Alumni Service Hall of Fame 2015 - 2016 Inductees

Connie Fako Shoemake '77

Illinois State University

Connie Fako Shoemake is a business and technology leader specializing in strategy, management, sales, operations and business development. She has significant consulting and leadership development experience.

Connie has worked as a Senior Consultant for Moran Technology Consulting specializing on developing action plans to identify and maximize the benefits of IT systems for Higher Education. Previous to this role Connie worked at IBM. Her last position at IBM was Vice President for Global Client Centers. In this role she provided thought leadership and direction to IBM’s global network of client centers, enhancing the capabilities of the centers to provide outstanding client experience, drive incremental sales and enable sales teams and partners to showcase IBM’s solutions and technology capabilities. Connie joined IBM as a software sales engineer in 1981. She has successfully held multiple executive and management positions in sales, marketing, strategy, business partner development, acquisitions and technical support both globally and in the US. Prior to working at IBM, Connie taught special education for elementary and high school students in central Illinois.

Connie is currently an advisor and board member for Illinois State University Business School and National Children’s Center (NCC) in Washington DC. Connie is actively involved on the board for Immanuel Lutheran School. She is a former board member of the Illinois Technology Association and the Chicago Mayor’s Council on Technology. Connie has been active in professional organizations, including Women in Technology and the Chicago Executive’s Club. Connie has been recognized by several organizations for her interest and passion in leadership, mentoring and technology. In 2003, she was recognized by I-Street Magazine as one of the “Top 25 Technology Women in Chicago” and in May 2008 was recognized as a national business leader by the Women in Technology International Organization for her executive leadership and mentoring excellence. In February 2009, Connie was honored as an Outstanding Alumnae at Illinois State University.

This fall Connie is volunteering in “Incubatoredu”, a program designed to excite high school students about becoming entrepreneurs by creating and fully developing their own product or service. Connie and her husband reside in Palatine, Illinois, where they are active in the local community. They have four grown children. Connie’s hobbies include mentoring, reading, traveling and entertaining.