Kirsten Powers replaces Ann Armstrong, who steps down after serving the nonprofit planning and advocacy organization since 1982; meanwhile, MPC promotes two staff members
(Chicago)…..After
serving 24 years as development director of the nonprofit Metropolitan Planning
Council (MPC), Ann H. Armstrong has retired, leaving a stellar record that
includes helping grow the Council’s budget by nearly 1,200 percent between 1982 and
2006, and shepherding its successful Bold Plans, Bright Future campaign for
an endowment and special program initiatives. The Council is pleased to
announce that Kirsten L. Powers has stepped into the role and will continue to
build MPC’s capacity to help guide regional growth and development in
greater
metropolitan
Chicago.
Powers’ enthusiasm for
MPC’s initiatives – such as expanding housing and transportation options,
reforming Illinois’ school funding and property tax systems, revitalizing
disinvested areas, and managing local and statewide water resources – makes her
an excellent match for the role, according to MarySue Barrett, MPC president.
“Kirsten
Powers’ strong public policy background, her genuine interest in regional policy
debates, and deep development background make her well prepared to take over as
MPC development director,” said Barrett. ”Though we will greatly miss Ann
Armstrong, we’re fortunate to have found in Kirsten the same blend of knowledge
and passion that served Ann and MPC so well all of these
years.”
Powers, a
resident
of
Elmhurst,
Ill., will build on the success of MPC’s
recently concluded, two-year Bold Plans, Bright Future campaign that raised
$14.4 million for operations, endowment and special program initiatives. The
campaign expanded MPC’s coffers and its circle of donors, positioning the
Council well for future growth. To ensure the Council’s initiatives continue to
meet regional demand, Powers will draw on her past experience as development
director of Elmhurst College, Openlands, and Chicago Association of Neighborhood
Development Organizations (CANDO); and on her educational background at the
University of Chicago Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy.
“I’ve
always admired the Metropolitan Planning Council’s work, and it’s exciting to
join the organization at such a pivotal point in its history and that of our
growing region,” said Powers. “Ensuring we have adequate funding to support our
mission will allow the Council to continue taking on the most relevant matters
of the day as the region continues to expand.”
Indeed,
having the courage, expertise and resources to take on the right issues at the
right time has been a hallmark of MPC’s, according to
Armstrong, a resident of
Oak Park, Ill., who in more than two decades of service helped the organization
grow its annual budget from $
297,193
in 1982 to $3,531,807 in
2006. This success, she said, can be directly related to the quality and
relevance of MPC’s work.
“A good product, one that
you truly believe in, is easy to sell,” Armstrong said. “I’ve been fortunate to
dedicate a major portion of my career to the Metropolitan Planning Council, and
I look forward to watching Kirsten Powers and the Council continue to shape the
greater
Chicago
metropolitan region as it has since its foundation in 1934.”
Barrett added that
Armstrong’s warm personality, vast fundraising experience, and profound
understanding of the Council’s position as a leading advocate for the region
will be greatly missed.
In addition, MPC is pleased
to announce the promotion of two staff members:
Joanna Trotter, a
resident
of
Chicago, has
been promoted from housing associate to manager of MPC’s Community Building
Initiative. Along with the housing technical assistance that she has been
providing to communities, in her new role, she will coordinate, assess, and
manage the budget and staff for the Council’s various technical assistance
efforts helping local communities address difficult development challenges.
Also, Rob McCloskey,
a resident
of
Chicago, has been promoted from manager of
operations to vice president of finance and administration.
Founded in 1934, the
Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of
business and civic leaders committed to serving the public interest through the
promotion and implementation of sensible planning and development policies
necessary for an economically competitive
Chicago
region. MPC researches and develops
policy recommendations and conducts outreach and advocacy in partnership with
public officials and community leaders to enhance equity of opportunity and
quality of life throughout metropolitan
Chicago
.
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