Arabel Alva Rosales
President and CEO, AAR & Assocs., ltd.

Arabel Alva Rosales is an entrepreneur that has been described in Chicago Magazine as a “Renaissance Woman” because of her ability to talk about what is happening on Wall Street, discuss global issues and care about what is happening in our communities. She also is known to have a critical eye for art and fashion. She is known for genuinely loving her life and not being afraid of bringing together highly skilled teams to achieve what others deem impossible. She considers herself “bilingual and bicultural.”Her life is a great representation of the American success story. With both her parents being of Mexican descent, they instilled a strong work ethic, a clear sense of self, and a belief in a higher good that has Sheppard her through the best and the worst of times.

Currently Arabel brings together a plethora of contacts to make things happen in her businesses and others’. As the President and CEO of AAR & Assocs., she oversees a company that utilizes technology to transform both private and public sector entities into exceptionally run organizations. AAR & Assocs., is known for software implementation, customer training, and infrastructure development. AAR & Assocs., believes in finding ways of making each client’s life more successful because AAR & Assocs., understands success and how to create it via technology. AAR’s motto is “Managing the Best” and included amongst those client partners have been Com Ed, Dell Computers, Scholastic Books, LATA, Infor (formerly Hansen), American Family Insurance, several City of Chicago Departments including Office of Emergency Management Services, Department of Purchasing, Bureau of Information Services and Chicago Public Schools.

Arabel Alva Rosales has always enjoyed being involved in history making events. She herself has been the first woman or Latina in many instances. As a Senior Policy to former Governor Edgar, she worked closely with Governor Edgar to assure that for the first time in Illinois history, Latinos were appointed to Cabinet level positions, and to key positions on boards and commissions. Arabel is the only woman in Illinois history to serve as a Director of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.

Arabel truly enjoys utilizing her national and global contacts to create events that bring together high level, worldly movers and shakers that can make a historical impact. That is why she created AAR Enterprises, an events company that gets involved with “legendary events only”. AAR is involved once or twice a year in events that have a historical impact. She gives herself the opportunity to get involved in events that she is truly passionate about, especially those that create a positive impact on our global community, especially with regards to business. This year, AAR Enterprises supported the U.S. Premier of “A Secret to Share: Mesa de Moctezuma,” which brought to the Field Museum, and the U.S., the dinner and ritual that Moctezuma presented to Cortez. AAR Enterprises, LLC., is also the Managing Producer for Chicago Latino Fashion Week, which helped cement Chicago’s stamp on the Fashion map when last year it was initiated for the first time in U.S. history.

Arabel believes in giving back to vital causes through other channels. She has served as a Commissioner on the Illinois Human Rights Commission, and has studied international Human Rights laws. These are issues she feels are of vital importance-- those of upholding human rights. On a local level she has been involved with supporting many non-for-profits, especially those that positively impact children and women. In 2002, she was named a Chicago Angel by SE Chicago Magazine for her charitable and civic contributions throughout Chicago.

Arabel serves on the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as the Executive Vice Chairperson. She is also a board member of the Women's Business Development Center, where she is the Chairperson of the Childcare Expo, which has become a nationally recognized initiative, and culminated its decade of service this year.

Other former appointments also include Presidential appointments such as Commissioner, National Human Rights Advisory Commission, Commissioner, U.S. Department of Transportation, and Minority Advisory Commission.

Arabel has appeared often in the media where she is quoted both as a business leader and a note worthy expert on issues that affect women, and issues within the Latino community. Some areas where she has been featured include Latina Style Magazine, Dinero Magazine, Hoy Newspaper, and was featured in the August, 2004 issue of Chicago Magazine “Latina Style”, as well as Chicago Tribune’s “Handling the Summer with Poise”, and the front cover of Today’s Chicago Magazine’s Woman’s Hall of Fame edition. She has also appeared on 60 minutes, CNN, and U.S.A. Today.

Additionally, Arabel has been a recipient of over 30 national and local awards including the 2007 AFlac Civic Citizen Award; 2006 La Raza Newspaper’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award and honored by the Goodman Theater. She has also received the Anti Defamation League’s Women of Achievement Award; the Aztec Award from the Mexican Civic Society; Government Advocate Award from HACIA; and the Hispanic Business Advocate Award from the U.S. Hispanic Chambers of Commerce.
However, her proudest accomplishment is being a mother of a dynamic, energetic and knowledge seeking eleven year old daughter. “She keeps me priority focused”, says Arabel. “We are always looking for opportunities to enjoy time together and learn new things”, says Arabel. She and her daughter Alina became first degree Black Belts in Taekwondo together, and have recently taken-up dance. “These are bonding experiences, but we also learn so much from each other!”
She holds an undergraduate degree from Mundelein at Loyola University in Liberal Arts with a major in Business Administration. In May of 2001 she obtained her J.D. from DePaul College of Law where she has been a recipient of the law school's leadership scholarship award and Mayor Daley's Leadership scholarship. Currently Arabel serves on the Dean’s Council for the DePaul College of Law.