December 05, 2023
KANDACE LENTI
MEMBER, CIVIC FEDERATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Number of years with the Federation: 10
Committees: Executive, Healthcare, Investment
Day job: Executive Vice President, Wintrust
Kandace Lenti has over 30 years of commercial banking experience with over two decades serving government, nonprofit and healthcare clients. Kandace joined Wintrust in June 2011 as chief credit officer, spear-headed the formation of the Government, Nonprofit, and Healthcare group in 2012, and became managing director of this group in 2013. Formerly of JPMorgan, Kandace was responsible for managing the risk of a $10 billion portfolio of Public Finance clients in the Midwest.
Kandace has long had a deep interest in service to the larger community. Over the past two decades Kandace has invested countless hours coaching young women in softball and basketball on Chicago's north side at the grade school, age group and high school (Ignatius) levels. Among other community involvement, she currently serves on the boards of the Civic Federation, the Leadership Council of the Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility at Loyola University, Lincoln Park Zoo (Nominating Committee and corporate chair for Summer 2023 Gala), Arrupe College, Search, Inc and the Forest Preserve Foundation; this followed an active era of serving the St. Viator Grade School and St. Ignatius High School communities. As a public finance professional, Kandace has been an active board member of Women in Public Finance (2009-12) and spent two years as the treasurer. WTTW (2017-2019), The Chicago Jesuit Academy (2014-2020) and The National Runaway Safe-line (2011-2016) have also benefitted from Kandace’s engagement and support as she has historically been an active board member with those organizations. Kandace and her family also invested their time as a Link Unlimited mentor to a young man in the high school class of 2015, who since has graduated from Spring Hill College in Alabama.
Kandace holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Finance. Kandace lives on Chicago's north side with her husband. She has three adult daughters who are actively involved in junior board activities in their respective communities.
What made you want to join the Civic Federation?
Respected professionals asked me to consider engaging (Joe Starshak and Laurence Msall) and I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn from and be connected to good Chicago people.
What do you enjoy most about being a part of the Civic Federation?
Access to intellectual resources and people who care about our community as well as its financial and fundamental health.
What's your favorite Chicago hidden gem?
I don’t think it is hidden, but love the Lakefront Trail. As a runner, a morning run on the gravel path that runs near the lake is a phenomenal way to start a day!
What's a project you're working on right now?
My favorite project right now is just the opportunity to connect people in Chicago to each other (especially when the connection has nothing to do with banking). Recently, I have been inviting multiple clients or prospects to lunch to meet each other (when I know they can benefit from that connection). There are SO MANY good missions and initiatives in Chicago that our community doesn’t know about. EVERYONE needs to fly their flag higher and louder. I am helping non-profit missions with this initiative by connecting them to each other, to potential funding sources and other resources that can help move their endeavors forward. Hopefully, this helps our community thrive and feel more positive about ourselves.
You've coached girls in sports and also initiated Wintrust's junior board event. What inspires you to direct so much of your time toward working with young people?
I love positively influencing people who are hungry to make an impact and work hard. Encouraging people and pushing them to accomplish more than they think they can is amazingly satisfying. I love giving out compliments but never give them for free. A struggle is truly a motivational experience for me and I thrive when someone doesn’t think I can conquer something; I want to show them, “I can.” Athletics has been a great arena for all of these dynamics to come together. I have three daughters and have enjoyed teaching young women how to be the strongest versions of themselves as well as being cognizant of pushing themselves to take risks and work harder.