Posted 5 years ago
Press contact: Jessica Cabe | PR and Communications Manager, Chicago Loop Alliance jessica@chicagoloopalliance.com | 312-782-9160
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | March 1, 2019
CHICAGO—The Loop is the heart of Chicago’s workforce, and in order to honor those who make the central business district tick, Chicago Loop Alliance has launched the Loop Employee of the Month Awards this National Employee Appreciation Day (March 1, 2019).
Each month from March 2019 to February 2020, a Loop Employee of the Month will be recognized for being great at what they do, contributing to their community and inspiring those around them. Winners will receive prize packages valued at $500, a professional photo shoot, an article on loopchicago.com, and will be featured in an artistic mural dedicated to the Loop worker in 2020. Nominations are now open, and more information can be found at loopchicago.com/nominate.
“The Loop is a major economic driver for the entire city of Chicago and beyond,” said Michael Edwards, CLA President and CEO. “At the heart of that is the Loop’s workforce of 300,000. These are our workers in the service industry, retail, the tech sector, arts and culture, real estate—the list goes on. Our mission at CLA is to make the Loop a high-performing urban center, and that mission cannot be accomplished without this workforce. Of course we need to honor them.”
Who is eligible?
Nominate yourself, a co-worker or anyone who works in the Loop. While nominating, include plenty of details, anecdotes and examples to make the nominee stand out. Nominees must be at least 16 years old and work in the Chicago Loop. The Loop boundaries are the Chicago River to the north and west, Ida B. Wells Drive on the south and Michigan Avenue on the east, with a few blocks extending northeast to Columbus Drive in an area north of Millennium Park called Lakeshore East. Nominations will be accepted now through Jan. 14, 2020.
How to nominate
Nominations can be submitted online at loopchicago.com/nominate or by picking up a paper ballot from Chicago Loop Alliance, 55 W. Monroe St. Suite 2660. If you fill out a paper ballot, give the ballot to your nominee for completion and mailing.
What winners receive
Winners will be featured in an artistic mural dedicated to the Loop worker, which will be completed in 2020. Winners will also receive a professional photo shoot, an article on loopchicago.com and a prize package from community partners valued at $500. Prizes include:
- Two tickets to Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg–The Pygmalion Effect at the Auditorium Theatre
- Four $25 gift cards from The Berghoff Restaurant
- Two Big Bus Tours tickets for each winner
- Four $25 Visa gift cards courtesy of CannonDesign
- $100 gift card to Formento’s
- Two theater tickets from Goodman Theatre for each winner
- $100+ of snacks and beverages from Health Vend/Norman Distribution for each winner
- One-night stay at Hilton Chicago
- Family Membership to the International Museum of Surgical Science and “I Heart Guts” heart plush
- One week of free parking each month from Interpark
- $100 gift card to Land & Lake Kitchen
- One-night stay at the Palmer House Hilton
- Four tickets to either “Detour Guide” or “Twice, Thrice, Frice” at Silk Road Rising
- $100 gift card to Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique or Sugar Bliss Patisserie
- Catered lunch for 20 from Wow Bao
March winner announced:
Marion Batey, Business Relations Specialist, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
When Marion Batey heard she had been named the Loop Employee of the Month for March, her first thought was not how the recognition might serve her, but how she could use that recognition to draw attention to her team and their work.
The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership provides workforce development services for both employers and job seekers through a variety of channels, including a hiring event called Hospitality Hires Chicago (HHC). The fourth HHC event takes place on March 19 at the Palmer House and will match approximately 50 employers in the hospitality and retail industries with hundreds of pre-screened candidates. For Batey, this work is her passion.
“When I am on the street, and a person comes up to me and tells me they got employed, that is my favorite part about this work,” Batey said. “Not only does it change their life, but it changes the trajectory of their household. That’s what we’re all committed to, is that snowball effect.”
Learn more about Marion Batey.
About Chicago Loop Alliance
Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA), the sole service provider for Special Service Area#1-2015, creates, manages and promotes high-performing urban experiences, attracting people and investment to the Loop. For more information, please visit loopchicago.com.
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