Nancy Firfer

Nancy joined MPC in 2011, as a senior advisor supporting MPC’s work to encourage balanced housing in local communities across metropolitan Chicago, and deepening its partnerships with elected officials.

Prior to joining MPC, Nancy was a senior advisor with Chicago Metropolis 2020 (now known as Metropolis Strategies), a nonprofit organization created in 1999 by the Commercial Club of Chicago to advocate for better regional planning and smart investments to promote the region’s long-term health. At Metropolis Strategies, Nancy worked with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to envision and lead “Homes for a Changing Region.” At MPC, Nancy is continuing to support the evolution of Homes for a Changing Region in partnership with the Mayors Caucus and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP).

Previously, Nancy spent 24 years as an elected official. A longtime resident of the Village of Glenview, she served two terms as Glenview’s president. During her tenure, she oversaw the redevelopment of the Glenview Naval Air Station into a highly successful mixed-income community that includes a wide range of housing, open space and recreation, and commercial and retail development. She also served on the Northbrook/Glenview Elementary Board of Education and the Northbrook/Glenview High School Board of Education. 

Nancy continues to serve her community as a trustee of the Kohl Children’s Museum Board, member of Lambda Alpha, and member of the Board of the Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook. She also is a member of Urban Land Institute-Chicago. Nancy has served numerous civic and educational institutions, including to the Illinois Workforce Housing Investment Board and Executive Committee of the Council of Mayors for the Chicago Area Transportation Study. She has served as president of the Northwest Municipal Conference, and participated in the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and several of its task forces. She currently co-chairs CMAP’s Housing Committee, and was appointed by the governor to the State Housing Task Force in 2016.