WHEREAS, Fraricesca Maher Edwardson, Chief Executive Officer ofthe American Red Cross, Greater Chicago Region, a chartered unit of the American Red Cross, has announced her intention to step down from her position in early 2016; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of her retirement by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Francesca Maher Edwardson has provided outstanding guidance and leadership to the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, serving more than 9.4 million people in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties and Northwest Indiana for more than ten years; and
WHEREAS, Francesca Maher Edwardson is the daughter ofthe late Edward Marciniak, former Deputy Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Development and Planning and President of the Chicago Institute of Urban Life at Loyola University, and Virginia Volini Marciniak, the founder of Arts North; and
WHEREAS, Francesca Maher Edwardson is a graduate of Loyola University with degrees in economics and law, both earned with honors; and
WHEREAS, In May 1984, Francesca Maher Edwardson received an appointment to serve as Director of the Securities Department for the State of Illinois from Secretary of State Jim Edgar; and
WHEREAS, As the first woman to hold this key posting, Francesca Maher Edwardson served with distinction until January 1987; and
WHEREAS, Upon leaving state government, Francesca Maher Edwardson joined the corporate/securities group as a partner at the Chicago office of the law firm of Mayer Brown from 1989 to 1993; and
WHEREAS, UAL Corporation, a predecessor to United Continental Holdings Inc., and its principal subsidiary United Airlines, appointed Francesca Maher Edwardson Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; and
WHEREAS, In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Francesca Maher Edwardson, as a member ofthe corporate executive team, effectively met the overwhelming challenges facing UAL and helped steer th...
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