CHICAGO (March 30, 2022) – The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago today announced the newly appointed members of the Advisory Council on Small Business, Community and Economic Development, Agriculture and Labor.
Council members serve a two-year term and meet twice a year to provide their views on current economic conditions to Chicago Fed President Charles Evans and other senior Bank officials. Input from Council members on regional economic conditions contributes to the Federal Reserve System’s formulation of national monetary policy.
Council members represent a cross section of the region’s economy. They bring various expertise from private companies, labor organizations, academia, banks, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, and government. Council members are from throughout the Seventh Federal Reserve District, which encompasses Iowa and most of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
For more information about the Advisory Council on Small Business, Community and Economic Development, Agriculture and Labor, visit the Advisory Council section of ChicagoFed.org.
The following is a list of the new members:
Small Business, Agriculture and Labor Sub-Council
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Geri AglipayEntrepreneurship Subject Matter ExpertPresidential AppointeeChicago, IL
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Sharon BardPrincipalTerra EconomicsFairmount, IL
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Brian CalleyPresident and CEOSmall Business Association of MichiganPortland, MI
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Sherry Early-AdenExecutive DirectorIncremental Development AllianceFort Wayne, IN
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Pamela FendtResearch DirectorWisconsin Laborers’ Union (Laborers’ International Union of North America)Wauwatosa, WI
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Craig FreedmanCEOFreedman Seating CompanyChicago, IL
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Jason HestorPresidentGreater Columbus Indiana Economic Development Corporation
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Mary IsbisterOwnerGenMet CorporationMequon, WI
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Paul JonesSmall Business Network DirectorInvest DetroitBirmingham, MI
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Bryon KirwanCentral National EconomistUnited States Department of AgricultureSeymour, IL
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Kyle McMahonFounder & CEOTractor ZoomWaukee, IA
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Kimberley RuddPresident and Senior CounselorRudd Resources, LLCChicago, IL
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Jean Marie ThielPresident and CEOBelonger CorporationWest Bend, WI
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Don VillarSecretary and TreasurerChicago Federation of LaborChicago, IL
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Charles WishmanPresidentIowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIODes Moines, IA
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Brandon ZickChief Investment OfficerCeres Partners, LLCEdwardsburg, MI
Community and Economic Development Sub-Council
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Marie BarryDirector of Community Economic DevelopmentRural Wisconsin Health CooperativeVerona, WI
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Lindsay BlumerPresident & CEOWRTP | Big StepMilwaukee, WI
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Sharon BushPresidentGrand Victoria FoundationChicago, IL
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Jonathan ChapparoExecutive Director of Innovation Implementation & Head of ChicagoBravenChicago, IL
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Kristin FaustExecutive DirectorIllinois Housing Development AuthorityChicago, IL
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Roberto GallardoDirectorPurdue Center for Regional DevelopmentWest Lafayette, IN
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George GuyCEOFort Wayne Housing AuthorityFort Wayne, IN
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Darlene HightowerPresident and CEOMetropolitan Planning CouncilChicago, IL
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George HintonCEOCommunity Relations-Social Development CommissionMilwaukee, WI
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Ruth JohnsonPublic Policy DirectorCommunity Development Advocates of DetroitWarren, MI
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Seung KimVice President of Economic Development ProgramsLocal Initiatives Support CorporationChicago, IL
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Robert McGheeSenior Vice PresidentCommunity Economic Development Market ManagerFifth Third BankChicago, IL
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Marc NormanPrincipal – Ideas and ActionFaculty Director – Weiser Center for Real Estate, University of MichiganAnn Arbor, MI
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Robert PalmerGeneral Counsel and Director of Government AffairIowa League of CitiesWest Des Moines, IA
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Edgar RamirezPresident and CEOChicago CommonsChicago, IL
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Background
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks that, along with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., make up the nation’s central bank. The Chicago Reserve Bank serves the seventh Federal Reserve District, which encompasses the northern portions of Illinois and Indiana, southern Wisconsin, the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and the state of Iowa. In addition to participation in the formulation of monetary policy, each Reserve Bank supervises member banks and bank holding companies, provides financial services to depository institutions and the U.S. government, and monitors economic conditions in its District.