Greetings! It is my heartfelt pleasure to present to you what has truly been a labor of love, the research and compilation of the fourth edition of Who's Who In Black Chicago®, a phenomenal recognition of African- American achievement and leadership in this great city. For the past 20 years, Who's Who Publishing has highlighted the sacrifices and triumphs of African Americans, in more than 25 cities, while also providing a window into the history of cities like Chicago and its legendary leaders.
I am excited to report that this Chicago edition is a "Salute to Blacks in Business" and will showcase our strong history of entrepreneurship and business ownership. This past year has been an incredible journey into those stories, interesting personalities, living legends and most influential characters that are a part of the Chicago business landscape. As you move through the publication, you will discover those African-American business owners that have made history, have set records and are here to stay! Beginning with our feature story "Business in Chicago: 175 Years in the Black," power business partners, McGhee Williams Osso and Faye Ferguson, owners of Burrell Communications, one of the top advertising agencies in the country, and Linda McGill Boasmond owner of Cedar Concepts, the first African American woman-owned chemical manufacturing company in the United States, it is clear to see that business ownership is still the only viable way to go!
The African-American legacy in Chicago is rich and significant, beginning from the early 1900s, and has grown steadily throughout the last hundred years! We are represented throughout this city – in governmental affairs – city, county and state, in corporate America, in the nonprofit arena, and we are still the fastest growing business segment in not only Chicago, but in the United States! And talk about representation, we are the city which the first African- American president of the United States, The Honorable Barack Obama, hails from! In Chicago, we have a lot to be proud of!
The Chicago edition of Who's Who In Black Chicago® is such a priceless treasure and a wonderful resource that would not be possible had it not been for the support of our publication sponsors. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to State Farm, ComEd, Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, Walgreens and Level-(1) Global Solutions for your commitment to telling our story. I would also like to thank Hiram Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media and Who's Who Publishing for allowing me this opportunity, as associate publisher, to be a part of history in the recognition of those outstanding African Americans of whom you will learn about in this publication. Please enjoy this fourth edition of Who's Who In Black Chicago®….share it, treasure it, but most of all, pass it on!
Sincerely,
Merry Green
