Michael Chiappetta Director of US Financial Services Business Operations & The US Apprentice Network Champion Accenture Meet Michael Chiappetta, a strategic leader at Accenture and a driving force behind the firm’s pioneering Apprenticeship Program. What began as a five-person pilot in Chicago has grown into a national movement, with Accenture hiring over 2,500 apprentices to date. As a founding leader of the Chicago Apprentice Network, Michael has been instrumental in scalin

Richard Klawiter Partner (Retired) DLA Piper Rich F. Klawiter is the former Vice Chair of Real Estate at DLA Piper. After working at the firm for 31 years, Rich is now continuing his commitment to social good as a fellow at the University of Chicago's Leadership and Society Initiative. Continue reading to learn how one cold call from a colleague led to a multi-year workforce success story between DLA Piper and Chicago CRED. What was your role at DLA Piper? I was a partner a

Gernell Turner Senior Coordinator of Workforce Initiatives Chicago Transit Authority Almost since her start in January 2024, Gernell has spearheaded the Citywide Career Fair and developed it into the multi-agency effort that it is today. For jobseekers, the fair is a groundbreaking event that brings together 60+ employers and thousands of sustainable wage career opportunities within in-demand industries; for employers, the fair serves as a great way to tap into Chicago’s unde

Naomi Tolbert Naomi Tolbert CEO Goddess Good Food Naomi Tolbert is the CEO of Goddess Good Food, a consumer packaged goods company based in Chicago. While serving up delicious frozen pizzas, Naomi is looking to deliver new opportunities to Chicagoland youth interested in what the food industry has to offer. Continue reading to learn how Flavor Futures–a collaborative effort between Goddess Good Food and Youth Job Center–is investing in the future of the region’s workforce.