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Treasurer, City of Chicago

While she stands a little more than 5 feet tall, Stephanie Neely, treasurer for the City of Chicago, has more than 20 years experience under her belt, which makes her a giant in her field and quite able to handle the fiscal affairs of the "Second City." Elected this past February, Neely earned the confidence of Mayor Daley when he appointed her to the position in November of 2006. Neely said the treasurer is responsible for protecting principle, providing liquidity and earning interest by investing city dollars-to the tune of $7 billion-in an array of financial instruments to insure the best return for taxpayers.

"Money isn't wealth. Wealth means abundance. You can be poor and still be wealthy. You can be wealthy and it doesn't mean you're rich," says Neely, who prides herself on speaking to youth about finances and has already provided her eight-year old son with the basics of money management.

Neely has made helping out small business owners a top priority of her office. People know Chicago as a "City of Big Shoulders," but it's also a city of small businesses. On Friday, August 3, the City Treasurer's Office will hold their annual free Small Business Expo at McCormick Place. Anyone interested in starting their own business or improving an existing business is invited for a full day of free workshops and networking with hundreds of vendors who offer expert services for small businesses. -tony binns

For more information, visit www.chicagocitytreasurer.com.



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