11/03/2025
“She wanted the challenge,” Kara Bachman, executive director of the Chicago Sports Commission, says of Giese stepping into the leadership role. “She very much stuck her hand up.”
This week, Julie Giese, President of , and Lisa Duarte, Choose Chicago board member and Equity partner at Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres, were honored with a well-deserved award at the Crain’s Women of Influence luncheon.
Since joining the NASCAR Chicago team in 2022, Giese has played a pivotal role in bringing the NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend to the city, and remains a dedicated, collaborative, and community-driven leader.
Lisa Duarte has leveraged her expertise in government and law to drive the success of Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres. As a founding member of the Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation, she has also established herself as a prominent leader in organizing and advocating for the Latino community.
Congratulations to Julie Giese, Lisa Duarte, and all the women honored!