Two Chicago-area business leaders were elected to the Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois at the organization’s September meeting. Better Business Bureau board members are responsible for overseeing the direction of the organization and its strategies, as well as conferring with the executives responsible for the day-to-day operations of the BBB.
The two business people elected to the BBB Board of Directors are Samir Patel, Senior Vice-President, General Manager of personal and home loans business, Discover Financial Services – Riverwoods, IL., and David Abrams, Director of Golf Events, Harborside International Golf Center
“We are very pleased to have people with the skills and abilities of these outstanding business people join our board,” said Steve J. Bernas, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau. “Our organization continues to be strong and successful because of the quality of the board members and their businesses.”
Samir Patel is the senior vice president and general manager of the personal and home loans businesses at Discover Financial Services and serves on the company's management committee. Before his current role, Samir was the chief financial officer of the Consumer Banking division. He joined Discover in 1997 and has held leadership roles in Corporate Finance, Credit Risk Management, and Operations.
Samir holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Northeastern Illinois University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He is a member of the board of directors of GSD Corp. He also serves as the chair of the Consumer Banking Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.
David Abrams is a Chicagoan through and through and is thrilled to be joining the Chicago BBB Board. Born and raised in the inner city, David attended Chicago Public Schools throughout elementary and High School years. For almost 20 years, David was the Event Manager for a Chicago Cubs Rooftop (Skybox on Sheffield) at Wrigley Field, successfully coordinating more than 1,500 events and more than 250,000 satisfied customers.
David was also fortunate to serve on the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Marketing & Communications team for three years. Ultimately, his lifelong passion for golf and the industry led him to Harborside International Golf Center, home to Port & Starboard Courses and Chicago's home for golf since 1995. David is the Director of Golf Events and, along with the team, hosts over 100 golf outings each season. Harborside International is managed by KemperSports, a leading sports, entertainment, and hospitality company that delivers operational excellence in property and experience management. David feels his greatest accomplishment is having his two children succeed in life and business.
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