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Annual Report 2019

The Chicago region has changed substantially since the Metropolitan Planning Council was founded in 1934. For the love of this place we call home, we deploy ever-changing tools and tactics to advance a better, bolder, more equitable future for everyone. We meet the shifting needs of our community with bold ideas—through boom and retraction, through sickness and health, through political administrations, technological upheaval, and demographic change.

MPC surveyed the residents of our city’s Depression-era tenements in the 1930s, gathering information that galvanized the creation of Chicago’s first public housing, in its early years a national model. Post World War II, we advocated for stronger urban planning to ensure that, in the midst of explosive growth, our development and transportation decisions would benefit generations to come. In 1989, we helped broker the relocation of the north-bound lanes of Lake Shore Drive, gifting residents and visitors with a new cultural playground and green space known as Chicago’s Museum Campus. At the turn of the New Millennium twenty years ago, when our then-thriving economy was putting home ownership out of reach of working families, we launched the nation’s most successful employer-assisted housing initiative, replicated in over 15 regions.

3,500 people attended MPC events in 2019

Today, we’re tackling population loss, economic and racial segregation, transportation accessibility, safe drinking water, and other challenges to ensure our communities are diverse and thriving, and that all residents can reach their full potential. In 2019, we advanced solutions through 38 public events, attended by over 3,500 people; in more than 670 traditional media stories in outlets including the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, Block Club, WBEZ, WTTW, and more; and to a network of more than 25,000 individuals who follow us across our channels.

We’re MPC, Making Positive Change, then and now, unleashing the greatness of our region. Please watch this two-minute video to learn why.

Understanding

Understanding trends and re-examining accepted truths

What’s commonly accepted deserves a second look. MPC digs into the data to change perceptions, change conversations, and change the status quo.

On immigration, numbers correct misguided discourse

Against a national backdrop of increasing hostility toward immigrants, new research from Shehara Waas and Margarita Bernal documented that Chicago’s immigrant population has declined by over 30,000 people over the past decade, roughly equivalent to the population of the Lower West Side, which includes Pilsen and Heart of Chicago. Dan Cooper’s research demonstrated that in most local counties from 2012–2017, an increase in foreign-born residents coincided with a decrease in violent crime.

John Rowe

“Whatever our age or calling, we have to recommit ourselves to taking input as well as imparting knowledge. Most of all, we have to know people who don’t look quite like us.”

—John Rowe, Chairman Emeritus, Exelon Corporation and MPC 2019 Champion Fighter Award winner

A better way to calculate water affordability shows struggle across the region

We live a stone’s throw from Earth’s largest repository of freshwater, but that doesn’t mean water is plentiful and affordable for all. A commonly-used metric masks the burden of rising water bills on our most economically vulnerable households. That’s why MPC, Elevate Energy, and the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant have partnered on Water Affordability in Northeastern Illinois: Addressing Water Equity in a Time of Rising Costs, an eye-opening new report that reveals widespread water burdens and their relationship to segregation and income inequality.

An affordable housing task force benefits from public participation

We believe that every voice has power and every community can thrive. When MPC’s Juan Sebastian Arias was tapped by Chicago’s Commissioner of Housing—and former MPC Vice President—Marisa Novara to co-lead a task force reexamining an affordable housing ordinance, they took a uniquely community-driven approach, accepting applications from anyone across the city, to ensure a representative committee. Because wider perspective leads to deeper understanding.

An academic luminary challenges us all on economic mobility

MacArthur Fellow and Harvard Professor Raj Chetty keynoted our 2019 Annual Luncheon, and used powerful maps to educate 800 attendees about the American Dream being out of reach for many. Chetty finds that children’s earliest experiences—from their kindergarten teachers to their neighborhoods—can unlock advancement, sparking critical questions about disinvestment, racism, and the power of place. The event raised almost $1 million for our agenda of equitable growth and closing the racial wealth gap.

Engaging

Engaging leaders and locals

We collaborate with policy makers, subject-matter experts, and the people most affected by the issues MPCs tackles every day. From businesspeople to environmental justice activists, MPC connects the dots so that all Chicagoland residents can reach their full potential.

Riverfront activations add amenities and connect communities

An African-American Heritage Water Trail highlighting Calumet area waterways former slaves navigated on their journeys north to freedom. A Walking Museum on Chicago’s northwest side that honors our Native American history, in a city with one of the nation’s largest urban Indian populations. Wayfinding for riverfront assets in Chinatown, where community activism built a beloved riverside park. Real-time river water quality monitoring. Public health analysis of riverfront industrial sites. Communities up and down our three rivers are engaged in adding amenities, thanks to funding from the Chicago Community Trust for the Our Great Rivers cohort.

Ann Drake

“In order to realize the limitless potential of our region, we must leverage the power of information, and transmit our passion for what’s possible. From activating our riverfronts, to investing in transportation innovation, to demanding effective government—MPC is at the center of building a stronger region that works for everyone. MPC Board members advocate for legislative and policy change, serve on advisory committees, and expand MPC’s network.”

—Ann Drake, Founder, AWESOME, and MPC Board of Governors Vice Chair

Technical assistance empowers residents before development decisions are made

When it comes to neighborhood change, MPC’s tools and techniques engage people in advocating for themselves—before catalytic investments price them out of their neighborhood. Our Preserving Affordability Together pilot in East Garfield Park convened neighbors over eight months, to co-create a hyperlocal blueprint of strategies to keep long-time residents in their homes, preventing displacement.

38 events hosted on-site and around the region

Events offer leaders deeper understanding

Complex issues, complex solutions. Our guest speakers, Board and staff experts share their knowledge and deep network, connecting wise leaders with innovative ideas to a growing audience. Our Leadership Circle donors get behind-the-scenes access, including tours of Skender’s eye-poppingly efficient modular design factory and The Hatchery, a new food incubator near the CTA Kedzie Green Line station. Our Equity-in-Action conversation series drew 150 people to learn from Folded Map artist Tonika Johnson at the DuSable Museum.

Advising

Advising on the issues of our time

We work at the nexus of government, business, community, and philanthropy. Our unique role as a connector unlocks a cross-section of Chicagoland’s best ideas.

670 news mentions across the U.S.

People with disabilities deserve transportation choices

Accessibility helps everyone. Sidewalk curb cuts, for instance, as they’ve been widely implemented over the past thirty years, haven’t just helped people using wheelchairs; they’ve made journeys easier with suitcases, strollers, rollerblades, and more. Chicagoland’s complex patchwork of transit and paratransit networks are ripe for improvement. That’s why we convened stakeholders from across the region to learn together about Toward Universal Mobility: Charting a Path to Improve Transportation Accessibility, including 32 policy recommendations and human-interest stories. The stories hit a nerve, featured in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, Crain’s Chicago Business, the Daily Herald, Curbed, the Daily Line, WTTW, CBS2, and WBEZ. We’re advocating for better audible cues, a cross-agency accessibility coordinator, cellphone tracking of paratransit vans, and more.

Practitioners learn nation’s best practices for clean, affordable drinking water

First it was Flint. Then other cities’ tap water struggles cleaved into national news. The reality is, when a mayor is elected, he or she is likely not an expert when it comes to the complex, important work of delivering water to their constituents’ taps. How should water bills be written and sent, for ease and affordability? How can a mayor tackle pollution, lead, and rapidly depleting aquifers? That’s why we released the very readable Drinking Water 1-2-3 guidebook in 2018, sharing best practices from around the nation. And why, in 2019, we added a “mobile classroom,” four training workshops held in Joliet, Orland Park, Elgin, and Barrington to help the region’s elected officials, water managers, and practitioners learn shoulder-to-shoulder. The attendees came from Buffalo Grove to Richton Park. Because our community’s tap water is precious.

Returning citizens deserve stable housing to keep prison in the rear-view mirror

Did you know that in Illinois, nearly 40% of people return to prison within three years, each time costing taxpayers over $150,000? An important piece of the puzzle in giving people a shot at stability and reducing that price tag is housing for formerly incarcerated individuals. That’s why we partnered with the Illinois Justice Project and over 60 organizations on Re-Entry Housing Issues in Illinois, a detailed report outlining challenges and solutions. This project marks the first time the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Illinois Housing Development Authority have tackled re-entry housing issues together.

Sergio Rodriguez

“In order to effectively serve their constituents, governments need to be informed by accurate, bipartisan information, and supported with the tools and the staffing to run the programs that our communities rely on. With partnerships with organizations like MPC, the Village of Summit is able to function at a higher level, and authentically represent the interests of our residents.”

—Sergio Rodriguez, Mayor, Summit, IL

Our team is poised to assist and to empower new leaders

Our subject matter experts stay sharp, regularly informing each other around the office, and formally lending a hand when called. This year we armed leaders at multiple levels of government with the tools they need to lead well. We were a resource to new Deputy Governors and State of Illinois agency heads on best practices across the U.S. We educated Chicago aldermanic candidates on housing, transportation, water, and equity, through a Webinar series. And we crafted a go-to Mayoral Briefing Book and loaned staff to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s transition teams. You’ll see the fruits of that work in news stories, political talking points, and government action all around us.

Enacting

Enacting change begins with all of us

Great ideas must not sit on shelves, collecting dust. That’s why we build relationships and trust, so the people empowered to make change take action.

Water isn’t limited by municipal boundaries, and neither are we

The Calumet Stormwater Collaborative is an internationally-recognized model for cooperation across boundaries within a single watershed. This diverse group of stakeholders convenes monthly, coordinating efforts in southeast Chicago and South suburban Cook County to solve chronic urban flooding. And in 2019? It’s the first of a three-year workplan, focused on the first step of understanding the current state of our region’s green infrastructure, before we can focus on improving it.

12,000 followers across Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Dedicated revenue for transit fixes busted commutes and supports job growth

Using case studies on companies like McDonald’s in our Transit Means Business report and mobilizing cranky commuters through our #BustedCommute social media campaign, we achieved a huge win in 2019—a $45 billion state capital bill, with 22% dedicated toward transit. Next up? Ensuring that precious money is prioritized for the projects that deliver big returns on the three “e’s,”: economy, environment, equity.

A chorus calls for equity, all together now

At MPC, advancing equity is a core organizational value. Following the release of our Cost of Segregation findings and Our Equitable Future Roadmap, we’re seeing equitable policies take root across our region. A change to Chicago’s transit-oriented development ordinance marks the first time that equity is codified formally in local policy. And voters in Chicago’s 2019 mayoral race were able to size up the candidates on issues related to racial equity, thanks to the Vote Equity interactive ballot championed by Chicagoans United for Equity, MPC, and others. On her first day in office, Mayor Lori Lightfoot signed an executive order limiting aldermanic prerogative after MPC highlighted the harm caused by this unwritten privilege often used to block the development of affordable housing. In partnership with the Government Alliance on Race & Equity, Cook County joined with the City of Chicago on a “Racial Equity Week” in remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the 1919 race riots in Chicago.

Angelique Power

“Given MPC’s reputation as a bold truth-teller that uses data to tell important stories, this is the moment to implement and not just perform a racial equity framework.”

—Angelique Power, President, Field Foundation of Illinois

As an independent planning and policy change organization, we change perceptions, change conversations, and change the status quo. Thank you for helping us build a better, bolder, more equitable future for everyone.

Financial summary

MPC’s research, advocacy and demonstration projects are funded primarily by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations.

2019 operating expenses

2019 operating revenue by source

$500,000 and above

  • The Chicago Community Trust
  • Searle Fund at The Chicago Community Trust
  • ^Dorothy Mosina Fund at The Chicago Community Trust
  • ^The Joyce Foundation
  • ^The Rockefeller Foundation

$250,000–$499,999

  • Grand Victoria Foundation
  • The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

$100,000–$249,999

  • The Crown Family
  • Harris Family Foundation
  • JPMorgan Chase
  • Robert R. McCormick Foundation
  • McDougal Family Foundation

$50,000–$99,999

  • Bank of America
  • Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust
  • PNC Bank
  • Polk Bros. Foundation
  • ^Steans Family Foundation
  • U.S. Bank

$20,000–$49,999

  • Abbott
  • The AMD Family Fund
  • ArcelorMittal USA
  • The Banc Funds Company
  • BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois
  • BMO Harris Bank
  • Bowman C. Lingle Trust
  • Bucksbaum Retail Properties, LLC
  • CIBC Bank USA
  • City of Chicago, Department of Housing
  • ComEd
  • Kent P. Dauten, Keystone Capital
  • The Duchossois Group, Inc.
  • Ellen Carnahan
  • First Midwest Bank
  • Wilbur H. Gantz
  • Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
  • Groupon
  • ^Hopewell Fund
  • Edgar D. Jannotta
  • Jones Lang LaSalle
  • Michael L. Keiser, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
  • Lavin Family Foundation
  • National Material LP
  • Peoples Gas
  • The Prince Charitable Trusts
  • The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
  • John W. and Jeanne M. Rowe
  • Pat and Shirley Ryan Family
  • Sterling Bay Companies
  • SunCoke Energy
  • Union Pacific Foundation
  • Wintrust Financial Corporation
  • Yagan Family Foundation

$10,000–$19,999

  • AbbVie Inc.
  • Nicholas W. Alexos
  • The Allstate Corporation
  • AptarGroup, Inc.
  • ARCADIS
  • Association of American Railroads
  • AT&T Illinois
  • John A. Buck, II
  • The Canning Foundation
  • CenterPoint Properties Trust
  • Centro
  • Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
  • Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
  • The Conservation Fund
  • Dr. Scholl Foundation
  • Edelman
  • Energy Foundation
  • Ernst & Young LLP
  • Bon and Holly French
  • GCM Grosvenor
  • Nancy S. Gerrie
  • Ari F. Glass
  • Jacques N. Gordon and Elizabeth H. Wiltshire
  • Jim Gordon, The Edgewater Funds
  • Greeley and Hansen
  • Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
  • Illinois Housing Development Authority
  • ITW
  • InterPark Holdings LLC
  • Lend Lease
  • Lloyd A. Fry Foundation
  • Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC
  • Jim and Kitty Mann
  • MB Financial Bank
  • Andrew J. McKenna, Sr.
  • MillerCoors
  • Northern Trust
  • Packaging Corporation of America
  • Related Midwest
  • Joan Rockey
  • Sam and Dona Scott Fund
  • SIPI Metals Corp.
  • Skender
  • Steven N. Miller
  • Structured Development, LLC
  • James Paul TenBroek
  • Transdev North America, Inc
  • United Center
  • Mr. and Mrs. Frederick H. Waddell

$5,000–$9,999

  • Alliance for the Great Lakes
  • Arch W. Shaw Foundation
  • Steve Baird, Baird & Warner, Inc.
  • BDT & Company, LLC
  • BNSF Railway Company
  • Booth Hansen Associates
  • CDW Corporation
  • Chicago Building Trades Council
  • Chicago Federation of Labor
  • Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters
  • Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd.
  • Collins Engineers, Inc.
  • Comcast
  • Chris & Cira Conley
  • Deloitte
  • Cate and Jim Denny
  • DLA Piper LLP (US)
  • Draper and Kramer, Inc.
  • Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP
  • Paul Dykstra
  • Enterprise Community Partners
  • John R. Ettelson
  • The Field Foundation of Illinois, Inc.
  • Franczek Radelet P.C.
  • John S. Gates, Jr.
  • Gensler
  • The Habitat Company
  • HBK Engineering, LLC
  • Heitman
  • HNTB Corporation
  • Illinois Department of Natural Resources
  • Illinois Institute of Technology
  • Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting
  • Karen Z. Grey-Krehbiel and John H. Krehbiel, Jr.
  • Carol and Larry Levy
  • Lee M. Mitchell
  • National Equity Fund, Inc.
  • Next Generation Public Affairs, Inc.
  • Northwestern Medicine
  • Optima Inc.
  • Ozinga Redi-Mix Concrete
  • Ellen Partridge and Ed Tanzman
  • Pepper Construction Company
  • Perkins & Will
  • Pritzker Military Museum & Library
  • The Pritzker Traubert Foundation
  • Robinson Engineering Ltd.
  • RW Ventures, LLC
  • Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
  • Ellen and Jim Stirling
  • Bruce W. Taylor
  • Wight & Company
  • William Blair & Company, LLC

$1,000–$4,999

  • Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture
  • Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
  • Anonymous
  • Ben and Sheila Applegate
  • Applied Real Estate Analysis, Inc.
  • Ramiro J. Atristaín-Carrión
  • Kyle Barnett
  • MarySue Barrett
  • Quin and Doris Barrett
  • Matthew Brewer
  • Broadband Interactive
  • Todd C. Brown
  • Christopher B. Burke
  • Paul and Rebecca Carlisle
  • CDM Smith
  • Pedro J. Cevallos-Candau
  • Chicago Cubs
  • Frank M. Clark
  • Michelle L. Collins
  • Cook County Department of Building & Zoning
  • Francesca DeBiase
  • Enterprise Housing Credit Investment
  • Epstein
  • Faegre Baker Daniels LLP
  • Farr Associates
  • Mr. and Mrs. James J. Glasser
  • Linda Goodman and David Narefsky
  • Grisko
  • Joshua Hale, Big Shoulders Fund
  • Andrew J. Hesselbach
  • Hill and Cheryl Hammock
  • David D. Hiller
  • Laurie Holmes
  • Holsten Management Corporation
  • Illinois Chamber of Commerce
  • James S. Kemper Foundation
  • Jocarno Fund
  • Charles R. Kaiser
  • Christopher J. King
  • Thomas C. Kirschbraun
  • Michael C. Krauss
  • The Lakota Group
  • Karen P. Layng
  • Laritza Lopez
  • M.E. Simpson Co,. Inc.
  • Brian Meltzer
  • Mercy Lakefront Housing
  • Ronald and Patricia Miller
  • Steven N. Miller
  • Matthew Moog
  • David Mook
  • OAI, Inc.
  • Patricia J. Hurley & Associates, Inc.
  • Frank D. Pellicori
  • J. Scot Pepper
  • Matthew R. Reilein
  • Eugene Reineke
  • Mr. and Mrs. Norman Bobins, The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation
  • Alana W. Robinson
  • Emma L. Rodriguez-Ayala
  • Carol Ross Barney
  • Stephen C. Ross
  • Sahara Enterprises, Inc.
  • site design group ltd.
  • SmithGroup
  • Julia M. Stasch
  • Barbara L. Stewart
  • Stone Real Estate
  • Sugar Grove Water Authority
  • Taiber Kosmala & Associates, LLC
  • Michael A. Thomas
  • Union League Club of Chicago
  • Jon D. Van Gorp
  • Mary White Vasys
  • Village of Franklin Park
  • Melissa Y. Washington
  • WEC Energy Group
  • Wayne Whalen and Paula Wolff

$500–$999

  • James L. Alexander
  • David E. Baker
  • Brinshore Development LLC
  • Madeleine K. Condit
  • Ellen C. Craig
  • John G. Crowley
  • Victor Dickson, Safer Foundation
  • Stephen Eastwood
  • Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago
  • Greg Jones, Ancel Glick, P.C.
  • Lawrence Kearns
  • Amy Turnbull Khare
  • Vincent A. Kolber
  • Janet A. Lang
  • Leadership Greater Chicago
  • Kenneth and Lucy Lehman
  • Bernard Loyd
  • Suzanne Malec-McKenna
  • Susan J. Moran and John M. McDonough
  • Clare M. Muñana
  • Erika Poethig and Ray Sendejas
  • Regional Plan Association
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • SB Friedman Development Advisors
  • Katherine M. Scherer
  • Jack A. Segal
  • Adele S. Simmons
  • Jeff E. Smith

$150–$499

  • John Amdor
  • Mark A. Angelini
  • Ann and Gene Armstrong
  • Mary Beth Berkes
  • Joel Bookman
  • Mark and Mary Bookman
  • Sharon Bush
  • Erik E. Cempel
  • The Chicago Network
  • John and Jane Colman
  • Catherine Deutsch
  • Tereza Driehaus
  • The Economic Club of Chicago
  • Evergreen Real Estate Group
  • The Executives’ Club of Chicago
  • Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
  • Jean Franczyk
  • Katherine M. Gehl
  • Heather M. Gleason
  • Bruce A. Gottschall
  • Greater Milwaukee Foundation
  • Donald Haider
  • Christopher Hall
  • Emily J. Harris
  • Thomas W. Hawley
  • Hubbard Street Group
  • IFF
  • Illinois Housing Council, Inc.
  • Illinois Tollway
  • Derrick James
  • Jasculca/Terman and Associates, Inc.
  • Regine Sterlin Jeune
  • Fritz Kaegi
  • Priscilla L. Kersten
  • Susan Kurowski
  • LaSalle Capital Group
  • LCM Architects
  • Leadership Greater Chicago
  • John and Jill Levi
  • LISC Chicago
  • Avram Lothan
  • George Lowery
  • Marillac St. Vincent Family Services
  • David May
  • Gordon Mayer Communications
  • Metro Strategies, Inc.
  • Robin Newberger
  • Dudley A. Onderdonk
  • Pace Suburban Bus Company
  • Jonathan Perman
  • Paula C. Pienton
  • Julian G. Posada
  • Poynter
  • Donna J. Pugh
  • Dory M. Rand
  • Anna M. Rappaport
  • Karyn Romano
  • Michelangelo Sabatino
  • Rachel A. Scheu
  • Stephen E. Schlickman
  • Lisa Schneider-Fabes
  • Solomon Cordwell Buenz & Associates, Inc.
  • Beth Spurgeon
  • Jeffrey Sriver
  • Melvin R. Thompson
  • LeeAnn Tomas-Foster
  • Tara Townsend
  • Valerie S. Kretchmer Associates, Inc.
  • Bradford J. White
  • Ellen Wiggins
  • Granada Williams

In-Kind

  • The Boston Consulting Group
  • Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP
  • Edelman
  • Marz Community Brewing Co.
  • Odyssey Chicago River
  • Wendella

^Signifies donors to Economic Security for IL, the organization for which MPC serves as Fiscal Sponsor.

Leadership

MPC bridges gaps between government, community and business leaders, enabling them to more powerfully join forces and collectively improve our region. We believe that strong partnerships rooted in respect, listening and trust are critical to creative, effective problem-solving.

2019 Board of Governors

Executive Committee Officers

  • Chair
    Ellen Carnahan
    Principal
    Machrie Enterprises LLC
  • Vice Chair
    Ann M. Drake
    Founder
    AWESOME
  • Vice Chair Development
    James P. Stirling
    Senior Advisor
    UBS
  • Vice Chair Development/Secretary
    Paul C. Carlisle
    Chief Operating Officer
    Market Head-Commercial Banking
    Wintrust Commercial Banking
  • Vice Chair Government Relations
    Robert V. Fitzsimmons, II
    Managing Director and Principal
    Next Generation Public Affairs, Inc.
  • Treasurer
    Bruce W. Taylor
    Chicago Advisory Board
    Fifth Third Bank
  • Immediate Past Chair
    Todd C. Brown
  • President
    MarySue Barrett
    President
    Metropolitan Planning Council

2019 Board of Governors

* denotes Executive Committee Members

** denotes resigned in 2019

  • Ramiro J. Atristaín-Carrión
    Managing Director
    Atristain Financial Advisors, LLC
  • Kyle Barnett
    Head, North American Physical Channels & US Channels
    BMO Financial Group
  • Carol Ross Barney
    Founder & President
    Ross Barney Architects, Inc.
  • *Matthew Brewer
    Partner
    Bartlit Beck LLP
  • Christopher B. Burke
    President
    Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd.
  • John H. Catlin
    Partner
    LCM Architects
  • Pedro J. Cevallos-Candau
    President
    Pececa, Ltd.
  • Chris Conley
    Founder
    Two Bit Ventures, LLC
  • Lester Crown
    Chairman
    Henry Crown & Company
  • Francesca DeBiase
    Chief Supply Chain and Sustainability Officer
    McDonald’s
  • *James C. Franczek, Jr.
    President
    Franczek Radelet P.C.
  • Linda Goodman
    Principal
    Goodman Williams Group
  • *Jacques N. Gordon
    Global Investment Strategist
    LaSalle Investment Management
  • M. Hill Hammock
    Chairman
    Cook County Health & Hospital System
  • Andrew J. Hesselbach
    Vice President – Construction
    WEC Energy Group
  • Laurie A. Holmes
    Partner
    Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLC
  • Charles R. Kaiser
    General Manager, Corporate Affairs
    Edelman
  • Christopher J. King
    President
    Robinson Engineering Ltd.
  • **Juan Carlos Linares
    Former Chief Engagement Officer
    City of Chicago, Office of the Mayor
  • Laritza Lopez
    Founder & CEO
    PurpleGroup
  • Bernard Loyd
    President
    Urban Juncture, Inc.
  • Mary K. Ludgin
    Managing Director, Head of Global Research
    Heitman LLC
  • **Peter C. Malecek
    Market Executive, Global Commercial Banking
    Bank of America
  • James E. Mann
  • Lee M. Mitchell
    Managing Partner
    Thoma Bravo, Inc.
  • Matthew Moog
    CEO
    PowerReviews
  • David Mook
    Chief Private Banking Officer
    U.S. Bank
  • *Juan Gabriel Moreno
    President
    JGMA, Ltd.
  • **Savi Pai
    Executive Director, Private Bank
    JPMorgan Chase
  • *J. Scot Pepper
    President
    Pepper Construction Company
  • Julian G. Posada
    President
    LiftUp Enterprises
  • George A. Ranney, Jr.
  • Matthew R. Reilein
    President & CEO
    National Equity Fund, Inc.
  • Robert G. Reiter
    President
    Chicago Federation of Labor
  • Shawn Riegsecker
    Founder & CEO
    Centro
  • Alana Ward Robinson
    President & CEO
    Robinson Group Consulting Inc.
  • **Jesse H. Ruiz
    Deputy Governor for Education
    State of Illinois, Office of the Governor
  • **Smita Shah
    President
    SPAAN Tech, Inc.
  • **Martin Stern
    Former Senior Managing Director
    CBRE, Inc.
    (Deceased 2019)
  • Tyronne Stoudemire
    Vice President, Global Diversity & Inclusion
    Hyatt Hotel Corporation
  • Michael A. Thomas
    Vice President, Administration & Real Estate
    The Allstate Corporation
  • Mary White Vasys
    President
    Vasys Consulting Ltd.
  • *Melissa Y. Washington
    Vice President External Affairs & Large Customer Solutions
    ComEd
  • *Paula Wolff
    Director
    Illinois Justice Project
  • *Jessica Droste Yagan
    CEO
    Impact Engine
Marty Stern

In memory of Marty Stern

Marty served on our Board of Governors for over 20 years before his October 2019 passing. A treasured member of our community, he is dearly missed.

2019 Honorary Board

  • Laurence O. Booth
    Design Principal
    Booth Hansen Associates
  • Joseph A. Gregoire
    Senior Vice President
    Wintrust Financial Corporation
  • Donald Haider
    Professor of Public Management
    Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management
  • John McDonough
    Partner (Retired)
    Sidley Austin LLP
  • Priscilla A. (Pam) Walter
    Of Counsel
    Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLC

2019 Executive Advisors

  • Nicholas Alexos
    Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
    Univar Solutions Inc.
  • Carol Bernick
    Chief Executive Officer
    Polished Nickel Capital Management LLC
  • John L. Bucksbaum
    Chief Executive Officer
    Bucksbaum Retail Properties, LLC
  • Marion A. Cameron
    Chief Executive Officer
    SIPI Metals Corp.
  • David R. Casper
    U.S. CEO
    BMO Financial Group
  • Robert M. Chapman
    Chief Executive Officer
    CenterPoint Properties Trust
  • Keating Crown
    Managing Principal
    Sterling Bay
  • Marsha Cruzan
    Regional President
    U.S. Bank
  • J. Michael Drew
    Founding Principal
    Structured Development, LLC
  • Craig J. Duchossois
    Chairman & CEO
    The Duchossois Group, Inc.
  • John Ettelson
    President & CEO
    William Blair & Company
  • John S. Gates, Jr.
    Chairman & CEO
    PortaeCo LLC
  • Nancy S. Gerrie
    Partner
    Winston & Strawn LLP
  • Ari Glass
    Head of Real Estate
    Mansueto Office
  • Michael L. Keiser
    Owner
    Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
  • Mark Kowlzan
    Chairman & CEO
    Packaging Corporation of America (PCA)
  • Karen Layng
    Founder & President
    M.A.I.T. Co.
  • Steven N. Miller
    Partner & Co-Founder
    Origin Ventures
  • Charles J. Moore
    Founder & President
    The Banc Funds
  • J. Marshall Peck
    President
    InterPark Holdings LLC
  • Shawn Riegsecker
    Founder & CEO
    Centro
  • Joan Rockey
    Principal, Chief Financial Officer
    CastleArk Management LLC
  • Michael Scudder
    Chairman, President & CEO
    First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.
  • Mark Skender
    CEO
    Skender
  • Robert A. Sullivan
    Retired Regional President
    Fifth Third Bank
  • Scott Swanson
    President
    PNC Bank, Illinois
  • Stephan B. Tanda
    President & CEO
    AptarGroup, Inc.
  • Jim TenBroek
    Managing Partner
    Growth Catalyst Partners
  • Edward J. Wehmer
    Founder, President & CEO
    Wintrust Financial Corporation
  • Theodore Weldon, III
    Executive General Manager – Development
    Lendlease
  • Serena Wolfe
    Former Partner | Central Market Segment Leader
    Ernst & Young LLP

2019 Housing and Community Development Committee

  • Bennett Applegate
    Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen, P.C.
  • Forrest Bailey
    Draper & Kramer
  • David Baker
    Illinois Institute of Technology
  • Betsy Benito
    Corporation for Supportive Housing
  • Mathew Brewer
    Bartlit Beck LLP
  • Chester Bell
    U.S. Bank
  • Lee Brown
    Teska Associates, Inc.
  • Todd Brown
  • Andre Brumfield
    Gensler
  • Paul Carlise
    Wintrust Financial Corporation
  • Jack Catlin
    LCM Architects
  • Chris Conley
    Gravitytank
  • Pamela Daniels-Halisi
    BMO Harris Bank
  • Andrew Geer
    Enterprise Community Partners
  • Linda Goodman
    Goodman Williams Group
  • King Harris
    Harris Holdings Inc.
  • Juanita Irizarry
    Friends of the Parks
  • Amy Khare
    National Initative on Mixed Income Communities
  • Peter Levavi
    Brinshore Development LLC
  • Laritza Lopez
    The Purple Group
  • Bernard Loyd
    Urban Juncture, Inc.
  • Robert Miller
    Applied Real Estate Analysis, Inc.
  • Dolores Ponce de Leon
    Latino Policy Forum
  • Matthew Reilein
    National Equity Fund, Inc.
  • Pete Saunders
    Village of Richton Park
  • Bruce Taylor
    MB Financial Bank, N.A.
  • Mary Vasys
    Vasys Consulting Ltd.
  • Stacie Young
    The Preservation Compact
  • Wyllys Mann
    Baird & Warner, Inc.

2019 Sensible Growth Committee

  • Ray Bell
    Faith in Place
  • Monique Brinkman-Hill
  • Christopher B. Burke
    Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd.
  • Sharon Bush
    Grand Victoria Foundation
  • Monica Chadha
    Civic Projects LLC
  • Ellen C. Craig
    Machrie Enterprises LLC
  • Alejandra Garza
    AGG Consulting
  • Meleah Geertsma
    Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Adolfo Hernandez
    JB and MK Pritzker Family Foundation
  • Janelle Johnson
  • Christopher J. King
    Robinson Engineering Ltd.
  • Thomas Kirschbraun
    Jones Lang LaSalle
  • Sarah Langeliers
    BBJ Group LLP
  • Lynda Lopez
    Streetsblog Chicago
  • Suzanne Malec-McKenna
  • James E. Mann
  • Luis Montgomery
    2IM Group, LLC
  • Heather D. Parish
    Pierce Family Foundation
  • Donovan W. Pepper
    Walgreen Co.
  • John S. Poth
    PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
  • Carol Ross Barney
    Ross Barney Architects, Inc.
  • Sabina L. Shaikh
    University of Chicago
  • David J. Siegel
    Sidley Austin LLP
  • Michael A. Thomas
    The Allstate Corporation
  • Michael A. Toolis
    Stantec
  • Kimberly Wasserman Nieto
    Little Village Environmental Justice Organization

2019 Regional Planning & Infrastructure Committee

  • William Abolt
    AECOM
  • Kyle Barnett
    BMO Harris Bank
  • Dionne Baux
    Main Street Center
  • Pedro Cevallos-Candau
  • Francesca DeBiase
    McDonald’s Corporation
  • Kristi DeLaurentiis
    South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association
  • Cindy Fish
    Fish Transportation Group
  • Robert Fitzsimmons
    The Linnaean Co.
  • Bernard Ford
  • Ghian Foreman
  • James Franczek
    Franczek Radelet P.C.
  • Jacques Gordon
    LaSalle Investment Management
  • Andrew Hesselbach
    Peoples Gas
  • Tom Kotarac
    Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago
  • Vig Krishnamurthy
    Chicago Public Library
  • Jill Leary
    Regional Transportation Authority
  • Kate Lowe
    University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Peter Malecek
    Bank of America
  • Neil McMonagle
    Ernst & Young LLP
  • Thomas Morsch
    Public Financial Management Group
  • Michael Pagano
    University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Savi Pai
    JPMorgan Chase
  • J. Scot Pepper
    Pepper Construction Company
  • Paula Pienton
    T.Y. Lin International, Inc.
  • Robert Reiter
    Chicago Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
  • Amalia Rioja
    Baker & McKenzie
  • Stephen Schlickman
    Schlickman & Associates
  • Paul Shadle
    DLA Piper
  • Smita Shah
    SPAAN Tech, Inc
  • James Stirling
    UBS
  • Emily Tapia Lopez
    HNTB
  • Laura Wilkison
    Metro Strategies, Inc.
  • Paula Wolff
    Illinois Justice Project
  • Paula Worthington
    University of Chicago
  • Erik Varela
    Union Pacific