Chicago Gala Honors Corporate Diversity

CHICAGO -- Chicago United's 2010 Bridge Awards Dinner, annually held in conjunction with the 2010 Changing Color of Leadership Conference, will honor two executives, at both the national and local level, for their demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity within their companies. The widely-anticipated gala will take place November 18 at the Hilton Chicago.

Chicago United will acknowledge John T. Chambers, Chairman and Chief Executive Office of Cisco Systems, Inc. as the 2010 National Bridge Awards recipient. Mr. Chambers has implemented and supported exemplary practices as the leader of the global technology firm.

Fredrick H. Waddell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Northern Trust Corporation will be recognized as the 2010 Chicago Bridge Award recipient, for supporting the development of a vibrant and richly diverse business community in theChicago region. Northern Trust's commitment to partnering with minority-owned businesses is also commendable, as evidenced by its participation in Chicago United's Five Forward Initiative to spur economic development by creating minority-owned businesses of scale.
Additionally, Maestro Paul Freeman, music director of Chicago Sinfonietta, will be presented with The Bridge Advocate Award for advancing diversity in classical music and creating a new generation of diverse performers in the classical music genre.

"The Bridge Awards were created to honor corporate leaders who believe in the power of diversity and inspire others to do the same," said Gloria Castillo. "The leaders chosen this year embody the spirit of the Bridge Award and their examples should be imitated by their peers."

The Bridge Award represents the first national award that honors a Chief Executive Officer who is an advocate for multiracial diversity in corporate governance and executive level management. The award brings visibility to those who have managed change and inspires others to follow.

Prior to the Bridge Awards Dinner, Chicago's business community will convene to glean leadership insights from some ofChicago's most respected chief executives at the Changing Color of Leadership Conference's CEO Forum. The keynote speaker for the conference's diversity leadership luncheon will be Carolyn Woo, Dean of the Mendoza College of Business at the University Of Notre Dame and noted entrepreneurial expert. She will address themes relating to the role of business in solving pressing global issues of poverty, disease and conflict.

About Chicago United
Chicago United is an advocacy organization made up of racially diverse CEOs and executive level management who increase economic opportunity for all races by promoting multiracial leadership development in corporate governance, the leadership pipeline and business partnerships. Through a fierce brand of constructive conversation, Chicago United fosters inclusion and provides an opportunity for senior executives from all racial and ethnic groups to learn from one another, confront and break down racial barriers and achieve shared objectives.