HR1501 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1501 LRB094 21927 MST 60392 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Women's Bar Association of Illinois began presenting "Women With Vision" Awards in 1997 to honor and recognize women who have demonstrated visionary approaches in their professional endeavors and who have made a contribution to the well-being and empowerment of women; and

WHEREAS, The Women's Bar Association of Illinois is proud to announce the 2006 recipients of "Women With Vision" Awards; and

WHEREAS, Mary Crego currently serves as Senior Vice President for the Great Lakes Zone Region of State Farm Insurance, with responsibilities as the chief executive overseeing State Farm's operations in the states of Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Crego's responsibilities in the Great Lakes Zone covers a $6 billion enterprise, consisting of homeowners' and life insurance products in addition to other financial services provided by State Farm Bank and State Farm Mutual Funds, and employing more than 5,400 associates and 2,180 State Farm agents under her supervision; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Crego joined State Farm in 1979, first employed as a claim representative in the Chicago area, and, since then, holding numerous positions in the Chicago and downstate Illinois operation in Claims, Health Underwriting, and Human Resources before being named director of a new State Farm initiative in 1996 to provide 24/7 customer assistance in the newly formed Customer Response Center; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Crego was named Vice President for Operation in the State Farm Zone headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, and later was promoted to Operations Vice President, before being named Senior Vice President for the Great Lakes Zone in 2003; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Crego is a proud alum of Illinois Wesleyan University and has earned insurance education designations, including Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU); and

WHEREAS, Ms. Crego not only commits her time and talent to her professional career, but also is dedicated to her community service, demonstrated by her service on the board of directors of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce and the board of the charitable organization Voices for Illinois Children; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Crego has mentored many other women in State Farm's organization, contributing greatly to the company's success; and

WHEREAS, The Women's Bar Association of Illinois honors Ms. Crego's achievements by recognizing her as a 2006 recipient of the "Women with Vision" Award in the area of business; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Mary Crego on being awarded this honor, and extend our sincere acknowledgement to her, her husband, Paul, and their two children; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Ms. Crego as an expression of our respect and esteem.