1. Ronald J Gidwitz was born on March 28,1945 and is an American businessman, diplomat, and political candidate who served as United States Ambassador to Belgium, while serving as acting United States Ambassador to the European Union.
36 Facts About Ronald Gidwitz
1. 2.
In 1998, Ronald Gidwitz co-founded the private equity firm GCG Partners, in which he served as a partner.
3.
In terms of public-sector and political activities, in addition to serving as ambassador, Ronald Gidwitz held the positions of chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education from 1999 through 2003 and chairman of the Board of City Colleges of Chicago from 1991 through 1999.
4.
Ronald Gidwitz ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor of Illinois in 2006.
5.
Ronald Gidwitz worked as the Illinois state chair for Rudy Giuliani's 2008 presidential campaign, the Illinois state finance chair for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, and chaired both Kirk Dillard's unsuccessful 2010 Illinois gubernatorial campaign and Bruce Rauner's successful 2014 Illinois gubernatorial campaign.
6.
Ronald Gidwitz worked as finance chair for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
7.
Ronald Gidwitz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Brown University.
8.
Ronald Gidwitz served as president and CEO of Helene Curtis Industries, which was sold to Unilever in 1996.
9.
Ronald Gidwitz served as its CEO from 1979 through 1998.
10.
Ronald Gidwitz's family owns a majority stake in Continental Materials Corp.
11.
Ronald Gidwitz was confirmed by the Chicago City Council on October 2,1991.
12.
Ronald Gidwitz's appointment was seen as an effort by Daley to involve the business community in the city's education reform.
13.
Ronald Gidwitz's tenure ended when he resigned on April 14,1999, amid a power struggle with the new chancellor Wayne Watson.
14.
Ronald Gidwitz's tenure was highly criticized by faculty in the system.
15.
Ronald Gidwitz was appointed a member of the Illinois State Board of Education in 1999.
16.
Ronald Gidwitz soon became chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education in April 1999, having been nominated by Governor George Ryan.
17.
In 1999, early into his tenure as chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education, Ronald Gidwitz made comments about the state's mathematics score on standardized testing, which accused the state's public school teachers of being inadequately trained on providing instruction on the subject.
18.
Ronald Gidwitz continued to serve as a member of the board until the following year.
19.
Ronald Gidwitz was a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of Illinois in the 2006 election.
20.
Ronald Gidwitz came in fourth place, having been defeated by Judy Baar Topinka.
21.
Ronald Gidwitz spent $5.3 million of his own funds on the campaign, which was then a record amount of self-financing for an Illinois gubernatorial campaign.
22.
Ronald Gidwitz received the endorsement of the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune.
23.
Ronald Gidwitz was confirmed by the US Senate on June 28,2018.
24.
Ronald Gidwitz presented his credentials to King Philippe on July 4,2018.
25.
In February 2003, Ronald Gidwitz founded the advocacy group Students First Illinois.
26.
Ronald Gidwitz was the Illinois co-chair of Rudy Giuliani's 2008 presidential campaign.
27.
Ronald Gidwitz subsequently gave his support to the campaign of Donald Trump, and served as Trump's Illinois campaign finance chairman.
28.
On October 31,2016, Ronald Gidwitz organized a meeting at Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago between Trump and wealthy Republican donors.
29.
Ronald Gidwitz served as campaign chairman and finance chair of Kirk Dillard's unsuccessful 2010 Illinois gubernatorial campaign.
30.
Ronald Gidwitz served as campaign co-chair and finance chair for Bruce Rauner's successful 2014 bid for Illinois governor.
31.
Ronald Gidwitz was a key early supporter of Rauner's campaign, and ultimately contributed $55,300 in funding to support Rauner's campaign.
32.
Ronald Gidwitz gave to state and local Republicans in Illinois.
33.
In 2022, Ronald Gidwitz served as finance chair for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
34.
Ronald Gidwitz was Chair of the Field Museum of Natural History Board of Trustees, and the Economic Development Commission of Chicago.
35.
Ronald Gidwitz served on the boards of the Council for Aid to Education, Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center, National Board of the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum of Science and Industry, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the founding Chair of the Chicago Chapter of Business Executives for National Security.
36.
Ronald Gidwitz is the son of prominent Chicago businessman, Gerald Ronald Gidwitz.