Everett Ward Named as a 2015 Business Leader of Color by Chicago United
CHICAGO, Ill. — The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP today announced that business advocacy group Chicago United has selected Everett S. Ward, a member of the firm's Real Estate Practice Group, as one of 50 local business executives to be featured in its newest Business Leaders of Color (BLC) publication. Ward and his fellow honorees will be recognized during Chicago United's 47th Anniversary Gala and Bridge Awards presentation on Thursday, November 12, at the Hilton Chicago.
The Chicago United Business Leaders of Color are recognized as individuals who have a proven track record of balanced decision-making and appreciation for multiple perspectives, have a range of experiences that reflect flexibility and the ability to transcend narrow experiences and issues, and have an ability to respect diverse points of view and varied ways to approach issues and topics. The BLC has been released every two years since 2003, highlighting exceptional corporate and civic leaders who currently serve, or are ready to contribute, as board directors for Fortune 1000 companies.
The 2015 honorees were selected from a pool of more than 125 exceptionally qualified candidates from a wide variety of product and service industries. Additional past BLC members include First Lady Michelle Obama; Valerie B. Jarrett, senior advisor to President Barack Obama; Don Thompson, CEO of McDonald's Corp.; Amir Shahkarami, CEO of Exelon Nuclear Partners; Luis Sierra, president of BP Aromatics – the Americas, Europe and Middle East at BP; Adela Cepeda, owner and president of A.C. Advisory, Inc.; Sue Ling Gin, founder and CEO of Flying Food Group LLC; and Lou Nieto, board member, AutoZone & Ryder. Kwame Y. Raoul, Quarles & Brady attorney and Illinois State Senator, was an honoree in 2013.
Ward has extensive experience representing financial institutions, REITs, corporations, and other clients in real estate acquisition, disposition, and financing transactions throughout the United States. He is a Fellow of both the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) and the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA). He also serves on the board and executive committee of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation, is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of The Field Museum of Chicago.
About Chicago United
Chicago United is an advocacy organization that promotes multiracial leadership in business to advance parity in economic opportunity. Chicago United supports the business community's need to maximize the use of corporate and entrepreneurial talent and brings together diverse senior business leaders to break through barriers and realize the benefits of diversity and inclusion. Chicago United is a premiere business membership organization creating an environment where racially diverse CEOs and executive-level managers can share common experiences to promote multiracial leadership in governance, management, and business partnerships. It delivers best practices for diversity practitioners and fosters relationships among leaders who share common values. For more information, please visit www.chicago-united.org.