The Board Room

ICEE is a partnership of leaders from business, labor, agriculture, education, and government, dedicated to increasing economic literacy in Illinois.  We work toward that end with the leadership of a Governing Board and a Board of Trustees.

Richard S. Peterson Award
2007 Recipient
Martin Cabrera
Cabrera Capital Markets, Inc.

The Peterson Award was established in 2000 by the ICEE Executive Committee in memory of Richard S. Peterson, long-time member and former Chair of the Council’s Board of Trustees.  Each year the award honors a board member or other volunteer for extraordinary leadership and service.

On March 7, ICEE presented the 2007 Richard S. Peterson Award to Martin Cabrera, Jr.  Mr. Cabrera was recognized for his outstanding commitment to economic literacy; his advocacy for ICEE with schools, legislators, and corporate colleagues; his positive influence and thoughtful contributions to leadership through his role on the ICEE Board of Trustees, and his generous financial support of ICEE programs.   

Martin is the President and founder of Cabrera Capital Markets, Inc., one of the premier investment banking and institutional brokerage firms located in Chicago. Through years of experience and knowledge in the brokerage field, Cabrera has built one of the most respected and leading companies in the industry, and is recognized as a leader in the state and business community.

Committed to serving the community that has given so much to him, Martin has volunteered with many civic and charitable organizations and serves on the boards of many professional and civic organizations.  He is an active leader with the Boy Scouts of America, serves on the Board of the Northern Illinois University Alumni Association, and is a member of the ICEE Board of Trustees.

A graduate of Bogan High School in Chicago and of Northern Illinois University, Martin also studied at the London School of Economics.  It was participation in The Stock Market Game™ program during his senior year at Bogan that prompted Martin to pursue his investment banking career and set him on the path to success that he follows to this day.

Corporate Awards Presented

ICEE would like to thank the following companies for maintaining a consistent role in supporting the Council and its programs.  Thank you to all of our contributors who have provided the means that allow us to continue to put financial literacy and economic education into the hands of Illinois educators and their students. The following recognitions were presented at ICEE's Annual Meeting on March 7 at the Union League Club of Chicago:

President’s Award – 35 years of giving
Caterpillar

Champion of Economic Education Award – 30 years of giving
Elkay Manufacturing Company
Harris Bank

15 years of giving
Bard Optical
Illinois Farm Bureau
Mervis Industries, Inc.

10 years of giving
Kirkland & Ellis, LLP
National City

Board Spotlight - James M. Ratcliffe

At the March 7th ICEE Annual Meeting, several board members were recognized for their years of service.  James Ratcliffe, a member of the Board of Trustees since 1982, was honored with a service pin for 25 years of service.

James Ratcliffe was born in Kewanee, Illinois, and attended the University of Chicago where he received A.B. and J.D. degrees.  Jim has been married for thirty-eight years to Hildegund Weide, a Senior Lecturer Emerita at the University of Chicago.  Jim and Hildegund have a son, James Ratcliffe III.

After graduating from the University of Chicago, Jim took on employment as the Assistant Dean in the University of Chicago Law School, a position he held for sixteen years before becoming the Vice President of Corporate Relations at R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company.  Jim remained in this position for twenty-five years before retiring.

Jim has held several positions with a variety of organizations such as Vice President of the Printing Industries of America, Visiting Committee at Loyola University, Chairman of the Public Affairs Committee of the National Association of Manufacturers and Member of the Canadian-American Trade Commission.  Currently, Jim is still affiliated with many groups, including the Illinois Council on Economic Education.  Jim is a member of the ICEE Board of Trustees and serves as secretary on ICEE's Executive Committee.

In addition to Jim’s numerous volunteer activities, he also found time to edit the book, "The Good Samaritan and the Law."

We are honored to recognize Jim Ratcliffe for his years on the Board, and we are grateful for the many contributions he has made both through financial support as well as his ideas and vision. Jim, we thank you.

Board Member Elections

ICEE formally elected the following Governing Board and Board of Trustees members at the March 7th Annual Board meeting at the Union League Club of Chicago.

Governing Board Members
Donna M. Carroll
Dominican University

John M. Dunn
Southern Illinois University

David Snyder
Crain’s Chicago Business

Board of Trustees
Representative Edward J. Acevedo

Molly Burke
Dominican University

Adam Ginsburgh
Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Robert Hauser
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Stefanie Ann Lenway
University of Illinois at Chicago

Stanley Rupnik
Teachers’ Retirement System of Illinois