Out with the old...in with the new. Welcome Linda LaSala.

Linda LaSala & Lisa Ackerman

As we wrap up 2013, and I hand over the Regional Director duties for FGI, Chicago, to Linda LaSala, I reflect on the Programming and Branding / Communication accomplishments this Board of Directors has achieved over the last 2 years.  

First and foremost, we increased our "voice" exponentially by strengthening  our digital presence.   In today's world, your online presence not only serves as a communication objective, but it -  simply put, validates your existence.   

We created a Blog, a YouTube Channel, Newsletters, updated the chicago.fgi.org website with upcoming AND past event coverage and tripled the number of our Facebook Fans.  

The FGI, Chicago Media Kit created this year is an excellent branding/communications tool we developed to educate our community on "Who we are AND what we do".   

We forged and  aligned partnerships with city government supported entities and new non-profit, community-focused  businesses.  All aligned with a similar objectives; to develop, support and promote professionalism in the design and lifestyle related industries in Chicago.

These accomplishments were realized with no marketing budget, but through the volunteer service efforts of our Board and some stellar Interns.  

Finally, this Board  continued with the Programming mission to bring our Membership professional development content that is current, industry relevant and community connected.  My personal top 3 favorite events  of my Term were; Branding & "Communications for a Digital Era", "Funding Your Future" and "Delivering the Digital Experience".   

It is now time to wish you all Happy Holidays!   And, to introduce you to our new Regional Director of FGI, Chicago, and one of my favorite people, Linda LaSala.  

Cheers!  

Lisa Ackerman

Linda LaSala

Linda has spent over 25 years working as a buyer, designer, and product developer for private label programs. She has worked for or developed product for America’s major retailers, including JC Penney, Dillards, Bon Ton, Macy’s, J.Crew, Sears, Tweeds, the Weathervane, Lane Bryant, Express and more. Her expertise lies mostly in knitwear and she has been known in the industry as a go-to developer of patterns and color ways.

 In 2005, when fashion web sites and blogs were just gaining prominence, she created girlawhirl.com, an online magazine for women, as a way to leverage all the trend, travel and fashion information that she gathered as a result of her ‘day job.’ Over the course of the next 3 years, the site grew to be in the top 20,000 web sites in the world and held top google® rankings for many fashion and women-centric search terms. In 2007, while trying to create an online program to stimulate registrations and referrals, she hit on the idea of sharing coupons and daily deals, coining the term Girlawhirl Group-ons, which was trademarked. Later the trademark was sold to a Chicago based company who continue to explode the idea worldwide.

A forward thinker who understands that the next big idea is usually right in front of us, Linda keeps her eyes and mind open to the possibilities. She has just completed a master’s degree that focuses on how women make their fashion shopping decisions and how product developers can use this information to streamline their process and create more trend-right merchandise for the mass market.

PROXY

Solicited by The Board of Directors of

The Fashion Group International of Chicago, Inc

The undersigned, revoking previous proxies, hereby appoints Lisa Ackerman, Regional Director; Kerri Hannen, Treasurer; and Monique Lyle, Secretary or each or any of them, with full power of substitution, as attorneys and proxies to appear and vote in the name of the undersigned, at the Annual Meeting of Members of The Fashion Group International of Chicago, Inc to be held on the 14^th day of January, 2014 at 5:30 pm, and at any and all adjournments thereof.  This Proxy will be voted on the Proposals described below as directed herein.  If this Proxy is returned as stated below and no direction is made, this Proxy will be voted FOR the Proposals.  As to any other matter, said attorneys shall vote in accordance with their best judgment.  The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR each of the following Proposals:

To elect the (3) nominees specified below as the Officers of the Corporation;         [  ] FOR                               [  ] WITHHOLD

Regional Director, Treasurer and Secretary, each to serve a                                       all nominees                         authority to vote

term of two years commencing on January 14, 2014 and ending on                       (except as marked               for all nominees

December 31, 2015.                                                                                                            to the contrary)

Linda LaSala                                       Regional Director

Meredith Darnall                                 Treasurer

Erin Falbo                                             Secretary

_____________________________________

(Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee (s)

write the name of the nominee (s) on the line above.)

To elect the (9) nominees specified below as Directors of the Board of the               [  ] FOR                              [  ] WITHHOLD

Corporation, each to serve an initial term of two years commencing on                    all nominees                      authority to vote

 January 14, 2013 and ending on December 31, 2014.                                                                  (except as marked            for all nominees

                                                                                                                                                   to the contrary)

Kevin Sullivan, Birgit Rohm, Mimi Clark, Samantha Tobias

Julie Cameron, Xochil Scheer, Victoria Sinon, LeAnn Dahl, Susy Damon

____________________________________________

 (Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee (s)

write the name of the nominee (s) on the line above.)  

Upon any other business which may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

All proxies must be received either by Email at sdambrosio@mmart.com, fax (312.527-7807) or mail to the Fashion Group of Chicago office, PO Box 4012, Chicago, IL, 60654, no later than noon on January 14, 2014, or by hand at the Annual Meeting of Members on January 14, 2014 commencing at 5:30 pm.  Receipt of the Notice of the Annual Meeting and this Proxy are hereby acknowledged.

Dated:   December 12, 2013

              Chicago, Illinois                                                                                                     __________________________________________

Executive Member Signature            Date

                                                                                                                                                __________________________________________

Executive Member Name Printed    

Fashion Forward Career Day

11/11/2013

Cultural Center

78 E. Washington, Chicago IL

**EVENT PHOTOS HERE**

AGENDA

9:00AM

Keynote Speaker / Wes Gordon - Designer

10:00 AM  

The Future of Fashion

Moderator:  Carrie Lannon

Panelists:

• Corri McFadden / eDrop-Off
• Graham Kostic / Glossed & Found
• Kelly Ryan O'Brien / Chicago Blogger Network

11:00 AM
Lunch / Job Fair

Branding / Marketing
Moderator:  Meredith Darnall / GGP
Panelists:

• Milissa Skoog / Skoog Productions
• Erica Strama / Macerich - Shops at North Bridge
• Ella Swenson / Ella Sven

The Business of Fashion
Moderator:  Andrea Schwartz / Macy's 
Panelists:  Jonathan Cooley

Wholesale / Distribution
Moderator: Pam Iannotta / LFUSA
Panelists:

• Megan Williams / Henry & Belle
• Steven Bair / Statement Showroom
• Herb Moore / Statement Showroom
• Susy Damon / Neiman Marcus

12:00 Lunch / Job Fair

Creative Industries

Moderator:  Susan Glick / MMPI

Panelists:

• Amanda Wolfson / Oak Street Design
• Suzanne Kobulos / SLK Style
• Travis Reed / Creative Visionary Inc.

The Business of Fashion

Moderator: Andrea Schwartz / Macy's

Panelist:  Jonathon Cooley

E-Commerce

Moderator:  Lisa Ackerman / FGI, Chicago Regional Director & IADT

Panelists:

• Jeremiah Green / Purely Fashion
• Erin Gallagher / EG Jewelry
• Brenda DeWeese / Kohl's

The Design Process
Moderator:  Linda LaSala
Panelists:

• Borris Powell / Borris Powell
• Anna Livermore / V Mora
• Karen Hester / Land's End

1:00PM  Lunch / Job Fair

Getting A Job

Moderator:  Melissa Gamble / Columbia College

Panelists:

• Suzy Garcia / Nordstrom
• Jodi Glickman / Great on the Job
• Jill Hinrichs / Career Builder

The Design Process

Moderator:  Linda LaSala
Panelists:

• Borris Powell / Borris Powell
• Anna Livermore / V Mora
• Karen Hester / Land's End

Entrepreneurship

Moderator:  Lisa Ackerman, IADT

Panelists:  

• Kate Leydon
• Jenny Pfanenstiel / Forme Millinery
• Jeremiah Green / Purely Fashion

2:00 PM 
FGI Trend Report / Movie / Shown in YATES
Versailles '76 / Movie / Shown in Claude Cassidy Theater

3:00 PM
FGI Trend Report / Movie / Shown in YATES

Meet Board Member Monique Lyle

Edited by, Lisa Ackerman

Monique Lyle

Fashion Group International, Chicago

Monique Lyle is currently the Marketing Director for the Apparel + Gift Trade Shows at the Merchandise Mart – including STYLEMAX, Chicago Collective & the Chicago Gift Market. Her role includes managing communications, implementing marketing & advertising campaigns and event planning for eight trade shows annually. Monique has been with MMPI for almost 10 years, working her way up from her initial position as a coordinator for STYLEMAX.

Monique is a native of Chicago and enjoys the city every chance she gets – trying new restaurants, riding her bike on the lakefront or walking her Great Dane, Lando.  In the winter she takes advantage of the skiing available throughout the Midwest, having been on the slopes since childhood.

Monique is FGI Chicago’s current Secretary and a long-standing Board Member having supported Programming, Development and Event Management functions for over 6 years. During the last 5 years, she has led the Commuications Committee efforts to effectively establish a digital presence and formulate an effective communications strategy.   A job she has exelled at!  

FGI, Chicago Presents: Branding & Communications for the digital world

Fashion Focus Chicago 2013 and Fashion Group International, Chicago supports the local fashion community with industry events including a full day of free education seminars hosted by the Mayor’s Fashion Council and featuring local fashion organizations, on topics ranging from intellectual property to sourcing locally and internationally to mastering social media.

This year, FGI, Chicago is proud to support this day by presenting "Fashionably Digital:  branding & communications for a digital world". 

Join us for a panel discussion on best practices for an effective and powerful integrated digital presence for the world we live in. 

Information on our exceptional Panel follows below.

Hope to see you all there!

Lisa Ackerman

Regional Director

Lisa Ackerman

Fashion Group International, Chicago

Moderator: 

Lisa Ackerman, Adjunct Faculty

International Academy of Design & Technology

Lisa Ackerman received her BA in Communications from California State University, Fresno and an MBA, Marketing Concentration from DePaul University Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.  She has spent over 15 years working in Marketing Communication roles for global retailers such as; The Florsheim Group Inc., Baker Furniture (Kohler Interiors) and Bentley Travelware.  Most recently, she served as a founding member of Luxe Life Ltd., where she managed all branding, marketing communications and publicity efforts.  Currently, she is an Adjunct Faculty Member at International Academy of Design & Technology teaching:  Integrated Communications, Fashion Marketing and Publicity & Promotion.  She also serves on the Mayor’s Fashion Council and is Regional Director, Fashion Group International, Chicago.

Panelists:

Jake Bruene 

Producer
Leo Burnett

Jake Bruene

While studying at Yale University, Jake Bruene started a YouTube channel.  Teaming up with fellow Yalie Kurt Hugo Schneider, he wrote original music, performed cover songs, produced original content , and even created a musical comedy series ( yes, before Glee :) 

This YouTube channel has since risen to become the 67th Most Subscribed-to YouTube channel in the world. (3,400,000 Subscribers, 680,000,000 views) 

After millions of views on the musical comedy series, Jake and his creative partners receiving funding to make a feature-film adaptation. He wrote the film, helped oversee every aspect of production, and is now in the final stage of negotiations with a major digital distributor.   

Jake has also connected himself to the larger network of content-creators, and today, on behalf of Leo Burnett, he helps to connect brands with these "new age celebrities" for the purposes of creating collaborative content.   Recent examples include the Sprint Holiday Medley (3.5 million views, AdWeek Ad of the Day) and the Nintendo Pokémon Dubstep Remix (3.5 million views in first 7 days), whereby Jake brought Leo Burnett clients together with major YouTube content-creators 

Birgit Rohm

General Manager
Pina LLC dba KatrinSchnabl

Birgit Rohm (standing)

Realizing the vision behind the brand Katrin Schnabl is Birgit Rohm who has worked the business end of the fashion industry for many years. Rohm started as Department Manager and later as Central Buyer for the German department stores Breuninger and Mey & Edlich where she purchased and managed international collections. As head of the buying department for the international luxury brand ESCADA, and later as Division Manager for STRENESSE she developed and structured profitable collections that would set the company apart from the competition. She founded Rohm Consulting LLC in 2012 to implement her chain-of-success strategy with fashion design firms. Rohm and Schnabl formed PINA LLC dba Katrin Schnabl together in 2012.

Alex Sabbag

Principal, AMconsulting

Alex Sabbag

Alex founded AM Consulting in 2010 after spending 5 years working with large consumer brands, including MillerCoors, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and Jimmy John’s, with primary responsibility for media relations and special event production.   Her goal in founding AM Consulting is to strategically implement communications and development strategies to grow the missions of Chicago-based non-profit and community organizations.  Alex has specialized experience in public relations, strategic internal and external communications campaigns, fundraising and both small and large-scale event production.  Merging her expertise in PR and special event production, Alex has worked with some of Chicago's leading philanthropic initiatives, including Friends of Prentice, the Chicagoland Area Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Imerman Angels, the Chicago Training Center, the William Guy Forbeck Research Foundation, Butterflies & Buffalo: Tales of American Culture, and many more.  Displaying a passion for fashion, Alex was has been a 3-year member of Fashion Group International, serving a 2-year term on the board, and supported a number of fashion and beauty initiatives in the Chicagoland area, including the opening of BHLDN and the luxury consignment operation, Luxe Life.  

Fashion Forward, Career Day 2013 Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                

                                               
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES, CONTACT:

Denise O’Handley / 847.648.2644 / denise@wkprchicago.com                                       

Lisa Ackerman / 312.927.4999 / lisa.ackerman@live.com

FASHION GROUP INTERNATIONAL CHICAGO LAUNCHES

FASHION FORWARD CAREER DAY

Annual Event Dedicated to Students, “Career Day” Provides a Day of Educational Immersion Supporting Careers in Fashion 

CHICAGO (May 17, 2013)–Fashion Group International (FGI) of Chicago hosts the re-launch of Fashion Forward Career Day on November 11, 2013 at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602.  As one of the most anticipated career enrichment events, Fashion Forward Career Day sets out to support and enrich Fashion and Merchandising students in the Midwest area.

Career Day benefits Fashion Group International of Chicago’s Educational Scholarship Fund, which assists in realizing the professional goals of design and merchandising college-aged students.  Additionally, Fashion Forward Career Day also serves as a vehicle for FGI Chicago to fulfill its mission to support, elevate and recognize emerging talent in the industry.

“We are thrilled to host the re-launch of Fashion Forward Career Day,” says Melissa Gamble and Kathleen Haines-Finley, Co-Chairs of the 2013 event.  “Fashion and Merchandising students in the Midwest have a unique variety of career opportunities in our area and we’re honored to provide the resources necessary for them to begin their careers.”

“Chicago has continued to produce some of the fashion industry’s brightest talent,” said Lisa Ackerman, Regional Director for FGI Chicago. “FGI is proud to play a pivotal role in the development of the industry’s newest generation.”   

Sponsors for FGI’s Fashion Forward Career Day 2013 include Title Sponsor ULTA Beauty and additional supporting sponsors; Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events (DCASE), Ford Models, IZZE and Cosi® Restaurants.   Additionally, the organization is humbled to welcome Wes Gordon as the event’s Key Note Speaker.

Fashion Forward Career Day attendees can expect a welcome address by designer, Wes Gordon, followed by varied seminars focused on the business and future of the industry and related fields.  Further, all students are invited to a Job Fair where they may speak to and apply to representing companies looking for talent.

For more information about sponsoring or Job Fair participation at Fashion Forward Career Day, please visit www.chicago.fgi.org, call (312) 927.4999 or email (Lisa.ackerman@live.com). 

ABOUT FASHION GROUP INTERNATIONAL

The Fashion Group International is a global non-profit professional organization with 5000 members worldwide in the fashion industry including apparel, accessories, beauty and home.  The goals of the organization are to advance professionalism in fashion and its related lifestyle industries, to provide a public forum for important issues in the business of fashion, to present timely information regarding national and global trends, to attain greater recognition of men’s and women’s achievements in business. For more information about FGI, please visit www.fgi.org.

####

Board Member Nominations for 2014

August 15, 2013

Dear Fashion Group International of Chicago Member:

Your Regional Nominating Committee needs your recommendation for 7 Directors to begin serving their terms January 1, 2013.

The By-Laws of your regional organization state: “The Regional Board shall consist of up to 17 Directors, composed of the Officers of the Regional Group and up to 13 other Directors, elected by members of the Regional Group. All Directors must be members of the Regional Group. Those Directors who are members of the Board by virtue of their Offices serve for the term of their respective Offices and all other Directors serve for a term of two years beginning January 1, 2014.

The Nominating Committee, which is appointed by the Regional Board of Directors, is an independent one, chosen to represent different areas of the fashion related industries.

This committee depends on the suggestions from all members for consideration when nominations are discussed.  Each candidate will be considered for ability, contributions to the Group, both past and potential, and for his or her administrative qualities.  Additionally, Board members must be able to give the time required for monthly Board meetings and additional Committee responsibilities.

Before submitting your recommendations, please study the attached list of Regional Board Members remaining through December 31, 2014 and their affiliations so that we have as complete a representation as possible from all facets of the industry.  If there are any questions considering membership status for any particular person, please feel free to contact me or you may refer to your most current Directory.

The Nominating Committee will meet this month to consider suggestions received and to present their slate to the Regional Board for approval by the end of September. The approved slate will be presented to the Special Nominating Committee of The Fashion Group International for its final approval and then will be presented to the membership for a vote at the Annual Meeting of members mid January.

Please email or fax your written response to the Fashion Group International of Chicago office, sdambrosio@mmart.com or 312.527-7807 no later than Friday, August 33, 2013.

Best Regards,

Stephanie D’Ambrosio

Stephanie D’Ambrosio

Nominating Chair

312.527.7751

sdambrosio@mmart.com

Officers and Directors Who REMAIN through December 31, 2014

Linda LaSala (Regional Director)                   L&L Accessories

Meredith Darnell(Treasurer)                           General Growth Properties

Erin Falbo (Secretary)                                     North Bridge

Leann Dahl                                                     Dreative Director, Leann Dahl

Kathleen Haines-Finley                                  Neiman Marcus & IADT

Denise O’Handley                                          WKPR, Ltd

Michael Hawley                                              True Cosmetics

Tracy Mayer                                                    Tracy Mayer

Jenny Pfanenstiel                                            Forme Millinery

Victoria Sinon                                                 Cinta's Corp

Please submit your suggestions for the following:

Director_________________________________________________________________

Director   _________________________________________________________________

Director   _________________________________________________________________

Director_________________________________________________________________

Director   _________________________________________________________________

Director   _________________________________________________________________

Please fax this form to the Fashion Group of Chicago office at 312.527-7807

______________________________________________

Signature                                                           Date