Illinois Tollway Chief of Diversity and Strategic Development Named to Negocios Now “Who’s Who in Hispanic Chicago”

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – The Illinois Tollway’s Chief of Diversity and Strategic Development Gustavo Giraldo has been named to the first “Who’s Who In Hispanic Chicago” by Negocios Now, a national award-winning publication focused on the Hispanic business community.

Negocios Now has selected Giraldo for his exemplary performance in promoting equal opportunities in the construction and engineering fields for minority-owned and disadvantaged businesses and underemployed workers.

The announcement will be made at a gala event tonight at the Chicago Cultural Center during the presentation of the Negocios Now “Who’s Who” special edition.

“Governor Quinn has called on us to ensure that all workers and businesses of all types and sizes have the opportunity to work on Illinois Tollway contracts,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “Gustavo’s commitment to providing outreach and assistance, as well as leadership in creating opportunities for workers and businesses to participate and succeed is in lockstep with this vision for the Tollway.”

The goal of the event and the launch of the Negocios Now “Who’s Who” special edition is not only to recognize those individuals making a tangible positive impact in the communities they represent, but also to inspire other members of the Hispanic community to similar endeavors.

“Negocios Now is very proud to have Gustavo Giraldo recognized in our first list of Negocios Now – Who’s Who in Hispanic Chicago,” said Clemente Nicado, Publisher Negocios Now. “As chief of Illinois Tollway’s Department of Diversity and Strategic Development, Giraldo has made a giant effort to promote, assist and assure diverse participation in all aspects of Tollway operations with amazing results.”

The Illinois Tollway created the Department of Diversity and Strategic Development in 2011 to promote, assist and ensure diverse participation in all aspects of Tollway operations, including contracting, consulting and the supply of goods and services. The culmination of these efforts is to level the playing field for businesses of all sizes and types to participate in the Tollway 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future.

Since the Illinois Tollway launched the Move Illinois Program in 2012, Giraldo has led the agency’s efforts to diversify and expand the pool of firms and individuals doing business with the Illinois Tollway. In addition to organizing networking events for construction and professional services firms, the Tollway created its first-ever Construction Contracts 101 Training Webinar to help companies navigate the contract and bidding process. The Tollway also has developed technical assistance programs for small, minority- and women-owned construction firms in partnership with the Illinois Community College Board to establish a new Construction Business Development Center and with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to develop a Coaching for Growth Program in partnership with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

About Negocios Now

Negocios Now was founded in 2007 and is published by Nicado Publishing Company. The national award-winning publication is the Midwest’s most dynamic news source for growing Hispanic businesses, focusing primarily on business owners, entrepreneurs and economic development in the Latino community. In 2011 Negocios Now received the “Outstanding Business Publication” and “Outstanding Business Article” awards from the National Association of Hispanic Publications. In May 2012, The Chicago Headline Club, a leading association of local professional journalists, awarded Negocios Now the Peter Lisagor Award for General Excellence, a first for a Hispanic newspaper in Chicago. Publisher Clemente Nicado, is the author of “Así lo hicieron”, a 2012 book featuring profiles of outstanding Hispanic businesspeople in the Chicago area. Negocios Now received two additional national awards in 2013.

About the Illinois Tollway

The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80).