Part 2 of the Chicago Made Series @ UNIQLO! Julie Felix of Mesirow Financial and Tom Alexander, COO of 1871 will discuss strategies to infuse your workplace with more diversity and create a more inclusive environment. Participants in this workshop will hear techniques, specific ideas and case studies about different ways to craft a more welcoming environment at your company.
This event has ended.
The event will also focus on measuring diversity and inclusion at your company and will feature an open discussion where participants can ask questions, share best practices, and present their own ideas.
About Julie Félix
Julie Félix is the manager of Diversity and Inclusion at Mesirow Financial. In her role, she is responsible for planning and directing the overall activities and function of diversity and inclusion at Mesirow Financial. Her responsibilities include recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce, maintaining an inclusive work environment, improving cultural competency and aligning diversity and inclusion initiatives with business priorities. Prior to joining Mesirow Financial in 2015, Julie had seven years of global non-profit work experience in micro finance, education and hunger relief. She has traveled to over 25 countries and speaks Spanish fluently. Julie earned a BA from Saint Louis University and an MS from DePaul University. She holds a Professional Human Resources Certification and the Claritas certification from the CFA Institute. Julie is a member of the Women’s Board of the Chicago Urban League.
About Tom Alexander
Tom Alexander is chief operating officer for 1871, one of the largest technology incubators in the United States. His role includes operation of a facility that houses hundreds of startups, business development efforts focused on integrating 1871 into the Chicago technology economy, and external relations efforts with government and media partners.
Previously, Tom served as deputy communications director for Mayor Rahm Emanuel. In his role with the Mayor’s office he oversaw day-to-day communication strategy and long-term planning, including events, written press materials, and coordination among city agencies. He additionally played a leading role on the Mayor’s economic council, working to attract and retain companies and jobs to Chicago.
Prior to his time in the Mayor’s office, Tom served as a senior communications director at the University of Chicago, a policy and communications projects director in the Office of the Governor of Illinois, and a senior disaster analyst for the U.S. Small Business Administration in Washington, DC. He has also worked as a newspaper reporter, editor of an online business publication, adjunct professor of journalism, and was founder of a small sports newspaper.
Tom has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Chicago and a master’s in public policy administration from Northwestern University. He is a notary public, and was recently selected by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar as a 2014 Edgar Fellow. Tom was selected by the Aparecio Foundation for their inaugural “14 under 45″ class in the summer of 2015. Tom lives in Chicago’s Old Irving Park neighborhood with his wife Tiffany, four-year-old son Ben, one-year-old twins Lyla and Sam, and black lab Johnny Cash. | @tomalexander19
About the Chicago Made Series @ UNIQLO.
1871 and global fashion retailer UNIQLO join forces to bring you Chicago Made, a four-part event series at the UNIQLO Michigan Avenue store. Through a series of high-energy talks from Chicago's top innovators and influencers, Discover how Chicago is shaping the face of global technology and leading the way in creating faster, smarter, cleaners solutions to everyday problems. From the Internet of Things to bitcoin to artificial intelligence, our city is making the world a better place -- one innovation at a time.
