Meet the 2018 Chicago Consular Corps Gala Award Winners

Chicago’s Top Leaders Honored at the Annual International Event

On November 30, World Business Chicago and Chicago Sister Cities International will host the Chicago Consular Corps Gala: Celebrating Chicago’s Global Community.

As Chicago’s premier international event with more than 600 guests, this black-tie evening honors the Chicago Consular Corps—an international group representing 86 countries around the world—and celebrates their longstanding relationship with the city’s business leaders. The event also honors indviduals for making Chicago a more innovative, international and inclusive city. 

This year, the Chicago Consular Corps Gala will give the following awards. The distinguished Global Citizen Award to Oscar Munoz, CEO of Chicago’s hometown airline, United. With O’Hare as the most connected airport in the US and second-most connected in the world, United is at the center of Chicago’s global reach with more international routes serving Chicago than any other airline. Munoz is being honored by World Business Chicago and the Chicago Consular Corps for his extraordinary contributions to the international reputation, stature, and outreach of Chicago.

Also on the international front, every year Chicago Sister Cities International (CSCI) recognizes a volunteer committee member who has played an important role in furthering their mission to promote Chicago as a global city, develop international partnerships and networks, and share best practices through citizen-to-citizen connections. This year, the CSCI Volunteer of the Year Award will go to Camille Julmy, Co-Chair of the Lucerne Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International (CSCI) and Vice-Chairman of CBRE. Throughout his twenty years of volunteer service to CSCI, Julmy has been a champion of citizen diplomacy and has worked tirelessly to expand Chicago’s global ties.

Chicago’s technology and innovation community has also received numerous accolades in 2018. Adding to that list is Kristi Ross, co-CEO and President of tastytrade who is set to receive this year’s ChicagoNEXT award. The award is given to a leader for their commitment to advancing cutting-edge technology and innovation as well as a dedication to civic life. As one of the fastest growing fintech companies in the world, tastytrade works to level the playing field with disruptive technologies. In 2017 they launched tastyworks, a high-speed technology brokerage firm with low fees and capped commissions. Kristi Ross is tastytrade’s ambassador to the Chicago community and beyond, specifically focusing on young women in tech and entrepreneurship.

Lastly, this year’s Corporate Ambassador award honors a company that has helped to raise Chicago’s profile as a premier global business destination and contributed to the economic growth of the city, and this year’s award goes to McDonald’s Corporation and accepted by Robert Gibbs, EVP & Global Chief Communications Officer.  With 2,000 people and their global headquarters now based right here in Chicago, McDonald’s has helped drive inclusive growth, created jobs all while fostering international business activity to put Chicago at the forefront of the global economy.

 The 2018 Chicago Consular Corps Gala will take place this year on November 30 at the Hilton Hotel. This annual event also provides scholarships for students at the University of Illinois-Chicago.