CHICAGO,  IL, May 21, 2020 – First Midwest Bank and 101.9 THE MIX are pleased to announce that  Flavia Lamberghini, owner of Apple Dental Care in Chicago’s Logan Square  neighborhood, has taken the top prize in the 2020 Inspiring Women in Business  contest, a program that recognizes and celebrates women-owned businesses in the  Chicago area, Quad Cities and Northwest Indiana. Lamberghini will receive  $5,000 to invest in her business and another $5,000 to donate to a local  nonprofit organization of her choice.
 
“There are nearly 12 million businesses owned by women in the United States,  employing about 8 percent of the total private workforce and adding  tremendous value to our communities and the economy,” said Cheri Rubocki,  head of Branch Banking at First Midwest Bank. “We are proud to recognize  Flavia and all of the truly inspiring women nominated for this award. They  are paving the way for future female entrepreneurs while making a positive  impact in our communities.”
 
In addition to running Apple Dental Care, Lamberghini is an Assistant  Professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry of the University of  Illinois, where she trains and mentors dentists. Over the years,  Lamberghini’s business has grown exponentially, from a solo practitioner to a  team of 21 dentists. She currently partners with Chicago Public Schools and the  Chicago Department of Public Health in the CPS-Dental Program to provide  dental exams and cleaning to more than 50,000 children every year, regardless  of socioeconomic background, coexisting medical conditions and ability to pay  for the service.
 
Lamberghini also sponsors an annual dental mission trip to Panama, partners  with the Red Cross to enhance the participation of parents in blood donation  campaigns and has created an educational program for her employees who want  to pursue their Dental Assistant State Certification.
 
“It is an honor to be recognized for this Inspiring Women in Business Award.  Not only does this mean so much to me, but more importantly, these additional  resources provide a greater platform for me to better serve my community. My  community is the driver behind Apple Dental Care and my true inspiration,”  Lamberghini said.
 
First Midwest and 101.9 THE MIX would also like to congratulate the five  runners-up of the Inspiring Women in Business contest who each receive $2,000  and another $2,000 to donate to a local nonprofit of their choice:
 • Brooke Rossi, owner of DesRochers Back Yard Pools & Spas – Wilmington,  Illinois
 • Norma Serrano-Williams, owner of Excellence by Design – Crown Point,  Indiana
 • Dr. Karen Eng, president and CEO of CSMI – Schaumburg, Illinois
 • Elizabeth Colon, owner of Metaphrasis – Chicago, Illinois
 • Mervet Nolte, owner of Sizzles – Lockport, Illinois
 
“The MIX is truly honored to recognize Flavia Lamberghini and her exceptional  contribution to the community through her dental services for CPS and CDPH.  This is truly a most inspirational example of making a difference in our  community,” said Jeff England, Vice President, Market Manager Hubbard  Chicago.  
 
First Midwest and 101.9 THE MIX received more than 1,300 nominations for this  year’s award, with applications coming from all corners of the Chicagoland  area, northwest Indiana, and the Quad Cities. Winners were evaluated on the  three primary criteria: community involvement, inspiration to others and  work-related accomplishments.
 
Visit www.inspirewomenbiz.com to  read more about the winners.
 
About First Midwest
First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: FMBI) is a relationship-focused  financial institution and one of the largest independent publicly traded bank  holding companies based on assets headquartered in Chicago and the Midwest,  with approximately $20 billion of assets and an additional $11 billion of  assets under management. First Midwest Bank, Park Bank and First Midwest’s  other affiliates provide a full range of commercial, treasury management,  equipment leasing, consumer, wealth management, trust and private banking  products and services. First Midwest operates branches and other locations  throughout metropolitan Chicago, southeast Wisconsin and across the Midwest.  Visit First Midwest at www.firstmidwest.com.  

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