Intersect Illinois

From beloved Black-owned restaurants to historic landmarks and cultural institutions celebrating Black heritage, there are many ways to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth in #Chicago. Choose Chicago provides a few ways you can explore Black culture and history: https://bit.ly/3b9vjXx

#Illinois has lots of heart, as exemplified by Ladies of Virtue (LOVChicago)'s LOV campaign centered around empowering young Black women in some of #Chicago's underserved communities to be confident, purpose-driven leaders. 💝In honor of Valentine's Day and #BlackHistoryMonth, the non-profit plans to distribute 700 wellness boxes this month to remind young women across the city that they are loved and appreciated. 💕 In addition to the annual LOV campaign, the non-profit has a mentoring service for Black girls and young women ages 9 to 24 to develop career, character, and civic skills. More about the group here: https://bit.ly/3EDCTIH

Spectacular evening at the residence of Japanese Consul General in Chicago Jun Yanagi who hosted a small private gathering of top Illinois business leaders to strengthen and build the Illinois-Japan relationship. This relationship is critically important for our economic and geopolitical success. It builds upon the successful trade mission led by Governor JB Pritzker last year. The GC’s residence in Evanston is a three-story prairie-style house that was built in 1912 by Robert Spencer Jr., a colleague of Frank Lloyd Wright. Previously owned by philanthropist Owen Coon and Arthur Allen (a former owner of the Chicago White Sox), it has served as the home of Japan’s CG since 1968. I was honored to join fantastic friends and colleagues tonight including Christy George, John Atkinson, Gil C. Quiniones, Wendell Dallas, Maria S. Bocanegra, Meredith O'Connor, Robert W. Karr Jr., Leonard P. Singh, Kaitlin Fahey and Mark Brunner along with JETRO’s Nakagawa Takashi. Lively discussion about manufacturing, energy, quantum and a side of politics. Japan is a leader in foreign direct investment in Illinois and a key trading partner. We look forward to deepening the relationship between Illinois and Japan. 🇺🇸 🇯🇵

A great celebration of Black learner excellence yesterday at the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation! 🖤 Introduced by her #TeamIllinois partner, Christian Mitchell, VP for civic engagement at the University of Chicago, our President and CEO Christy George delivered the keynote, touching on the City Colleges of Chicago's tireless efforts to support its students both in academic excellence and career readiness, as well as her personal journey with education. "As we look to the future, one thing is clear: the path to economic mobility and opportunity for countless individuals runs through our community colleges," Christy said in her keynote. ❤️ We also heard from Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Chancellor Juan Salgado, and Executive Vice Chancellor Veronica Herrero. 💚 Congrats to the award recipients, including Representative La Shawn K Ford; Tammy Scott-Brand, dean at the City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College; and Ellen Alberding, retired president and CEO of The Joyce Foundation. These leaders are committed to paving more equitable pathways for student success in #Illinois. 💛 A big thank you to the City Colleges of Chicago for making this happen, as well as our board and EAC members, Chairman John Atkinson, Eileen Mitchell with AT&T Midwest, Michelle Carr with Evergreen Climate Innovations, Polly Melton Eldringhoff with Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, as well as our PsiQuantum and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity partners for celebrating with us at the luncheon. #BeInIllinois

ICYMI: Governor Pritzker joined Friends icon David Schwimmer to celebrate the reopening of #Chicago's renovated Lookingglass Theatre. 🎉🎭 Closing during Covid-19, Lookingglass had to PIVOT! The theatre completed renovations of its lobby, bar, and cafe through the help of #Illinois' Rebuild Illinois infrastructure improvement program. #BeInIllinois Learn more about the theatre's revival in CBS News: https://cbsn.ws/4hz6alT

We honor and celebrate the legacy of Virginia Halas McCaskey, who was an integral part of the Chicago Bears' organization as its principal owner since 1983. We extend our warmest condolences to the organization and our board member, Kevin Warren. 🧡 "Virginia Halas McCaskey, the matriarch of the Chicago Bears and daughter of George Halas, the founder of the NFL, leaves a legacy of class, dignity and humanity," said National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell. Read about Virginia's tremendous life here: https://bit.ly/3QeGejM

Our President & CEO Christy George has been named to Leadership Greater Chicago's 2025 Cohort of the Daniel Burnham Fellowship. 🎉 Alongside 27 distinguished #Illinois leaders from top corporate, nonprofit, government, cultural, and educational institutions, Christy will participate in the fellowship program focused on creating lasting regional impact through collaboration. Since 2019, the fellows have used their expertise and connections to support the region's economic health, helping to address issues like workforce development and food security. 👏 A BIG congrats to Christy, PsiQuantum's (and a member of our EAC) Josh Richman, and the rest of the cohort! More about the program here: https://bit.ly/2Xsw6ad

We are proud to say Christy George has been named to Crain's Chicago Business' 2025 "Women of Influence," an honor spotlighting leaders in #Chicago who are catalyzing change and advocating for the advancement of women. ✨👏 As president and CEO of Intersect, Christy spearheads all aspects of our organization, including our business attraction and marketing efforts. She collaborates closely with our many #TeamIllinois partners across the state, such as the Governor's Office and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, to proactively pursue economic growth opportunities and ensure the #WhyIllinois story is heard around the globe. 🌐 #BeInIllinois More about Christy and this recognition here: https://bit.ly/4hz4Z6e Register for a ticket here to see Chirsty and the honorees be recognized on March 6: https://bit.ly/3CKR6Ty

We are pleased to be named mHUB Corporate Champion of the Year! We're honored to be recognized at the 2025 Fourth Revolution Awards on March 6 in #Chicago. 🥳 Each year, this recognition is given to a business making significant community and financial impact on manufacturing in the Midwest. We have been recognized for our efforts in catalyzing economic growth across #Illinois, helping to create thousands of jobs and securing billions in investment. Read the official announcement here: https://lnkd.in/gQccaZxV Join us at the Fourth Revolution Awards Reception on March 6 to celebrate this recognition alongside the Midwest's #innovation and #manufacturing ecosystems. Register here: https://bit.ly/418LxaW

Building off its rich legacy in #manufacturing, #Illinois has emerged as a premier location for advanced manufacturing, including the #EV sector. The state is doing this by: 🛠️ Investing in site readiness, exemplified by the Megasites Investment Program and our #VettedSites tool ⚡ Competitive incentives like REV Illinois provide tax and workforce training incentives for companies across the EV supply chain 📍 Leveraging its central location and position as a #TDL powerhouse Chicago Business Journal breaks down the state's tremendous efforts: https://bit.ly/3PRmD9c Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity | Illinois Manufacturers' Association | #BeInIllinois