Overview: St. Louis native and Chicago business leader Gleatha W. Glispie was named a 2026 BPM Global Black Luminary by the ICABA World Network during the Black Professionals Month Honors Gala on October 17, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. As President and CEO of CG Original Business Services and a former corporate executive at Walgreens, Monsanto, and Premier Inc., Glispie was honored for her career expanding economic inclusion, growing minority supplier diversity spending by more than 50 percent annually, and mentoring entrepreneurs across underserved communities.
Chicago executive and supplier diversity pioneer honored by ICABA World Network for bridging corporate leadership with community economic transformation.
For Gleatha W. Glispie, leadership reaches far beyond executive titles or personal milestones. True leadership creates real access, uplifts people, and builds lasting strength across local neighborhoods.
Glispie currently serves as President and CEO of CG Original Business Services in Chicago. Her sustained track record in corporate supplier diversity, workforce development, and economic inclusion recently brought her worldwide attention.
The ICABA World Network officially recognized Glispie as a 2026 BPM Global Black Luminary. The award celebrates high-achieving Black professionals who make a measurable difference across their fields.
International Recognition at the BPM Honors Gala
Glispie accepted the honor at the Black Professionals Month (BPM) Honors Gala on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The black-tie celebration took place at the Coral Ridge Yacht Club in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The signature gathering welcomed more than 220 virtual and in-person guests. ICABA uses the annual gala to celebrate leaders named to the BPM Global 100, Women of Impact, and Men Who Lead.
The event strengthens global business networks while spotlighting leaders who lift others as they climb.
For Glispie, a St. Louis native who built her executive career in Chicago, the distinction affirms a lifetime of intentional service.
Glispie expressed deep gratitude for the distinction. She noted that the award reflects her lifelong work across mentorship, community outreach, entrepreneurship, and hands-on executive leadership.
Driving Proven Results in Corporate Diversity
Glispie consistently turns corporate influence into measurable grassroots progress.
During her tenure at Walgreens, she built and directed the company’s Supplier Diversity Team during a major corporate shift. Under her strategic guidance, corporate spending with diverse suppliers jumped by more than 50 percent each year.
She also launched groundbreaking programs to bridge commercial divides:
She created Community Corner, a direct retail initiative that put products from diverse vendors straight onto store shelves.
She founded Power of Alignment, an initiative that held major strategic suppliers accountable to corporate inclusion targets.
Her career also includes high-level corporate roles at Premier Inc. and Monsanto. Across every position, she championed minority contracting, strategic sourcing, and career readiness for young talent.
An Enduring Legacy of Empowerment
The 2026 BPM Honors program featured keynote speaker Dr. Dennis P. Kimbro, a prominent author on Black wealth creation. His message mirrored this year’s official theme: “Collaborate to Elevate and Protect Our Legacy.”
Jerome Hutchinson, Jr., Founder and Chief Servant Officer of ICABA World Network, praised Glispie’s long-term business vision. He stated that Glispie shows how corporate leaders can translate real executive power into economic equity and sustainable community development.
Outside the boardroom, Glispie travels internationally and cultivates passions for floral design, fine art, gardening, and interior styling.
Her life’s work proves that lasting progress requires opening doors for those who follow. Her official award nomination captured that mission in a single sentence: “Her impact bridges corporate power and grassroots transformation.”
#GlobalBlackLuminary #BlackProfessionalsMonth #SupplierDiversity
