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October 11–14, 2026 | Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center | All times Eastern
Recap | Chicago Gatherings & Connections
NACD Chicago was present throughout Summit! Attendees met fellow chapter members, joined chapter gatherings, and heard from Chicago directors, companies, and chapter sponsors on stage.
Below is the schedule of Chicago Chapter members who presented.
Chicago @ Summit Welcome Experience
SPOTLIGHT
Sunday
9 AM-1 PM
Location: Potomac Foyer
The Welcome Experience
The Welcome Experience
NACD Chicago was featured in the Central Region. Chapter lead Greg Hedges and Operations lead Sandra Jennings-Curry welcomed attendees, introduced them to fellow Chicago members, and helped them start Summit with familiar faces. NACD Chicago members picked up a Chicago skyline pin to wear throughout the event. Photography and videography captured some of the welcome’s most exciting moments
Sunday
1:30-3:00 PM
Location: Woodrow Wilson A
Audit Workshop Part 1 Led by KPMG
Audit Workshop Part 1 Led by KPMG
Chicago connection: Claudia Allen (KPMG)
Chicago connection: Claudia Allen (KPMG)
A conversation with the SEC on priorities and audit committee oversight is followed by a discussion of regulatory risk, cyber, data governance, and AI.
A conversation with the SEC on priorities and audit committee oversight is followed by a discussion of regulatory risk, cyber, data governance, and AI.
Sunday
1:30-3:00 PM
Location: National Harbor 2-3
Board Bound: A Strategic Guide to Landing Your First (and Next) Board Seat
Chicago connection: Donna Zarcone, NACD.DC, former CEO, Economic Club of Chicago, many-time NACD Chicago presenter, catalyst
This workshop is designed to help aspiring directors who are seeking their first board seat—or sitting directors looking for their next board seat—to learn about the process of positioning oneself for the board.
Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the importance of networking, building needed experience, and developing your value proposition, as well as the role that search firms, executive coaches, and mentors can play in this process.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to share and refine their “elevator pitch” with feedback. This session will provide valuable, real-world insights into the challenges and opportunities of pursuing board service.
Sunday
3:30-5:00 PM
Location: Annapolis Ballroom
Investor Lenses: Activists and the Investor Ecosystem (Led by Russell Reynolds Associates)
Investor Lenses: Activists and the Investor Ecosystem (Led by Russell Reynolds Associates)
Chicago connection: Ted Dysart, NACD.DC, Rich Stoddart, Cindie Jamison
Chicago connection: Ted Dysart, NACD.DC, Rich Stoddart, Cindie Jamison
A two-part, 90-minute session that treats investor activism as a lived problem of investor incentives and coalition dynamics. The first half deconstructs activist campaigns – why targets are chosen and how campaigns are built and escalated. The second half examines how the rest of the investor community responds: what persuades major shareholders to support management or an activist, and what concrete board actions change that calculus.
A two-part, 90-minute session that treats investor activism as a lived problem of investor incentives and coalition dynamics. The first half deconstructs activist campaigns – why targets are chosen and how campaigns are built and escalated. The second half examines how the rest of the investor community responds: what persuades major shareholders to support management or an activist, and what concrete board actions change that calculus.
Sunday
6:00-7:00 PM
Location: Insight Hub
NACD Chicago Chapter @ the Insight Hub
Attendees stopped by the booth to hear more about the Chicago Chapter and upcoming events. NACD Chicago members picked up a Chicago skyline pin to wear throughout the conference.
Sunday
6:00-6:30 PM
Location:Spark Stage @ Insight Hub
Harry Kraemer Interview in Insight Hub
Harry Kraemer Interview in Insight Hub
Author Talk: What Won't You Tolerate? Moderator: Dylan Sandlin, Program Manager, NACD, Harry Kraemer, Author From Values to Action, Jeff Saviano, Author Boundaries of Tolerance
Author Talk: What Won't You Tolerate? Moderator: Dylan Sandlin, Program Manager, NACD, Harry Kraemer, Author From Values to Action, Jeff Saviano, Author Boundaries of Tolerance
Day 2
Monday, October 12
Monday, October 12
SPOTLIGHT
Monday
8:30-10:30 AM
Location: National Harbor 4–5
Forging Ahead: Navigating the New Political and Regulatory Landscape for Boards
Chicago connection: Mary Smith, NACD Chicago catalyst, and Anthony Foxx, directors with Chicago-based CDW.
Join fellow Chicago members for this timely conversation about policy and regulatory change, trade, and stakeholder trust. Mary Smith and Anthony Foxx join Rod Cotton and Shannon Nash on the panel. Let’s fill the room in support of our Chicago directors.
Monday
8:30-10:30 AM
Location: National Harbor 4–5
Board Readiness for High-Pressure Crises
Chicago connection: John Skakun and Katie LaVoy (Sidley); Jeff McAndrews (FGS Global).
John Skakun, Katie LaVoy, Jeff McAndrews, and Brenda Morris examine how boards can prepare for cyber incidents, geopolitical disruption, and other high-pressure crises through clear escalation pathways, response protocols, and disciplined decision-making.
SPOTLIGHT
Chicago Chapter Lunch | Tables 31, 32, 33, 34
Attendees found the tables marked NACD Chicago during the Summit lunch. They sat with fellow chapter members, renewed acquaintances, and met directors from across the region.
Monday
10:50-11:50 PM
Location: National Harbor 10-11
Big Changes, Big Opportunities: Managing a Private Company Board Refresh
Chicago connection: Andy Gilicinski, NACD.DC
Director succession is a key part of governance. On occasion, a private company may need deeper change—or a reboot—of its board composition. This panel explores how two multigenerational, family-owned firms successfully navigated deep governance transformations and landed with stronger boards and improved governance.
SPOTLIGHT
Monday
3:00-4:00 PM
Location: National Harbor 12–13
Building Competitive Advantage Through Values Based Leadership in the Age of AI and Uncertainty and Chicago Group Photo
Chicago connection: Harry Kraemer Jr., Northwestern Kellogg professor and ever-popular NACD Chicago presenter.
Come hear Harry Kraemer Jr. and Khwaja Shaik discuss values, judgment, and trust in the age of AI.
Monday
3:00-4:00 PM
Location: Potomac C
Human Capital Governance, AI, and the Evolving Role of the Board
Chicago connection: John Bremen and Kenneth Kuk (WTW)
Explore how boards are rethinking AI investment, workforce productivity, talent development, and resilience.
Monday
4:20-5:20 PM
Location: National Harbor 4-5
Ask the Scary Questions: How Directors Can Help Management See Around Corners
Chicago connection: David Garfield of Lurie Children’s.
A discussion of the questions directors can ask to surface emerging risks and challenge assumptions.
Monday
4:20-5:20 PM
Location: National Harbor 2-3
From AI Experimentation to Enterprise Impact: What Boards Should Be Asking Now
Chicago connection: Diane Gherson, Kraft Heinz director.
Examine the board’s questions as AI moves from pilots toward enterprise value.
Monday
4:20-5:20 PM
Location: National Harbor 10-11
The Electricity Bottleneck: Can Business Operations and AI Data Centers Coexist?
Chicago connection: Matt Rogers of Exelon.
Consider the growing power demands of AI data centers and the implications for business operations and resilience.
Monday
4:20-5:20 PM
Location: Woodrow Wilson B-D
The Trust Imperative: Transparency and Vulnerability as Leadership Assets in the Boardroom
Chicago connection: Cindie Jamison, chair of Darden Restaurants; director and audit committee chair of IFF; director of Advance Auto Parts.
Cindie Jamison and Marie Oh Huber explore trust in the boardroom, the board–CEO and chair–CEO partnerships, managing dissent, and greater transparency in chair succession.
Day 3
Tuesday, October 13
Tuesday, October 13
Tuesday
10:50–11:50 AM
Location: National Harbor 2-3
Blind Spots in the Boardroom
Chicago connection: Frank Kurre and Evelyn Dilsaver (Protiviti); Tracy McKibben (Ecolab)
Frank Kurre, Tracy McKibben, Jodi Marlette, and Evelyn Dilsaver examine the blind spots that can limit board judgment.
Tuesday
10:50–11:50 AM
Location: Woodrow Wilson A
Cybersecurity at Machine Speed: What Boards Must Prioritize Now
Chicago connection: Vikram Desai (Accenture)
Explore the board’s priorities as cyber threats and AI accelerate.
Tuesday
10:50–11:50 AM
Location: Annapolis Ballroom
Traits of a Tech Driven Board: Governing at the Speed of Change in the AI Era
Chicago connection: Michael Lyman (Accenture))
Discuss the capabilities and governance practices boards need amid rapid technology change.
Tuesday
3:15–4:15 PM
Location: National Harbor 4–5
When Strategy Meets Reality: The Board’s Role in Execution Oversight
Chicago connection: Claudia Allen (KPMG)
Claudia Allen joins a discussion of how boards can connect strategy with effective execution.
Tuesday
4:35–5:35 PM
Location: National Harbor 12–13
Mastering Leadership Transitions: The Board’s Role in Securing
the C-Suite
Chicago connection: Linda Amuso (Aon)
Explore how boards can prepare for consequential transitions in senior leadership.
Tuesday
4:35-5:35 PM
Location: National Harbor 10–11
Wiley: Pivoting a 200 Plus Year Legacy
Chicago connection: Katya Andresen, Wiley director and Cigna executive.
Hear how Wiley has navigated digital transformation while preserving its mission and long standing strengths.
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