CHICAGO Participates in 2020 Women on Boards National Conversation on Board Diversity

CHICAGO - Nov. 19, 2014 - PRLog -- 2020 Women on Boards/CHICAGO will release the 2014 Gender Diversity Index at the third annual National Conversation on Board Diversity being held here today. Chicago is one of 18 cities hosting the event across the country and the world, where more than 1,000 people will discuss what it will take for the US to become a global leader in advancing women to the boardroom. 2020 Women on Boards/CHICAGO and the Sub Zero and Wolf Showroom at the Merchandise Mart are hosting the event. For more information on their event, visit http://2020wobchicago2014.eventbrite.com

Women now hold 17.7% of the board seats of Fortune 1000 companies in Illinois, essentially unchanged from 17.5% last year. Nationally women hold 17.7% of board seats in Fortune 1000 companies, up from 16.6% last year. The 2020 Gender Diversity Index uses the 2010 Fortune 1000 list as a baseline to track the progress women have made in obtaining board seats. 2020 Women on Boards published its first Gender Diversity Index in 2011.

"We're delighted to bring this event to Chicago, and participate in the National Conversation which calls for advancing women to positions of leadership on company boards of directors," said Judi Spaletto, chair, 2020 Women on Boards/CHICAGO chapter.

For more information about the National Conversation on Board Diversity, 2020 Women on Boards and the 2014 Gender Diversity Index please visit: http://www.2020wob.com.

About 2020 Women on Boards: Founded in Boston in 2010, 2020 Women on Boards is the national campaign to increase the percentage of women on U.S. company boards to 20% or greater by the year 2020.  2020 WOB is well known for its research on the gender composition of boards of directors, including its proprietary Gender Diversity Directory which ranks companies on a W (winning) to Z (zero) scale.  2020 WOB leverages this research with its one-day National Conversation, held in November throughout cities in the U.S. and the world, when thousands of C-Suite and senior level executives discuss and explore the benefits that women bring to company boardrooms.  For more information about the Chicago chapter, visit http://www.2020wob.com/chapters/chi.