With more than 300 members, the Emerging Leaders community is a dynamic cross-sector network of Chicago’s visionary, globally minded, locally committed leaders.
Anthony Simpkins is a leader in Chicago’s affordable housing community and has held multiple roles serving the City of Chicago. As Managing Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Housing, he administered housing and community development policies, programs, and strategic investments. Before that, he was appointed a judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County by the Illinois Supreme Court.
Before his role at the Chicago Job Council, Jacob Sitati cofounded Maurice + Fischer, an international advocacy firm focused on public affairs, public policy, and market entry strategy. He directed the overall business for the firm and led the counsel on policy and advocacy work.
Lydia Stazen is a globally recognized leader and subject matter expert with two decades of experience across policy organizations, public-private partnerships, and university systems. She currently serves as director of policy operations for Chapin Hall, where she provides executive leadership to the policy team and oversees day-to-day operations related to the policy portfolio.
With a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, Christopher Swann's impactful journey at Feeding America began as an intern and ascended to the role of senior program manager. His pivotal work with the MealConnect platform has not only garnered millions in funding but has also been instrumental in rescuing billions of pounds of food for those facing hunger.
Before joining the Zeno Group, Courtney Thompson served as Boeing's government operations leader for the Great Lakes region, which included Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. In this capacity, she led the company's community outreach efforts for the business, government, and international communities as well as Boeing's Chicago Global Corporate Citizenship team.
Ben van Loon is an award-winning writer, researcher, and association leader from Chicago. He serves as managing director and editor-in-chief of AFIRE, an international trade association of institutional investors focused on commercial real estate in the United States. He oversees the association’s marketing, PR, and thought leadership platform—including the multiple-award-winning Summit Journal.
Asha Iman Veal is a curator of contemporary visual arts, focusing on interdisciplinary projects that advocate cross-cultural solidarity across geographic or political distances. Her recent exhibitions include RAISIN, which explores the global proliferation of a narrative-based artwork that has encouraged dialogues on justice in cities across the world.
Arshia Wajid is a healthcare executive with nearly 20 years of experience contributing to transformational journeys for many healthcare organizations, including Northwestern Medicine, Franciscan Health, Rush University System, Advocate Health, and Huron Consulting. She recently founded and is a current board member of American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP).
Nitida Wongthipkongka is a social impact strategist and believes there is a significant role for the private sector to play in improving the quality of lives around the world. She works in the field of social enterprise, which is the utilization of market-based principles while creating social impact.
Endy Zemenides is the executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), a national Greek-American advocacy organization dedicated to promoting human rights and the rule of law internationally, in addition to building bridges between communities in the United States. Before joining HALC, Zemenides practiced law in Chicago, specializing in municipal law and government relations.
