Niles, Morton Grove Women Get Awards for Leadership

Mary Ann Hynes, of Niles, Julie Smolyansky, CEO of a Morton Grove company, and Maria Green, senior vice president of a Glenview company, are among four women receiving the 20th Annual Women of Achievement Award from the Anti-Defamation League.

The awards come as the ADL celebrates 100 years of fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry. It was founded in 1913 in Chicago, and has a strong presence nationally. It fosters programs to help counteract bigotry and intolerance.

According to Jenna Benn, ADL's associate regional director, the Women of Achievement awards are presented to women who are outstanding in their fields of specialty.

"These women embody the spirit and philosophy of ADL through their efforts to improve communication and understanding among the diverse racial, religious and ethnic communities of Chicago," she said in a statement.

The honorees are, in alphabetical order: 

• Maria Green, Senior Vice-President, General Counsel and  Secretary, Illinois Tool Works (located in Glenview)
• Mary Ann Hynes (of Niles), Senior Vice-President, Counsel to the Chairman and Chief Compliance Officer, Ingredion Incorporated (located in Westchester)
• Julie Smolyansky, CEO, Lifeway Foods (located in Morton Grove)
• Barbara Steiner, Partner, Jenner and Block LLP (located in Chicago).

Event Co-Chairs include Barbara Adelman, Vice President, Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; Monique Brinkman-Smith, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director, Personal Financial Services Illinois, Northern Trust; and Janet A. Stiven, Member, Dykema Gosett PLLC.

The awards dinner, to be held Tuesday from 5:30 to 8:30 at the Hilton Chicago, will be emceed by ABC7's Kathy Brock. Please direct ticket inquiries to: sjacobs@adl.org.

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