Freeborn & Peters LLP is pleased to announce that Partner John T. Shapiro, a member of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and chair of Freeborn’s Pro Bono Committee, is a speaker at this week’s Diversity and Leadership Conference presented by the National Diversity Council (NDC).
The 15th annual event, taking place April 8-12 in Dallas, also features keynote speakers President Barack Obama, actress America Ferrera, and former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Mr. Shapiro’s presentation on April 12, “Essential Negotiation Skills,” will address the crucial importance of negotiation for leaders of organizations, as well as how to bolster one’s negotiation skills. The overall conference is designed to help organizations explore tools and resources necessary to build diverse workforces and remain competitive on the global stage. The mission of the NDC is to bring together the private, public and non-profit sectors to discuss the many dimensions and benefits of a multicultural environment.
As part of his ongoing diversity leadership role with Freeborn and in the community, Mr. Shapiro also spoke in March at the Illinois Women’s Conference, an empowerment conference held in Chicago that addressed social, cultural, economic and political challenges that women experience. Mr. Shapiro’s session was titled "Influence Change: Transforming Workplace Culture." In 2017, the Illinois Diversity Council bestowed on Mr. Shapiro its Leadership Excellence in the Law Award.
A member of Freeborn’s Complex Litigation Practice Group, Mr. Shapiro litigates an array of business disputes and counsels clients on litigation, corporate, employment, supply chain, management, and other issues. In addition, as Leader of Freeborn’s Food Industry Team, Mr. Shapiro provides business and legal counseling to food clients in areas that include food safety, regulatory compliance, and supply chain management and litigation.
Mr. Shapiro also serves as General Counsel of Inspiration Corporation, a Chicago-based non-profit that assists people affected by poverty. Among its other programs and services, Inspiration Corporation’s Inspiration Kitchens is a culinary and restaurant skills training program that helps provide participants with the tools they need to secure and retain jobs in the food service industry.
In addition, Mr. Shapiro serves on the Board of Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network, an organization focused on creating a collaborative working environment for food and beverage manufacturers and using that platform to drive economic growth and workforce development in Chicago area communities in need. As part of his work with Chicagoland Food, Mr. Shapiro is helping to design and to implement a technical curriculum and career pathways program for workers in the food and beverage manufacturing sector.
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