(photo by Adam Skoczylas) Col. Laura Richardson accepts a donation from Rob Mann of YPO Wednesday.

The Chicago chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization visited Fort Myer before heading to the Pentagon for a day of briefings and panel discussions Wednesday. The Army Executive Partnership office invited the YPO, comprised of company presidents and CEOs under the age of 50.

The Chicago chapter president, Rob Mann, president and co-owner of women’s apparel manufacturer Henry-Lee & Company, presented Garrison Commander Col. Laura Richardson with a check from YPO for $1,000 for the installation’s Army Community Service emergency food locker.

Richardson thanked the men and answered a few questions in the back room of the dining facility. She explained how the post was founded during the Civil War and served as the home of the Signal Corps.

The colonel told them they would get a chance to get beyond the sometimes negative depiction of the military in the press and see the positive side of things. Richardson spoke outside the dining room after the presentation.

‘‘It’s a very good Army partnership program,” she said. ‘‘It’s good to bring folks here who aren’t familiar with the Army and let them interact with the troops at the individual level. And they’re going to the Pentagon to see the corporate level. We appreciate very much their generous donation.”

The group’s host for the day, Langston Willis of the Army Executive Partnership program, said such interaction helps to increase support for the Army, the National Guard and the Reserves.

The businessmen were to receive briefings from several senior leaders at the Pentagon and engage in a panel discussion with veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The YPO were scheduled to meet with Gen. Michael Tucker and donate a check for $5,000 to the Wounded Warrior Program, Willis said.

‘‘A lot of these people may have Guard and Reserves working for them or will hire recent veterans,” Willis said. ‘‘Once we brief them, they may offer services. They may say, ‘I’ve never been in the military. How can I help?”

The YPO president, Mann, said the visit was a chance for leaders in the business world to see a different slice of life.

‘‘We have great respect for the military,” he said. ‘‘Many have military people on their staffs.”

Mann said his group was eager to contrast the unfamiliar operations of the military with their own organizations.

‘‘From my experiences, everybody we’ve met is pretty sharp, intelligent, committed, personable,” Mann said.