Mamta Bhargava, Grainger
VP, Manufacturing and Construction

Mamta Bhargava leads Grainger's Manufacturing and Construction segment. In this role she is responsible for crafting and delivering the growth strategy to meet financial goals, by leveraging Grainger's integrated demand channels. Ms. Bhargava has over 15 years of experience in general management, marketing, P&L, business development, and client management. Prior to Grainger, Ms. Bhargava was Senior Vice President at General Electric (GE), where she launched GE's Location Based Services technology.

Nancy Chen, Women's Bureau, US Department of Labor
Regional Administrator

Nancy Chen leads the Midwest regional office of the Women's Bureau, the only federal agency designated by Congress to address issues and concerns of working women. She directs and develops the regional programs promoting better jobs, better earnings and better livings for working women in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. Under Nancy's leadership, the regional office promotes non-traditional occupations for women including science, technology and engineering careers, financial literacy and workplace flexibility through outreach and education. Nancy's career highlights public and community service in Illinois and Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the Women's Bureau, Nancy served as Director of Asian Pacific American Outreach at the Office of Presidential Personnel in the Clinton White House. Before that, Nancy was Director of U.S. Senator Paul Simon's Chicago office overseeing the Senator's legislative and constituent program relating to Chicago and northern Illinois for six years. Nancy currently serves on the Board of Counselors at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. She was a member of the Illinois Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights for over ten years. Nancy received the Risk Taker and Enabler Award from the Organization of Chinese Americans in 2004, the 2009 Milestone Award from the Asian American Institute and the 2009 Harris Bank Edward J. Williams Community Service Award. She is also the recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Career Service Award from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Anu GeorgeGE, VP, Wholesale Inventory Finance, GE Capital Americas, Commercial Distribution Finance

Anu is currently the Vice President – Wholesale Inventory Finance, GE Capital Americas, located in Chicago, Illinois. In her current role, Anu is responsible for both the back end and front-end processes for the newly formed Operations COE. She is responsible for teams in US, Canada & India. Prior to this role, Anu was formerly the Vice President, Operations & Quality in CDF where she held the responsibilities for the centralized Operations and Lean Six Sigma teams. In her role as the Quality leader, Anu has led several Enterprise wide projects to drive increased revenue & productivity. Anu has been with GE for close to 15 years and prides herself on being part of a great organization. She has diverse experience, with stints in Sales, Marketing, Operations and Quality. She has primarily been with two organizations, Unilever and GE. She joined GE in 1995 as Marketing Manager at GE Money in Mumbai, India, and has since then help leadership roles in Operations & Quality, in India & the United States. Anu completed her education in Mumbai, India. She received her Bachelor's degree in Commerce and Accounting & her MBA both from the University of Mumbai.

Sonya Gong Jent, State Farm
VP Operations, Multicultural Business Development Group

Sonya Gong is a Vice President of Operations at State Farm's Multicultural Business Development Group. She has worked in the insurance industry for 21 years, starting with the State Farm in 1987 as an auto claim representative. As a registered lobbyist, Sonya also worked with the media on regulatory issues and philanthropic efforts in both states. Working her way up the leadership ranks, Sonya was named Vice President of Operations in the Southern Zone – Atlanta, GA in 2006. As VP of Operations she oversaw Human Resources, Learning and Development, Marketing, Public Affairs and managed the Developmental Agency Field Offices for a four-state zone. Sonya actively engages in the Asian Community and enjoys volunteering in the community, and has actively served on numerous boards. She was instrumental in helping coordinate the efforts to start the Central IL Chapter of OCA and has served as the keynote speaker & panelist for GenerAsian NeXt, an Asian Youth Leadership Conference in Columbus, Ohio. Her accomplishments include being selected for Leadership Birmingham, as an APAWLI Fellow, and Birmingham delegate to "America's Promise" in Philadelphia. Gong is also the recipient of the Organization of Chinese Americans Corporate Achievement Award, the OCA National Community Service Award, named as recipient of the Who's Who in Asian American Communities and a nominee of OSU's Fisher College of Business Diversity Award. She is currently a member of the OCA Central Illinois Chapter, Executive Sponsor of AsiaNet Employee Resource Group at State Farm and serves as a Senior Advisor to the NAAAP National Board and Chicago Chapter. Sonya is also an active member of the community and church.

Mae Hong
Director Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Mae opened the Chicago office of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors in the fall of 2009. In this role she is responsible for building RPA's presence in serving individual donors, foundations and corporations throughout the Midwest. Bringing 15 years of nonprofit and philanthropy experience to RPA, she previously served as Program Director at the Field Foundation of Illinois, where she oversaw grant making across six funding areas: Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, Health, Human Services, and Urban & Community Affairs. Other responsibilities included internal operations and management. Her funding expertise includes children, youth and families; poverty alleviation; women and girls' issues; and advocacy. She has also been actively involved in RPA's leadership on the issue of diversity in philanthropy.  Mae actively participates in local and national philanthropic associations and networks, serving in leadership roles on committees, engaging in public speaking opportunities, and facilitating planning and execution of philanthropic initiatives. She is the immediate past chair of the board of Chicago Foundation for Women.  Other board service includes the Executive Committee of the Donors Forum and the Project on Civic Reflection.   Mae also serves on the Governance Committee and the Committee on Diversity and Inclusiveness of the Council on Foundations.  She completed her graduate work in social service administration at The University of Chicago. Prior to entering the nonprofit sector, she worked in the publishing industry for several years following her graduation from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

David Lum, Motorola
Director Asia/Pacific Product and Support Operations

David Lum is the Director of Asia/Pacific Product & Support Operations for the Government & Public Safety business in Motorola, where he manages supply chain, and spectrum & Standards for the Asia/Pacific region. For over 26 years, David worked in the land mobile two-way radio business and has extensive experience in a wide variety of markets and applications that use two-way voice and wireless data radio systems. David's work experience includes product development, systems marketing, manufacturing, systems engineering, field engineering, project management, sales and engineering training, and business development. David has a Bachelor's of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Master's of Science degree in Management from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. In his spare time, David serves as a Business Professor at the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, teaching courses in global business, and effective leadership. David also served for 3-1/2 years as President of the Asian Business Council in Motorola, a twice-award-winning employee-based network, and as a senior advisory council member for the National Association of Asian American Professionals. David is also an Advanced Communicator Bronze in his Toastmasters club in Schaumburg. Born and raised in the US, David is married to his beautiful wife for 26 years, has two great teenage sons, and lives in the Chicagoland area.

Jody Oshita-Bajor, NBC-5 Chicago
Manager, Business Development, Marketing & Interactive Sales

Jody Oshita-Bajor is a veteran broadcast Sales & Marketing professional who is currently the Manager of Business Development Sales, Marketing & Interactive Sales for NBC 5 CHICAGO/nbcchicago.com. She came to the NBC 5 Television station in January, 1999 from ESPN Radio as Local Sales Manager in 1998. Prior to ESPN, she spent 9-1/2 years with the LOOP Radio(WLUP-FM 97.9)and AM 1000(WMVP-AM), starting out as an Account Executive and moving to positions as Director of Chicago Blackhawks Sports Sales, Sales Manager and Local Sales Manager of AM 1000. Jody began her career at an advertising agency, Stern Walters/Earle Ludgin, Inc. where she served as Research Associate, Media Planner and Media Buyer of all mediums, including Print; Consumer and Trade publications, Newspaper, Radio, Television, Outdoor and Direct Mail advertising. A native of Chicago, Jody attended the University of Illinois at Chicago and is active in the community, serving on various boards and committees, including the Chicago Gateway Green Board of Directors; The University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation Women's Board; Board of (JASC) Japanese American Service Committee and former board member of the BAC (Broadcast Advertising Club of Chicago).

Lisa Synek, CDW
Director Compensation

Lisa Synek is Director of Compensation at CDW and works closely with Dennis Berger, Sr. Vice President, Coworker Services. Lisa is instrumental in organizational strategy and development on executive compensation, commission structures, and broad based pay plans while managing the Human Resources Information Systems. She also leads and develops key processes such as merit, long-term incentive plans, banding, discretionary bonuses, and senior management incentive plans along with long-term incentive proposals. Since Lisa transferred to the Coworkers Services Department as a Compensation Manager in February 1, 2006, she has made a significant impact to the organization through the design of the sales compensation plan along with development of a bridge-plan for the integration of Berbee. Prior to the organization becoming private, Lisa led the modeling for a long-term incentive design and discretionary stock option award process. Lisa joined CDW in April 2002, as a Financial Analyst. She was promoted twice during her tenure in Finance. Prior to Lisa's association with CDW, she held multiple positions with progressive responsibilities; starting her career as a Staff Accountant to a Plant Accountant where she controlled an operating budget of $36 million for three plants. She has seven years of finance/accounting experience and two years of compensation.

Damavanti Vasudevan, Motorola
Director Asia/Pacific Product and Support Operations

Dr. Vasudevan, is an organizational development, leadership and psychometrics professional with 28 years of experience in consulting, teaching and counseling. As Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at RR Donnelley, she drives inclusion strategies that distinguish RR Donnelley as a partner of choice in the workplace, marketplace and community. Also, as President of the RR Donnelley Foundation, she is responsible for aligning Community Relations and Foundation strategies with grant making activities. Dr. Vasudevan holds a Ph.D. in Management and an M.S. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Recognitions include CAMR HR Executive of the Year, Odds Busters and Dream Makers Award, Chitrahar Woman of the Year, Chicago Mayor Daley's Certificate of Appreciation. Her external involvements include, Global Summit of Women's International Planning Committee, Robert Morris University Graduate Advisory Board, Chicago Workforce Board, Harvard Kennedy School of Government's Women's Leadership Board, University of Illinois Chancellor's Leadership Council, and Empowering Women Network Advisory Board.

Gina Yeo-Bennett, CDW
Senior Consultant, Organizational Capability

Gina is a Senior Consultant in CDW's Organizational Capability department. She relocated to the US from Malaysia in 2006. Prior to this, she was engaged in regional consulting in South East Asia. Gina has 20 years experience in change management, organizational development, performance management, and talent management. She also co-founded her own consulting company in Malaysia and grew it into a successful multi-million turnover business before taking her next career path toward regional consulting. Gina has demonstrated success in leading initiatives involving organizational development, employee engagement, culture change, and organizational talent strategy. Her international work experience has spanned across multi-cultural environment and various industries including food & beverage, manufacturing, automotive, hotel & hospitality, retail, property development, and financial institutions. In her current role, Gina partners with multiple stakeholders in CDW to focus on capability building through strategic leadership, performance, and talent development. Gina has 3 children; two are in college and the youngest is a high-school sophomore. She loves to travel to exotic countries, meditate, cook and mountain trekking.