ALCTS and LLAMA speaker presents the business of social impact

For Immediate Release
Tue, 02/14/2017

Contact:

Keri Cascio

Executive Director

Association for Library Collections & Technical Services

kcascio@ala.org

CHICAGO—Dorri McWhorter, CEO of the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, is the featured speaker at the President’s Program of the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) and the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA). The President’s Program “The Business of Social Impact: Creating a World Where Everyone Has Value” will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 26, 2017 during the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago.

Businesses and their role in society are often defined by an organizations’ tax status as a “for profit” or “non-profit.” However, every business is a social enterprise, whether they know it or not, and has a role to advance society. With social entrepreneurship on the rise, the convergence of for profit and non-profit business models is imminent. In her presentation, McWhorter asks “How do we create social impact and a world where everyone has value?”

McWhorter became the CEO of the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago in March 2013. She has embarked upon a journey to transform the 140-year-old social service agency to a 21st century social enterprise. McWhorter is moving the agency into the digital age by re-launching the TechGYRLS program, which focuses on developing STEM awareness for girls ages 9 through 14 and introducing 3D: Developing Digital Diversity, which provides web and mobile application development training to adult women. McWhorter was included in the inaugural list of “The Blue Network”, comprised of the top 100 innovators in Chicago, by Chicago Tribune’s Blue Sky Innovation.  In Spring of 2015, the YWCA launched its own e-commerce site, called the YShop, which provides carefully curated goods and services from businesses that support the mission of the YWCA.

A proven leader in the corporate and social change sectors, McWhorter prides herself on being a socially-conscious business leader throughout her career. McWhorter is an active member of Chicago’s civic, business and philanthropic communities. Most recently, she was a partner at Crowe Horwath LLP, one of the largest accounting firms in the U.S. She has also held senior positions with Snap-on Incorporated and Booz Allen Hamilton. McWhorter also serves on the Board of Directors for several organizations, including Chicago Finance Exchange, Chicago Child Care Society and Search Inc. McWhorter is also a member of the Executive Council of Ms. Tech advancing women businesses in technology and a board member of the Chicago Center for Arts and Technology. As an engaged community leader, McWhorter is a member of the Mayor's Commission on a Safer Chicago and served as a member of Mayor Emanuel’s second term transition team.  She received her bachelors in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her masters in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

The Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) is the national association for information providers who work in collections and technical services, such as acquisitions, cataloging, collection development, preservation and continuing resources in digital and print formats. ALCTS is a division of the American Library Association.

The Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) advances outstanding leadership and management practices in library and information services by encouraging and nurturing individual excellence in current and aspiring library leaders. LLAMA is a division of the American Library Association.