CHICAGO (November 7, 2019) — Anne L. Alonzo, President & CEO of the American Egg Board, the agricultural marketing arm of the U.S. egg industry, will be among a prestigious list of Chicago executives honored tonight at Chicago United’s Bridge Awards. The event celebrates the 2019 Business Leaders of Color (BLC), a list of 50 of Chicago’s most influential business executives and civic leaders who currently serve, or are ready to serve, as board directors for Fortune 1,000 companies.

The Chicago United Business Leaders of Color are recognized as individuals who, in the face of complex global economies, have combined vision with the ability to execute on strategies. They have led large-scale operations domestically and internationally with a focus on innovation and a keen ability to drive transformational change in their organizations. These individuals underwent a rigorous nominations process and were selected from an exceptionally qualified group of nominees from a wide variety of product and service industries.

“The business case for diversity in any organization today is clear and critically important. I am both honored and ‘orgullosa’ (proud) to be named to such a stellar roster of board-ready, vetted individuals of color poised to further power Chicago’s business community,” said Alonzo.

“By publically recognizing high-performing, high-quality Leaders of Color, Chicago United provides an invaluable service of positioning and ensuring inclusiveness at the highest levels of Chicago company leadership — the board level,” she added.

Past BLC members include Michelle Obama, former McDonald’s Corporation CEO Don Thompson, Korn Ferry Global Diversity and Inclusion Thought Leader Andrés Tapia, Rockit Ranch Productions CEO Billy Dec, former Senior Advisor to President Obama Valerie B. Jarrett and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.

Chicago United’s BLC highlights individuals ready for boards of directors’ positions, with a broad range of professional experience and proven track records of success to offer the greater business community. Through their identification, Chicago United helps to accelerate inclusion of professionals of color in board governance.

“Chicago United is proud to have now showcased 420 board-ready candidates biennially between 2003 and 2019,” said Gloria Castillo, president and CEO of Chicago United. “These men and women have rendered service in more than 300 corporate directorships. The leaders featured in the publication are outstanding examples of what it means to overcome obstacles and biases to navigate the corporate landscape with boldness and confidence.”