vela says “I know my business can fail at any moment, and that keeps me from being complacent. I’m always thinking about what I’m gonna try next.” Vela is still learning to balance her professional and personal roles. It is important for her as a Latino business owner to keep succeeding as a nod to her immigrant parents and for other minorities as well as her daughter to use her as a role model and inspiration for their own dreams and aspirations. She often finds herself multitasking at home to keep pace but also works on being available for her husband Mario and their 3yr old daughter by going to festivals, parks, plays, etc. as much as her schedule permits. Throughout all of it, Vela finds it very “meaningful that [she] can use my business to share my culture and add to the diverse spectrum of this area.” Make sure you visit Ana and Amanecer Taco Shop as often as you can. 1 2 E VA N S TO N W O M A N . C O M
BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Tara McDermott-Thomas Director of Sales Accuity
Tara McDermott-Thomas, a Director for Accuity working in sales and third party business development, is new to Evanston. She has only been a fixture in the community for just over a year but loves that it offers “[diversity] that blends a growing corporate spirit with a social environment.” Born and raised in Iowa, she stayed home for her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa before coming to Chicago and getting her Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School. Although not currently practicing law, McDermott-Thomas still believes going to law school was the right choice. “Studying law challenges your intellectual stamina and trains you to speak with conviction and write with purpose.” McDermott-Thomas believes that this training plus learning to establish a level of commonality with the people in her professional and personal life have deeply contributed to her success. As a mother of 2 young boys, Caden (8) and Killian (5), McDermott-Thomas spends her free time engaging in seasonal sports with them as well as cooking and entertaining her friends in her home.
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BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Mary Leary
CEO and President Mather LifeWays Eliminating the impossible is a great philosophy and slogan. Mather LifeWays actually operates under this principle. Mary Leary, CEO and President, is currently directing the efforts to make this occur for their customers – and employees. She would like to see the award-winning, 75+ year-old not for profit organization grow from serving 40,000 to 400,000 under her tenure. Leary is driven to help people age in the best way possible and inspires her team members to do the same. She states, “our employees say they find meaning in their work and that it’s more than just a job. I am hoping to help influence future generations to work in senior living where one can learn about real estate, hospitality and health care and hone skills in specific disciplines.” Leary cites Penny Pritzker as a mentor and states, “[Penny] taught me the importance of developing long-term relationships, seeking diversity of opinion when exploring and evaluating options and opportunities, and valuing employees.” In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband Rich while also planning to become a master gardener among other interests.
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BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Annie Coakley
Executive Director Downtown Evanston Non-profit organizations continue to advance on many social, political, and economical levels in communities around the world. Annie Coakley, Executive Director of Downtown Evanston, is helping to provide a place where the community can dine, drink and enjoy entertainment from locals to visitors. Coakley was behind the marketing efforts of “Eat, Shop, & Play Local” to attain growth and success for Downtown Evanston merchants. Coakley desires to ‘“be a good person and take fun seriously.” She credits her success to the fact that she is a [people person]. “I love being around people with good ideas.” In her free time, Coakley aspires to travel more and stress less. She’s a member of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, Chicago North Shore Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the 3C Committee as well an Evanston Community Foundation Leadership Evanston Alum.
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BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Ellen King & Julie Matthei Owners Hewn Bakery
Baking is a love affair for most of those that engage in it as a profession. Ellen King and Julie Matthei have created Hewn Bakery to share that love as well as share knowledge about organic foods and healthy living. King and Matthei are both highly educated business owners. King has a BA and MA in History while Matthei has a BA and MEd from Fairfield University and Loyola University respectively. They created their business to provide healthy options for their customers as well as teaching them about organically-made bakery goods. King states, “I want our customers and the general public to start understanding the importance of eating organic, stone milled grains.” King and Matthei both have found support and mentoring from their parents that have helped to foster their success. Matthei states, “I know my Dad is still stunned – and proud – that we have somehow made it work!” In their free time, King enjoys being outdoors while Matthei enjoys baseball along with spending time with her kids and family.
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BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Mary Summerville & Allie Payne Residential Brokers
With over 45 years of combined experience and 1,600+ transactions totaling $705 million in sales, the MSGroup has built a loyal clientele by demonstrating exceptional market knowledge, outstanding customer service and the utmost integrity. The team, comprised of Mary Summerville and Allie Payne, prides itself on its client-centric philosophy which requires continuing education and an adaptive business model. Their approach ensures that every client of the MSGroup receives an unparalleled amount of personal attention, diligence, and industry expertise. Giving back to the community is a core value of the MSGroup. Mary and Allie are both dedicated as individuals and as a team to a number of organizations within Evanston. Mary contributes to Blessing in a Backpack on a weekly base, and serves on the Art Encounters board, Allie serves on the Curt’s CafÊ board, and both are members of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce.
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BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Jill Kushner Bishop
Founder & CEO Multilingual Connections The world is more interconnected than ever, but language can be a facilitator or an obstacle to engagement. Jill Kushner Bishop and her company, Multilingual Connections, work to facilitate connections – both locally and globally – in over 75 languages. Bishop has always loved language and culture, and with a PhD in linguistic anthropology, she expected to stay in academia. In 2005 she decided to take her passions down an entrepreneurial path, and three years ago brought her family – and soon after, her business – from Logan Square to Evanston. The company provides translation, transcription, multimedia and interpretation services for clients of all industries and across the globe. The business became a family affair when her husband Mark joined as COO in 2015. The increased flexibility has opened the door for Jill, her husband and their 11-year old son, Henry, to travel the world and spend as much time as possible together.
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BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Monique Brunson Jones President and CEO Evanston Community Foundation
Monique Brunson Jones in her role as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Evanston Community Foundation is continuing to strive for change and to root out oppression. Born on the west side of Chicago and spending time in Little Rock, AR, Jones returned to her roots 13 years ago and began working with families and organizations to cultivate avenues for people to rise up out of oppression. She states, “my education was embedded in the thought that if given the resources needed to become a productive citizen in our world a person could be successful.” Jones cites numerous mentors and lessons that have cultivated her success. Her favorite quote is from her older brother: “[Monique], you aren’t going to be happy if someone else messes it up. It has to be you because you know you’ll be angry enough to try again and get it right.” In her free time, Jones involves herself in activities that involve her young daughter and her husband.
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BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Avis Behling
Owner Affordable Portables Avis Behling began her career in healthcare at Evanston Hospital. After her father passed, she teamed up with her brother to continue the family business that was once located in Chicago and then moved to the suburbs. Using the same innovative ideas her father began in the 70’s such as providing locals with simple and small furniture for smaller apartments in the city, Behling branched out on her own and opened Affordable Portables Lifestyle Furniture in 1995. Her parents instilled in her the importance of independence, and her brother took her under his wing and taught her the ropes of the furniture business. Staying healthy, listening to books on podcast from the Evanston Library, spending quality time and enjoying vacations with her husband and family are several of the simple ways Behling is able to re-energize. Her drive for success keeps her from being complacent and she is very thankful for the dedication of loyal customers who have been committed to shop at small businesses in Evanston, the community she loves.
Avis Behling
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BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Rachel Hershinow Owner Stella Boutique
The retail experience has been forever moving into the virtual world. Almost all businesses now have an online presence for those customers that prefer to do their shopping at home or via their mobile phone. One store, Stella, however continues to provide a real life in-store experience that keeps customers returning again and again. Owner Rachel Hershinow believes that the intimate hands-on shopping adventure she provides, will keep her store ‘vital, creative and interesting’ and allow for continued growth. Hershinow was born in Brooklyn, NY but moved to Chicago during her youth has now lived in Skokie for the last 19yrs. Equipped with a communications degree, she began working in Social Services helping public aid recipients and homeless moms find employment before moving to working for and then owning her own event production company. Hershinow states, “this is where I was able to really be creative” which ultimately influenced and led to the opening of Stella. Henishaw attributes her success and the ideals that have fostered it to an aggregation of life lessons and teachings from previous work experience and her love for the aesthetic. She states, “I think making authentic connections with people has always been important to me both personally and in business. Honestly, I mainly follow my gut, which has mostly served me well.” Hershinow learned to balance being a mother, wife and business owner from the beginning of Stella. Her kids were very young when she purchased the business but she made time for them while continuing to build her brand. Now in her free time, she spends it simply with friends and family and tries to do little things for herself. She serves as a board member of the Central Street Business Association where she runs most of its events. In addition, she is a member of The Woman’s Club of Evanston, the North Shore Convention Bureau and the Evanston Chamber of Commerce.
BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Linda Larkin
Executive Director Evanston Chamber of Commerce The Evanston Chamber of Commerce has been supporting local businesses since 1921. Linda Larkin, the current Executive Director, is continuing the Chamber’s reach and influence into the future through “positive, personal communication among Chamber business owners and the Evanston community at large.” Larkin, who was born in Quincy, MA and moved to Evanston shortly after birth, believes that Evanston has “the business community, Northwestern, the City officials, the lakefront, and, the diversity of population [that] cannot be matched.” She believes that through her positive connections among community groups, while building strong connections among the fellow members of the Chamber, that the Evanston community surely is a place where all businesses can thrive. Larkin traces her drive and the seeds of her success back to her father who worked in sales. He taught her to “never give up, stay positive and keep an open mind.” Larkin works hard at balancing her profession with hours that sometimes exceed the normal ‘9 to 5’ with being a wife and mother. “My Man is a great supporter, a great partner, and a great griller. We each get ten minutes in the evening to talk about our day, and then it’s all about us.”
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BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Lisa Corrin
Director Mary and Leigh Block Museum Northwestern University Lisa Corrin’s career has taken her from Turkey to London to Seattle to Baltimore. She now finds herself in Evanston, serving as the director of the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University. Corrin’s years spent immersed in the art world have taught her the importance of persistence, curiosity, and given her a consistent desire to learn from the past. Corrin lives by the principle of being actively engaged in one’s community and works to incorporate it into her demanding role as museum director. Corrin and her husband chose to live in Evanston because they felt it was important to be a part of the community that the Block museum serves. “We admire Evanston’s activist spirit. The city nurtures and supports its organizations and businesses and residents are unafraid to speak their minds. When we take walks in our neighborhood, the peace poles, signs of solidarity with our immigrant population, and commitment to diversity all remind us that we made the right choice of where to pitch our tent,” says Corrin. Her position has given her the opportunity to mentor students and create a healthy and productive climate for her colleagues. Yet, Corrin’s energies are not limited to the Northwestern campus. She is committed to using her skills to promote activism, volunteerism, and to nurture a rich cultural scene in Evanston. In her time as director, Corrin has captained the Block Museum through a period of incredible growth. Under her auspices, the museum has become an even more integral part of the Evanston community. “Evanston and Northwestern chose me, and I feel extremely fortunate that they did. Northwestern’s legacy in the arts is extraordinary and it has been meaningful to me to be one of its champions. The Block [museum] was ready to become an even stronger bridge between the campus and the community. It is both professionally and personally rewarding to serve this mission.”
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BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Tara McDermitt Nancy Petrillo CFO McGaw YMCA
Nancy Petrillo, the CFO of the McGaw YMCA, has built a lifetime of accomplishments. From her educational experiences to her impressive professional endeavors, Nancy embodies success. Nancy spent the first five years of college pursuing Liberal Arts studies, including over three years in Psychology at the University of Utah. Since she paid for most of college, she worked as well in various businesses while studying and eventually completed a business degree from DePaul University. She said that her varied educational experience and hands on business experience while studying, helped her not only to develop into a strong business leader, but to become a better manager and supportive colleague. After living in so many cities worldwide, Nancy decided to return to her hometown of Evanston, and to the place where she learned to swim as a child. As Chief Administrator and CFO for the McGaw Y, Nancy said she is proud to be a part of a national organization that strengthens her community every day. She particularly enjoys supporting the newer Y managers, preparing them to lead in the future.
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BRILLIANT BUSINESS WOMEN 2017
Nasutsa Mabwa
President ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons Nasutsa came to her current profession as the owner of her disaster restoration and specialty cleaning business armed with a robust resume and readily equipped to handle the delicate task of helping home owners find normalcy after catastrophe has struck. Her experience working in the inner city of Chicago with DCFS as a social worker and with community groups in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood on the 600 acre Chicago Lakeside Redevelopment Project, prepared her for the challenges of assisting those who are living through high stress disaster restoration situations. Nasutsa, an Evanston native with a Liberal Arts degree from Miami U of Ohio, an MA in Urban Planning and Public Policy at UIC and an MBA from Roosevelt University, currently serves on the Board of Advisors at the Roosevelt University Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate. Nasutsa finds that running her own business has allowed her to be emotionally and physically present for her children and enjoys a quality life through gardening, cooking and practicing yoga to reduce stress in her life.
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