2005 Hallmark Awards

2005 Hallmark Civic Award

Jim Serpe

Jim Serpe currently serves as president of the Serpe Insurance Agency in Chicago. A native Chicagoan, he was raised in the Italian Taylor Street neighborhood.

He began his career with CNA Insurance and left in 1975 to start his own insurance agency. He resides with his wife, Linda Anne, in Lincoln Park. His hobbies are golf and "hanging out."

Jim's favorite charitable efforts have always been raising monies for cancer research. He has frequently stated, "Cancer has had no impact on my life, except for losing both parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends to this dreaded disease."

2005 Hallmark Executive Award

Ralph Weber

Ralph M. Weber is currently vice president, Community Relations at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He came to the hospital in 1980 as assistant to the president and director of planning.

During his 25 years at Northwestern Memorial, Ralph has participated in the extensive redevelopment of the campus, working closely with City Hall, the hospital's residential neighbors and North Michigan Avenue business leaders. His responsibilities have included obtaining State of Illinois approvals required for all significant capital projects under the Certificate of Need program.

Ralph also plays leadership roles on the boards of the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association, the Streeterville Chamber of Commerce and the Lawson House YMCA. He organized and served as past president of the Chicago Area Hospital Planning and Marketing Association. He earned a BA degree in mathematics from Northwestern University and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Cornell University.

In 2002, Ralph received the Indiana Sports Charities Hallmark Hall of Fame Award, the Marv Samual Founder Award.