November 28, 2021

Secretary Gina M. Raimondo

Secretary of Commerce / U.S. Department of Commerce

The Honorable Gina M. Raimondo addressed The Economic Club of Chicago on Nov. 8, 2021. Secretary Raimondo was introduced by former Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Founder & Chairman, PSP Partners, and the conversation was moderated by Club Chair Mary Dillon, Executive Chair, Ulta Beauty.

Now is the time for business and government to work hand-in-hand to build the American economy.

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Secretary Raimondo calls on the business community to help post-pandemic economic recovery.

Speaker

Secretary Gina M. Raimondo

Secretary of Commerce / U.S. Department of Commerce

Gina M. Raimondo serves as the 40th U.S. Secretary of Commerce and was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on March 3, 2021. As Secretary of Commerce, she is focused on a simple but vital mission — to spur good-paying jobs, empower entrepreneurs to innovate and grow, and help American workers and businesses compete. Secretary Raimondo was formerly the 75th Governor of Rhode Island and its first woman governor. She grew up in Smithfield in a tight-knit Italian-American family, the youngest of Joseph and Josephine Raimondo’s three children. Her family history and her childhood experiences shaped her core beliefs in hard work, opportunity for all, and the importance of financial security.

Moderator

Mary Dillon

Executive Chair / Ulta Beauty

Mary Dillon is a Chicago-based business executive with more than 35 years of experience leading consumer-driven businesses in a diverse range of industries, from consumer pack-aged goods to restaurants to telecom to beauty and retail. The common thread across all has been Mary’s passion for leveraging customer insights, leading through the lens of culture and removing barriers to inclusion to build brand engagement and drive results. Mary currently serves as Executive Chair of the Ulta Beauty Board of Directors, following her successful eight-year run as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. During her tenure as CEO, Mary and her team tripled Ulta Beauty’s market capitalization to more than $18 billion, doubled revenues and transformed the company to become a leading Fortune 500 retailer. She also evolved Ulta Beauty’s Board of Directors to become one of the most gender diverse of any large public company in the nation, and championed the establishment of the Ulta Beauty Charitable Foundation to support women and families. A well-respected business, civic and philanthropic leader, Mary serves on the Board of Directors for Starbucks Corporation, KKR, Inc., and Save the Children. She is the Chairperson for the Retail Industry Leaders Association, Chair of The Economic Club of Chicago, and an executive committee member of The Business Council. A proud Chicago native, Mary earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing and Asian studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

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