(Chicago) … The Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC)—a nonprofit that helps governments, businesses and communities develop solutions to meet metropolitan Chicago's pressing needs, so that everyone who lives and works here can thrive—has elected five new members to its Board of Governors and a new Chair, Joe Gregoire, state chairman for Illinois banking at PNC bank.
Gregoire accedes to Chair from the Board of Governors Vice Chair position, taking the helm from King Harris, chairman of Harris Holdings, Inc., who has served as Chair since early 2011.
Gregoire, a lifelong Illinois resident, has served in a number of key banking leadership roles during his 28 years with PNC and its predecessors in northeastern Illinois, including regional president, managing director of Private Client Group, and president and chief executive officer of the Kankakee affiliate. As an active member of the Chicagoland community, he serves on several boards, including the Big Shoulders Fund, Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago United and the Chicago Urban League.
“I look forward to continuing MPC’s mission to make the Chicago area more economically competitive and its vibrant and diverse communities more livable,” said Gregoire. “I am honored to serve as Chair of the MPC Board of Governors and work with my fellow Board members, staff and volunteers who share a passion to keep this region as an attractive place to live and work.”
Succeeding Gregoire as Vice Chair is Ann Drake, a long-time board member at MPC. She accepted the post of CEO at DSC Logistics in 1994, and since then has steered the company through an impressive transformation. Drake actively participates in an array of civic and professional organizations, and focuses her attention on women in leadership, improvements in infrastructure design, and supply chain education and research. MPC’s other Vice Chair is Jesse Ruiz, Partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP.
The new MPC Board of Governors members are:
J. Tyler Anthony, Senior Vice President, Distribution Operations, ComEd. Anthony oversees distribution operations across ComEd’s entire service area, including new business, construction and maintenance, and field operations. He has joined the Regional Planning & Investments Committee.
Karen M. Atwood, President, Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois. Atwood has worked with Blue Cross Blue Shield since 1979, and is currently responsible for all Illinois Division operations. In the past she headed up the firm’s National Accounts Division for Illinois. She joins MPC’s Sensible Growth Committee, where she will help expand MPC’s Placemaking impact.
Kyle Barnett, Senior Vice President, Personal and Small Business Salesforce Effectiveness, BMO Harris Bank N.A. Since transferring from RBS to Harris Bank, Barnett has implemented a number of programs designed to enhance the customer experience and improve sales productivity including new goals and incentives based on a local market opportunity. He joins MPC’s Regional Planning & Investments Committee.
Derek Douglas, Vice President, Civic Engagement, University of Chicago. Before joining the University of Chicago in January of 2012, Douglas served President Obama on the White House Domestic Policy Council. He currently spearheads the University’s efforts to partner with surrounding South Side neighborhoods, including through MPC’s Employer-Assisted Housing initiative. He joins MPC’s Housing & Community Development Committee.
Mike Thomas, Vice-President, Administration and Real Estate, Allstate Insurance Company. Thomas presides over myriad departments, including transportation, energy management sustainability and real estate. Additionally, Thomas serves as a village trustee for his local village, which is replacing and upgrading its 100-year-old water infrastructure. While working in various roles at United Airlines, Thomas oversaw infrastructure modernization across the nation’s airport system. He joins Atwood on MPC’s Sensible Growth Committee, where he will assist MPC’s stormwater and green infrastructure work.
In addition, Erin Lavin Cabonargi was appointed to MPC’s Resource Board. As Executive Director of the Public Building Commission of Chicago, Cabonargi joins MPC with a strong background in infrastructure and development in the public sector.
“Working hand-in-hand with government, industry and community leaders, MPC has a long history of developing innovative and pragmatic policy solutions that help our region and its people grow and prosper,” said MPC President MarySue Barrett. “Our volunteers help us connect the dots between regional needs, challenges and solutions, and we look forward to working with new Board members, led by Joseph Gregoire, in 2013.”
For more information, contact Mandy Burrell Booth, MPC communications director, at 312-863-6018 or mburrell@metroplanning.org. Photos are available upon request.