CHICAGO, IL (May 23, 2017) – Chicago United recently announced that Cecelia Bolden, Chief Delivery Officer, of SDI Presence, is one of 50 local business executives to be featured in its newest Business Leaders of Color (BLC) publication. The business advocacy group created this publication to highlight exceptional corporate and civic leaders who currently serve, or are ready to contribute, as board directors for Fortune 1,000 companies.
The Chicago United Business Leaders of Color are recognized as individuals who, in the face of complex global economies, have combined vision with the ability to execute on strategies. They have led large scale operations domestically and internationally with a focus on innovation and a keen ability to drive transformational change in their organizations.
Chicago United has presented the Business Leaders of Color publication biennially since 2003. Past BLC members include former First Lady Michelle Obama, Valerie B. Jarrett, former senior advisor to former President Barack Obama, Aylwin B. Lewis, chairman, chief executive officer, and president, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Lou Nieto, Board member, AutoZone, Ryder Systems Inc. & Fresh and Ready Foods, Eric S.Smith, Chicago Market president, Fifth Third Bank, Don Thompson, retired chief executive officer of McDonald’s Corporation, M. Michelle Blaise, senior vice president, ComEd, An Exelon Company.
The publication features individuals ready for boards of directors’ positions, with a broad range of professional experience and proven track records of success to offer the greater business community. Through their identification, Chicago United helps to accelerate inclusion of professionals of color in board governance.
These individuals were selected from a nominations pool of more than 195 exceptionally qualified nominees from a wide variety of product and service industries.
Cecelia Bolden is a recognized leader in the systems integration arena, having designed and delivered numerous systems ranging from small custom solutions to enterprise-wide solutions. Ms. Bolden’s history includes 25 years of experience in the information systems industry with Accenture, Oracle Corporation, MCI/WorldCom, marchFIRST and divine, Inc. as well as a host of clients in both government and private sectors. Her specific expertise includes workforce management solutions, quality management, project management, packaged software implementations, customer support and custom system design and delivery.
At SDI, Cecelia manages large-scale, enterprise, full lifecycle projects with hands-on practical experience in the discovery, design, development and deployment of Enterprise-Wide and Custom Developed IT Solutions. She has vast experience in Operational Improvement, which allows her to direct and manage the development and implementation of business process, systems, and change initiatives that focus on re-organizing operations, improving operational performance, implementing cost-cutting initiatives and improving financial return.
“Chicago United is proud to have showcased 320 board-ready candidates biennially between 2003 and 2015,” said Gloria Castillo, president and CEO of Chicago United. “During this time, these men and women have rendered service in more than 215 corporate directorships. It is a remarkable record and we anticipate many of the 2017 BLC will join the ranks of their predecessors.”
About SDI
Mission-critical systems integrator SDI delivers intelligent technology solutions to ensure client performance, security and revenue generation. With a 20-year corporate resume, SDI addresses the higher IT demands of critical environments to deliver zero downtime, enhanced security and risk mitigation strategies. SDI is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), with a portfolio of clients that includes some of the nation’s largest airports, commercial real estate portfolios, national banks and financial services organizations. SDI delivers deep technical expertise with an agile delivery model focused on complete customer satisfaction.
About Chicago United
Chicago United is a corporate membership and advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve parity in economic opportunity for people of color by advancing multiracial leadership in corporate governance, executive level management, and business diversity. Founded in 1968, the organization is focused on transforming the Chicago region into the most inclusive business ecosystem in the nation by engaging the top publicly and privately held corporations in leading talent management and inclusive diversity practices. Chicago United’s signature programs include its Business Leaders of Color publication which showcases a diverse pool of corporate director candidates and the Five Forward Initiative™, designed to invigorate job creation in communities of color by increasing the scale of large MBEs in the Chicago region.