Ms. Zopp is an accomplished executive and board member. She has been a transformational CEO at two organizations and has served as General Counsel and Chief Human Resources Officer in large, public companies. Her expertise includes business strategy, change management, crisis and risk management, human capital, transactions and litigation. Moreover, her background, which includes senior roles leading corporate governance and compliance in the private sector as well as community engagement and advocacy in the public and nonprofit sectors, makes her particularly well suited for board service. She also brings substantial experience in a broad range of industries including banking, consumer products, retail, manufacturing and utilities.
In her current role at Cleveland Avenue Ms. Zopp leads the company’s work investing in and supporting minority and women entrepreneurs and their businesses. Ms. Zopp has worked in and with numerous global companies and has managed teams located overseas. In her prior role as the President and Chief Executive Officer of World Business Chicago, the city’s economic development organization she worked closely with the Chicago Consular Corps, international chambers of commerce and multinational companies to attract foreign direct investment and facilitate company relocation and expansion. Under her leadership Chicago continued to lead the country in corporate expansions and relocations and in foreign direct investment.
Ms. Zopp currently serves as a director of Relativity, a global e-discovery and data management software company, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a $75 billion wholesale bank and Intelligent Growth Solutions, a Scotland based agricultural infrastructure developer and supplier. She previously served as a director of Empowerment & Inclusion Capital I Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (EPWR-NYSE) and Andrew Corporation (ANDW-NASDAQ $2B), a global communications cable and equipment manufacturer. Ms. Zopp also served on the board of Urban Partnership Bank a privately-held community bank with over $600 million in assets where she chaired the Human Resources Committee. Ms. Zopp has also served on several non-profit and public boards.
Ms. Zopp is a seasoned business leader and attorney with significant transaction, litigation and human capital experience, serving as a direct report and trusted advisor to the CEO and member of the executive leadership teams at three publicly traded companies, Sara Lee Corporation, Sears Holdings Corporation and Exelon Corporation.
Ms. Zopp led the security and crisis management functions at both Sara Lee and Exelon and developed and implemented crisis management plans at both companies. This work was informed by her substantial experience as a prosecutor at both the federal and state level.
Ms. Zopp also has significant expertise in government relations and community development. She served as Deputy Mayor and Chief Neighborhood Development Officer for the City of Chicago and was President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League, a 100 year old nonprofit that promotes strong sustainable communities and works for economic and educational progress for African Americans. She also served a 6-year term as a Trustee of the National Urban League.
Ms. Zopp holds a BA in History of Science from Harvard College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School and she served on the Harvard Alumni Association Board and the board of the Chicago chapter of the Harvard Alumni Association. She enjoys working out in the gym, reading, theater and spending time with her family.