Mary N. Dillon, U.S. Cellular® President and Chief Executive Officer, to be keynote speaker at Youth Job Center Event

The Youth Job Center of Evanston is pleased to announce that Mary N. Dillon, President and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Cellular, will be the keynote speaker at the kick-off event for its women-focused program, WILL (Women
invested in learning and livelihoods). WILL is the YJC’s post-employment program for young, working women, ages
18-25, that helps them move from low wage jobs to living wage positions.  The event, scheduled for October 24, 2012, at Northwestern University’s John Evans House, will mark the third year of the WILL program and will kick-off the next cohort of 30 young women. 

Ms. Dillon will share her own career path story which should prove motivating to the young WILL women.  The YJC is thrilled to have Ms. Dillon headline the event as she is one of the leading woman executives in the wireless communications industry.  Ms. Dillon joined U.S. Cellular in June 2010 after serving as global chief marketing officer and executive vice president for McDonald's Corporation, and president of the Quaker Foods division of PepsiCo Corporation.

At U.S. Cellular, Mary leads the company’s "Dynamic Organization" - a business model based on a simple concept: leadership excellence creates
associate passion, which in turn fosters customer advocacy and ultimately produces superior results. The culture is guided by the core values of customer focus, respect for associates, ethics, pride, empowerment, diversity and
winning. U.S. Cellular also recognizes the importance of playing an active role in the communities it serves by supporting education through its annual
charitable giving program, encouraging associate volunteerism, and coordinating executive placement on nonprofit boards of directors.

The event at the John Evans House will be attended by the young WILL participants, their professional mentors and community and business leaders.  The goal of the event is to secure increased community support for the program as well as welcome the young women into the
program. 

Ms. Dillon is a Chicago native and currently resides in Evanston with her husband and four children.  Ms. Dillon has been on the board of directors for Target Corporation since 2007 and also serves as vice chair and executive committee member for CTIA-The Wireless Association.  In addition, she is on the board of directors for Northshore University Health System, serves on the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and is a member of The Economic Club of Chicago and The Chicago Network. Ms. Dillon was named one of the FierceWireless’ “Most Influential Women in Wireless” in 2011 and 2012.

The YJC is a nonprofit agency in Evanston that
assists job seekers ages 14-25 in finding employment.  The YJC also works with employers to help them meet their staffing needs by referring applicants who are trained in basic job skills and ready to get to work.