With more than 300 members, the Emerging Leaders community is a dynamic cross-sector network of Chicago’s visionary, globally minded, locally committed leaders.
In 2024, Garvin G. Ambrose was appointed chief of staff at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office by State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke. Prior to this role, Ambrose held several key positions, including Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County, chief of staff to former State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, and chief of the Bureau of Administrative Services under State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.
Roseanna Ander serves as the founding executive director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab, which was launched in partnership with the City of Chicago. In the years following, she was appointed to the International Association of Chiefs of Police Research Advisory Committee and the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission, and was named co-chair of Rahm Emanuel's Public Safety Transition Committee.
Representative Kam Buckner represents the 26th Legislative District in the Illinois House of Representatives, a district completely situated in the City of Chicago. Previously, he served as executive director of World Sport Chicago, an organization that uses sports as a tool to provide life-skill training and opportunities to youth in Chicago's most under-resourced communities.
Before working at ID.me, Mike Cassel was director of global corporate citizenship (GCC) for Boeing's corporate offices in Chicago and in the broader Great Lakes region. Cassel managed the region’s charitable portfolio to ensure that all investments and activities align with company strategy and result in lasting success within the local community.
As a scientist, clean energy entrepreneur, CEO, and now a member of Congress representing Chicago's western suburbs, Congressman Sean Casten has dedicated his life to combating climate change. In Congress, Casten leverages his private sector experience to develop market-based solutions that reduce emissions, create jobs, and spur economic growth.
While in her role working for the city, Maggie Cullerton Hooper created the first cohesive, long-term plan for public-private partnerships on a citywide scale. She's responsible for Chicago’s strategic engagement with the philanthropic, corporate, and nonprofit sectors as she builds infrastructure and develops innovative initiatives grounded in the lived experience of impacted populations.
In addition to managing regional staff at the Federal Executive Boards, Edgar Delgado is responsible for uniting top federal executives within the region, providing platforms for leaders to unite under a shared vision of government service that's efficient, collaborative, and community-focused. He's a United States Air Force (USAF) veteran where he deployed numerous times.
Bridget Gainer is a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, where she chairs the pension committee and leads the reform of the county's foreclosure policy and treatment of women and mothers incarcerated at Cook County Jail. She also leads Aon’s public strategy group, directing national policy issues.
S. Mayumi "Umi" Grigsby is the chief of policy for the City of Chicago. She's also the chair and a commissioner on the Cook County Human Rights Commission and serves on the board of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. Previously, she was chief of staff at the Chicago Foundation for Women and the chief of policy and advocacy for the Office of the City Clerk of Chicago, under City Clerk Anna Valencia.
Adam Gypalo is a vice president at Resolute Public Affairs, a national public affairs and strategic advisory firm in Chicago. Recognized for his ability to navigate difficult legislative, policy, and political engagements on behalf of public and private sector organizations, Gypalo has worked across nearly every sector, including civic, transportation, infrastructure, and economic development.
