PONDER DIVERSITY GROUP

Chicago, IL - January 21, 2025 - Anita Ponder,the President, CEO, and General Counsel of Ponder Diversity Group LLC (PDG), is honored and delighted to announced that subsequent to her selection by the renowned publication Crain’s Chicago Business as a Notable Leader in Accounting, Consulting, & Law, she has now also been included in the outlet's 2025 edition of The Book, the Crain's “ultimate guide to everything and everyone in Chicago Business.”

Crain’s Chicago Business is a mainstay in the business world, both within Chicago and beyond, and its yearly lists rank notable figures and firms for its readers. Ms. Ponder’s original recognition in October of 2024 was a testament to her hard work, accomplishments, and dedication, as well as that of her legal and consulting team, their professional network, and their clients in the public and private sectors who are strongly committed to facilitating inclusive and legally defensible procurement and employment practices. Ms. Ponder thanked Crain’s Chicago Business for this distinguished honor, stating that she was “inspired to continue striving for excellence in the legal profession and making a significant impact in the Chicago community and nationwide.”

The Book is a compilation of the “data-driven lists and features” released by Crain’s throughout a given year, released at the beginning of the next year as a physical publication. The 2025 edition, according to Crain's, "highlights a revised and updated version of Crain's Who's Who in Chicago, a directory of the leaders, investors, and innovators who make this city tick," including biographies of major advocates and executives across the business sectors of the city. This compiled information, says the publication, “tells a story of a city and a region doing extraordinary things in the face of extraordinary challenges.” Anita Ponder is proud to be included in both Crain's Who's Who in Chicago and this essential compendium as a whole.

Ms. Ponder was nominated and selected because of her work steering PDG, the only Black-woman-owned legal/consulting firm in Illinois committed to facilitating inclusive and legally defensible procurement and employment practices for government agencies, corporations, and nonprofits nationwide. Previously, Anita was a partner at top national law firms, including most recently QPWB Law & Seyfarth Shaw, leading their government contracts practices. She has developed and implemented diversity initiatives for the governments of Illinois, Chicago, and more. Anita has also represented and/or served on the boards of top minority and women’s business organizations in Chicago, including the Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW), Women’s Business Enterprise National Council/Women’s Business Development Center, the National Association of Women Business Owners, the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council, and YWCA Metropolitan Chicago. Currently, she is scheduled to relaunch the Government Contractors Business Forum (GCBF) later in 2025; the GCBF has hosted over 500 government contractors and corporate executives, and was initially formed and chaired by Ms. Ponder in 2010. Ms. Ponder also served on the local corporate board of National City Bank which is now named PNC Bank, one of the largest banks in the United States.

In its initial selection, Crain’s noted PDG’s most significant engagement in recent years, wherein PDG represented the State of Washington as its Social Equity in Cannabis Contractor. During this engagement, Ms. Ponder and PDG developed an online retail license application process for social equity applicants who were arrested/incarcerated due to discriminatory drug law enforcement and who reside in disproportionately-impacted areas — the most successful social equity in cannabis program to date nationwide. PDG has also represented Illinois, increasing the diversity of State vendors by conducting nationwide research on best diversity practices in public/private sectors and recommending additional requirements for State regulations. Anita Ponder has additionally written a comprehensive Code of Conduct for Chicago’s Department of Aviation to help keep its employees and vendors from violating City regulations.

The previous announcement included a quote from Commissioner Bruce Montgomery of the State of Illinois Commission on Equity & Inclusion. “In the legal landscape, Anita Ponder shines as a catalyst for change,” said Montgomery. “Her award-winning career has seen unwavering advocacy for workplace/supplier diversity. Her commitment to clients has shaped legal terrain and uplifted marginalized communities. By championing diversity, Anita has dismantled barriers—her legacy is one of empowerment,equity, & lasting impact.”

For more information about The Book, please visit:

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/data-center/2025-book-lists

To read the original Crain’s announcement about Anita Ponder and other notable industry leaders, please visit:

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/notables/crains-notable-leaders-accounting-consulting-and-law-2024

About Ponder Diversity Group LLC (PDG):

Ponder Diversity Group LLC (PDG) is a leading legal consultancy committed to facilitating inclusive and legally defensible procurement and employment practices nationwide in the public and private sectors. With a mission to drive transformative change, PDG partners with organizations across sectors to cultivate inclusive cultures, advance equitable practices, and foster diverse talent pipelines. Led by esteemed Chicago attorney Anita Ponder, PDG combines legal expertise and consulting experience with a passion for social equity to deliver innovative, data-driven solutions and best practices that promote diversity and empower communities.

For further information about the services provided by PDG, please contact:

Anita Ponder

Ponder Diversity Group LLC

Willis Tower 233 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 9305

Chicago, Illinois 60606

APONDER@PDG-LAW.COM

312.530.7988

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