Event Details
The intent of the luncheon is to provide context as well as a forward-looking view on business and economic opportunity as it relates to domestic and global Black communities. This year’s theme is: "Rainmaking: Creating Opportunity Through the Economic Storm", and the panel will discuss the current state of global and local economic affairs, implications of the economic stimulus plan on our community, changes in community lending, and the ability to access capital for transactions now and in the future.
$50; $25 for current students
Speaker Profiles
Art Norman (Moderator)
Historic Chicago journalist, Art Norman co-anchored the weekday editions of NBC 5 News. Norman came to NBC 5 Chicago as a general assignment reporter in July 1982. In February 1990, Norman's initiative led to a NBC 5 News exclusive investigation of the Cook County Sheriff Department, probing allegations of civil rights violations during a questionable drug raid on a suburban tavern.
During his career, Norman has received many honors for journalistic excellence. Most recently he received an Emmy Award for his contribution to NBC 5's spot news coverage of the Fox River Grove Bus Crash. His series "Cops and Robbers," which uncovered secret files on police officers with criminal records, was honored with two prestigious awards: a national Investigative Reporters and Editors Award and a 1992-93 Associated Press Award for "Best Investigative Reporting." He also received a 1989 Chicago Emmy Award for his contributions to NBC 5's coverage of the Laurie Dann spot news story. He was an integral part of the NBC 5 News coverage of the Beirut hostage crisis, providing comprehensive reports on the fate of Geneva and St. Charles, Illinois, residents held captive by terrorists. His efforts were honored with a 1986 Emmy Award.
Art's involvement with the community is extensive. In addition to hosting numerous community events each year, Norman is a spokesman for the United Negro College Fund and serves as an on-air host of their telethon.
Norman holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math and Physics from the Johnson C. Smith University. He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and holds a first class F.C.C. license.
Shundrawn Thomas, '99 (Panelist)
President & CEO, Northern Trust Securities, Inc.
A native and resident of Chicago, IL, Shundrawn is a gifted teacher, author, counselor, entrepreneur, husband, and father.
Professionally, Shundrawn serves as President and Chief Executive of Northern Trust Securities, Inc. (NTSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation. NTSI is a full service broker dealer serving personal and institutional clients. In his capacity as President of NTSI, he is chiefly responsible for developing long-term strategy, executing outcome-oriented operating plans and attracting and developing talented professionals. His capital market experience spans equities, fixed income and derivative investment products. Shundrawn previously served as Senior Vice President for Corporate Strategy for Northern Trust and as a Vice President for Goldman Sachs.
Shundrawn is also an entrepreneur, serving as co-founder of Adelphos Holdings LLC. The company's primary business is Christian retail operating under the SincereMilk brand name. Shundrawn and his wife are proprietors of another enterprise - Tree of Life Resources LLP which develops faith-based multi-media content. A licensed minister and motivational speaker, Shundrawn tirelessly uses his ministry gifts to equip and encourage individuals in the areas of faith, family, and finance.
Mr. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Florida A&M University. He also earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Shundrawn was named a member of Crain's Chicago Business Forty Under Forty in 2007 and awarded the Arthur N. Turbull Young Alumnus Achievement Award from Chicago Booth in 2008.
Wendell McCain (Panelist)
Founder and Managing Director, Parish Capital Advisors
Mr. McCain is one of the three founding partners of Parish Capital Advisors, LLP. He has spent the last ten years focused on alternative asset classes and has also experienced the private equity business from the perspective of advisor, direct investor, and limited partner.
Prior to founding Parish Capital, Mr. McCain served as Vice President at BancBoston Ventures, where his group managed a $600 million diversified private equity portfolio, and he managed a direct investment portfolio of eleven early stage companies and four limited partnerships. Mr. McCain was active as a board member or board observer of seven of those companies. Mr. McCain aggressively sourced new investment opportunities and reviewed over two hundred opportunities annually. In addition to his investment and portfolio management responsibilities, he also assisted the BancBoston fund-of-funds group with fundraising and strategic partnerships.
Mr. McCain received a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School, where he was a Toigo Fellow. Mr. McCain is also a 2005 Eisenhower Fellow.
Cheryle Jackson (Panelist)
Illinois Candidate for US Senate;President and CEO, Chicago Urban League
The first woman to lead the Chicago Urban League in its 90-year history, Cheryle R. Jackson, as president and chief executive, made national news when she shifted the Chicago Urban League from a social services agenda to focus exclusively on economic empowerment as the driver for social change.
Before coming to the League in October 2006, Ms. Jackson served as deputy chief of staff of communications and chief press secretary for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Before that, she was the spokesperson for Amtrak in 41 states as vice president for communications and government affairs. In addition, she served in various capacities at National Public Radio (NPR), including as vice president of communications and brand management, director of corporate communications and director of corporate identity and information.
Cheryle graduated from Northwestern University in 1988. She later attended the Art Institute of Chicago and performed graduate work at the University of Memphis.