IDC Volunteer of the Year Award

Eugena Whitson-Owen

2023
Volunteer of the Year Award Recipient

Eugena Whitson-Owen of Zurich North America in Schaumburg has been named the 2023 Volunteer of the Year by the Illinois Defense Counsel. Ms. Whitson-Owen was recognized for her many contributions to the IDC.

“Thank you to the IDC for recognizing me with the Volunteer of the Year Award. It’s truly my honor to give back to this organization in any way I can. I give 100% kudos to the IDC and its leadership for all the training and mentoring they provided to me as a young lawyer and over the past 25+ years. Without this organization, I would not be the attorney I am today,” said Ms.  Whitson-Owen.

IDC Executive Director Sandra Wulf remarked “Gena’s return to the IDC Board of Directors this year was just one of the ways that she contributed to the growth and development of the IDC recently. Not only did she step up to serve as a Board Member but was integrally involved with planning and speaking at IDC conferences and participating in special events. She personifies dedication, commitment, and leadership. It is a great honor to get to work with her.”

Eugena “Gena” Whitson-Owen is an Assistant Vice President with Zurich North America and the Managing Attorney for Zurich’s Staff Legal Offices in Chicago and Milwaukee. Prior to her current role, Gena was a Senior Trial Attorney representing Zurich’s insured customers in the areas of construction negligence, products liability, and commercial transportation, and served as the Team Lead overseeing the technical and legal excellence of Zurich’s staff legal counsel in ten offices across the Midwest. Gena serves on Zurich’s Social Inflation Task Force and in 2022 co-hosted the inaugural Defense Counsel Summit for Zurich’s staff legal, panel, and insured select attorneys across the country.

Follow this link to view all Previous Volunteer of the Year Award Recipients.