Crain's Chicago Business, September 9, 2024

A taxing situation

Majority-Black towns that are already struggling face a relentless cycle that perpetuates the inequities of taxation and limits economic growth | PAGE 31

Bears may be early target for private equity

The first firms through the breach may start with underperformers, like a popular team that keeps dwelling in the standings cellar

By Palash Ghosh and Arleen Jacobius, Pensions & Investments

The National Football League, the premier sports league in the U.S., will allow institutional investors, including private equity firms, to take up to 10% stakes in their teams, after lagging well behind Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association.

The NFL plans to move slowly on this front — among other things, prospective institutional owners will be limited to at most a 10% stake and at least a 3% stake, and will have to keep their ownership interests for at least six years. The first firms through this breach may see the Chicago Bears as a prime target to plant their flag.

Shana Orczyk Sissel, founder, president and chief executive officer of Banríon Capital Management, an alternative asset technology platform, said private equity firms may initially target underperforming clubs — like her hometown Bears — rather than the more highly-valued teams like the Cowboys or New England Patriots.

The Bears have had only one winning season in the past 10 years. Similar to an undervalued and underperforming company targeted by a private equity firm, she said, the Bears might be a very appealing candidate for an alternatives firm looking to enter the NFL, given the team’s long history, huge popularity, as well as the large population of its home base.

A quick injection of capital would likely assist in the team’s effort to get a new stadium built, be it on the city’s lakefront or in the suburbs. After a heavy lobbying

The Bears have had only one winning season in the past 10 years — similar to an undervalued and underperforming company targeted by a private equity firm.

effort and winning over Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on a $3.2 billion domed stadium next to where Soldier Field currently stands, the team has yet to move the ball forward an inch in Springfield to secure public subsidies.

The Bears’ current owner, 101-year-old Virginia McCaskey, could have another incentive to sell that dates back to how she took control of the club.

Before his death, her father George Halas, the team’s founder

See BEARS on page 39

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Check out our annual roundup of the largest law firms in the Chicago area. PAGE 28

PHOTOS BY CASSANDRA WEST

After a heady summer, fiscal reality hits City Hall

For a few weeks this summer, Chicago caught a glimpse of what it could be: an international powerhouse, a city that works for all of its residents.

First Gov. J.B. Pritzker landed a U.S. Defense Department research lab and a major corporate tenant for the budding quantum computing campus on the Far South Side, one that potentially could create the kind of jobs and investment here for the 21st century that the site’s former owner, U.S. Steel, did in the early part of the last century.

Greg Hinz

Then, the owners of the United Center announced plans for apartments, shopping, entertainment and more, replacing a wasteland of windswept parking lots with a new neighborhood.

Meanwhile, a third megaproject in the billions, the expansion and modernization of O’Hare’s inadequate terminals, finally got going, with fast-rising patronage numbers at the airfield indicating it is not a fantasy but a critical step for the city’s economic future that will pay for its own way.

The Democratic National Convention came off without a major hitch, giving the city’s huge hospitality sector income and zillions of free publicity. I happened to be in London during the confab, and you couldn’t buy the kind of friendly exposure the event created. The gravy came from Da Bears, who still don’t have a stadium deal but finally may have the kind of team that can bring Chicago together.

“The last couple of months have been terrific for Chicago,” said Michael Fassnacht, who served as the city’s chief salesman as head of World Business Chicago. “Just wonderful. A couple of the biggest development deals in decades.”

Ah, sweet home Chicago. The old town still is kicking.

But you know there was another shoe to drop. And it did with the news that Mayor Brandon Johnson faces a nearly $1 billion hole — a projected $982.4 million, to be precise — in the proposed 2025 city budget he’ll unveil in October, surely the time for a Halloween fright.

Now, the city has faced big budget holes before, and you can bet your wallet that Team Johnson included every possible bit of bad news this week, if only to make them look like financial wizards when a less draconian budget actually comes out.

That said, $982.4 million is a big number, among the biggest in city history. And it comes at a time

when two other units of municipal government, Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Transit Authority, face barrels of red ink themselves, collectively putting lots of stress on an already too stressed local tax base.

Of the three, the CTA looks like the easiest to save. Johnson is going to have to loosen his control over the transit agency, but in exchange, state lawmakers seem inclined to come up with more revenue from higher tollway tolls, an expanded service tax and perhaps other pots because, while the CTA mostly serves Chicagoans, Metra mostly serves the suburbs and is in a post-COVID financial pickle, too.

I don’t expect lawmakers to be as forthcoming with CPS, however much the Chicago Teachers Union wants to caterwaul about how it — and the students — are “owed” another $1 billion or so. That ain’t happening, because if you give a lot more to CPS, you have to give a lot more to public schools in the suburbs and downstate, collectively requiring billions of dollars from a major new tax hike that I don’t see Pritzker, who still harbors national political ambitions, getting behind. Especially if Johnson is successful in forcing out schools CEO Pedro Martinez for having the gall to reject a plan for CPS to borrow its way out of trouble year at a cost of kneecapping its operations in the out years.

At least as bad off is the city itself.

One of the reasons for the big hold is CPS balking at paying the city hundreds of millions for worker pensions that now is paid by the city’s treasury. Another is the downtown office market remains in a deep, deep funk, costing the city all kinds of tax revenue. Then there’s nice 5% annual raises being handed out to municipal unions, and this mayor’s continued temptation to spend money the city doesn’t have on racial equity programs. However hard, sometimes you just have to say no.

Based on all of that, Johnson almost certainly will look at a big property tax hike, the kind of thing he vowed during his election campaign to never, ever implement. Doing so could scuttle any re-election hopes Johnson has because, as I suggested in a column earlier this year, a Chicago property tax revolt is brewing out there, driven by a decline in downtown office building value and insatiable demand by CPS for every property tax penny it can get. I don’t know what Johnson will do. If I were him, I’d get out the big ax. I do know that if Johnson wants to revisit the heady days of earlier this summer, he can’t tax Chicago to death.

Agricultural hub for small biz, energy and produce opens on the South Side

By Pawan Naidu

An agricultural campus recently launched on Chicago’s South Side aims to improve the quality of life for Auburn Gresham residents by providing an eco-focused economic engine and community space.

The Green Era Campus, a 9acre facility at 650 W. 83rd St., transformed a site once used as an auto impound lot for the Chicago Police Department into a hub for green energy, jobs, fresh produce, small-business incubation and educational programming, according to a statement from the joint venture.

One of the partners is Urban Growers Collective — a local nonprofit that uses urban agriculture to address inequities and structural racism. The group earlier announced plans to purchase a separate 30 acres of unincorporated Cook County land for sustainable farming initiatives.

Urban Growers looks to these sorts of projects to provide economic opportunities for residents

in underserved communities.

"This is true change: a facility that can grow food, create energy and provide education and inspiration to young people and folks returning from incarceration — all happening within a community that represents the challenges we've been up against for the last 130 years,” said Erika Allen, Urban Growers Collective's CEO.

Auburn Gresham, a predominantly Black neighborhood, faces more economic insecurity than most in the city, with an unemployment rate of 19.2% and median household income of $41,000, according to city census data. For comparison, citywide unemployment was measured at 8.2%, with the median household income at $71,000.

One of the main components of the campus is an anaerobic digester — a machine that produces renewable energy by converting organic biodegradable materials into natural gases. The tool can hold 1.7 million gallons of material, usually a combination of ma-

nure, water waste and food waste.

The site will also feature a retail nursery that is expected to increase food accessibility for more than 2,000 people per year in the neighborhood. More than 125 varieties of produce will be grown.

Despite these lofty goals, some residents have been skeptical since the campus was pitched over a decade ago. Locals voiced concern over previous projects in South and West Side communities not delivering on their promises.

“There was some political kind of rhetoric where people were being told that we're going to be a sewage plant and we're going to be creating all these toxic chemicals and shouldn't be in our community,” Allen previously told Crain’s. "And we were like, no, this is the absolute opposite of what we're doing. We're cleaning up a brownfield.”

The project is backed by $2 million in state funding and was among the Auburn Gresham projects that received $10 million from the inaugural Chicago Prize in 2020.

“It’s the partnership that matters.”

BART VITTORI – CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | MEATS BY LINZ

Banks push to end Illinois law cutting credit card fees

the industry is already racking up costs before the change takes effect next year

By Mark Weinraub

Lawyers representing bank and credit union trade groups argued on Sept. 3 for a quick ruling in a lawsuit seeking to strike down enforcement of a new Illinois law that reduces the fees retailers pay credit card processors.

The industry is already racking up costs to prepare for implementation of the law, which is to take effect next summer.

“July of 2025 is not a starting gun, it is a finishing line,” attorney Boris Bershteyn of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom said during the 16-minute hearing in front of Judge Virginia Kendall of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

The Illinois Attorney General’s Office downplayed the urgency, arguing there was currently no enforcement of the law so there was no need to expedite a hearing on the banking industry’s request for a preliminary injunction.

Oral arguments on the proposed injunction were set for Oct. 30, with the government’s written reply to the request due Oct. 4.

“We understand that this is complicated,” Ben Jackson, executive vice president of government relations for the Illinois Bankers Association, said after the hearing. “At the same time though, our members, the credit union’s members, they have a desire that this injunction occurs as quickly as possible because they are incurring costs, direct costs, already today, to prepare for implementation.”

Jackson added the industry was having a lot of conversations with legislators about the law ahead of the so-called Illinois veto session starting Nov. 12, but he said it was

too early to say if any action would be taken in Springfield.

Bankers were surprised by the law, which emerged at the 11th hour of this year’s budget session. Lawmakers decided to reduce interchange fees, largely paid by merchants, on credit and debit card transactions as a way to soften the blow of a new law that would generate $100 million in state revenue by reducing the amount of money paid to merchants for collecting state and local sales taxes. The Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, the first of its kind, reduces the interchange fees merchants pay credit card processors by exempting state and local taxes and tips from the calculation.

Bankers, credit card companies and airlines such as United — who rely heavily on the profits they make from credit card partnerships — opposed the law from the outset, claiming compliance costs could run into the tens of millions for some credit card issuers.

Among the plaintiffs in the suit filed in August are the American Bankers Association, Illinois Bankers Association, America’s Credit Unions and Illinois Credit Union League. They are bringing the case on behalf of some of the largest credit card processors and issuers, such as JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, Wells Fargo, Mastercard and Visa, as well as smaller community banks and credit unions.

They claim the law runs afoul of various federal banking regulations by unfairly usurping the powers of those regulators, which set standards for banks, home lenders and credit unions. They also say the Illinois law would put financial institutions here at a disadvantage to those in other states.

Was the DNC a boon for restaurants? Yes and no.

eateries that booked big private events did well. Others left with no regulars around the Loop recorded a slump in business. |

For Chicago restaurants during the Democratic National Convention last month, business was feast or famine.

Some restaurants that were able to book big, DNC-related private events did well. Carnivale, a Latin American restaurant on Fulton Street near Interstate 90, logged revenue that was 2.5 times higher than the same week the previous year. But other restaurants recorded a slump in business.

Downtown offices told employees they could work from home during the event, which took place mostly at the United Center from Aug. 19-22. Locals avoided the area, thick with foot traffic and motorcades. As such, restaurants lost out on their regular dinner and happy hour business. And though the DNC drew more than 50,000 people to Chicago, few of them left the convention for dinner — lest they miss keynote speakers such as President Joe Biden, Barack and Michelle Obama, and Democratic presidential

By Ally Marotti

“The city really shut down for the DNC. From our perspective, it definitely did not bring in business. If anything, it kind of took away.”

Anna Posey, co-owner and pastry chef of Elske

Chicago faces a milestone as the Greyhound station closure looms

city could soon become the largest in the Northern Hemisphere without a bus terminal

By Pawan Naidu

The search for a new Greyhound bus station downtown is heating up as Chicago looks to avoid becoming the largest city in the Northern Hemisphere without an intercity bus terminal.

The city is in danger of losing its transportation hub in less than a month as the property owner eyes the site for redevelopment. Greyhound’s parent company sold the bus line to German company Flix in 2021

for $172 million. Three years after the sale, the bus line’s lease on 630 W. Harrison St. is expiring Sept. 20, and there is not a “viable path” for an extension, said Gilda Brewton, head of public affairs at Flix.

The current owner of the station, Twenty Lake Holdings, is looking to offload the terminal. Twenty Lake, owned by New York hedge fund manager Alden Global Capital, could seek a deal with a developer aimed at turning the station into a high-rise apartment tower.

The city attempted to acquire the site to keep it a transportation hub, but the funds were not available, Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th, said at a virtual meeting Aug. 27. It would cost around $25 million to buy the station.

If it loses the station, Chicago will join Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nairobi, Kenya, as the only three of the 130 largest global cities to have no intercity bus terminal, according to a recent study by DePaul University.

“It’s Mid-America’s connecting hub to a lot of places trains do not go,” said Joe Schwieterman,

The Greyhound bus station at 630 W. Harrison St. | GOOGLe

LaSalle Street office landlord surrenders building to lender to fight post-COVID rut

Chicago-based real estate investor Steve Hearn says he’s hoping to recapitalize, take back the reins and regain value after grappling with weak demand in the sector and high interest rates | By

The city of Chicago’s LaSalle Street office landlord has surrendered the building to its lender, but it’s hoping to retake the reins to steer the property out of a postCOVID rut.

A joint venture of Chicagobased real estate firm Hearn and New York-based Fortress Investment Group last month transferred the building at 2 N. LaSalle St. to New York-based Torchlight Loan Services via a deed in lieu of foreclosure, Hearn CEO Steve Hearn confirmed. Torchlight is a so-called special servicer overseeing the Hearn-Fortress venture’s $137 million mortgage on the building, which was packaged with other loans and sold off to commercial mortgage-backed securities investors.

Hearn and Fortress handed over the keys to the building more than a year after the loan matured, according to a Bloomberg loan report.

It’s one of many cases of downtown office landlords giving up their buildings to lenders as they grapple with weak office demand and high interest rates, which have made it difficult to pay off maturing debt. A wave of foreclosure lawsuits has swept through the central business district over the past few years, with some owners seeking to walk away from their buildings rather than endure a lengthy foreclosure process.

But Hearn said he’s not done with the 26-story LaSalle Street building, framing the recent property transfer as a formal step in an ongoing conversation with Torchlight about how to recapitalize the building.

“Nothing really changed, except the due process (of transfer-

ring title to the property) had to happen,” Hearn said, adding that Fortress is not pursuing future control of the property with his firm. Hearn said his firm reached an agreement with Torchlight to continue managing the property for now. “We’re working with the lender. They wanted to keep us on, we have a nice relationship with them. . . .We’re in conversation about how we want to proceed.”

It’s unclear whether Torchlight will pursue a new arrangement with Hearn as it looks to recover as much of the property’s value as it can for bondholders. The special servicer could put the property up for sale to gauge its value and determine whether it

wants to wager on its recovery. A spokesman for Torchlight did not respond to a request for comment.

The building today is likely worth less than the roughly $127 million balance of the loan, based on recent sale prices of other comparable downtown office buildings. The property was appraised at just $60 million in August 2023, according to Bloomberg loan data.

But Hearn has reason to believe it can still generate steady cash flow and potentially regain value. The city of Chicago, which inked a 15-year lease at the building in 2019, has signed on to expand its massive office in the building a few times. The

most recent addition boosted the city’s footprint to nearly half of the roughly 709,000square-foot building, according to Bloomberg loan data.

The city is also moving into space that will be vacated next year by law firm Neal Gerber & Eisenberg, according to Hearn, who also touts the upside of leasing the building’s empty top four floors.

“We have the best space (in the building) available,” he said.

The property last year generated $7.7 million in net cash flow, which was easily enough to cover the Hearn-Fortress venture’s $4.6 million in annual debt service, loan data shows.

Hearn is also hoping to keep

Danny Ecker

a stake in the property while its environs start to see big new investments. The building is just more than a block south of the James R. Thompson Center, which Google is redeveloping into its new Midwest headquarters. That project could push more companies to hunt for office space in the Loop.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is also poised to use more than $151 million in taxpayer subsidies to help developers turn four outmoded office buildings on and near LaSalle Street into more than 1,000 apartments — the city’s most direct effort thus far to restore regular foot traffic lost to new post-COVID work patterns.

Hearn and Fortress originally took control of 2 N. LaSalle through a 2016 recapitalization. The duo put up $42 million for a majority interest in the building to help its previous owner, Norfolk, Va.-based owner Harbor Group International, stave off default on the loan. Harbor had purchased the property for $153 million in 2007.

A spokesman for Fortress declined to comment. CoStar News first reported the 2 N. LaSalle deed in lieu of foreclosure.

Hearn has several large interests in the downtown office market, and the LaSalle Street building isn’t his only immediate loan challenge. Elsewhere in the Loop, Hearn and two joint venture partners were hit earlier this year with a $276 million foreclosure lawsuit involving the 57-story office tower at 70 W. Madison St.

Hearn also owns the office portion of 875 N. Michigan Ave., the skyscraper previously known as the John Hancock Center.

Chicago Yacht Works expands on the Calumet River

It acquired the Sunset Bay marina as the industry expects to continue growing in the coming years

By Pawan Naidu

Chicago Yacht Works is expanding its boating services with the acquisition of Sunset Bay Marina on the Calumet River. Chicago Yacht provides sales, service and storage along lower Lake Michigan. Headquartered in Pilsen, it operates out of an 8-acre facility on the southern end of the Chicago River at 2550 S. Ashland Ave. The latest acquisition adds a 12.5-acre location in Hegewisch and will provide indoor and outdoor storage, wet

slips and a fuel dock.

“Chicago Yacht Works has a dynamic new vision for Sunset Bay Marina, and we plan to start construction and improvements in the summer of 2025,” said Rob Hannah, CEO of Chicago Yacht Works.

The purchase price was not immediately clear, and the sale has not yet appeared in Cook County property records online.

The marina industry is on the rise, according to a recent study conducted by The Business Research Co. Its market size will

grow from $18.89 billion in 2023 to $19.87 billion in 2024 and is expected to jump to $24.22 billion by 2028. Industry growth can be attributed to increased demand for recreational boating and growing waterfront property developments. While older boaters are still driving activity at marinas, Yahoo Finance reports young adults now purchase the most boats. This trend began during the pandemic when younger people turned to water sports as a social distance-friendly activity.

2 N. LaSalle St. | COStAR GROUp

NAR says it will take fight with DOJ to Supreme Court

the dispute between the Chicago-based trade group and the Department of Justice prolongs the period of uncertainty over ho w real estate agents will get compensated for their work in a deal

By Dennis Rodkin

The National Association of Realtors plans to ask the Supreme Court to prevent the U.S. Department of Justice from restarting an investigation into the Chicago-based trade group’s practices around commissions.

The move adds more uncertainty to the question of when the process of homebuying will start evolving toward a new standard practice for getting buyers’ agents paid for the work they do in a deal. NAR intends to petition the Supreme Court by Oct. 10, it said in an Aug. 29 court filing.

The NAR said in a statement issued last month that it’s making the move “as part of our commitment to championing the interests of our members and the home buying and selling public.”

The old standard, where both buyers’ and sellers’ agents were

paid by the sellers out of their proceeds from the sale of a home, ended Aug. 17 as the result of NAR’s settlement in a separate legal battle known as Sitzer-Burnett. That settlement, which followed a massive jury verdict against the NAR, is up for final court approval in November.

Now, the contretemps between the NAR and the DOJ prolongs the period of confusion, as agents and consumers wait to find out if there will be further strictures placed on whatever new models emerge. The DOJ has signaled in past court briefs that it won’t be satisfied until buyers are paying their agents independent of the purchase of the house.

That has implications for how buyers will finance their purchase, raising the question of whether a mortgage would be written to cover two separate transactions — the purchase of

the home, which would include compensation to the seller’s agent, and the compensation paid to the buyer’s agent.

The NAR said in the Aug. 29 court filing that it will go to the Supreme Court to request DOJ not be allowed to reopen an investigation into commission practices. In the same filing to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the DOJ said it will narrow the number of documents it’s requesting from the NAR.

The DOJ’s investigation of the NAR’s commission practices dates to 2019. In 2020, the NAR and the DOJ reached a settlement under which the NAR agreed to make changes the DOJ said would “enhance competition in the real estate market, resulting in more choices and better service for consumers.”

A key piece of the agreement was that the NAR and real estate agents would not tell consumers that the services of a buyer’s agent cost the buyer nothing. For decades, the standard practice of the seller compensating the agents for both the buyer and the seller had led some buyers’ agents to market their services as free to the buyer.

In early 2021, following a change of leadership in a new presidential administration, the DOJ withdrew from the agreement, saying it needed the latitude to continue investigating NAR standards that might be causing financial harm to buyers and sellers. A real estate economist at Florida Atlantic University described the DOJ’s withdrawal as “a declaration of war with the NAR,” according to a 2021 article in Housing Wire.

The NAR asked the District of Columbia court to stop the DOJ from continuing its investigation. The court sided with the NAR, writing that letting the DOJ reopen the investigation would make the 2020 agreement “a letter worth nothing but the paper on which it was written.”

The DOJ appealed and won. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled in April that the 2020 agreement doesn’t stop the DOJ from reopening the investigation it closed. In May, the NAR requested a rehearing, which the court denied in July.

By Oct. 10, the NAR said in the latest filing, it will request that the Supreme Court look into the lower court’s decision.

In its statement last month, the NAR said it was petitioning the Supreme Court to "hold the Department of Justice to the terms of our 2020 agreement.”

A CHICAGOAN TO KNOW

Jay Goltz of the Goltz Group

Goltz, 68, is founder and CEO of Chicago-based Goltz Group, a suite of design-centric businesses, including Artists Frame Service, Gallery 1871, Jayson Home, Bella Moulding and Prisma Frames. This summer, New York's Bergdorf Goodman invited Goltz to open a 1,000-square-foot Jayson Home pop-up in its Fifth Avenue store through Aug. 19. Goltz and his wife live in Riverwoods.

I

By Laura

Bianchi

If your office were on fire, what would you save?

The vintage cash register and popcorn vending machine from my grandfather’s dime store in Chicago.

Why?

From the age of 6 through college, I worked there weekends and summers with my grandparents, aunt and uncle, mother and father. My grandfather immigrated to Chicago from Russia in the 1920s. He started with a pushcart on Maxwell Street that evolved into a dime store on Armitage (Avenue).

Was that good training for entrepreneurship?

I learned the customer service side very well. Once, a regular with a tendency to drink too much came into the store. I asked my father how he ended up such a “mess.” He said, “If you had his life, you might be a mess, too.” My father never complained about customers, like some retailers. But I never learned anything about management.

How did that pan out?

I was naive and trusting, so Artists Frame Service started as a revolving door of employees who were not a good fit, to say the least. One was canceling orders from Friday and rewriting them the next week so he could earn a gift certificate for top salesperson.

How did you fix that?

I brought in a hiring guru and it was life-changing. She had an innate ability to interview and find the right people. Many of the people she hired 25 years ago are still here, some in key management roles.

How did you get into framing?

While I was studying accounting at Northern Illinois University, I started doing custom picture framing for a friend’s father. We would go to art fairs, take orders, make the frames and deliver them. I put myself through college with that, and I loved it.

How did your parents react? When I told my mom I was going to open a frame shop, she said, “What? You’re going to waste your degree?”

A favorite movie scene?

I like the one from “Rocky III,” when Rocky realizes that Mickey, his trainer, has been protecting him from fighting Clubber (Lang). Mickey says, “Three years ago, you were supernatural. But then, the worst thing happened to you that could happen to a fighter. You got civilized.” It reminds me to remember where I came from and not become too “civilized.” If the curb’s messy in front of one of our stores, I still get a broom or shovel and clean it up, like I used to do at my father’s store.

Deerfield firm pays $53M for DuPage County apartments

A 296-unit complex in Glendale Heights traded at a 30% markup from its 2018 sale price

By Rachel Herzog

An apartment complex west of Chicago sold at a more than 30% markup from its previous sale price, showing the continued appeal of strong suburban rent growth to investors.

A venture tied to Deerfieldbased Oak Residential Partners paid almost $53.3 million for the 296-unit Mark Apartments at 1245 Fordham Drive in Glendale Heights, according to DuPage County property records.

That’s up from the $40.5 million that seller FPA Multifamily paid for the complex in 2018, property records show.

Though a tight lending environment has made it a difficult time to sell large commercial properties, rents have been on the rise around Chicago, drawing investors’ attention.

The median net rent in the DuPage County submarket was $2.09 per square foot as of the first quarter of 2024, up 4.9% year over year from the same period in 2023, according to data from appraisal and consulting firm Integra Realty Resources.

Built in the 1980s, The Mark

is 93% occupied and has an average asking rent of $1,734 per month, or $2.12 per square foot, according to data from real estate information company CoStar Group.

Oak Residential Partners financed the acquisition with a $38.3 million Fannie Mae loan arranged by brokerage Walker & Dunlop, according to property records.

Allan Edelson, senior managing director of multifamily finance at Walker & Dunlop, said in a statement that the firm was proud to have secured the loan “especially in the current

challenging economic environment and competitive lending landscape.”

San Francisco-based FPA bought The Mark in a twoproperty portfolio along with the adjacent, separately managed 336-unit Monroe Apartments at 1400 N. Oakmont Drive in Glendale Heights, paying $42 million for the latter property, according to CoStar. FPA sold Monroe to Oak Residential Partners for $62.6 million in 2022. Neither firm returned a request for comment on the latest deal.

FPA has been one of the most active investors in the Chicago-area apartment market in recent months, dropping hundreds of millions of dollars on large properties in Oak Park, Hoffman Estates and Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood.

Oak Residential Partners’ portfolio also includes a 226unit apartment complex in Geneva, along with properties in Minnesota, Kansas, Nevada, Georgia and Florida, according to the firm’s website.

The Real Deal Chicago was the first to report on Oak Residential Partners’ acquisition of The Mark.

The Mark Apartments in Glendale Heights | COStAr GrOUp

Don’t overlook this one factor in your first-ever school board vote, Chicago

With Election Day just around the corner, the battle lines are drawn, the candidates are sharpening their pitches, and money is flowing in on all sides.

Of course, that’s true of the presidential election — but it’s also an accurate depiction of what’s playing out closer to home as Chicago prepares to hold its first school board elections on Nov. 5.

What Chicagoans will be voting for are new entrants to what will be a hybrid board, a mix of elected representatives as well as mayoral appointees. That’s a stopgap along the path to a fully elected board, which will be put in place in 2027, according to state law signed in March by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

The challenges ahead for the eventual winners of this contest are formidable — so much so that one has to wonder whether the victors may someday come to envy the losers.

Here’s just a taste of what’s in store: Amid efforts to rein in a roughly $500 million deficit and larger ones looming down the road, Chicago Public Schools earlier this year approved a budget for the current fiscal year that did not build in any funding for teacher pay hikes or other asks that the Chicago Teachers Union has brought to the bargaining table in its current contract

negotiations with the Board of Education. That budget also did not include a $175 million payment to the pension fund for CPS staff that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the CTU have insisted the district should cover — even though, as the respected education news site Chalkbeat Chicago points out, the union harshly criticized Johnson’s predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, for passing that cost on to CPS.

ing of replacing school district CEO Pedro Martinez in favor of a candidate more to the liking of his friends at the CTU, his former employer. That revelation prompted more than 400 CPS principals and assistant principals to issue a letter backing Martinez. And as of this writing, Martinez remains in place.

Still, he’s being urged by the CTU’s chief, Stacy Davis Gates, to aggressively lobby for more school funding — additional dollars Springfield has made fairly clear will not be coming, and which aren’t likely to be found anywhere around City Hall, where the mayor is staring down a $1 billion funding gap of his own.

High-quality schools that are on par with any found in the suburbs or beyond is one of Chicago’s best selling points for families of all income levels, and a key consideration when companies decide to put down stakes in Chicago.

And CPS estimated in early August that a chunk of the CTU’s contract proposals, including raises for educators, would create a $4 billion deficit for the district by the 2029-30 school year.

Meanwhile, by most accounts the current CTU contract talks haven’t made much progress. Early bargaining sessions were so contentious, in fact, that word began to trickle out that the mayor was think-

So that’s the landscape the elected school board members will be parachuting into after Election Day. They’ll be joining a set of mayoral appointees who will no doubt be sympathetic to the CTU’s point of view — which means it’s that much more important for voters to select candidates who will represent broader viewpoints.

The most crucial of these is the need to assure Chicago parents they will continue to have viable choices when it comes to educating their kids within Chicago’s city lim-

its. We’re talking about the kind of choice that Davis Gates, a vocal critic of public funding for private and charter schools, exercised when she opted to send her child to a Catholic high school that charges tuition of more than $16,000 a year. Or the mayor’s choice to send his child to a magnet school across town rather than to the one serving his family’s West Side neighborhood.

Indeed, Chicago’s selective enrollment schools have been a key driver of innovation and improvement within the CPS system, spawning some of the best schools not only in the state but in the nation. And yet, the CTU and the current Board of Education have announced their desire to move away from selective enrollment schools as part of a five-year strategic plan.

Those calling for dismantling the district’s system of school choice rather than fine-tuning its flaws ignore a compelling fact: High-quality schools that are on par with any found in the suburbs or beyond is one of Chicago’s best selling points for families of all income levels, and a key consideration when companies decide to put down stakes in Chicago.

Chicagoans who care about the economic life of this city would be wise to weigh that competitive advantage as they cast their first-ever votes for their representatives on the Board of Education.

Clean energy is driving a once-in-a-generation boom in manufacturing across the country

In 2022, Congress enacted the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). It included the biggest investment in clean energy by any nation in the history of the world, largely in the form of tax credits to clean energy producers and manufacturers.

Two years later, a sea change in American technology and manufacturing is under way.

The private sector has announced over $300 billion in investments in clean energy manufacturing and deployment, creating hundreds of thousands of new, good-paying jobs.

William Daley is the former U.S. secretary of commerce and vice chairman of Wells Fargo, and currently serves as senior adviser to Crux.

And the pace of growth is getting even faster. In the first quarter of this year, the United States saw a record $71 billion invested in clean energy and transportation. That’s a 40% increase over the first quarter of 2023.

As a former secretary of commerce and White House chief of staff, I have seen firsthand the transformative power of strategic

economic policy. Now, in my new role as a senior adviser to Crux, which operates the central technology platform to help companies sell clean energy tax credits they get through the IRA, I’m seeing just how quickly the pace of clean energy investment is creating new factories and jobs all across the country.

Transferability — or the power to buy and sell these tax credits — levels the playing field for smaller developers and those building brand-new technologies.

One example: One company generated a $3.5 million investment tax credit from the first microgrid project using their patented digital energy management platform. They sold that credit to a thirdparty buyer, resulting in an immediate cash infusion of new capital to fuel their business’s growth.

These stories are not rare. They are happening in states, cities, and small

towns all across the country.

In fact, for every dollar the government is spending on new clean energy development, the private sector is spending five.

What’s even more exciting is that these investments are overwhelmingly finding their way to rural and underserved communities.

An analysis from the Treasury Department at the end of 2023 found that over 80% of clean investment dollars since the IRA passed land in counties with belowaverage weekly wages and below-average college graduation rates.

These historic investments in clean energy manufacturing on American soil are essential to meeting the demands of a growing economy.

A Wells Fargo analysis from April of this year projected electricity demand could grow by as much as 20% by the end of the decade as the electrification of sectors like transportation accelerates and artificial intelligence data centers draw more power.

The work to accelerate the growth of

abundant clean energy is well underway throughout the U.S., and it looks a lot like the economic engine that turned the United States into the global superpower it is today.

Public and private investments in advanced technology are driving an American manufacturing comeback. The clean energy boom is sparking innovation and creating jobs all across the country, positioning the United States to meet the challenges of the next decade and beyond with technology built right here at home.

Supporting domestic manufacturing isn’t a Democratic or Republican issue, it’s an American issue. Just last month, 18 House Republicans wrote a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson urging him not to repeal the IRA, as these “energy tax credits have spurred innovation, incentivized investment, and created good jobs in many parts of the country — including many districts represented by members of our conference.”

It’s clear investments in domestic manufacturing are a key contributor to the next decade of growth here in America.

Mayor Johnson, please keep Pedro Martinez as head of CPS

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are writing to express our unwavering support for Pedro Martinez, the CEO of Chicago Public Schools (“Is Brandon Johnson trying to replace CPS CEO Pedro Martinez?” Aug. 14). His leadership since taking office in 2021 has been nothing short of transformative, not only in the academic achievements of CPS students but also in the broader ecosystem that supports Chicago’s youth and business community.

Under Martinez’s leadership, CPS has reached a historic graduation rate of 84%, a remarkable accomplishment that directly benefits thousands of students and their future prospects. His forward-thinking initiatives, such as expanding dual enrollment programs and creating career-themed academies, have paved clear pathways for students into highdemand industries. This kind of leadership is critical to ensuring that the next generation of Chicago’s workforce is equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the modern economy.

Moreover, Martinez has played a pivotal role in forging strong partnerships between CPS and the business community. By aligning education with workforce needs, he has ensured local and state businesses access a well-prepared and capable future workforce. These collaborations are crucial to strengthening Chicago’s economic foundation and ensuring that both students and businesses benefit from a more connected and innovative ecosystem.

Equally important is Martinez’s commitment to equity and inclusion. He has worked tirelessly to allocate resources where they are most needed, ensuring that students from disadvantaged communities receive the support necessary to succeed. His focus on leveling the playing field is not only essential for the students directly impacted, but also for the long-term health and success of our entire city.

We need more leaders like Pedro Martinez. His removal from office would be a big mistake. The business community relies on strong, visionary leaders like him who are committed to the success of every student and neighborhood in Chicago. The impact of leaders such as Martinez enriches both Chicago and our state. His removal would be a tremendous

loss, not only for the schools, but for the broader community that depends on CPS to develop the next generation of thinkers, workers and leaders.

Mayor Johnson, we strongly urge you to reconsider any decision regarding his dismissal and to recognize the immense value that Pedro Martinez brings to

CPS, our city and the state. Chicago cannot afford to lose a leader of his caliber at such a critical time.

Lou Sandoval is president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. Jamie Di Paulo is president and CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

2024 NOTABLE LEADERS IN ACCOUNTING, CONSULTING & LAW

Congratulations!

Benesch is proud to congratulate the outstanding leaders selected among the 2024 Notable Leaders in Accounting, Consulting & Law, particularly our three recognized attorneys.

Hanna Conger

Chris GrohmanJuan Morado Jr.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez (left) and Mayor Brandon Johnson | CHALKbeAt CHICAGO

NOTABLE ACCOUNTING, CONSULTING & LAW LEADERS

The 88 members of this group are leaders in their firms and industries. They’re managing offices large and small, representing companies public and private. Some handle multibillion-dollar matters; others make their mark among nonprofits. With specialties including health care, technology, manufacturing, finance and real estate, these Notable leaders are touching practically every aspect of business in Chicago.

METHODOLOGY: The individuals featured did not pay to be included. Their profiles were written from submitted nomination materials. This list is not comprehensive and includes only individuals for whom nominations were submitted and accepted after an editorial review. To qualify for the list, nominees must be serving in a leadership role at an accounting, consulting or law firm; show work on significant projects or cases; and have practiced in their profession for a minimum of 10 years. They must live and work in the Chicago area and demonstrate leadership through involvement in professional organizations and civic and community initiatives.

Bobby Achettu Principal Sikich

Scope of work: Bobby Achettu supports Sikich’s global expansion, helping drive growth across 37 tech-enabled services and leading strategy and operations for the company’s first international offices in India. He oversees 200-plus staff members across two countries.

Biggest professional win: Achettu built Sikich India operations into a team of more than 170 across three cities — Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Coimbatore — and played a pivotal role in establishing the firm’s international presence to provide clients with technology services and solutions.

Other contributions: He’s an adjunct faculty member at both Loyola and Northwestern universities, teaching undergraduate courses on global entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship and modern workplace culture. He holds fiduciary or advisory roles in industries including financial services, technology, marketing and nonprofit management.

Andrew Avsec

Chicago office managing partner

Crowell & Moring

Scope of work: Andrew Avsec serves as managing partner of Crowell & Moring’s Chicago office (roughly 150 employees, including 60 attorneys), which opened when Crowell combined with 100-yearold Chicago intellectual property firm Brinks Gilson & Lione in 2021. He advises clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to startups on brand protection, copyright, advertising, trade secret and social media issues.

Biggest professional win: He represented Harvard University in shutting down a scheme to fraudulently franchise the Harvard trademark to more than two dozen schools in Turkey.

Other contributions: Avsec volunteers for Legal Prep Charter Academy on the West Side, Chicago’s first legal-themed college prep school. He’s also vice chair of the Right of Publicity Committee for the International Trademark Association.

Sergio Acosta

Co-chair, white-collar crime and government investigations practice

Akerman

Scope of work: Sergio Acosta represents clients in regulatory, civil and criminal proceedings, including bribery and financial fraud, and conducts internal investigations for state and local governments.

Biggest professional win: Acosta defended a former trucking company CFO in a securities and accounting fraud prosecution in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, winning a rare dismissal of the indictment in August 2022.

Other contributions: Acosta has mentored numerous attorneys through his leadership positions at the U.S. attorney’s office, the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois and in private practice. He’s a member of Elmhurst University’s board of trustees and serves on the board of the Chicago chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Rebecca Weinstein Bacon

Partner

Bartlit Beck

Scope of work: Rebecca Weinstein Bacon is a litigator leading teams in pharmaceutical product liability, commercial disputes, antitrust and employment lawsuits. She’s trial counsel for multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company GSK in matters involving Zantac.

Biggest professional win: Bacon represents a major motor carrier company in matters related to fatal roadside incidents in various states, securing a settlement in a wrongful death and negligence case. She led teams on two confidential American Arbitration Association arbitrations for Align Technology against Smile Direct Club concerning breach of contract claims, successfully defending the first one and obtaining a $63 million verdict in the second.

Other contributions: Bacon co-chairs the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance and is a member of The Chicago Network.

David Agay

Chair, strategic advisory and restructuring

McDonald Hopkins

Scope of work: David Agay, who’s also on the board of directors and executive committee, represents public and private companies, financial investors, lenders and more in a variety of distress and non-distress engagements across industries. Formerly Chicago office managing member, both the office and the restructuring group have nearly doubled in attorney headcount under his leadership.

Biggest professional win: His engagements include megacases like that of Intelsat, representing the board in connection with its $14.7 billion in funded debt, and smaller-scale cases representing companies like Independent Pet Partners and AmeriMark.

Other contributions: Agay supports professional development of younger attorneys and tutors K-8 students in reading and writing. He’s part of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Turnaround Management Association.

Devon Beane Partner

K&L Gates

Scope of work: Devon Beane focuses on competitor litigation, both enforcing patent rights and defending against competitor cases. She was appointed K&L Gates’ firmwide co-chair for the IP litigation practice group and was elected to the firm’s equity partnership.

Biggest professional win: Beane co-led a team representing LifeStraw in a patent infringement case in which Brita sought to prevent LifeStraw from importing its home gravity-fed water filter product line into the U.S. The International Trade Commission found for LifeStraw, reversing an administrative law judge’s initial determination.

Other contributions: Beane manages pro bono asylum and immigration matters at the firm, often collaborating with the National Immigrant Justice Center. She’s on the executive committee of the Richard Linn American Inn of Court.

Chicago office managing partner

Latham & Watkins

Scope of work: Named Chicago office managing partner in 2022, Mary Rose Alexander has been global chair of the environmental litigation practice and the Women Enriching Business Committee. She’s won 15 putative class actions for Netflix and since 2021 has secured more than 20 federal, state and appellate court wins.

Biggest professional win: As first-chair trial lawyer, in November she secured a full defense jury verdict for Dow in San Francisco Superior Court after the city of Modesto, Calif., alleged Dow and other manufacturers of a common dry cleaning product were responsible for groundwater and soil contamination.

Other contributions: Alexander is an adviser to Equal Justice Works. She won the 2022 Award for Excellence in Pro Bono & Public Interest Service from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Federal Bar Association’s Chicago chapter.

Partner BatesCarey

Scope of work: Patrick Bedell oversees dozens of multijurisdictional mass torts cases, including lawsuits over prescription opioids and PFAS chemicals in drinking water, on behalf of insurance carriers worldwide. He’s a member of BatesCarey’s opioid coverage task force and works with King’s Counsel to shape London arbitration strategy on claims presenting billions of dollars of exposure.

Biggest professional win: He successfully litigated one of the nation’s first insurance coverage cases involving thousands of lawsuits alleging billions in damages resulting from drinking water contaminated by PFAS — widely referred to as “forever chemicals.”

Other contributions: Bedell is a frequent speaker and panelist at conferences, including those sponsored by the AIDA Reinsurance & Insurance Arbitration Society and the American Bar Association. He supports the Big Shoulders Fund.

Mary Rose Alexander

Patrick Bedell

Sean Berkowitz Partner

Latham & Watkins

Scope of work: A former federal prosecutor, Sean Berkowitz handles litigation and investigations, including more than 30 cases he has successfully tried to verdict. He recently joined the firm’s executive committee.

Biggest professional win: Berkowitz successfully represented Gary Winemaster, former Power Solutions International CEO, in a bench trial against the Department of Justice. In 2022, he won full acquittal of former Hilary Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussman in a jury trial in D.C. federal court. This year he successfully defended Walmart in a federal securities class action over disclosures related to the DOJ’s opioid investigation.

Other contributions: Berkowitz is the former Illinois chair of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is a past president of the Chicago Inn of Court.

Monique “Nikki” Bhargava Partner

Reed Smith

Scope of work: Monique “Nikki” Bhargava co-leads the artificial intelligence section in Reed Smith’s emerging technologies practice, focusing on the convergence of advertising and use of AI tech.

Biggest professional win: She led the implementation of a retail media network for one of the largest food and drug retailers in the U.S., assisting their new business initiative by supporting partner relationships, developing internal and external policies, strategizing on innovative legal solutions and navigating compliance regulations.

Other contributions: Bhargava is a leader of the firm’s Pacific and Asian American legal business inclusion group. A former board member of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, she’s involved in the South Asian Bar Association of North America and the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago.

Jessie Blank

Managing

director

Slalom Consulting

Scope of work: In her 12-plus years at Slalom Consulting, Jessie Blank began as a consultant and rose to managing director. She heads the retail, consumer packaged goods and travel industry portfolio, generating $35 million in revenue; founded the innovation and insights group; and helped establish Slalom’s business advisory services practice.

Biggest professional win: As part of the team that established business advisory services, she’s overseen 300-plus consultants, driving more than $75 million in revenue. During COVID-19, despite hits to the retail, consumer goods and travel sectors, she helped Slalom invest in client support, helping them innovate and become more responsive and agile.

Other contributions: Blank is a guest lecturer in the Learning & Organizational Change program at Northwestern University.

Kelly H. Buchheit

Director of audit and assurance quality control

ORBA

Scope of work: At ORBA since 2011, Kelly H. Buchheit has expertise in an array of sectors, notably nonprofits. She became audit and assurance quality control manager in 2021 and director in 2023.

Biggest professional win: She collaborates with ORBA’s innovation team to leverage new technologies to create efficiencies in the audit process. The firm’s first subject-matter expert in ASC 842 leases, she developed and led courses on ASC 842 internally and for clients.

Other contributions: Buchheit is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society, where she was nominated to be the 2024-25 vice chair of the Accounting Principles Committee and chair for the 2025-26 service year.

David P. Buckley Jr. Co-founder and managing partner

Buckley Fine Law

Scope of work: David P. Buckley Jr. concentrates in estate planning and corporate representation. For over 25 years, he has helped high-networth individuals and families administer estates and represented closely held family companies.

Biggest professional win: With Buckley Fine’s corporate team, he facilitated the sale of a multimanufacturer car dealership known for its premium brands, achieving significant benefits for the owners and their families.

Other contributions: Before co-founding Buckley Fine, he co-founded Kelleher & Buckley and helped grow the firm to 50 attorneys and support staff with three Illinois locations. He has served on the boards of the District 220 Educational Foundation, the Barrington Area Council on Aging and the Samaritan Counseling Center.

Barbra Bukovac

Vice chair, consumer markets

PwC

Scope of work: Barbra Bukovac leads PwC’s U.S. consumer markets practice of nearly 9,000, serving as the senior relationship partner for retail, consumer packaged goods, travel, hospitality and transportation clients. The practice, which serves 87% of the Fortune 500 companies, exceeds 60% of the firm’s overall business.

Biggest professional win: Her advocacy, mentoring and leadership has been instrumental in a 15% increase in female partner candidates and the success of the firm’s Women’s Consulting Experience, which empowers emerging female leaders.

Other contributions: Bukovac is on the National Retail Foundation and is a board member of The Chicago Network. She’s a member of the Dean’s Business Council at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Gies College of Business.

Marc Carmel

Chicago managing member

McDonald Hopkins

Scope of work: Marc Carmel, a member of McDonald Hopkins’ board and its Strategic Advisory & Restructuring Department, founded and co-leads the private-equity and litigation finance groups. Under his two years of leadership, the Chicago office grew from 26 to 40 attorneys.

Biggest professional win: Over the past five years, he expanded his personal business across three practice areas: restructuring and distress, litigation finance and private equity, coinciding with his elevation to managing member. He created a training program to equip Chicago office attorneys with essential business development skills.

Other contributions: Carmel co-chairs the American Bar Association Business Bankruptcy Committee’s claims and priorities subcommittee and belongs to the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Turnaround Management Association.

Daniel Chavez Partner PwC

Scope of work: For three years, Daniel Chavez has led PwC’s U.S. utilities and sustainable energy audit practice in the Midwest. He leads four audit teams serving public and private utilities and sustainable-energy companies.

Biggest professional win: Since 2020, he’s been PwC’s Latino Inclusion Network partner champion, growing the group by 60% to more than 3,700 members, increasing national programming events by 10 times annually, and creating more than a dozen forums for members, from new joiners through partners.

Other contributions: Chavez serves on the boards of three Chicago nonprofits: the Latino Policy Forum, Nourishing Hope and Chicago Commons. He’s on the advisory board for Career Spring and leads PwC US’ activities with the Association of Latino Professionals for America.

Erin Clifford

Partner and director of marketing and business development

Clifford Law Offices

Scope of work: Erin Clifford manages strategic business development for Clifford Law Offices and serves as a firm wellness coach.

Biggest professional win: After clerking at the Illinois Appellate Court and serving as legal counsel at the Cook County Treasurer’s Office, she now helps professionals create and maintain healthy lifestyles. Since the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism required wellness as a Continuing Legal Education course, Clifford has offered a program across four states for more than 3,000 lawyers.

Other contributions: Clifford is on the boards of Friends of Prentice, the Chicago High School for the Arts, WTTW and WFMT, and is on the American Bar Association’s Mental Health & Wellness Task Force.

Robert Clifford

Founder and senior partner Clifford Law Offices

Scope of work: Robert Clifford founded Clifford Law Offices in 1985. Practice areas include aviation, medical malpractice, transportation, premises liability, class actions and construction accidents.

Biggest professional win: The settlement of cases against Boeing; a fourth trial is set for November, with six cases set for trial in Chicago federal court. In the last five years, Clifford obtained hundreds of millions in reported verdicts and settlements — including a $56.8 million settlement in 2021 for passengers injured or killed in a Tacoma, Wash., Amtrak derailment — and billions in confidential, unreported settlements.

Other contributions: He’s on the board of WTTW and the Rand Institute for Civil Justice board of overseers and has been president of the Chicago Bar Association and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.

Kevin Cole

Chicago office managing partner

EY

Scope of work: Kevin Cole, the head of EY’s second-largest U.S. office, leads a network of 14 office managing partners across the Great Lakes area. He is also the global coordinating partner for several major corporations.

Biggest professional win: Under his leadership, the EY Chicago team has experienced significant growth and numerous promotions, and he has championed EY’s presence and commitment to more than 60 Chicago nonprofits and six major civic and nonprofit enterprisewide pro bono engagements.

Other contributions: Cole is on the boards of World Business of Chicago, United Way of Metro Chicago and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America-Midwest. He is also a member of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Hanna Conger Partner

Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff

Scope of work: Hanna Conger is longtime counsel to some of Illinois’ largest utilities, including ComEd. She guides energy-sector clients, from major investor-owned utilities to new ventures, through regulatory compliance; advises on building grid infrastructure, setting rates and transactions; and represents clients before regulatory commissions and as first-chair litigator.

Biggest professional win: She prevailed in a series of three first-of-their-kind cases before the utility regulator in Illinois regarding implementation of a new piece of omnibus energy legislation, helping shape the law and determine the interpretation and application of new legislation.

Other contributions: Conger is on the board of the Energy Bar Association’s Midwest chapter and a member of the Chicago Bar Association’s Energy, Telecommunications & Water Committee.

Cassie Crist Principal Sikich

Scope of work: As an employee benefit plan audit practice leader at Sikich for eight years, Cassie Crist oversees a practice serving over 600 benefit plan audits annually ranging from $100,000 to over $800 billion in assets. She’s also the firm’s employer workforce solutions initiative leader, collaborating with companywide resources to support clients’ needs.

Biggest professional win: Since 2023, Crist has generated over $500,000 in service revenue comprising over 20 new clients. She also sponsors Sikich’s Women’s Empowerment Circle and helped launch the firm’s Veterans & Allies Employee Resource Group.

Other contributions: Crist is a founding member and co-chair of the Alzheimer Association’s Accounting Industry Leadership Council and co-founded USO Accountants Salute the Troops to support veterans, military members and their families.

Caragh DeLuca Partner PwC

Scope of work: Caragh DeLuca is PwC’s State and Local Tax Financial Services leader for the U.S. She leads a team of almost 1,000 staffers serving clients in the financial services industry and oversees a budget of more than $280 million.

Biggest professional win: When DeLuca arrived in Chicago to build the local State and Local Tax Financial Services business, the team consisted of a handful of people with a small portfolio of clients. It now has more than 40 members and nearly $27 million in revenue. That career success led to DeLuca rising to lead the national practice.

Other contributions: DeLuca chairs the board of Family Focus and is a member of the National Association of Black Accountants.

Matthew Devine Partner

White & Case

Scope of work: Matthew Devine, a first-chair litigator with a nationwide practice representing clients in commercial disputes, was named Chicago office executive partner in 2023, leading Midwest growth strategy and expanding the office to 60 lawyers.

Biggest professional win: He was lead counsel for Bayport Financial Services, which sued companies that engineered a raid of top Bayport executives. After defeating several defendant motions to dismiss, the matter settled on confidential terms after a mediation.

Other contributions: Among his pro bono work, Devine persuaded a Chicago judge to overturn the murder conviction of Tyrone Holmes after nearly 40 years because it was based on unconstitutional bite-mark evidence. Devine has served on the Loyola University Chicago School of Law board of governors and founded the Loyola Academy Bar Association.

Not only is Sheri recognized as distinguished in her field based upon her experience, it is her attention to detail and personal approach that makes her unique. She is amazingly responsive and educates clearly as to what can be very complicated strategies.

SHERI WARSH | Trusts & Estates Partner

William Dorsey Partner

Blank Rome

Scope of work: A founding partner of Blank Rome’s Chicago office, William Dorsey is co-chair of the corporate litigation practice group, leading nearly 100 litigators across 16 offices.

Biggest professional win:

Among his trial victories in recent years: the return of a $100 million real estate portfolio that had been misappropriated by a family member; a total defense verdict for a bank on a $48 million lender liability claim, myriad commercial real estate foreclosures and collection actions; and a $6 million judgment for a former real estate executive.

Other contributions: Dorsey authored chapters for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education and has taught Practicing Law Institute seminars. He leads community initiatives at Christ Church Winnetka.

James Drury III

Chairman and CEO

James Drury Partners

Scope of work: James Drury III founded James Drury Partners in 2001 after serving as vice chairman of the Americas at Spencer Stuart. James Drury Partners has been retained by hundreds of corporations, including 32% of the Fortune 100.

Biggest professional win: Since 2020, Drury and his team have facilitated approximately 150 board placements, including Fortune 500 CEOs, CFOs, chief operating officers and other senior executives. As of 2023, James Drury Partners clients served on the boards of public companies with combined annual revenue approaching $10 trillion.

Other contributions: Drury is on the boards of the Museum of Science & Industry and Music of the Baroque Chorus & Orchestra and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

As office managing partner for KPMG LLP’s Chicago office, Travis C. Hunter, Jr. leads approximately 3,000 professionals at one of the firm’s largest U.S. offices. Since launching his career at KPMG as in 1999, Hunter advanced through the firm, becoming partner in 2012 and, most recently, serving as the Dallas Business Unit Partner in Charge in the audit practice, where he served clients with a specialized focus on healthcare.

After relocating to Chicago for his new role in 2022, Hunter immediately embedded himself in community causes — demonstrating his commitment to supporting the next generation, both within the accounting industry and throughout the local community.

Daniel Farris

Co-partner-in-charge, Chicago

Norton Rose Fulbright U.S.

Scope of work: Daniel Farris co-leads Norton Rose Fulbright’s Chicago office and leads the firm’s U.S. technology transactions group. He’s on the board of Norton Rose’s independent innovation-focused subsidiary, LX Studio, which he co-founded in 2022 to advance the firm’s digitally driven service strategies. He also founded legal-tech firm NMBL Technologies.

Biggest professional win: Farris was an original founding partner and first partner-in-charge of the firm’s Chicago office. Under his leadership, the office has grown into a technology hub, going from 11 lawyers in 2022 to over 35.

Other contributions: Farris is on the board of the South East Side Experience Incubator, associated with the Big Shoulders Fund, which he’s been involved with for over 20 years.

Adam Fayne

Transactional department vice chair and cannabis law co-chair

Saul Ewing

Scope of work: Adam Fayne focuses his practice on the cannabis sector and tax controversy forum, advising businesses on M&A, corporate governance, compliance and tax planning. He was elected to the firm’s nine-member executive committee in January.

Biggest professional win: In the last few years, Fayne participated in numerous cannabis go-public deals, including Ascend Wellness Holdings’ IPO and Verano Holdings’ go-public transaction, helping a growing sector become a multibillion-dollar industry.

Other contributions: Fayne is active in Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the Mary Jane Project. He’s a former member of the Jewish Federations of North America National Young Leadership Cabinet and a volunteer fundraiser for Bernard Zell Day School in Chicago.

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NOTABLE SPOTLIGHT

Corey Fox Partner

Kirkland & Ellis

Scope of work: Corey Fox counsels private-equity sponsors and portfolio companies in matters involving several million dollars to over $10 billion, in industries including financial services, technology, health care and manufacturing.

Biggest professional win: He’s the lead relationship partner for Thoma Bravo, the world’s fourth-largest private-equity firm in capital raised over the last five years. His recent work for Thoma Bravo-backed companies includes Adenza in its $10.5 billion sale to Nasdaq; Luke Bidco on the acquisition of Darktrace at an enterprise value of $5 billion; and Imperva in its $3.6 billion sale to Thales.

Other contributions: Fox cochairs Kirkland’s Firmwide Finance Committee and is a member of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and Senior Income Partner Review Committee.

with Travis C. Hunter, Jr., CPA, MBA

Demonstrating a deep commitment to serving clients and communities

Interviewed by Brooke Bilyj for Crain’s Content Studio

What has kept you at KPMG for 25 years?

It comes down to the people and the culture. There’s something special about the culture here that fosters collaboration and brings out the best in people. I’ve formed friendships that have lasted decades, and that’s truly priceless.

What also gets me excited to come to work every day is the opportunity to tackle complex business challenges and work with our clients to find innovative solutions. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact we can have on a company’s success when we all work together.

What are your top goals in your new role as Chicago Office Managing Partner?

The Chicago office was already in great hands under my predecessor, Linda Imonti, so my immediate priority was to maintain and enhance our brand as a trusted business advisor to the C-suite of Chicagoland businesses.

At KPMG, our values are at the core of what we do, which is why I’ve also

continued to focus on corporate responsibility and philanthropy.

Lastly, I strongly believe in ensuring that our office has a culture that will attract, retain and grow talented professionals.

Since relocating from Dallas to Chicago, how have you gotten involved in the local community?

We are all a product of our communities, so it’s incredibly important for me to contribute. On my first day here, I volunteered to co-chair the American Cancer Society’s Discovery Ball, which helped raise more than $1.6 million to end cancer. I’m also on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations — including the United Way of Greater Chicago, Kids First Chicago, Navy Pier, mHub, Executives’ Club of Chicago, Civic Committee of Commercial Club of Chicago and World Business Chicago — focused on making a positive impact.

What role has mentorship played throughout your career?

Mentorship has been very important throughout my career. Early on, I was fortunate to have strong mentors who coached me, advocated for me and helped me make important career decisions. Today, I’m passionate about paying that forward and providing the

next generation of leaders with the same support.

Beyond formal mentoring programs, I always make time to share my insights, perspectives and experiences to help young professionals develop and advance in their careers.

What do you enjoy most about working with your clients?

Prior to my current role, as an auditor and advisor to clients in the health care space, I enjoyed helping companies be positioned to best serve patients. The health care system is complex, which underscores the importance of an auditor who deeply understands the regulatory environment, statutory reporting requirements and overall system. I found purpose working in that industry, knowing what was at stake for the patients relying on the system to work.

Currently, my role enables me to serve clients at the most strategic level across many industries as leaders navigate constant business disruption as well as the resultant opportunities it presents to their businesses, customers, employees and communities.

Jessica Freiburg

Managing partner

Sassetti

Scope of work: Along with her role as managing partner of Sassetti, Jessica Freiburg is also an active audit partner. She leads the Oak Brook-based firm’s client accounting and advisory team, manages Sassetti’s human resources and administrative department, and is actively involved with the firm’s marketing program and DEI initiatives.

Biggest professional win: Freiburg’s biggest career win over the last five years was being named Sassetti’s first female managing partner.

Other contributions: She is a member of the Illinois CPA Society, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Mary Fuller

Chicago office managing partner

Citrin Cooperman

Scope of work: Mary Fuller was an integral part of joining Shepard Schwartz & Harris, a midsize, $16 million accounting firm in Chicago, with Citrin Cooperman, a $700 million-plus national professional services and advisory firm, in 2022.

Biggest professional win: Fuller and a partner negotiated the deal on behalf of the partnership. She was the lead in Chicago during the integration process and in transforming Shepard Schwartz into a national firm at a rapid pace.

Other contributions: Fuller is a past president of Commercial Real Estate Women Chicago and was recognized with the 2023 CREW Chicago Industry Leadership Award. She is a past chair of the Illinois CPA Society and currently serves on the Illinois CPA Society Endowment Fund Board.

Sean Gallagher Partner

Bartlit Beck

Scope of work: Sean Gallagher leads trial teams representing U.S. and international companies in intellectual property, product liability, accountant liability, toxic tort and breach of contract cases.

Biggest professional win: As lead trial counsel for Pratt & Whitney he won environmental tort cases involving more than $1 billion in claims arising from an alleged “cancer cluster” near the manufacturer’s Florida facility. He was also lead counsel for several institutional investors who lost billions when the Structured Alpha hedge funds managed by Allianz Global Investors U.S. collapsed in 2020. He and his team secured a favorable settlement.

Other contributions: Gallagher has volunteered for over 10 years with CARPLS, serving on the board and as president. He is now on the organization’s senior advisory board.

Robert Gerber

Managing

partner

Neal Gerber Eisenberg

Scope of work: Robert Gerber leads Neal Gerber Eisenberg’s strategic direction in association with the executive committee. A member of the corporate and securities practice group, he counsels private companies on M&A, private-equity investments and joint-venture transactions.

Biggest professional win: In June 2021 he became the firm’s third managing partner — and the first former summer associate to ascend to the role. As outside general counsel for a second-generation family-owned business, he helped in succession planning and growth, including acquisitions leading to over $2 billion in revenue, resulting in a family liquidity event in 2023.

Other contributions: Gerber is on the Chicago All Stars Project board and Indiana University’s College of Arts & Sciences Executive Dean’s Advisory Board.

Sameer Ghaznavi

Co-partner-in-charge, Chicago Norton Rose Fulbright U.S. Scope of work: Sameer Ghaznavi co-leads Norton Rose Fulbright’s Chicago office. As a founding partner and the very first lawyer in the Chicago office, he helped to lead growth from 11 employees in 2022 to more than 50. He represents companies, developers, utilities and sponsors in the development, strategic acquisition and sale of energy and infrastructure projects, assisting clients with some of the largest renewable energy M&A transactions in the country.

Biggest professional win: Ghaznavi was the lead attorney on a $1.5 billion transaction representing IRG Acquisition Holdings, named Project Finance International’s “Americas power deal of the year” and IJInvestor’s “Renewables acquisition of the year, North Americas” in 2023.

Other contributions: Ghaznavi is on the board of HFS Chicago Scholars.

Carol Gilden

Partner

Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll

Scope of work: Carol Gilden is a securities litigator at Cohen Milstein with clients including public pension funds, Taft-Hartley pension funds and other institutional investors.

Biggest professional win: Gilden represented Seafarers Pension Plan in two parallel shareholder disputes emanating from 737 Max plane crashes, Boeing’s misstatements and mishandling of corporate controls that led to the crashes, and subsequent investigations. Her win established new case law and led Boeing to revise its forum bylaw, allowing stockholders to file exclusively federal derivative claims in the future.

Other contributions: Gilden was the first female president of the National Association of Shareholder & Consumer Attorneys. She is also a vice president of the Institute for Law & Economic Policy.

Christopher Grohman

Partner

Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff

Scope of work: Benesch partner Christopher Grohman helps companies and individuals navigate governmental and internal investigations, develops compliance programs and defends cases brought by nearly every government agency.

Biggest professional win: Grohman achieved acquittal of an environmental lawyer’s conviction on six counts of criminal insider trading. His client faced prison time, fines and losing his law license. Employing a rarely used post-trial Rule 29 motion, he convinced U.S. District Judge Manish Shah to overturn the jury conviction.

Other contributions: He is on the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Committee; a member of the Chicago, Federal and Seventh Circuit bar associations and the Just the Beginning Foundation; and volunteers with Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth.

Helana Robbins Huddleston

Partner

CohnReznick

Scope of work: As a transaction advisory services partner and manufacturing and distribution industry co-leader, Helana Robbins Huddleston annually leads more than 40 buy-side and sell-side financial due-diligence engagements for private and public companies with enterprise values ranging from $20 million to $500 million.

Biggest professional win: In November 2022, Huddleston became co-leader of the M&D industry practice, with 300-plus individuals and $70-plus million in revenue. She’s played an integral role in its 4% revenue growth, 2% margin improvement and rapidly expanding market awareness.

Other contributions: Huddleston is president of the Association for Corporate Growth Chicago and has been on its executive board for over five years. She chairs DePaul University’s Females in Finance Advisory Board.

Travis Hunter Jr. Chicago office managing partner KPMG

Scope of work: Travis Hunter Jr. leads more than 3,000 KPMG professionals in providing audit, tax and advisory services to clients. He also facilitates collaboration with eight other Midwest KPMG offices.

Biggest professional win: Two years ago, Hunter capped off a successful three-year run as the Dallas audit business unit partner in charge, leading a team that generated approximately $200 million in annual revenue, with a promotion as Chicago’s new office managing partner, putting him in charge of the secondlargest office and hub in the firm.

Other contributions: Hunter is on the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Executives’ Club of Chicago Nominating Committee, the United Way of Metro Chicago Audit Committee and World Business Chicago.

Chad

Husnick Partner

Kirkland & Ellis

Scope of work: Chad Husnick, a partner in Kirkland & Ellis’ restructuring practice group, represents debtors, creditors, equity holders and other stakeholders in all aspects of corporate liability management, restructuring, bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings.

Biggest professional win: He represented Nordic Aviation Capital in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the largest Chapter 11 filing of 2021, with $7.7 billion-plus of liabilities. In just four months, he led Nordic through its restructuring, deleveraging the company by $4 billion-plus. Other contributions: Husnick is on Kirkland’s Partner & Associate Review Committee, a conferee in the National Bankruptcy Conference, a fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy and member of the International Insolvency Institute, the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Turnaround Management Association.

Michael KelberLeah Schleicher

Bobby Gerber

Neill Jakobe Partner

Ropes & Gray

Scope of work: Neill Jakobe is a private-equity partner at Ropes & Gray. Starting as a senior associate, after a stint at Morgan Stanley as a banker, he was one of five Chicago office attorneys when it opened in 2008. The office has since expanded to 116 attorneys.

Biggest professional win: Jakobe has helped to deliver multiple successes for global investment firm EQT Partners. He led EQT’s $1.25 billion acquisition of IMG Academy, a world-leading sports education brand. Recently, he led the $3 billion acquisition of Avetta for EQT.

Other contributions: Jakobe is a longtime supporter of Cradles to Crayons.

Stacy Janiak Deputy CEO Deloitte Global

Scope of work: Stacy Janiak works with a network of leaders to shape strategy, align priorities and maximize joint investments across Deloitte Global’s businesses and priority growth areas, including sustainability and generative AI.

Biggest professional win: In her previous role as Deloitte U.S.’ first chief growth officer, she led the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring the health and safety of more than 150,000 professionals and remaining committed to client service yielded sales growth of more than 13% that fiscal year and a pipeline of more than $35 billion in opportunities.

Other contributions: Janiak is a trustee of DePaul University, serving on the audit and philanthropy committees, and is on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago.

As a partner at Clifford Law Offices and a Licensed Professional Counselor, Erin Clifford, JD, MA, understands the stressors that accompany a demanding job, and she brings this awareness to her work as a wellness coach and consultant for law firms and corporations. Through Erin Clifford Wellness, she helps busy professionals create and maintain healthy, happy and harmonious lifestyles using a holistic approach to wellness that integrates nutrition, exercise, lifestyle management, mindfulness and mental health. Beyond her role as director of marketing and business development at the firm, Clifford has combined her legal, wellness and teaching skills to counsel staff and attorneys, helping them stay healthy and productive during stressful times.

Dale Jordan Principal BDO USA

Scope of work: As upper Midwest tax market leader since 2021, Dale Jordan oversees more than 200 professionals. In 2023, he was named national manufacturing tax practice leader and works with a nationwide team of 1,000-plus.

Biggest professional win: In the past year, Jordan has driven over $3 million in revenue growth in the Chicago market and, through his leadership, helped grow BDO’s national manufacturing practice by 15%. He was a business adviser to a new Chicago-based client whose operations rapidly doubled in size through acquisitions, and identified needs beyond tax and executed solutions, growing the engagement to $1 million.

Other contributions: He’s on the Illinois chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Executive Leadership Council and chairs the Chicago Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Corrie Kaczmarek

Senior director

Slalom Consulting

Scope of work: Corrie Kaczmarek leads a team building innovative technology, data and business solutions within Slalom Consulting’s public and social impact industry vertical, including nonprofit, education, and state and local government clients. She’s grown Slalom Chicago’s public-sector business to over $34 million in revenue.

Biggest professional win: Since 2022, she’s led Slalom’s partnership with Vibrant Emotional Health in support of the nation’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Her teams developed platforms to facilitate greater collaboration between local crisis centers, states, territories and the federal government, and played a crucial role in helping to save an estimated 100,000 lives while enabling Vibrant to scale its offerings and outreach.

Other contributions: She coaches soccer for 4- and 5-year-olds.

Michael Kelber Partner

Neal Gerber Eisenberg

Scope of work: As chair of Neal Gerber Eisenberg’s intellectual property practice group, Michael Kelber leads a group of 35 attorneys and provides strategic counsel to enterprises and entrepreneurs on developing and protecting global IP portfolios. He’s chair of the firm’s marketing committee and a member of the executive committee.

Biggest professional win: He’s increased diversity within the group and the firm by promoting four associates to partner and hiring four additional attorneys from traditionally underrepresented groups, leading to an over 20% increase in the overall diversity of the group. He’s also overseen growth of the IP life science group.

Other contributions: Kelber has served on the board of Keshet and has been an instructor at Chicago-Kent College of Law.

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NOTABLE SPOTLIGHT with Erin Clifford

Finding health and harmony in the busy balancing act of professional success

practitioner inform your holistic approach to wellness?

What initially inspired you to pursue health and wellness training?

Growing up, I was always into wellness because my parents were big proponents of exercise and eating healthy. Physical activity, nutrition, meditation and mindfulness just became part of my everyday routine. When I was teaching in the Chicago Public Schools, I saw a lot of my students and their families struggling with access to healthy food and fitness. That’s when I realized: Maybe I want to educate people about health, as opposed to teaching English, which I was doing at the time. When I graduated from law school and entered the legal profession, I saw the same concerns with a different demographic, and I decided I wanted to help. I went back to school and got certified as a health and wellness coach and picked up a few more certifications along the way — culminating with a master’s in mental health counseling.

How does your background as a busy law firm partner and

As attorneys and professionals, we’re all busy. I’ve experienced it myself. You get so wrapped up in your career, wanting to have those advancements and accolades, that sometimes you neglect your health and other life domains.

Beyond our career and finances, we also have our family and friends, communities and contributions, health and self-care, personal development and spirituality. I’m trying to help people realize that it’s not just about your career. To really have a fulfilling life, we can’t neglect the things that we value.

What’s your most important piece of advice for busy professionals?

I start my programs with what I call the oxygen mask rule. When you go on an airplane, they tell you to put your own oxygen mask on before you assist others, and that’s what I think of self-care. If we’re not taking care of ourselves, then we’re not going to be there for our clients, our businesses, our colleagues or, of course, our loved ones.

Self-care is not selfish. You are worth carving out time for yourself, whether it’s for exercise, nutrition, stress management, sleep or other things you want to do — like spend time with your family, travel, take a class or learn a language. If you make decisions according to your values, then you’re not neglecting your other life domains, and you can carve out a life for yourself that has the most satisfaction.

How are you embedding this holistic wellness mindset into your work at the law firm?

I do a lot of wellness talks and programs with our staff and attorneys. When I’m in discussions with the partners and the administrators in my office, I come at it from a very different angle because I’m always thinking: What else is going on with this person?

My family’s philosophy at the law firm is that we want our employees to live happy, fulfilling lives. With our staff and lawyers, we try to make sure that it’s not just about the job; there’s so much more.

Interviewed by Brooke Bilyj for Crain’s Content Studio

Amy Keller

Chicago office managing partner

DiCello Levitt

Scope of work: Amy Keller oversees a staff of 31 as managing partner of DiCello Levitt’s Chicago office. She also chairs the firm’s privacy, technology and cybersecurity practice.

Biggest professional win: At 34, Keller became the youngest woman to lead a nationwide, multidistrict litigation when she was appointed co-lead counsel in the case against Equifax related to its historic 2017 data breach. After less than two years of litigation, her team negotiated a settlement for $1.5 billion in consumer relief and business practice reforms.

Other contributions: Keller is on the executive committee of the Public Justice Foundation and the board of governors of the American Association for Justice and is an elected member of the American Law Institute.

Michael Kidd

Consulting partner

Mowery & Schoenfeld

Scope of work: Michael Kidd is Mowery & Schoenfeld’s director of transaction advisory services. He leads the firm’s business development committee and is on the leadership team.

Biggest professional win: Five years ago, transaction advisory services was a team of five with $630,000 in billings. Kidd has increased headcount 50% and revenues 240%. Since these are non-recurring engagements, the $5.7 million in revenue he generated over the last five fiscal years has been a result of his networking and business development efforts.

Other contributions: Kidd is active in the Search Fund and Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition community, engaging with students and presenting at conferences held at the University of Chicago, Northwestern, Stanford and Duke. He is a member of Vistage and Geneva Capital Group.

Ray Koenig III

Attorney

Clark Hill

Scope of work: Ray Koenig III co-chairs Clark Hill’s $100 millionplus global litigation practice. A member of the executive committee, he leads strategy for 200-plus attorneys in 28 domestic and foreign offices.

Biggest professional win: As managing member from 20112023, he grew the Chicago office to Clark Hill’s largest, expanding from fewer than 20 to over 90 attorneys. His client work includes individuals, families, financial and medical institutions, charities and governmental agencies. In the past four years, his collections exceeded $12 million.

Other contributions: Koenig was the first openly LGBTQ+ president of the Chicago Bar Association, has served on the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, and has been a trustee of the Illinois Lawyers Trust Fund and the Illinois State Employee Retirement Pension Board.

John Koenigsknecht

Partner

Crowell & Moring

Scope of work: John Koenigsknecht, global co-chair of Crowell’s corporate group, is a strategic adviser to companies nationwide and U.S. counsel for international clients on corporate transactions, capital market transactions and governance matters.

Biggest professional win: He represents some of the world’s largest mining and precious-metal companies, including client Goldcorp in its merger with Newmont Mining in what was then the largest merger in the gold industry. After representing Glamis Gold in its sale to Goldcorp, Koenigsknecht’s team took over as U.S. legal counsel and represented Goldcorp in the U.S. in all of its public acquisitions and securities matters leading up to the merger.

Other contributions: He’s spent over 14 years on the board of CommunityHealth and has served as president.

Sholape Kolawole

Chicago office leader

EY-Parthenon

Scope of work: Sholape Kolawole advises C-suite leaders and Fortune 500 executives on strategic transformation initiatives and M&A transactions. He also drives culture and community at EY-Parthenon Chicago, the organization’s second-largest office.

Biggest professional win: He advised a $45 billion-plus life sciences client to successfully exceed its post-acquisition synergy targets, while leveraging the acquisition as a catalyst to transform its organization and improve service levels within the company and to the end customer.

Other contributions: Kolawole is the executive sponsor of EY Chicago’s Black Professional Network and a board member of Chicago Cares. He’s authored several thought leadership pieces, including “How to integrate multiple mergers and acquisitions.”

Arla Lach

Chicagoland market managing principal

Grant Thornton

Scope of work: Arla Lach leads a team of 1,000 audit, tax and advisory professionals across Grant Thornton’s Chicago and Downers Grove offices. She’s the first woman to lead the firm’s headquarters location and is responsible for driving growth for Grant Thornton’s largest, most profitable office.

Biggest professional win: In addition to increasing the number of women on track for leadership positions at Grant Thornton, Lach cites her service to a manufacturing company worth over $3 billion: The relationship she’s built with the CFO has led to new business with the company’s private-equity owner.

Other contributions: Lach is the longtime board chair for Chicago’s Gateway Foundation and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society.

Michelle Lehmann Director and head of audit and assurance ORBA

Scope of work: As a certified public accountant, Michelle Lehmann has more than 27 years of experience delivering professional services to middle-market private companies in a variety of industries.

Biggest professional win: Lehmann has delivered many high-impact solutions for auditors and their clients, and considers her biggest win lifting up the people around her and witnessing their growth and success. She is especially proud to share her expertise to further the mission of nonprofit organizations.

Other contributions: Lehmann is on the executive board and is secretary of Anew, a nonprofit serving victims of domestic violence in the south suburbs. She’s an accredited member of the European Mentoring & Coaching Council and a member of the Association of Change Management Professionals.

Jorge Leon Partner

Michael Best & Friedrich

Scope of work: Jorge Leon leads Michael Best & Friedrich’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice within the labor and employment group and co-chairs the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

Biggest professional win: Based on his litigation and compliance work in ERISA and cybersecurity, Leon developed a new specialty, merging data privacy, cybersecurity and benefits law, drawing clients from the Fortune 500.

Other contributions: Leon is on the board of the Field Museum and chairs the Retirement & Benefits Committee; serves on the Executive, Compensation and Diversity, Equity, Access & Inclusion committees; and is a member of the Audit and Presidential Search committees. He is also on the boards of the Gads Hill Center and Northeastern Illinois University, appointed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Adam Levitt

Founding partner

DiCello Levitt

Scope of work: Adam Levitt oversees budgets for some of the country’s largest class-action and multidistrict litigations and has led DiCello Levitt to secure more than $20 billion in recoveries for plaintiffs.

Biggest professional win: Levitt served on the executive committee involving Volkswagen’s “clean diesel” litigation. The case was settled in 2019 for more than $17 billion, one of the largest consumer protection settlements in U.S. history. As plaintiff’s co-lead counsel, Levitt led the team that achieved a landmark $135 million settlement in January 2020 on behalf of 66,000 truck owners and lessees who alleged Navistar sold and leased vehicles with a dangerously defective emissions system.

Other contributions: He is a member of the American Law Institute and Economic Club of Chicago.

Craig C. Martin

Chairman, Midwest Willkie Farr & Gallagher

Scope of work: In 2020, Craig C. Martin founded Willkie Chicago, which today has approximately 90 lawyers, half of whom are women and nearly one-third of whom are diverse. He counsels corporate boards in Chicago and worldwide.

Biggest professional win: He represents plaintiffs in civil litigation involving police misconduct in Mississippi and several individuals in federal civil rights actions, and regularly tries commercial contract, patent and antitrust cases. As former United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz wrote in his autobiography, Martin represented the airline in the investigation of the so-called “chairman’s flight.”

Other contributions: His board appointments include the Aspen Institute, Lurie Children’s Hospital and World Business Chicago. He’s a member of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and the Economic Club.

We are proud to congratulate William J. Dorsey, Daniel R. Saeedi, and Kenneth J. Ottaviano on being named to Notable Gen X Leaders in Accounting, Consulting and Law. Congratulations on this much deserved recognition.

William J. Dorsey

Daniel R. Saeedi

Kenneth J. Ottaviano

Michael Martinez

Chicago office managing partner K&L Gates

Scope of work: Michael Martinez, who’s also a member of K&L Gates’ management and firmwide diversity committees, focuses his practice on representing corporations in multidistrict class actions and arbitrations involving antitrust, unfair competition and deceptive trade practice claims, along with other commercial litigation issues.

Biggest professional win: He co-led the team representing Koch Foods in a grand jury investigation and prosecution conducted by the Department of Justice on alleged bid-rigging and price-fixing. He and his team secured a victory for Koch when the DOJ ultimately filed a motion to dismiss with prejudice.

Other contributions: Martinez is an executive board member of the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms and is a longtime board member of Northwestern Settlement.

Tim McEnery

Managing director and senior consultant

Verus

Scope of work: Tim McEnery is lead consultant to some of Verus’ largest clients, whose investment programs range from $700 million to $50 billion. This includes the $10 billion Illinois Police Officers’ Pension Investment Fund and a select group of public retirement systems and nonprofit institutions.

Biggest professional win: He’s played a key role in expanding Verus’ Midwest presence since joining the firm in April 2022, helping secure five new client relationships, including both retainer and project engagements representing more than $30 billion in total assets.

Other contributions: McEnery is a CFA charterholder and active member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago. He recently served as a member of the Emerging Leaders Board at Misericordia.

Matthew Meltzer

Partner and co-founder Meltzer Hellrung

Scope of work: Matthew Meltzer, who co-founded business immigration law firm Meltzer Hellrung in 2014, oversees the legal team and manages the firm’s proprietary immigration management platform, Voyager.

Biggest professional win: He was instrumental in Voyager’s multimillion-dollar development and 2022 release. Meltzer Hellrung is in a small echelon of firms with a proprietary tool to manage their work product from start to finish.

Other contributions: He was selected for the emerging leaders class of 2023 at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and is active in the American Immigration Lawyers Association, serving on local and national committees. He advises foreign student entrepreneurs and startups hiring foreign workers at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center and the University of Illinois’ EnterpriseWorks.

Sarah Millar Partner

Faegre Drinker

Scope of work: Sarah Millar is a benefits and executive compensation partner and member of Faegre Drinker’s board. In her practice, she counsels employer plan sponsors and service providers on health and welfare benefits, retirement plans and nonqualified plans.

Biggest professional win: Millar advises Advocate Health on its strategic initiatives and benefits and executive compensation, including its mergers with Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Recently, for another client, she closed a multiyear Department of Labor investigation of a $200 million pension plan, with no adverse findings.

Other contributions: Millar is on the Notre Dame Club of Chicago Scholarship Foundation’s board and previously served on the board of the ND Club of Chicago, including as president.

Mark Mirsky Partner KRD

Scope of work: Mark Mirsky is a tax partner at KRD, focusing on partnership, S-corporation and multi-state taxation, as well as counseling startups, mergers and acquisitions, and international taxation. He works with clients in retail, manufacturing, distribution and technology.

Biggest professional win: He merged his previous firm, ROI Business Services, into KRD in 2022. The move helped his ROI Business Services team have more opportunity for professional growth and provided substantially more services to the clients in need of GAAP, technical expertise, global assistance and in-depth accounting assistance.

Other contributions: He’s been chairman of the Bartlett Chamber of Commerce board and was a member of the committee to develop a transit-oriented development plan for the village. He’s also a TaxSpeaker instructor.

Juan Morado Partner

Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff

Scope of work: Juan Morado advises health systems, hospitals, physician groups, pharmacies, and other businesses on regulatory requirements and internal and government investigations. As DEI Committee co-chair, he developed and implemented a plan to increase diverse representation, achieving Mansfield Rule certification.

Biggest professional win: He negotiated hospital transactions including Rush University Medical Center and Select Medical’s joint venture establishing a new specialty hospital in the Illinois Medical District and securing approval for Rush’s $109 million long-term acute-care center; Insight Chicago’s Mercy Hospital acquisition; and the sale of Weiss Memorial and West Suburban Medical Center.

Other contributions: He is on the boards of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois and Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority.

Jeffery Mowery Managing partner

Mowery & Schoenfeld

Scope of work: Jeffery Mowery oversees Mowery & Schoenfeld’s annual budget of over $40 million and almost 200 staff among the firm, as well as Xamin, Mowery & Schoenfeld’s wholly owned technology services provider and its wealth management brand.

Biggest professional win: His mission is to make Mowery & Schoenfeld an Inside Public Accounting Top 100 CPA Firm. It moved from the top 300 list to top 200 in 2022, with Mowery growing the firm from a $5 million business in 2008 through organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

Other contributions: Mowery has served as the North American regional chair of Geneva Group International and on the professional advisory board for Northern Illinois University’s Department of Accountancy.

As the first woman to lead the headquarters location of Grant Thorton Advisors as Chicagoland Market Managing Principal, Arla Lach, CPA, is driving growth for the firm’s Chicago and Downers Grove offices. Overseeing a team of 1,000 audit, tax and advisory professionals, Lach leverages genuine relationships with her colleagues and clients to pursue opportunities and tackle challenges across industries. Since joining Grant Thornton nearly 25 years ago, Lach has progressed through the firm’s audit practice while gaining additional experience in other rotations, including a prestigious appointment as chief of staff to the firm’s CEO. Lach has spent over a decade as an audit partner and, most recently in her role as Midwest audit leader, helped the firm achieve recordbreaking revenues in 2022 and 2023.

Richard Nicolaides Jr.

Managing partner

Nicolaides Fink Thorpe Michaelides Sullivan

Scope of work: Richard Nicolaides Jr. has served as managing partner since the firm was established in 2014. He guides Nicolaides Fink’s strategic direction, including client relations, talent acquisition and development, operations innovation and overall brand development

Biggest professional win: Nicolaides litigates insurance coverage disputes. In recent years, he has successfully handled disputes arising from claims of Illinois Biometric Invasion of Privacy Act violations (Thermoflex) and invasion of privacy claims (Yahoo). He’s currently litigating disputes involving emerging risks, such as lawsuits arising out of the alleged improper sale of opioids (Harris Teeter).

Other contributions: Nicolaides has been a senior lecturing fellow at Duke University School of Law since 2020.

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Jill O’Brien Partner

Laner Muchin

Scope of work: A long-standing equity partner and member of Laner Muchin’s executive committee, Jill O’Brien became firm president in July, the first woman to lead the 54-attorney firm. She practices labor relations and employment law.

Biggest professional win: O’Brien feels most rewarded when counseling business owners in developing recruiting strategies and compensation programs to help attract and retain top employees. She helps business owners navigate new legislative mandates related to additional paid time off, updated regulations affecting wage and hour compliance and new record-keeping requirements.

Other contributions: O’Brien is past chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Labor/Employment Law Section Council. She’s on the board of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago and previously co-chaired the Chicago Bar Association’s Alliance for Women.

William O’Neil

Chicago office managing partner Winston & Strawn

Scope of work: In June, William O’Neil at age 45 became the youngest partner in Winston & Strawn’s modern history to take the helm of the Chicago office. In his practice, he handles complex business disputes.

Biggest professional win: O’Neil defended Hertz against more than 400 customers who alleged they were falsely arrested for not returning overdue rental cars on time. These claimants sought more than $1.2 billion in damages in cases throughout the country. O’Neil navigated the successful resolution of all claims, along with the response to a congressional investigation.

Other contributions: O’Neil chairs the board of the NALP Foundation for Law Career Research & Education and is on the board of First Tee of Greater Chicago.

NOTABLE SPOTLIGHT with Arla Lach, CPA

Leading with a legacy built on genuine relationships

Interviewed by Brooke Bilyj for Crain’s Content Studio

What has kept you at Grant Thornton for nearly 25 years?

It’s the people — our clients, my colleagues. At GT, we have a way of doing business that drives genuine relationships, and those deep relationships have been a big factor in why I’ve stayed here so long. We focus on getting to know our clients and their industries on a really deep level, and that helps us create those rewarding connections.

I’ve also been lucky in my career to go after exciting opportunities, which has allowed me to try new things. The variety of roles I’ve held has provided me the chance to develop myself, and it speaks to the way that we develop our people to give them a chance to stretch and grow.

What are your top goals and priorities in your new role as market managing principal?

My biggest goal is trying to build on the momentum that we already have in Chicago by supporting our people to

make sure they can deliver high-quality personalized service. Also, trying to grow our footprint in Chicago by serving even more clients. And then also giving back to the city of Chicago. It’s such a great place, and there are so many things we can do in the community. We’re also continuing to strengthen our industry expertise. There’s still so much more opportunity to grow our capabilities, develop more knowledge and get even better at solving our clients’ problems.

What does it mean to be the first woman leading this market?

It’s truly an honor, and it’s humbling. It’s a tribute to the many talented people who’ve mentored me and continue to invest in me. While we have work to do to increase our profession’s diversity even more, we’ve made great strides in recent years. Black and Latinx representation increased by 54% in 2023, and now, 40% of the firm’s partners, principals and managing directors are women or from diverse backgrounds.

It’s important to bring more women and people of color into our profession, and I feel a responsibility to not be the last

woman in this role. We’re developing a strong and diverse pool of leaders behind me, and I’m excited to pay it forward to others.

As Grant Thornton celebrates 100 years in business, what’s the legacy you hope to carry into this role?

One hundred years is very exciting, and it’s a huge deal — so few companies are able to achieve it. There are some key themes we’ve carried through those 100 years that we still carry with us today: Resiliency, thoughtful tenacity and doing business the right way with the right values. We have always understood that real relationships are the best way to do business. So much has changed in 100 years, but that fundamental remains true, and it will always be important in our business.

Gregory E. Ostfeld

Shareholder

Greenberg Traurig

Scope of work: Gregory E. Ostfeld

co-chairs Greenberg Traurig’s Chicago litigation practice and is vice chair of the pharmaceutical, medical device and health care litigation practice, managing more than 150 attorneys nationwide. He’s also lead national counsel for one of the nation’s largest tax preparers.

Biggest professional win: Over the past 18 months, Ostfeld has had a lead role in three of the most significant pharmaceutical mass torts in the country. He’s also been co-lead counsel for multiple public and private universities in class actions seeking tuition and fee refunds from school closures and remote transitions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other contributions: Ostfeld is on the board of the American Jewish Committee in Chicago and its national Legal Affairs Committee.

Kenneth Ottaviano

Partner

Blank Rome

Scope of work: Kenneth Ottaviano chairs Blank Rome’s Chicago office, growing it from four attorneys to 20-plus professional staff.

Biggest professional win: Ottaviano, who handles financial institutions’ insolvency and restructuring needs, has counseled an investment firm in a $565 million bankruptcy of a health care operator; a national financial institution in foreclosure proceedings on a Brooklyn mixed-use office building; and a major U.S. bank in the foreclosure and subsequent Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a Texas outlet mall with over 50 name-brand stores, reaching a settlement through mediation.

Other contributions: Ottaviano is on the Lake Forest College board and has participated in events including Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation’s Race Judicata and Ascend Justice’s Celebration of Courage.

Benjamin Panter Member

McDonald Hopkins

Scope of work: Benjamin Panter is a senior partner at McDonald Hopkins and chairs its executive compensation and governance group. He oversees a team of 10 attorneys, five of whom have joined in the past two years. Under his leadership, the practice group has increased its revenue from approximately $1.5 million to $7 million-plus.

Biggest professional win: Panter led his team through transactions worth more than $1 billion, and often surpassing $10 billion, including an $11 billion takeprivate deal for a tech company management team; a $9.7 billion biotech sale for a C-level management team; and a $10.2 billion sale for a C-level management team.

Other contributions: Panter has served as an adjunct professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he taught executive compensation tax law.

Anita Ponder

President, CEO and general counsel

Ponder Diversity Group

Scope of work: Procurement and contracts attorney Anita Ponder leads Ponder Diversity Group, the first Black woman-owned legal and consulting firm in Illinois committed to facilitating inclusive and legally defensible procurement and employment practices for government agencies, corporations and nonprofits nationwide.

Biggest professional win: Ponder Diversity Group represented the state of Washington as its social equity in cannabis contractor and helped the state of Illinois increase diversity of vendors. Ponder wrote a code of conduct for Chicago’s Aviation Department to help employees and vendors follow city regulations.

Other contributions: She is on the board of the Chicago Foundation for Women and has served on the boards of the Illinois Business Enterprise Program Council and the Chicago Area Public Affairs Group.

Keyonn L. Pope Partner

Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila

Scope of work: Keyonn L. Pope, an electrical engineer turned lawyer, leads Riley Safer’s intellectual property practice team, counseling clients on IP, media and entertainment matters. He also co-chairs the Hiring Committee and serves on the Compensation Committee.

Biggest professional win: Pope first-chaired a team — the core of it was 80% diverse in terms of gender, race and ethnicity — that successfully represented a leading consumer packaged goods company in federal litigation involving trademark infringement and unfair competition.

Other contributions: He is on the Economic Club’s Membership Committee and the boards of the Jazz Institute of Chicago and Sunshine Enterprises. He was selected as a 2020 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow and was a member of Law360’s IP editorial advisory board.

Michelle Reid-Powell

President and CEO

The Cara Group

Scope of work: Michelle ReidPowell leads strategic vision and operational efficiency, helping The Cara Group steer organizations toward unprecedented growth. She increased profit of service lines and added services, increasing both profit and revenue 10% year over year.

Biggest professional win: ReidPowell transformed The Cara Group from a staffing company into a value-added solutions business, providing its Fortune 1000 clients with value-added turnkey projects. This led to Cara’s 99% Net Promoter Score, outstanding client loyalty, greater employee engagement and higher profitability.

Other contributions: Reid-Powell is involved in the Chicagoland and Southeast Wisconsin chapters of the Association for Talent Development and the Midwest chapter of the Association for Change Management Professionals.

Mitchell Roth Principal and co-chairman

Much Shelist

Scope of work: Drawing on 30plus years of experience as an attorney, CPA and business owner, Mitchell Roth counsels entrepreneurs, owners, investors and executives on business management and negotiation of complex corporate transactions.

Biggest professional win: In 2021, he led Lakeshore Recycling Systems through its recapitalization, valued at close to $1 billion. The transaction took Lakeshore Recycling from a local, privately held waste management company to a national industry figure.

Other contributions: He established the Allen H. Roth Family Foundation in honor of his father, focusing on the health and wellbeing of children and the developmentally disabled. With fellow alumni on the firm’s Management Committee, he created the Much Scholarships, awarded annually to two University of Illinois Gies College of Business students.

Daniel Saeedi

Partner

Blank Rome

Scope of work: Daniel Saeedi leads Blank Rome’s national biometric privacy team, managing a team of attorneys around the country experienced in biometric privacy law.

Biggest professional win: As amicus counsel for Illinois’ nine major health care providers, he developed the strategy that led to a unanimous Illinois Supreme Court ruling exempting medical providers from significant liability under the state Biometric Information Privacy Act for using employees’ biometric data for health care purposes.

Other contributions: Saeedi has been involved in the Illinois State Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Artificial Intelligence & the Practice of Law and has been an adjunct coach for the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot competition for the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.

Ronald Safer

Founding partner

Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila

Scope of work: Ronald Safer focuses on civil and federal criminal litigation, representing clients in matters such as commercial disputes, fraud and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He leads Riley Safer’s wrongful convictions practice team, which has freed 10 people from prison.

Biggest professional win: In 2021, Eddie Bolden was awarded $25.2 million for spending 22 years in prison on a wrongful murder conviction before Safer and team won his freedom. That judgment, now approaching $40 million with attorneys’ fees and interest, is the largest wrongful conviction verdict judgment in the Northern District of Illinois.

Other contributions: Safer is on the boards of Fisk University and the Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network. He is a Commercial Club of Chicago member.

Leah Schleicher Partner

Neal Gerber Eisenberg

Scope of work: Leah Schleicher chairs Neal Gerber Eisenberg’s real estate practice group and co-chairs the hospitality and leisure practice group. She handles a range of commercial real estate transactions including acquisitions and dispositions, management arrangements and commercial leases. She is on the Diversity & Inclusion, Income Partner Review and Opinion committees.

Biggest professional win: She has guided clients through headquarters relocations involving lease terminations and negotiations, architect agreements and construction contracts. She’s helping the firm prepare for its own move to 225 W. Randolph in 2025. Other contributions: She is a member of the Urban Land Institute, mentors with Step-Up and has served on the boards of Ascend Justice and Housing Opportunities for Women.

Scott Seaman

Partner

Hinshaw & Culbertson

Scope of work: Scott Seaman, who co-chair Hinshaw’s global insurance services practice group and co-leads the insurance industry sector group, represents insurers, reinsurers and companies in general and professional liability, cyber, bad faith and first-party property coverage cases.

Biggest professional win: Under his leadership, the global insurance services practice group has grown to 110 lawyers and increased revenue by 88%. Nearly 75% of the group lawyers are diverse, representing a 40% increase since 2017.

Other contributions: Seaman co-founded the Chicago chapter of the Lymphoma Research Foundation and received its inaugural Tribute Award. He is a Hippocratic Cancer Research Foundation founding board member and served on the National Board of Selectors of the Jefferson Awards for Public Service.

Russell Shapiro

Partner

Levenfeld Pearlstein

Scope of work: As leader of Levenfeld Pearlstein’s accounting mergers and acquisition practice, Russell Shapiro guides clients through M&A transactions with a focus on the accounting industry. He chairs the transactional department, completed nine years of service on the executive committee and previously chaired the compensation committee.

Biggest professional win: In 2023, he represented an accounting firm in its combination with one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing professional services firms. The transaction was among the accounting industry’s largest acquisitions backed by private equity and was among the first to involve representations and warranties insurance, influencing market practices for accounting firm M&A transactions.

Other contributions: Shapiro is active in the BDO Alliance USA and RSM U.S. Alliance.

Jeffrey Sharp

Managing partner

Marshall Gerstein & Borun

Scope of work: Jeffrey Sharp leads intellectual property lawyers in serving research institutions, universities and entrepreneurs. He leads 123 lawyers and legal professionals and 110 staff members, while representing innovators in biotechnology and chemistry.

Biggest professional win: As Marshall Gerstein approaches its 70th anniversary as an IP boutique law firm while many competitors have been absorbed by larger firms, Sharp points to recruiting, retention and professional development that have allowed the firm to grow and remain independent. Its DEI efforts have won several national awards.

Other contributions: Sharp is on the boards of PilotLegis RPG and the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms and is a mentor for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.

Congratulationstoourcolleague

Melissa Siebert

Chair, Emerging Data Privacy Trends Practice

Cozen O’Connor

Scope of work: As co-founder of Cozen O’Connor’s emerging data privacy trends practice, Melissa Siebert leads one of the nation’s first biometric privacy and pixelrelated class-action defense practices, one of a few such women-led practices.

Biggest professional win: She set the standard for labor law pre-emption arguments in biometric privacy cases, providing defendants one of the few clear paths to victory. Miller v. Southwest Airlines and Fernandez v. Kerry established that BIPA claims brought by unionized employees are pre-empted by federal labor law as they involve management rights negotiated by unions.

Other contributions: Her family foundation implemented the Cerebral Palsy Research Registry at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

Gil Soffer

Chair

Katten

Scope of work: In July, Gil Soffer, a former federal prosecutor, was named chair at Katten, a 650plus-attorney firm with nearly $782 million in revenue last year.

Biggest professional win: In 2020, he concluded a three-year term as a Department of Justice-appointed compliance monitor for an international pharmaceutical giant in one of the most substantial Foreign Corrupt Practices Act resolutions to date. In 2021, he was named adjudications officer under a consent decree in the United Auto Workers monitorship to evaluate misconduct allegations. Other contributions: Soffer, chief legal analyst for WLS-TV/Channel 7, was appointed to the Racial Justice Diversity Committee for the Northern District of Illinois in 2020. In 2021, he led the Chicago Bar Foundation Investing in Justice Campaign.

Lynne Sterrett

Vice chair

Deloitte Global

Scope of work: As national clients, industries and insights leader, Lynne Sterrett is responsible for business growth for Deloitte U.S., which recorded $28 billion in revenue last fiscal year. She oversees Deloitte’s $20 billion U.S. client portfolio with a goal of growing the company to a $40 billion organization in the next five years.

Biggest professional win: Prior to her current role, Sterrett led Deloitte’s $2.5 billion life sciences and health care consulting practice and founded the clinical information systems practice, where she focused on AI and cloud migrations.

Other contributions: Sterrett, a longtime American Heart Association board member, in 2023 founded the Health Equity in the Workforce initiative to reduce health care disparities in the workplace and beyond.

Michael Wilder

Shareholder

Littler Mendelson

Scope of work: Michael Wilder is Littler’s board chair and is a member of the firm’s complex litigation and jury trial practice group and Inclusion, Equity & Diversity Council. He represents companies in various areas of employment law.

Biggest professional win: Wilder successfully defended a major health care provider before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, in which the court affirmed the district court’s dismissal of all counts for want of prosecution. He also successfully argued an appeal before the same court on behalf of a refractories company.

Other contributions: Wilder co-founded the Black Men Lawyers’ Association and is on the boards of Skills for Chicagoland, the Cook County Bar Association and the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation.

Peter Sullivan Chairman

Hinshaw & Culbertson

Scope of work: Recently elected to his second three-year term as Hinshaw’s chairman, Peter Sullivan leads the management team. He represents companies in professional liability and commercial litigation, including claims against accountants, attorneys, directors and officers, consumer class actions and breach of contract.

Biggest professional win: Under his leadership, Hinshaw increased headcount from 384 full-time employees in 2022 to more than 425 in 2023. Last year, he orchestrated a merger with Chicago firm Adler Murphy & McQuillen, adding 23 lawyers and legal professionals. Gross annual revenue increased more than 11% in 2023 to $218 million, and profits were among the highest in two decades.

Other contributions: Sullivan is a member of the American, Illinois and Chicago bar associations and the Defense Research Institute.

Edward G. Willer Partner

Corboy & Demetrio

Scope of work: Edward G. Willer’s practice focuses on product liability design defect cases, including industrial machinery design defect cases, multiparty construction site occurrences and trucking law litigation.

Biggest professional win: He’s obtained $59.3 million in verdicts and settlements in the last five years and more than $266 million in verdicts and settlements since joining Corboy & Demetrio in 1994. Willer was lead attorney in a case that pierced tort immunity in Illinois, expanding the ability of workers injured on the job to seek damages from their employers.

Other contributions: Willer served for over 20 years on the American Association for Justice’s Hall of Fame Stalwarts Committee and is on the Illinois Supreme Court Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board.

Misha Tseytlin Partner

Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders

Scope of work: Misha Tseytlin leads Troutman Pepper’s appellate and Supreme Court practice group and handles administrative and political law cases. He’s won multiple cases in appellate courts across the U.S., including the U.S. Supreme Court, federal and state appellate courts, and state supreme courts.

Biggest professional win: He won the landmark Rudisill v. McDonough case. Presenting oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court, he secured a 7-2 decision that will provide approximately 1.7 million post-Sept. 11 veterans with additional education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. He also won a case against the New York Legislature’s gerrymandered map. Other contributions: Tseytlin has testified before the U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic and advocated for civil rights reforms.

Scott

Williams Partner

Sidley

Austin

Scope of work: Scott Williams is an M&A lawyer whose transactions have included Cabela’s $5 billion sale to Bass Pro Shops and simultaneous sale of its $2 billion credit card business to Capital One, and Telephone & Data Systems’ pending $4.4 billion sale of U.S. Cellular’s wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T-Mobile U.S.

Biggest professional win: Williams led the team representing Regal Beloit in its $3.69 billion acquisition of the process and motion control business of Rexnord. He helped architect a novel structure that reduced the debt financing needed for the transaction, providing Regal the financial flexibility to acquire Altra Industrial Motion a year later in a $5 billion cash merger.

Other contributions: Williams is a member of the executive board of HFS Chicago Scholars.

Sheri Warsh Partner

Levenfeld Pearlstein

Scope of work: Sheri Warsh represents high-net-worth clients on wealth preservation and estate planning and is on Levenfeld Pearlstein’s Compensation Committee. She was the first chair of Levenfeld Pearlstein’s women’s group, helping increase the number of female equity partners 600% since the group was founded.

Biggest professional win: She represented a multigenerational family with more than $1 billion in assets, helping them navigate complicated estate planning and wealth transfer issues, and educating and empowering the second generation to make informed choices. She also helped the second-generation owner of a jewelry company structure a sophisticated gifting plan. Other contributions: Warsh served on the Make-a-Wish board from 2016-2022 and has been a speaker at the American Law Institute.

Edward R. Winkofsky

Shareholder

Greenberg Traurig

Scope of work: Edward R. Winkofsky chairs Greenberg Traurig’s gaming practice. He represented DraftKings in beginning operations at Wrigley Field and provides regulatory counsel to Bally’s, including for its $1.7 billion resort-casino development in Chicago.

Biggest professional win: In April 2022, Winkofsky spearheaded the regulatory team for Brookfield Business Partners during its acquisition of Scientific Games’ lottery operations, valued at $5.8 billion. His handling of complex regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions was critical to obtaining the necessary approvals and timely completion of the deal in the second quarter of 2022.

Other contributions: Winkofsky is on the International Association of Gaming Advisors board of trustees and chairs the Rules & Ethics Committee for the Cyclones Hockey Association.

Micah Wheat Partner

Plante Moran

Scope of work: As group tax leader over regions, Micah Wheat oversees Plante Moran’s Illinois and Ohio offices, which include 325 staff contributing $120 million annually to the firm’s net revenue. He focuses on the service and professional services industries, handling compliance matters and advising clients on effective tax strategies.

Biggest professional win: Over the past few years, Wheat has been instrumental in getting eight principals promoted to partner, including five this year. His work in developing the next generation of leaders contributes to the strength and longevity of the entire firm. Other contributions: Wheat is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society and is involved in the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars program.

Wissink Principal CohnReznick

Scope of work: As CohnReznick’s performance improvement practice leader, Jeffrey Wissink is responsible for client delivery and driving practice growth. He has 30-plus years of experience as a founder, C-suite executive and management consultant.

Biggest professional win: Wissink launched CohnReznick’s performance improvement practice in September 2023, and revenue has since reached the multimilliondollar mark. To help ensure its continued growth and success, he developed a training program to upskill consultants from around the business with an interest in developing their performance improvement skills. To date, dozens of CohnReznick team members have benefited from the program.

Other contributions: Wissink is a member of the board of the Northwestern University Leadership Circle and the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois board.

Jeffrey

How McDonald’s built a Gen Z restaurant — inside CosMc’s space-themed design

turner Duckworth had to unlearn typical corpora te branding to find the weird in the retrofuturistic chain

By Tim Nudd, Ad Age

Turner Duckworth is no stranger to big branding projects, including McDonald’s wellreceived global brand refresh in 2019.

But the design agency had to think smaller for another recent McDonald’s project—creating a visual identity from scratch for CosMc’s, the fast food chain’s smallformat, space-themed spinoff, targeting Gen Z, which debuted in December 2023.

CosMc’s branding presented unique challenges and opportunities. While most corporate identity projects are about codifying design rules for scalability, the agency and client saw a more experimental path for CosMc’s— one where shareability and a more off-kilter, exploratory vibe were prioritized over uniformity.

This departure fit well with the “alien” theme of the chain itself. The result is a photogenic, social media-forward brand— mixing retro Space Age aesthetics with modern engagement touchpoints—that presents a lot differently than the mothership.

Embracing a peculiar mascot

Turner Duckworth began working on CosMc’s before it was CosMc’s—when the project had a code name and wasn’t yet spacethemed. But naming the chain after CosMc, a little-known alien who was one of the McDonaldland characters in the 1980s, proved to be a useful unlock.

“He showed up in some ads and Happy Meal executions. He was in a video game. But he was a little untapped,” said Tyler Brooks, creative director at Turner Duckworth. “He’s a weird one, right? He’s a half-mechanical alien, like a hermit crab—or a turtle, since he and his ship are one and the same. Leaning into this odd being was a bizarre curveball, but the best possible one in hindsight.”

The spinoff chain’s origin story links up with the character’s antics from the ’80s commercials. In the spots, the alien would steal McDonald’s food—on what he called “trade missions”—and share it with his people back home in CosMcland. The CosMc’s restaurant, according to its website, was created when CosMc returned to Earth with a bunch of new menu items he’d invented, including a raft of colorful beverages.

CosMc isn’t the face of the new chain; he’s more of an ancillary presence. But the space theme is central to it. This was fitting for McDonald’s, a brand that came of age in the ’50s and ’60s. The aesthetics of the time— mid-century modern, the Space

Age, “Jetsons”-style Googie architecture—formed the basis of the CosMc’s look.

“Space was the anchoring theme, but it definitely wasn’t the inception,” said Chris Garvey, executive creative director at Turner Duckworth. “McDonald’s plays a lot with future nostalgia. There are very few brands that are so embedded in culture globally that can tap into these core memories. It just gelled really well.”

The easy solution would have been to imitate Pizza Planet from “Toy Story.” But the agency wanted something more unexpected.

“That’s where your mind goes with a space-themed restaurant, but we wanted to buck that idea,” Brooks said. “It was tricky, not only for us but the other stakeholders in the project, finding that balance between out of this world and feet on the ground.”

A playful, looser design system

Sweeping, dynamic shapes serve as the basis of CosMc’s visual language. The agency explored countless lettering treatments before settling on a gestural wordmark that flows from letter to letter at an upward, oblique angle to complement the rest of the design system.

The agency also developed a suite of patterns and graphic elements that nod to celestial phenomena—auroras, orbits, hyperspace, etc.—to bring a visual boost to the system while encouraging shareability among Gen Z. The character’s extrater-

restrial origins also inspired a zero-gravity approach to much of the photography.

There are “Easter eggs” hidden in the designs, too—creating moments for customer interactions in an organic way. For example, latitude and longitude coordinates are used to unveil the next location of each restaurant. A custom mural on a ceiling at one location depicts the constellations that were in the sky when it opened.

It was an unconventional process for both agency and client, designing a brand in a looser way that still works together as a system.

“When you’re working with a major client, you’re so used to getting strategic very quickly and getting to the design,” said Garvey. “This was one where we had this circle of trust with the clients, saying, ‘We have to find the weird and explore the uncomfy and do something different from what we usually do.’ It was a lot of unpacking of what corporate design is and saying, ‘How can we avoid those things?’

”

Instead of falling into mechanical habits, it was about embracing design elements if they felt right, even on a small scale—for example, the keystone shape on the cups.

“It was allowing ourselves to say, ‘I like the vibe of that. Let’s test this out here. Maybe it’s not everywhere, but that’s OK,’” said Garvey. “It was about going with your gut and saying, ‘These all work cohesively, but it doesn’t have to be copy-paste.’ ”

The packaging, in particular,

gram and TikTok. Going forward, the vibe created by the identity is expected to inform much of the chain’s messaging.

“This is really where the flexibility and the vibe of the identity comes to life, where it doesn’t have to be us that’s creating all the work,” said Brooks. “McDonald’s other partners and agencies feel empowered and enabled to do that. It’s exciting from a creative standpoint, and we’ve embraced that.”

“This should be a brand that stays fresh, that always has something new,” added Garvey.

Designing for Gen Z generally

The CosMc’s brand is part of an industry-wide trend toward more playful and interactive design, driven by Gen Z’s demand for it. Brands everywhere that are targeting youth—and have playfulness in their DNA—are loosening the reins on what their design work looks like.

had to be photogenic for shareability—mirroring the menu items themselves, which are colorful and unexpected, once again fitting the theme of exploration. (The chain’s beverages include the evocatively named Sprite Moonsplash and Island Pick-MeUp Punch; the food items include a Spicy Queso Sandwich and Hazelnut McPops.)

“With the youthful, Gen Z target, sharing is really key,” Brooks said. “The menu team put so much effort into the ingredients and the colors and beauty of the products. To not be able to show that off would be a real problem. Because then it’s all about the brand, not about the brand connecting with people. That’s the most important thing, we think, about CosMc’s—it’s an alien brand that feels kind of human, and people see that charm.”

Iterating

as the chain grows

CosMc’s is a limited offering for now. After launching the first location in Bolingbrook, Illinois, last December, McDonald’s has opened just five more—all in Texas. The goal is to compete with beverage-forward chains such as Starbucks and Dunkin’.

(The most recent CosMc’s, in San Antonio and Fort Worth, opened in August.) McDonald’s has said there will be “up to 10” locations by the end of 2024.

CosMc’s has not run any traditional ads yet, but the Turner Duckworth designs have been central to the chain’s presence on social platforms such as Insta-

“You don’t want your bank to do this, but it’s perfect for CosMc’s,” said Garvey. “This is happening across all branding. You have a major consumer base that is asking brands to play a lot more. It’s something we’ve been wanting for so long. More flexibility, more fun, more shareability. It’s about keeping the clients close and saying, ‘We can’t systematize this too tightly. We need to make moments.’”

The playfulness must be selfaware, too, to land properly with Gen Z.

“At its worst, it would be taken as, ‘We’re being zany and ironic and quirky,’” said Brooks. “It’s about having that intentional self-awareness, so the brand doesn’t come across as cringe. Knowing when it’s a little too much, and when you can let the personality in, that’s where charm comes through. That’s the superpower.”

In the end, it’s about nailing the carefree yet knowing tone that Gen Z enjoys, while also giving them tools to participate in the work.

“CosMc’s is nice, because you have these physical spaces to create moments—this is a great selfie spot, for instance, or there is a great little discovery in the packaging,” said Garvey.  “There’s always going to be that tension of, ‘How do I roll this out on a larger scale?’ But honestly, it’s about not overthinking things. If you like this, if there’s a spark there, let’s make it work somewhere. Let yourselves play. You don’t have to like talk at consumers. Give them tools. Give them a means of creating shareable content.”

Tim Nudd writes for Crain's sister publication Ad Age.

LARGEST LAW FIRMS IN THE CHICAGO AREA CRAIN’S LIST

Ranked

Chicago partners' specialties

ResearchbySophieRodgers(sophie.rodgers@crain.com).|Thislistisnotcomprehensive.Includesattorneysintheseven-countyChicagoarea:Cook,DuPage,Kane,Lake,McHenryandWillinIllinois andLakeinIndiana.AllstafffiguresareasofJune30unlessotherwisenoted.IntheChicagopartners’specialtiessection,partnersinmorethanonespecialtyarecountedineacharea. 1. FromAmerican Lawyer. 2. AsofJune30,2023.

LARGEST LAW FIRMS IN THE CHICAGO AREA CRAIN’S LIST

Ranked by local attorneys as of June 30.

Chicago partners' specialties

ResearchbySophieRodgers(sophie.rodgers@crain.com).|Thislistisnotcomprehensive.Includesattorneysintheseven-countyChicagoarea:Cook,DuPage,Kane,Lake,McHenryandWillinIllinois andLakeinIndiana.AllstafffiguresareasofJune30unlessotherwisenoted.IntheChicagopartners’specialtiessection,partnersinmorethanonespecialtyarecountedineacharea. 1. FromAmerican Lawyer. 2. FormerlySmithAmundsenLLC.

BUILDING CHICAGO’S LEADING LAW FIRMS

Mesirow looks to boost its footprint in Florida as clients head south

the Chicago-based financial services firm recently bought registered investment adviser price Wealth management and plans to boost headcount over the next two to three years

By Mark Weinraub

Mesirow bought registered investment adviser Price Wealth Management as part of its plan to grow in Florida and the Southeast, the Chicago-based financial services firm said on Sept. 3.

“A number of our clients have either fully or partially relocated to Florida,” said Brian Price, head of Mesirow’s wealth management business. “It is an area that we have gotten very acquainted with.”

Price Wealth Management, with $235 million in assets under management, is based in Stuart, Fla. It also has offices in Miami and Boca Raton.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Price Wealth Management was represented by DeVoe.

Mesirow plans to boost its headcount during the next two to three years while expanding its presence on the west coast of Florida.

Longer term, the company hopes to grow its wealth management business by opening

offices in Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, Phoenix and Southern California, both through organic growth and through acquisitions, Price said.

“These are areas where Mesirow has people, but the wealth management business has not had that many clients in those cities,” he said. “This would be where we would add wealth advisers or acquire wealth management firms.”

Mesirow has $299.1 billion in assets under supervision. Its wealth management business, which the newly acquired company will become part of, contributes $11.4 billion to the total.

The Price Wealth Management deal follows Mesirow’s 2023 acquisition of Front Barnett, which beefed up the wealth management division’s assets under supervision by $1.2 billion.

“It is an area that we have always kind of grown organically, and then very recently we started adding inorganic routes to growth as well,” Price said.

Mesirow’s corporate headquarters at 353 N. Clark St., center | COStAR GROUp

A taxing situation

majority-black towns that are already struggling face a relentless cycle that perpetuates the inequities of taxa tion and limits economic growth | By Eric

Gwinn

In late June and early July, property owners in Chicago’s southern suburbs found shocking news in their mailboxes. Cook County had mailed residential property tax bills bearing increases larger than any in at least 29 years, with a median rise of 19.9%.

Hit hardest were majority-Black municipalities with populations whose median household incomes range from $24,500 to $69,700. The skyrocketing increases in those towns of over 30% could force many of the region's low-income residents to choose between taking on unsustainable debt and losing their

homes. Property tax inequity is another example of how systems impose extra costs on Black homeowners and renters, putting low-income families — and entire communities — in precariously unstable financial situations.

The stories of south suburban towns like Harvey, Markham, Hazel Crest, Dixmoor and others illustrate what happens when property tax hikes crush budgets and dreams. A vicious cycle is set in motion. Homeowners can't fully pay their property taxes, leaving municipalities deeper in debt, which results in service cutbacks. Dissatisfied

residents leave, and businesses that lose clientele shut their doors. Without those property tax revenues, municipalities’ red ink rises even more, further hurting their ability to borrow money through bond sales. Prospective businesses that were considering locating to the area start to see a declining population, rising municipal debt, dwindling services and no reason to open up shop. To make up for vanishing revenue, governing bodies raise taxes on the residents who are left, of-

See TAXES on Page 34

SPONSORS

The stories of south suburban towns like Harvey, Markham, Hazel Crest, Dixmoor and others illustrate what happens when property tax hikes crush budgets and dreams.

Amid homeowners’ tax burden, focus shifts to businesses

‘Diversifying

By Michael Liptrot

the income base’ is an immediate priority, says the head of the Southland Development Authority

South suburbs in Cook County face economic challenges that range from fleeing industries, decades of disinvestment and everincreasing taxes. When it comes to the latter, the largest property tax increases this year were in the south and southwest suburbs, where the burden falls largely on the backs of homeowners in majority-Black towns.

Amid the rising tax bills, the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development is working with the Southland Development Authority, or SDA, to address inequities that exist in towns that lack a sufficient business base to shoulder more of the tax burden.

In south suburban Phoenix, for example, residential property taxes increased 75.75% this year. The town's population of 1,800 is 84% Black, and the average home value is $106,140. According to the SDA’s 2023 Investor Lookbook, Phoenix has only 40 businesses, employing fewer than 500 people.

“We know that there are ways to specifically address the residential tax burden within the south suburbs and particularly for legacy residents,” says SDA CEO Bo Kemp. He describes legacy residents as those who have lived in their homes over 30 years or in inherited properties throughout the south suburbs, or the southland. “The thing that matters in terms of immediately addressing the issue is diversifying the income base within the municipality. If you are a municipality that is substantially residential but does not have a strong, vibrant com-

mercial activity, or doesn't have a strong industrial backbone, you will leave the burden to pay all of the taxes solely on the residents.”

Kemp and the SDA work closely with the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development. Bureau chief Xochitl Flores describes the relationship between the bureau and SDA as growing from working together on the 2017 South Suburban Economic Growth Initiative, a project focused on generating wealth through business support, workforce development and strategy creation.

Two programs led by the bureau in partnership with the SDA, the Manufacturing Reinvented and Cook County Small Business Source, are seeking to bolster

manufacturers in the region and provide small businesses with tools to grow and become sustainable.

The Manufacturing Reinvented program began in August 2022 based on an initial $5 million grant through the American Rescue Plan Act. It offers customizable approaches that help companies access customers and new markets, improve operations and develop leadership. Chicago is the second-largest manufacturing center in the United States, with an output of $99.4 billion in 2022.

A strength for the area is the metals, machinery and equipment manufacturing industry concentrated in the “Metals Hub” of the south suburbs. The area is the

largest origin and destination of base metals shipments in the U.S., generating $21.2 billion in 2022.

“When you produce a product that has metal in it, there are four or five different types of activities that have taken place. And that’s usually at least one or two, and in some cases more, different companies,” Kemp says. “We work to bring new business to those (manufacturers) here in the southland that come from around the country and coordinate bids so that multiple companies are successfully winning new bids and working together.”

Through Manufacturing Reinvented, companies that faced challenges during the pandemic can be reimbursed up to $25,000

for projects related to the manufacturing process.

Cook County and the SDA also strive to empower commercial activity through the Small Business Source, a program that provides free business advising, networking resources and support in acquiring retail space to businesses with fewer than 20 employees.

“Small businesses, particularly those owned by people of color, have a harder time accessing capital, tend to grow at smaller rates, and are given smaller loans," says Irene Sherr, deputy chief for the Bureau of Economic Development. “What we have really tried to do with our program, particularly when COVID hit, is to make sure that businesses, no matter where they were in the county, had access to information to help them navigate the ocean (of opportunities).”

In 2023, the Small Business Source awarded more than $50 million in grants to over 3,000 businesses and supported more than 10,000 businesses total. Eighty-five percent of businesses served were owned by people of color, and 62% of total businesses were owned by women. Ninetytwo percent of businesses involved in the program had fewer than 10 employees.

There are 11 business support organizations listed on the Cook County Small Business Source website that provide free advising to south suburban businesses. Among them are the Chicago Urban League, Women’s Business Development Center and Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council.

Property tax increases sting majority-Black suburbs the most

In communities where home values are lowest, homeowners see increases on their tax bills as high as 122%

By Cassandra West

The Cook County assessor revalued all properties in Chicago’s south and southwest suburbs for this year’s tax bills, resulting in the largest increase for any reassessed area in Cook County in at least the last 29 years. For homeowners in that region of the county, the median bill jumped by 19.9%, to $6,117, according to the Cook County Treasurer's Office. Some areas felt the sting more than others. In 15 south suburbs, 13 of which have majority-Black populations, the overall amount homeowners must pay jumped by more than 30%. In Harvey, which has a median household income of $40,898, the median tax bill increased by 82.18%, or $1,135.89. In Dixmoor, where the median income is $57,823, the median tax bill jumped 122.44%, or $1,073.80. Overall, south and southwest suburban residential taxes rose

by a grand total of $396.8 million, or 15.9%, while commercial taxes declined by $121.6 million, or 7.8% — for a net overall increase of $265.4 million.

When commercial properties' share of the property tax pie is reduced, the resulting loss in tax collections shifts onto remaining property owners. More than

21,700 commercial properties in the region such as offices, shopping centers and hotels saw their tax bills decrease this year, while more than 9,900 saw increases,

according to the treasurer.

Nearly 4,200 homeowners in the south and southwest suburbs who paid no taxes last year will pay this year, because their higher assessed home values now exceed the value of their exemptions. The median tax bill for those homes is $1,115, with homeowners paying as little as 16 cents and as much as $10,995. The median commercial bill fell by about 8.5%, to $14,271.

Taxes overall in the south and southwest suburbs grew by 6.5%, mostly because of increases in the amount of money sought by local taxing districts, such as schools and municipalities. That increase was well above the rate of inflation. In Chicago, which now is being reassessed for next year’s bills, tax increases were far more modest: 2.8% overall, with businesses picking up more than half of the additional burden.

A staggering increase makes tax bill pill hard to swallow

When I think about how the Cook County 2023 property tax increase affects me, the saying “You can’t win for losing” comes to mind. The homeownership I worked hard to achieve is suddenly threatened because an elected official somewhere, informed by data on a spreadsheet calculated by a computer software algorithm, decided it was proper to increase, by double digits, the property taxes on unsuspecting homeowners in the south suburbs of Cook County.

their budgets to determine what wants and needs can be reduced or cut to make financial room for an increased mortgage payment.

Residents who have the option to reallocate funds in their budgets are fortunate because they have the funds to work with, while some do not have monetary options, thus making foreclosure a real threat.

My personal property tax bill surged from $1,939.34 in 2022 to $9,237.36 in 2023, a staggering increase of $7,297.42. The brasstacks consequence is a nearly doubled monthly mortgage payment. Sadly, I know there must be many similar stories that other homeowners across the municipalities that make up the south suburbs can tell. South suburban homeowners in cities, villages and towns that are already economically distressed unexpectedly had to reassess

Personally, the pill of the tax hike might not be as hard to swallow if I knew and was satisfied with how my tax dollars are being spent. There is virtually no fiscal transparency by the municipal and township taxing districts billing me. The city of Harvey has not produced an annual report since 2021 and routinely omits treasurer reports at its bimonthly City Council meetings.

The ratio of the taxing district debt to my property’s value is 23.1%. It is my understanding that the homeowners in Harvey shoulder the tax burden due to the lack of a commercial base. The fees imposed, per an ordinance enacted by the Harvey

mayor and City Council, to own and operate a business in Harvey are so prohibitive that many business owners consider setting up shop outside of Harvey unless, of course, the business is assured tax leniencies. I cannot speak to what is happening in other south suburban cities. I sure hope that the city of Harvey is an anoma-

ly. Ultimately, it just does not seem fair. It feels like a piling on by government officials with one thing after another onto the backs of the residents of Cook County’s south suburbs. This tax increase threatens the financial well-being and stability of many households and broadly exposes the socioeconomic inequalities that exist

across Cook County.

We may not know the full impact of this usurious tax increase for years. In time, it may become evident in the number of foreclosed and/or abandoned homes reported, or evidenced by the number of new-construction housing developments that spring up in these currently beleaguered cities.

November referendum could bring relief for homeowners

Ben Franklin once said death and taxes are inevitable, but he never said it’s inevitable to be taxed to death. Especially by Illinois’ complicated and unfair property tax system with its bewildering array of terms, rules and deadlines designed to be confusing and intimidating to the average property taxpayer.

Quinn served as governor of Illinois from 2009-2015 and taught property tax law at Chicago-Kent College of Law for 25 years.

Illinois has the secondhighest property taxes in the nation. The typical Illinois homeowner paid about $5,055 in property taxes in 2022, more than double the typical American homeowner’s bill of $2,547, according to the most recent census data from 2022.

The Illinois property tax system is not based on ability to pay and places a regressive tax burden on everyday people who live from paycheck to paycheck. As a result, Illinois’ excessive reliance on property taxes makes our tax code one of the 10 most unfair codes in the country.

It’s time for Illinois’ 3,077,768 residential property taxpayers to take charge and reform our state’s upside-down tax code to give guaranteed annual property tax relief to millions of Illinoisans who are struggling to stay in their houses.

This November marks the first time ever that Illinois voters will have a direct referendum opportunity at the ballot box to demand mandatory property tax relief.

Earlier this year, the Illinois Property Tax Relief Amendment Referendum was placed on the ballot as a statewide advisory referendum by the Illinois General Assembly.

The referendum asks, “Should the Illinois Constitution be amended to create an additional 3% tax on income greater than $1,000,000 for the purpose of dedicating funds raised to property tax relief?” By voting “yes,” Illinois voters will call for passage of the largest property tax relief measure in state history.

According to the most recent data, Illinois has 77,323 millionaires whose annual income tax returns exceed $1,000,000 in adjusted gross income. These millionaires account for only 1.2% of Illinois’ 6,286,664 income taxpayers but bring in more than 20% of our state’s individual income. Year after year, the top 1% take in a rising percentage of the state’s total individual income.

A 3% surcharge on this millionaire income would fund at least $1.5 billion in annual property tax refunds for distribution to more than 3 million Illinois residential property taxpayers. Indeed, a recent millionaire surcharge in Massachusetts enacted by voter initiative and referendum has generated even more revenue for that state’s treasury than estimated.

Homeownership and homebuying are essential to the Illinois economy, especially with today’s challenges to the cost of living. When I served as Illinois governor a decade ago in 2014, I proposed a tax reform plan to give every Illinois homeowner an annual property tax refund of at least $500, a refund that would be substantial, permanent and adjusted to inflation.

The General Assembly did not act on my property tax relief proposal back then, but in 2021 passed legislation creating a special fund in the state treasury called the Illinois Property Tax Re-

lief Fund. Under the law, monies in the fund may be used by the state comptroller to pay rebates to residential Illinois property taxpayers eligible for the homestead exemption.

Thus, with the hopeful passage of the Illinois Property Tax Relief Amendment, an efficient mechanism already exists in state government to deliver annual and permanent tax relief to the 3,077,768 Illinois households eligible for residential homestead exemptions.

In addition, 29 states, including Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, have circuit-breaker options

for modest income and senior property taxpayers. Circuit breakers prevent homeowners from being “overloaded” by their property tax bills by rebating property taxes paid over a certain amount of their income.

The Illinois Property Tax Relief Amendment can provide funding for both annual property tax refunds and circuit-breaker options for Illinois’ 3 million residential property taxpayers. But this property tax relief will only come with strong taxpayer organizing to pass the property tax relief referendum this November.

In the course of my public life, I have organized voter referendum campaigns that have enacted important and overdue reforms, including the Cutback Amendment that reduced the size of the Illinois Legislature in 1980, the Citizen Utility Board referendums to take on utilities on behalf of consumers in 1983, and the Recall Amendment for gubernatorial recall in 2010. Each time, it was the power of a voter referendum that broke through legislative gridlock to get the job done for Illinois voters.

For decades, the Illinois property tax law has violated the biblical principle that taxes should be based on ability to pay. This November, we the people of Illinois have the power to use voter referendum to build a taxpayer movement that reforms Illinois’ unfair property tax code in a meaningful way. Anyone interested in helping the cause should visit IllinoisPropertyTaxReliefNow.org.

Pat

Glynis JamesWatson is a resident of south suburban Harvey.

TAXES

ten the people who are least able to pay.

As the cycle repeats over decades, blight takes hold. For Black communities with low-income residents and a withering residential and commercial tax base, things can be bleak without government grants and an involved electorate fighting to move forward.

In Chicago’s south suburbs, once a thriving hub of industry, struggling towns and villages are pockmarked with boarded-up buildings — run-down, weed-ridden homes often abandoned when owners couldn't afford to pay the property taxes they owed. Residents who are left struggle to make the most of the situation as they look for ways to reverse the decline.

'The place to be'

On a sweltering summer day in south suburban Harvey, Bonnie Rateree looked around one of the gardens she tends throughout the city.

The colorful zinnia blooms and towering stalks of corn testify to the work this avid volunteer gardener invests. Plump cantaloupes, tomatoes and pumpkins show signs of a bountiful harvest to come.

Like these plants, Rateree is rooted in Harvey. Her grandparents arrived from Georgia in the 1920s, part of the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the North and other parts of the country beginning in the 1910s. Once agricultural, the suburbs south of Chicago boomed in the 1950s.

“Harvey was the place to be,” says Rateree, recalling that decade of her youth. “One of those towns that everybody wanted to move to.”

A transportation hub with rail, waterway and highway access, Harvey and the other south and southwest suburbs became an industry magnet. Allis-Chalmers, makers of industrial and farm equipment, and the technologically advanced Wyman-Gordon foundry attracted workers eager to build a home and a life in Harvey.

From 1950 to 1960, the city’s population jumped by nearly 41%.

“We had good-character people, decent people, great churches and schools because everyone’s parents were involved,” Rateree says. “I was in the Brownies, Girl Scouts, band, choir. There was lots to keep kids busy and active, and we had great role models.”

But as the city’s population grew, the racial demographics changed. Rateree says that when she started kindergarten, white residents were the majority. By the time she graduated eighth grade, Black residents had become the majority. And conflicts arose. In 1964, a race riot broke out in neighboring Dixmoor.

In 1966, Dixie Square Mall

opened at Dixie Highway and 151st Street. JCPenney, Montgomery Ward and Woolworth department stores, along with a Walgreens drugstore and Jewel grocery store, lured shoppers from downtown merchants.

“Harvey had everything,” Rateree recalls. “You never had to leave.”

Then, things changed drastically.

Beginning in the early 1970s, rising inflation and interest rates, industrial competition from abroad, and soaring gas prices became too much and the Midwest’s industrial gears started to grind to a halt.

Harvey’s jobs began melting away. With a declining clientele, Dixie Square Mall closed its doors in 1979. By 1986, Allis-Chalmers and Wyman-Gordon shut down, leaving hundreds of people — as well as the city itself — staring at an uncertain future. Jobs left, people followed and decay set in.

Harvey and the south suburbs tried to weather these blows the best they could. But everywhere was a reminder of what was lost. Run-down Dixie Square Mall became a setting for the 1980 movie “The Blues Brothers,” with cars crashing through Jewel’s plate-glass windows and barreling through the interior of the once-thriving shopping palace. A few years later, the site of the shuttered Wyman-Gordon foundry was declared a toxicwaste mess and deemed an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund cleanup site.

The city’s population plummeted nearly 17% during the 1980s, so the tax burden fell on

fewer people and smaller businesses. The decline was in full swing.

Taxing bodies request more

For governmental bodies, taxes are the biggest source of revenue by far. For homeowners, their residence is often their biggest store of household wealth.

In Cook County, local taxing bodies — municipalities, schools, libraries, park districts — collect via property tax bills a certain amount of money to cover expenses for the services they provide. Property taxes overall in the south and southwest suburbs rose because those taxing bodies collectively asked for 6.5% more in tax year 2023.

To determine how much each southland property owner will pay, the Cook County Assessor’s Office estimates, or assesses, the value of properties in the region. Using a formula that takes into account the assessed valuations and the taxing bodies’ funding requests, the assessor’s office creates a tax bill for each property owner.

In addition to southland taxing bodies’ request for 6.5% more money from property owners, the Cook County Assessor’s Office shifted more of the tax burden away from businesses and onto homeowners for four main reasons: A 10% COVID reduction in home values enacted in tax year 2020 has been eliminated; home sale prices have risen; business property values have declined; and many commercial property owners appealed their assessments to the Cook County Board of Review and won, leaving homeowners to pick up a

greater share of the tab. Overall tax rates, or the “composite rate,” the sum of all tax rates for each taxing district in a municipality — schools, the county, the municipality itself, park districts and other local government agencies — are highest in towns with smaller

populations and limited taxable properties. In the southern suburbs, most of those happen to have a Black majority.

“The south suburbs are the poster child for inequitable property taxation in Illinois, and now it’s worse than ever for homeowners,” says Cook County

Bonnie Rateree | CASSANDRA WESt

Treasurer Maria Pappas.

In Dixmoor, where the median household income is $57,823, the median tax bill rose from $877 to $1,950 this year. That's an increase of $1,073, or 122%.

The median increase in Markham is 72.2% more than in 2023. In Harvey, the median tax bill shot up 82.18%.

Residents are worried, says Ruby Donohue, a community-involved Harvey resident who has lived in her home for 55 years, one street over from the home her parents owned.

She says neighbors are asking, “Why am I swamped with this situation? My taxes weren’t like this last year.”

In late July, Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi and his staff attended town halls in Calumet City, Matteson, Burnham, Country Club Hills and Robbins to hear residents’ concerns.

Dozens of people in Calumet City approached the microphone to express worry and frustration. Kaegi said he empathized with them and urged them to push municipal leaders for better data on commercial properties so the Cook County Board of Review would stop reducing the tax burden on businesses, which shifts the onus onto the backs of homeowners. The Cook County Board of Review considers tax appeals from property owners.

No one seems completely satisfied.

Donohue, who didn’t attend any of the town halls, says things just don’t feel equitable. She alluded to the state multiplier that the county assessor uses to create residents’ equalized assessed valuation of properties: “The equalizer doesn’t feel equal.”

Of the 15 south suburbs with the largest tax bill increases, 13 of those municipalities are majority Black. All 13 have been classified communities of very high need, compared to cohort communities, according to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

Exploitative loophole

Standing among the flowers and vegetables in a garden on the corner of 152nd Street and Winchester Avenue, Rateree reflects on what it felt like to have the floor drop from under a community and the resulting change.

“Every time we looked up, we saw bad news about Harvey,” she says of the stories that focused only on crime and drug arrests. “Good people live here, but they were ashamed.”

While the population was declining and changing the city’s tax base, Harvey became like other mostly Black suburbs that were taken advantage of by socalled tax buyers.

These entities bought the taxes owed on delinquent properties, then used a loophole in an Illinois statute to back out of a tax purchase and receive a refund. The refund comes from the tax receipts already collected by taxing bodies such as school dis-

tricts. The bodies have to pay court fees and interest, which can reach up to 54%, according to a 2022 study by researchers in the Cook County Treasurer's Office.

This type of “sale in error” repeatedly targeted low-income municipalities, often in majority-Black south suburbs, where low-income residents fall behind on property taxes. The tax buyers took “nearly $280 million away from schools, parks, libraries, fire departments and other government agencies . . . where it was intended,” the study shows.

A system designed by the state to help recoup property taxes from delinquent homeowners and business owners wound up being used by wealthy investors to extract money from municipalities that could least afford to lose it.

After the study received widespread news coverage in 2022, Pappas' office pushed for and obtained a narrowing of the loophole that tax buyers had exploited.

Across the country, study after study has shown that taxing bodies overassess African Americans’ homes for taxing purposes and that appraisers undervalue the residences when it’s time to sell.

This so-called assessment gap costs Black homeowners up to $390 more a year in taxes for the same bundle of services going to white homeowners, according to “The Assessment Gap: Racial Inequalities in Property Taxation,” a paper published in The Quarterly Journal of Economics.

Last year, the least expensive homes in Cook County were as-

sessed at 1.14 times the rate applied to the most expensive homes, an analysis by the Center for Municipal Finance at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy noted.

A Brookings Institution report, “How the property-tax system harms Black homeowners and widens the racial wealth gap,” also found that local property taxes applied to the overassessed value of Black-owned homes is 10% to 13% higher than for white-owned homes.

But homeowners aren’t the only ones suffering in the south suburbs.

Landlords are also feeling the squeeze, which trickles down to renters facing rent increases. And business owners, even ones that seek to give back to the community, are pondering whether it’s time to leave.

Recording studio Enviyon Entertainment expanded into Hazel Crest from Country Club Hills after founder Romel Williams saw his hobby of making song tracks for himself and others take flight.

“But the current property taxes have almost halted my ability to expand,” Williams says while sitting in the Hazel Crest location surrounded by audio and video equipment. “If you look at my track record and how Enviyon started in my garage in Country Club Hills, it costs more to rent a place than to open a place in 2013.”

Over a decade ago, Williams left a well-paying job at UPS to create a place where young rap artists and singers from the south

Their best shot is economic development grants from the county, state and federal governments and tax incentives to lure in businesses.

In 2022, the South Suburban Mayors & Managers Association applauded Illinois' Southland Reactivation Act as a vehicle to attract developers by offering them tax breaks for buying commercial and industrial properties in Cook County townships such as Thornton (which includes Harvey), Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Rich and Worth.

That same year, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Harvey a $20 million grant to revitalize the city’s public transportation hub. Renovations are expected on the downtown Metra station and a nearby Pace terminal, which will expand to 14 bus bays from 10.

The idea is to make it easier and more comfortable for south suburban residents to transfer between Pace buses and Metra trains and to offer new restrooms, an interior waiting area, a retail space and enhanced parking areas.

suburbs and Chicago can record their tracks at prices that are at least 85% less expensive per hour than what studios in the city charge.

“I would rather have four or five people able to afford to book studio time,” he says, “so I kept four or five people off the street. There’s nothing constructive for young people to do anymore. No YMCA. At 19, you’re too old to be part of a park district or community-based program.”

Williams would like to keep growing his business and reaching young artists, but he says rising property taxes have him looking for other homes for his studio in other states, perhaps in the South or West.

“I have to because my clientele is mainly young adults,” he explains. “They’re not in their prime years of income earning, so I can’t just raise my rates and keep up with inflation. Taxes are making it unaffordable.”

Down the road from where Williams is facing a more than 40% increase on his monthly rent, Harvey sits precariously on a precipice. A push in one direction can send it upward to join Flossmoor and other nearby suburbs that are more well-off. A nudge the other way can send it further along a decades-long decline like so many other Black communities.

When taxes push out parks programs for youth and businesses that could employ or help them reach their dreams, communities suffer. But what options do they have for heading in the right direction?

Within walking distance will be the $19 million Harvey Lofts development, under construction next to Municipal Hall at 154th Street and Broadway. With 51 residential units, the goal is to attract renters to the downtown area with the hope that businesses will follow. Another sign of a Harvey on the rise is the $400,000 renovation of 154th Street between Broadway and Wood Street, with a grant coming from the Cook County Department of Transportation & Highways. And on Wood and 147th streets in the shadow of the old WymanGordon power plant, part of the parcel is now home to Quality Metals. It can’t replace all the jobs of draftsmen, engineers and foundry workers that helped the city thrive 60 years ago. But it’s a start.

Harvey is not out of the woods yet. Contentious City Hall meetings last summer in which Mayor Christopher Clark cleared the chamber in the middle of a public-comment period, citing a lack of decorum, have some residents demanding a richer city accounting of how their taxes are being spent.

Community involvement seems to be on the rise, led by senior citizens who have lived in Harvey for decades and young adults who have returned to the city to help nudge it along a brighter path.

“I’m trying to help rebuild it,” says Donohue, an active resident who has lived in Harvey since 1969. “I would like to see Harvey grow and challenge Homewood,” recognized as one of Chicago's finer southern suburbs.

Rateree, who also has been active in local civic life, agrees. “I love the potential. Harvey is like a pretty girl gone bad. Everybody wants a piece of her, but nobody wants to take care of her. But I will never give up.”

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RESTAURANTS

nominee Kamala Harris.

“Breakfast and lunch places did OK, because people had to eat breakfast or lunch before they went over to the United Center,” said Sam Toia, president and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association. “Dinner, it was off. No question about it. It was off for Monday through Thursday.”

At Elske, a Michelin-starred restaurant at the far end of Randolph Street, Thursday night of the DNC felt like a winter evening business-wise. Elske typically bustles in the summer, tucked away in a corner spot with its herb-lined patio. Winter, like for most restaurants, is Elske’s slowest time. Coowner and pastry chef Anna Posey said Elske only had about 35 customers that day — roughly 100 fewer diners than normal.

“It was a very odd week for us overall,” Posey said. “The city really shut down for the DNC. From our perspective, it definitely did not bring in business. If anything, it kind of took away.”

The story was similar for Boka Restaurant Group, parent of Girl & the Goat, Cabra, Swift & Sons and other restaurants throughout the city. Monday and Tuesday of DNC week were especially “soft” at Boka’s restaurants, as potential customers watched from home to see if the convention would cause any logistical headaches, said cofounder Kevin Boehm.

Boka did pick up some extra DNC-related business. It catered the CNN-Politico grill, which fed the news organizations’ employees near the United Center. That kept Boka busy, Boehm said, but it wasn’t enough to offset the lack of regular business. Citywide, the restaurant group’s revenue was down about 20% from the same week last year.

“We lost a lot of normal business,” Boehm said. “Some of it was made up with DNC business, but in the end, the spreadsheet did not work in our favor.”

The lack of revenue boost was a disappointment to many restaurant owners, who initially thought the DNC would be a major business driver. Some had been jockeying for the dinners, parties and other gatherings surrounding the convention for most of the year. Restaurants are a low-margin business, and since COVID closures and the inflation that followed, some city eateries have struggled. Loop restaurants, particularly, are still trying to find their post-COVID footing, adjusting their business models to find viability in a world where people tend to work from home Monday and Friday. They were hoping extra DNC business would give them a leg up.

Instead, it highlighted the power Loop office workers have over the fortune of downtown restaurants.

On Aug. 21, the Wednesday of the convention, Chicago’s average office occupancy was 34.1% of what it was pre-pandemic, according to data from real estate technology firm Kastle Systems. The Wednesday prior, it was 64.6%.

“As you got away from the Loop, (our restaurants) tended to do

better,” said Steve Lombardo, CEO of Gibsons Restaurant Group. “We had a lot of parties, but the flip side is all the workers in the Loop didn’t go to work, which is why I think the suburban locations had a little bit of an uptick. The restaurants in the Loop suffered. They suffered for it.”

Sales flat year over year

Gibsons, which operates four restaurants in the suburbs and eight in the city, hosted 80 to 90 DNC-related parties throughout the week, most of which had 15 to 50 attendees, Lombardo said. Still, sales throughout the group’s Chicago-area restaurants were flat compared to the same week last year.

This summer’s DNC “wasn’t the boon that the cheerleaders forecasted, and it wasn’t the bust that the naysayers said it was going to be,” Lombardo said.

The 1996 DNC, during which President Bill Clinton was nominated to run, brought in more business for Gibsons, Lombardo said. The convention was held at the United Center that year, too.

Toia has credited the 1996 DNC with jump-starting the West Loop’s restaurant explosion. But getting in and out of the convention was a different situation then. This year, it took some attendees more than hour to get through security. Popping out to grab dinner was not something many considered — especially that Thursday when rumors swirled that Beyonce might make a surprise appearance.

There were restaurants that stayed open later during the DNC, hoping to grab the post-convention revelers. And indeed, several bars outside the United Center drew a crowd after the events concluded each evening.

The city’s tourism arm, Choose Chicago, and the DNC Host Committee worked with chambers of commerce across the city to push convention-related business toward Chicago restaurants and event venues. The Host Committee created a directory with more

than 2,500 vendors, which it provided to convention visitors planning ancillary events.

The Host Committee provided Crain’s with a 16-page list of thirdparty events. The gatherings, held Aug. 15 through Aug. 23, were at venues throughout the city. On the list is live music venue Ramova Theater in Bridgeport, Mexican restaurant Barrio in River North, and concert venue The Salt Shed on Elston Avenue, to name a few. Inclusion in that list did indeed provide a boom for Carnivale, said General Manager Sam Randazzo. The restaurant and party venue had at least one private event booked daily from Aug. 17-22, all DNC-related. Two of the larger events had 900 attendees. When it was all said and done, revenue was 2.5 times higher than the same week last year.

“We did everything we could to get our information out to (attendees and event planners),” Randazzo said. “It came in right where we expected it to. I did expect the locals to drop off and it would be all DNC.”

There is also optimism from restaurant owners on the convention’s long-term impacts on their business. Largely, the DNC went off without a hitch. There weren’t violent protests like during the 1968 DNC in Chicago, and order was kept.

Many restaurant owners have been hearing increased concerns about the city’s violence from customers in recent years. They think that having the global media spotlight on Chicago during the smooth convention could help shift the city’s reputation, driving more tourism and business in the long term.

“The exposure helped us as a city,” said Anthony Stefani, managing partner of Stefani Restaurant Group, parent of Stefani Prime, Tuscany Taylor and Broken English Taco Pub. “We showed that we can be a very safe city, so that helps with tourism. I just don’t think that the DNC particularly that week helped us in business too much.”

There were restaurants that stayed open later during the DNC, hoping to grab the postconvention revelers. And, indeed, several bars outside the United Center drew a crowd after the events concluded each evening. | GEttY ImAGES

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

ACCOUNTING / CONSULTING

John Kasperek Co., Inc., Mokena / Calumet City

John Kasperek Co., Inc. (JKC) is pleased to introduce new Associate, Allen Kostecki. Allen earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting/Finance with highest distinction at Indiana University Northwest (IUN). During his final semester at IUN, he participated in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Allen will be applying his knowledge and experience through JKC’s consulting practice.

ARCHITECTURE / DESIGN

Lamar Johnson Collaborative, Chicago

Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC) welcomes Larry Nordin, AIA, CSI-CCS to the Chicago, Illinois office. As Principal and Technical Director with LJC’s Technical Assurance Group (TAG), Larry excels in resource management and technical support, guiding projects from inception to completion. His passion lies in solving complex technical challenges while ensuring that design integrity is upheld. Larry has over three decades of diverse experience across residential, corporate and healthcare markets.

INVESTMENT BANKING

ARCHITECTURE / DESIGN

FGM Architects, Oak Brook

Elizabeth Wojtowicz, SPHR, SHRM-SCP has been promoted to Vice President at FGM Architects (FGMA), an employee-owned firm offering architecture, planning and interior design services in 8 offices across 5 states.

Wojtowicz, FGMA’s Chief People Officer since 2021, has led initiatives focused on talent management, diversity and inclusion, organizational culture as well as recruitment, training and development. She received her Bachelor of Science in HR Management from Central Michigan University.

ART

The Danon Gallery, Evanston

On the move? Chicago in 1976, Colorado in 82, Chicago in 89, Wilmette in 96, Evanston in 2009, KS in 2019, Evanston in 24. Now, 48 years in business, and not one employee. Owner, Bob Danon knows how to get things done, both residential (1,000’s over the years), and corporate, to name a few: Jordan’s, Ditka’s, The Wirtz Corporation, United Center, Harpo Prod., Hyatt offices, NU Sports, Arrowhead Golf Club. And, over the years, here and there, numerous hospitals. And of course..., Willie Nelson!

ARCHITECTURE / DESIGN

FGM Architects, Oak Brook

Caroline Brogan has been promoted to Marketing Leader for FGM Architects (FGMA), an employee-owned firm offering architecture, planning and interior design services in eight offices across five states. Caroline joined FGMA in 2004 as the Marketing Manager and became the Marketing Director and VP in 2018. AIA Northeast Illinois recognized Caroline for her contributions to advancing the practice of architecture in 2022. She received her BA in Organizational Management from Concordia Univ. Chicago.

ARCHITECTURE / DESIGN

FGM Architects, Oak Brook

Andy Leja, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB, CSI CDT has been promoted to Vice President at FGM Architects (FGMA), an employee-owned firm offering architecture, planning and interior design services nationally in 8 offices across 5 states. Leja joined FGMA in 2012 and focuses on PK-12 projects. A certified Construction Documents Technologist, Leja received his Bachelor and Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois Chicago.

ARCHITECTURE / DESIGN

FGM Architects, Oak Brook

Prairie Capital Advisors, Inc., Chicago

Prairie Capital Advisors, Inc., a leading corporate advisory and investment banking firm, is pleased to announce John Lavin as the newest Managing Director in the firm’s investment banking group. Mr. Lavin will be part of the Chicago, IL office and will lead business development and transaction execution for middle-market privately held companies seeking ownership transition and for large corporate clients seeking divestitures.

LAW FIRM

Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC, Chicago

Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres is pleased to welcome Angel Avalos, Jr. to the firm as a paralegal manager. Angel is a seasoned paralegal with 17 years of experience in the corporate environment. His expertise includes reviewing, organizing, and maintaining due diligence and closing documents, and drafting essential legal documents such as certifications, affidavits, and more. Angel has held positions at several top law firms, as well as corporate roles at Illinois Tool Works Inc.

PROMOTE.

Why not?

Celebrate your success with promotional products! Contact: Lauren Melesio Sales Manager lmelesio@crain.com

BANKING

First Bank Chicago, Northbrook

First Bank Chicago, one of the five largest privately held banks in Chicago, is pleased to welcome Lisa Nichols Chief Human Resources Officer. In this role, Lisa will manage the day-to-day operations of Human Resources and assist the Executive Leadership team with the development and implementation of the Bank’s strategic plan. Lisa has over 20+ years of HR experience where she held HR Leadership roles at Keller Williams, Citigroup, Hewitt Aon, Hyatt and other financial service organizations.

NON-PROFIT

Chicago Commons, Chicago

Ronald G. Kaminski has been named Board Chair of Chicago Commons, where he served for 12 years, including 3 years as Vice Chair. He is an SVP at Quanta Services.

NON-PROFIT

United Way of Metro Chicago, Chicago

United Way of Metro Chicago announced Scott C. Swanson, President of PNC Bank in Illinois, as Chair of the 2024-2025 annual fundraising Campaign, which began on July 1. Swanson’s leadership will support United Way in raising critical dollars to extend its impact in the community, ensuring individuals can meet their basic needs such as food, housing and health care and driving transformative change alongside partners in 18 city and suburban communities via the Neighborhood Network Initiative.

Ron founded HBK Engineering LLC in 1998, which was acquired by Quanta in 2020. Quanta Services (NYSE: PWR) is a Fortune 200 company with over $20 billion in revenue and more than 50,000 employees worldwide, specializing in infrastructure solutions for the electric power, energy, and communications industries.

PRIVATE INVESTMENTS

Erie Street Growth Partners, Chicago

Shane Kern has been promoted to an expanded role as Managing Director, Investments and Value Creation at Erie Street Growth Partners, a private investment firm that unlocks next-level growth for businesses in highly disrupted markets. In his new and broadened role, he oversees a team charged with investment strategy, M&A transactions, and enterprise value creation across the end-to-end investment cycle. His leadership is integral as Erie Street creates transformational growth opportunities.

BANKING / FINANCE

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, Chicago

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) welcomes back Patrick Sullivan as Executive Vice President, Group Head of the Mortgage Partnership Finance® (MPF®) Program, succeeding John Stocchetti. Sullivan will lead the MPF Program, helping financial institutions access the secondary mortgage market. He previously worked at FHLBank Chicago from 2014 to 2021, focusing on risk management and analytics for the MPF Program. Sullivan was most recently CFO of Wintrust Mortgage.

NON-PROFIT

Chicago Commons, Chicago

Vickie Lakes-Battle, executive director for the Chicago Metro region at IFF, joins the Chicago Commons board. A trusted advisor in the community development sector known for her ability to build relationships and alliances, Ms. Lakes-Battle brings to the role more than 30 years of experience in commercial and mission-driven lending and a proven track record of accelerating positive social impact and systems change.

Joanna Zak has been promoted to Regional Marketing Manager of FGM Architects (FGMA), an employee-owned firm offering architecture, planning and interior design services in 8 offices across 5 states. Zak will coordinate the creation of new business proposals and interview preparation as well as event and conference management for FGMA’s practice in the Chicago region, including a growing portfolio in Wisconsin. Zak received dual Bachelor of Arts degrees from Loyola University.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Mesirow, Chicago

Mesirow announced that Craig Price, CFP®, CTFA has joined Mesirow Wealth Management as a Wealth Advisor based in Stuart, Florida. In this role, Price will serve the firm’s growing base of high net worth families and individuals, providing firsthand understanding of planning considerations specific to the Florida region and comprehensive financial planning. Before joining Mesirow, Price served as Founder and CEO of Price Wealth Management, an RIA firm in Stuart.

NON-PROFIT

Chicago Commons, Chicago Virxhini Gjonzeneli brings over 20 years of financial industry expertise to the Chicago Commons board. Currently the Chief Financial Officer and Group Head, Financial Accounting and Markets, she has held various roles at Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago since 2003, including Director and Senior Vice President. Ms. Gjonzeneli holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a degree from Northwestern University, and a CFA designation.

STRATEGIC ADVISORY

Conlon Public Strategies, Chicago

Consulting group

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

CrossCountry Consulting, Chicago

CrossCountry Consulting is pleased to announce that Jim Gusich has been appointed Partner to lead the local and Midwest market Risk Advisory practice with a focus on growth with insurance and financial services organizations. Jim has extensive experience in the risk, governance, and internal audit areas of the corporate and professional services industry and is instrumental in providing guidance to clients to help them solve problems and improve their business.

Conlon Public Strategies is pleased to announce that Patrick Crawford has joined the firm as a senior advisor. Patrick brings over 30 years of executive experience in government, nonprofit management, and the private sector to the Conlon team. Previously, Patrick was the senior director of disaster services at Feeding America, where he supported the national network of 200 food banks with capacity building to address food insecurity, disaster relief, and community resilience.

Chicago to spend $63 million less on migrant care this year, but budget woes still remain

the City Council allocated $220 million to house, feed and care for thousands of asylum-seekers arriving from border states. But a revised budget estimate revealed only $157 million is expected to be spent. |

Chicago officials are expecting to spend $63 million less to shelter and care for migrants in 2024 than previously estimated, representing a small win amid a larger budget crunch.

Johnson’s 2024 budget allocated $150 million to the city’s efforts to house, feed and care for the thousands of asylum-seekers being bused and flown to Chicago from border states. The City Council later approved an additional $70 million in April to support the city’s shelter system through the end of 2024 when local officials feared Texas Gov. Greg Abbott would send scores of buses to the city leading up to the Democratic National Convention.

In a revised budget estimate released last month, the city revealed it expects to only spend $157 million of the $220 million allocated in the city’s “special event projects” line item dedicated to the migrant mission.

Despite the $63 million in savings realized by the combination of additional federal resources and fewer migrants arriving this summer than expected, the city is still projecting a $222.9 million deficit that must be closed in 2024.

The “combination of less people in the shelters and the additional federal and state dollars drove savings,” the city’s budget spokesperson said in a statement. The city received $35.4 million from a Federal Emergency Management Agency program.

When the city, state and county worked on a new model that provided an additional $321 million funding round to get through 2024, the formula was based on estimates of 15,000 migrants living in shelters in Chicago in August before falling to 10,000 in the fall and 7,000 in the winter.

But that peak didn’t arrive.

“We didn’t see nearly that amount and as a result there were less wrap-around services, food, etc. — costs that we would

Despite the $63 million in savings realized by the combination of additional federal resources and fewer migrants arriving this summer than expected, the city is still projecting a $222.9 million deficit that must be closed in 2024.

have had to cover,” the statement said.

As of Aug. 30, there are 5,480 asylum-seekers living in city shelters, according to the Department of Family & Support Services. The city has received over 47,000 new arrivals since they began being bused to Chicago two years ago.

The city also lessened its sup-

is a Greyhound ticket counter nearby, according to Brewton.

professor in the School of Public Service at DePaul University.

“It’s a tremendous resource for low-income households, and losing it will result in the loss of a lot of service routes.”

Flix has begun eyeing alternatives after failing to reach an agreement for an extension of its lease at the Harrison Street terminal, looking instead to the traffic lane across the street from Union Station. The Jackson Boulevard location is being strongly considered, in part, because there

However, having a pickup and drop-off location there would mean buses could not operate during peak hours and services would be cut. This proposal is receiving pushback from Amtrak, which owns Union Station and is concerned about congestion and safety.

“Of particular concern to us regarding a future bus facility are the significant security and facility costs that likely accompany the use of our station by hundreds of new daily intercity bus customers,” Amtrak wrote to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office

port for migrants this spring when it gradually began imposing a controversial eviction policy that received pushback from the City Council. A total of 2,134 individuals have left shelters due to the policy, according to the department estimate. The city said 1,469 of those who were evicted later returned to city shelters.

Although the city didn’t spend

this month.

“Without an agreement to appropriately compensate us and mitigate any impacts, these costs and impacts would be borne by Amtrak and our customers — and indirectly by Metra and other tenants who share in our expenses at the facility,” the company wrote.

Seeking an alternative

Amtrak claims in a statement that Flix told the company “we don’t do stations,” and plans to move forward with a stop on the traffic lane on Jackson Boulevard. Amtrak is now asking the city to help find an alterna -

By Justin Laurence

support the region’s care for migrants.

Two months later, Johnson began holding briefings with the City Council to ramp up support for the new funding round. The $321 million total provided from the city, county and state was based on estimates of the amount of shelter space occupied during lulls in the migrant population and potential influxes during the summer, especially in August during the Democratic National Convention.

Because the $63 million in savings is already baked into the revised 2024 budget estimate that shows a $222.9 million deficit, the savings tied to reduced migrant spending cannot be used to bridge the gap.

Johnson is also facing a $982.4 million budget shortfall in 2025 that must be closed before the City Council approves a spending plan later this fall. In the forecast released last month, Johnson is allocating $150 million for migrant care in 2025.

Ald. Jason Ervin, 27th, chair of the Budget Committee, said the City Council faces a tough question on whether the $150 million allocation in 2025 is appropriate given the city will only spend $157 million in 2024 during what may be the peak of the crisis.

“I think we really need to hone in on that as much as possible, especially if we still have to raise revenue in order to meet the total budget obligation,” he said.

the full $220 million approved for migrant care, the $70 million approved in April in a split 30-to-18 vote ate into Johnson’s own political capital.

Johnson initially denied agreeing to ask the City Council for the funds when Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced their own new funding rounds to jointly

tive solution.

In a statement to Crain’s, the mayor’s office said it is continuing to work with Greyhound and other stakeholders to find a viable solution for intercity bus service in downtown Chicago.

“While we have looked at a number of different options, it should be noted that Greyhound has an option to renew its lease at its current Harrison Street location under the same terms and conditions that it currently operates under,” the statement said.

“The City has had productive conversations with Amtrak, which

The difficult question is forecasting whether Chicago will again see a rise in the number of people sent to the city depending on the outcome of the presidential election and any reversal of stricter restrictions at the border put into place by President Joe Biden this year.

“I would rather be conservative on the front end than having to go in on the back end and have to make cuts in order to meet this obligation,” Ervin said.

has agreed to work in partnership to solve Greyhound’s problem of providing a clean and safe terminal facility for intercity bus passengers,” the statement said, adding that the talks are “ongoing.”

Ramirez-Rosa said at the virtual meeting that city officials also see Union Station as a short-term solution, but said other sites could be explored and a permanent solution is necessary.

“The fact that Chicago will be the largest city without an intercity bus terminal is embarrassing and totally unacceptable,” he said.

Migrants board a chartered bus in El Paso, Texas, traveling to Chicago. | BLOOmBERG

BEARS

and one of the NFL’s most prominent architects, divided the 49.35% of the Bears he owned into equal shares for his 13 grandchildren using a set of trusts, ensuring a lighter tax bill for McCaskey when she inherited the team in 1983. Voting power over those shares went to McCaskey, who already owned close to 20% of the team.

Selling a stake would help ease the tax burden on McCaskey’s many heirs.

The NFL’s allure

“The NFL is the largest and most profitable sports league worldwide and the last holdout (in) allowing private equity investment,” said Kyle Walters, associate analyst-private equity at PitchBook, the financial data and software firm.

Such outside investment can provide NFL team owners with liquidity as some look to cash in on the ever-rising team valuations or fund projects such as building new stadiums, Walters added.

“Additionally, several owners have most — or all — of their wealth tied up in these franchises, and private equity firms can step in and provide equity in exchange for a small piece of the franchise,” he added.

Patrick Rishe, director of the sports business program at Washington University in St. Louis,

to open its ownership and allow private equity investments in the league.

“However, as valuations continue to rise, the league sees that having private equity capital available could benefit the league and its owners, especially where liquidity might be needed,” Walters stated. “Not to say that the other professional sporting leagues needed access to private equity capital, but the NFL is the largest, most profitable sports league in the world and has never seen the need for such a thing. The league is a cash cow.”

Indeed, Sissel noted, the very fact that NFL team valuations have been soaring — the Dallas Cowboys are now worth more than $10 billion, for example — makes the entry of deep-pocketed private equity entities more attractive and perhaps even necessary.

“Not many individuals have billions of dollars laying around to buy a team,” she said. “But private equity firms do have it and they can purchase these clubs with equity rather than taking on debt, which makes them even more attractive.”

However, the NFL will likely not move quickly and haphazardly into this brave new world of institutional ownership.

The league is easing into this process, Walters indicated, and part of that is setting the ownership percentage lower than other professional sports leagues.

The NFL initially wants to bring in private equity firms that are already established in the sports space, which happens to include some larger private equity firms such as Arctos, Ares Management, Sixth Street or CVC Capital Partners.

thinks the NFL’s conservative approach to new endeavors reflects the league’s cautious entry into institutional ownership.

“They [the NFL] have had time to speak with the other leagues, their ownership groups, those from the private equity world, and other relevant parties to fully assess the risks and rewards of allowing private equity minority ownership of NFL teams,” he said.

“With average NFL franchise values north of $5.5 billion, the allowance of limited private equity ownership expands the pool of desirable future NFL owners while reducing their financial risk,” he said.

Banríon’s Sissel says alternatives firms have a “massive” interest in pro football teams.

She concurred that the NFL has been among the most conservatively-run sports leagues in the world in terms of permitting private equity firms and other institutional investors to buy in.

“The NFL is very concerned about reputational risks and the strength of their brand,” she said. “They are very sensitive to optics.”

Valuation prompted new investors

Until now, the NFL saw no need

of MLB, among many other sports teams around the world.

It’s unclear whether the NFL will expand its initial list of permitted private equity buyers, Walters cautioned. As private equity firms enter the NFL, not a whole lot will change in the grand scheme of the league, “as these stakes are completely passive and do not hold voting rights within the team.”

Profits over time?

Hanging over these potential deals is whether investments in NFL teams will be a profitable investment, given the limited number of exit routes and the potential for a mandatory profit-sharing arrangement with the NFL.

“The question in my mind is how is this  going to work in five to 10 years....Private equity is long term but not forever,” said Mark T. Welhelm, partner specializing private equity at law firm Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sander.

With a short list of private equity firms permitted to invest in NFL teams and a close to zero percent chance firms will take a team public “how will (private equity) funds get liquidity”, Welhelm said.

What’s more, successful exits assume the value of a team will go up over time, he said. Risks swirl around the NFL including injury issues and concussions. Also, there is a risk that there will be challenges to negotiating lucrative media rights in the future, Welhelm added.

“All of these risks play into the valuations” these private equity firms can put on teams, he said.

owner of an NFL team is such an exclusive club.”

Moreover, Walters cited industry chatter that several NFL owners are open to selling a stake in their team, such as Terry Pagula, the Buffalo Bills owner, as he looks to help finance the costs of a new stadium being built.

“So, all teams can benefit from such a change, not just the ‘cream of the crop’ franchises,” Walters added.

Profit-sharing talks ongoing

Sissel cautioned, however, that a private equity fund invested in an NFL team requires a very different “skill set” from managing traditional investments like stocks and bonds.

“Things could go horribly wrong if they don’t pick the right people to make these investments,” she noted.

Rich Nuzum, executive directorinvestments and global chief investment officer at consultant Mercer, commented that institutional investment in sports franchises is not new.

“It’s been niche, he said. “We have clients that are interested (in sports teams) and a lot of clients who think that’s not for us. We’ll do other things first. And I think part of it is this concern that there’s lots of non-economic benefits to being an owner of a sports franchise, and so maybe that depresses the forward-looking expected returns, even though the historical returns have been quite strong.”

Meanwhile, talks over sharing of profits are in flux.

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“Though if all goes well, that 10% (maximum) stake could be increased at some point down the road,” he added. “Other restrictions are put in place to provide some stability in an opaque market, such as the required six-year hold time.”

By comparison, other major sports leagues, including the NBA and MLB allow up to 30% ownership by institutional investors.

The NFL initially wants to bring in private equity firms that are already established in the sports space, which happens to include some larger private equity firms such as Arctos, Ares Management, Sixth Street or CVC Capital Partners.

“The only outlier is Blackstone, (which) has not previously acquired a stake in a professional sports team,” Walters noted. “However, Blackstone is the largest household name in private equity. The firm can lean on the expertise of David Blitzer, who is head of the firm’s tactical opportunities division and has personally invested in several professional sports teams.”

Blitzer owns stakes in the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA, the Washington Commanders of the NFL, New Jersey Devils of the NHL, and Cleveland Guardians

On the plus side, the private equity firms’ investment in NFL teams could provide additional deal flow by leveraging businesses outside of the NFL footprint but closely connected to NFL teams, such as the real estate near an NFL team or a business providing serivces to the NFL team, Welhelm said.

A spokesperson for a consortium of investors comprising Blackstone; Carlyle; CVC; Dynasty Equity; and Ludis, stated: “We are pleased to have secured this provisional approval following the NFL’s thoughtful and robust process.”

High-profile individual owners

The NFL already has a number of high-profile figures like Blitzer with an alternative investment background, Sissel added.

Josh Harris, the co-founder of private equity giant Apollo Global Management, purchased the Washington Commanders for $6.05 billion last summer.

David Tepper, the president of global hedge fund Appaloosa Management, owns the Carolina Panthers, while Melody Hobson, president and co-CEO of Ariel Investments, is part owner of the Denver Broncos.

Walters expects team valuations to benefit from this new entry of investors.

“All 32 NFL teams are desirable investments,” he said. “There are only 32 NFL teams, so to own a piece of any of them is a big deal. You can think of all 32 teams as crown jewel assets, as being an

The NFL has reportedly told team owners and investment firms that the league wants to take a portion of private equity profits on future sales of ownership stakes.

But Walters of PitchBook does not think this issue will deter investors from buying stakes in clubs.

“The league informed these firms of this decision, and no firms decided to back out because of it,” he said. “While not one of the permitted NFL investors, Blue Owl has a special agreement with the NBA of similar stature. Blue Owl can invest in as many NBA teams as it wants, compared to the maximum of five teams for other firms. In exchange, Blue Owl is required to share an undisclosed amount of its profits with the league. While the agreement isn’t quite the same, it is not the first time a professional sports league has implemented such a structure.”

Furthermore, status as one of the select few firms allowed to invest in the NFL is something these firms likely don’t take lightly, and “if one of the criteria they must meet is giving some of their proceeds back to the league, then so be it.”

Walters added he thinks private equity firms are “still as eager as ever to invest in the league, regardless of this piece of the puzzle.”

Crain’s staff and Bloomberg contributed to this report.

Palash Ghosh and Arleen Jacobius write for Crain’s sister brand Pensions & Investments.

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2024 PRIVATE SCHOOL PLANNER

YOUR GUIDE TO CHICAGO AREA SCHOOLS

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS:

• The Avery Coonley School

• Bennett Day School • British International School of Chicago, South Loop • Catherine Cook School

• Center for Talent Development, Northwestern University

•Chicago City Day School • Chicago Jewish Day School

• Francis W. Parker School • German International

School Chicago • Hyde Park Day School • Lake Forest Academy • Lake Forest Country Day School

• Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools

• Latin School of Chicago • Loyola Academy

• Rogers Park Montessori School • Roycemore School

• Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School • St. John’s

Northwestern Academies • University of Chicago

Laboratory Schools • Wolcott College Prep

• Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart

WELCOME

to Crain’s 13th annual Private School Planner, which is loaded with information on exceptional private education options in the Chicago area.

In this guide, more than 20 top-flight institutions and organizations provide an indepth look at their offerings, making it an essential resource for families with schoolage children.

Whether they are looking for a school in the city or suburbs, a religious education or a curriculum based on international studies, STEM or another specialty, parents will find numerous dynamic learning environment options for their kids.

Top private school trends to watch

By Jane Adler

Private schools often lead the way in educational innovation. Unbound by state mandates, private or independent schools have the autonomy and flexibility to introduce the latest teaching methods and approaches. Due to small class sizes, personalized attention, along with parental input, is also possible.

To help parents make informed decisions about their child’s education, here are the top five trends to consider at private schools.

Social-emotional learning

Private schools recognize that social skills and emotional intelligence are key to student success. The pandemic and, in turn, remote learning only intensified the need for innovative programs, which would reduce students’ feelings of isolation and stress.

The British International School of Chicago, South Loop (PK-12) offers a once-a-week hourlong class on personal, social and health education (PSHE).

Private schools recognize that social skills and emotional intelligence are key to student success.

Growing in popularity at private schools, PSHE courses help children develop skills to manage their lives now and in the future. Like other private schools, the school also has counselors on staff. “We help build healthy relationships,” says Sarah Therriault, student support manager at the school.

(Continued on page 4)

Fall Open House Nov.3,2024

24 Advanced Placement Courses

GRADES

31 Median ACT Score

AVERAGE CL AS S SI ZE

12

Students from 17 states and 40 countries and territories.

Bennett Day School (PK-12) in Chicago has a daily advisory program for middle and high school students. More than a homeroom, the advisory provides a structured curriculum on social-emotional learning. Students also meet one-on-one with their advisor once a week. “The advisory program builds a 360-degree support system around the student,” says Martin Moran, who leads program design at Bennett. Younger students participate in a morning meeting designed specifically for their age group.

Private school curriculums also include the responsible use of social media. Smart phone usage is typically limited or banned during school hours.

Personalization

Private schools leverage small class sizes to create more personalized instruction. At Lake Forest Country Day School (PK-8) in Lake Forest, classes

have about 15 students. “We have a relational approach,” says Alex Sheridan, associate head of school for advancement. “Every child is known.” The school’s approach is based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). The novel framework creates a flexible learning environment to accommodate all students’ needs and abilities.

A growing number of private schools offer specialized programs in areas such as the arts, science and international education. Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, an all-girls Catholic high school in Lake Forest, includes a Center for Global Studies. The Center conducts an exchange program with 140 Sacred Heart schools around the globe. Students from overseas study at the Lake Forest campus for several weeks while local students visit schools in other countries. “The global focus of our school is a major part of who we are,” says Christine Schmidt, director of the Center. She’s leading a trip of 11 students this fall to Vienna,

A growing number of private schools offer specialized programs in areas such as the arts, science and international education.

Austria. The students from Vienna will visit the Lake Forest campus in March. “Our students are building relationships with other students around the globe,” Schmidt says. Sacred Heart students can also apply as juniors to be global scholars to focus on international studies.

Tuition support

As tuition costs rise, private schools are offering more scholarships and grants to ensure a private education is more affordable for more families. Financial aid also helps to create a diverse student population by attracting those from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Lake Forest Country Day School, for example, allocates $2 million in tuition assistance annually. The grants are based on need. About 25% of the families with students at the school receive some financial aid. “Tuition is not a barrier,” Sheridan says.

(Continued on page 6)

A great school is one thing. But a great school that is also part of a world-class research university? Now that is something entirely different.

Ranked by Niche as the State of Illinois’ number one independent school, the Laboratory Schools are home to the youngest members of the University of Chicago’s academic community. Lab is the country’s first laboratory school and to

this day—more than 125 years later—remains a model of experiential learning, continuing to provide a best-in-class Nursery–Grade 12 academic experience to a diverse community of approximately 2,200 students.

Learn more at ucls.uchicago.edu/admissions

Downers Grove’s The Avery Coonley School (PK-8), created for gifted students, also allocates more than $850,000 annually in need-based financial assistance to families.

Originally designed for college, 529 savings plans can now be used to pay for primary and secondary education tuition. Parents can withdraw as much as $10,000 annually to help cover costs.

Outdoor education

Private schools take recess to the next level. Science, math and literature are incorporated into nature studies. At the same time, outdoor play builds teamwork and encourages resilience. Chicago City Day School (JK-8) is located on a two-acre campus two blocks from Wrigley Field and half a block from Lake Michigan. Certified by the National Wildlife Federation, the campus features a variety of outdoor spaces, including two playgrounds, a greenhouse, gardens and an 8,000-gallon koi pond. “Students can explore the natural world,” says Chris Dow, head of school. “It’s a safe space for kids to be kids.”

Older students conduct water testing experiments at the nearby Chicago River and take regular field trips. Younger students visit the lake and explore the shoreline.

At Chicago’s Francis W. Parker School (JK-12), outdoor play is built into the curriculum for the lower grades. Students have a long recess in the middle of the day. Younger students have extra recess periods, and third graders also engage in outdoor exploration. “We’re finding that students are not playing outside at home as much,” says Kimeri Swanson-Beck, head of Parker’s lower school. “We want them to connect with the outdoors.” For example, first graders went to the park and picked a tree to study during different seasons. They wrote about the tree and drew a picture of it in fall, winter and spring.

Restorative practices

Private schools are on the forefront of employing restorative practices to resolve conflicts. Rather than punishing bad behavior, students are taught to repair harm done to another student or to the community to restore the relationship. Francis W.Parker School introduced restorative practices three years ago. The first step is to teach the school’s values to the students. What are the school’s norms

Science, math and literature are incorporated into nature studies.

At the same time, outdoor play builds teamwork and encourages resilience.

and ideals? When a student makes a mistake—say hurts someone’s feelings—a repair process begins. The student takes accountability for the wrong, understands the impact on the person who was hurt and then rights the wrong. Depending on the situation, the consequences may be something as simple as an apology or writing an essay on why the behavior was hurtful or wrong. “It’s a different way to integrate the kids back into the community when they make a mistake,” says Vahn Phayprasert, head of Parker’s intermediate and middle school. “When relationships are restored, that’s a win.”

Northwestern University

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Latin School of Chicago leading the way in experiential learning

School’s approach to ‘learning by doing’ benefits all students

One of the hallmarks of the Latin School of Chicago’s proud tradition of academic excellence is our unique approach to experiential learning and how it enables our students to gain knowledge and develop their passions both in and out of the classroom.

At Latin, experiential learning, or “learning by doing,” is studentcentered, inquiry-based and integrated into both our academic and co-curricular programs. It caters to the diverse learning needs and styles of our students, building on their strengths and interests, and creating an environment where choice is an integral part of their educational experience.

What makes our school’s approach to hands-on learning unique is the variety of available opportunities and the distinct ways in which those opportunities contribute to the growth, development and success of every student we serve.

The most well-known example of experiential learning at Latin is our Upper School Project Week. During this week, students, faculty and staff spend several days engaging in lifechanging experiences that expand their knowledge and cultivate their interests. Recent experiences included:

• Performing a band and chorus concert in Austria and Germany.

• Exploring the Civil Rights Trail.

• Immersing in the history, art and culture of Mexico City.

• Seeking solutions for ending gun violence in Chicago.

• Studying the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

• Engaging in activities focused on addressing the issues of homelessness and housing insecurity.

• Participating in workshops led by West End performers in London.

• Learning how to dogsled in Northern Minnesota.

• Developing new skills such as metalsmithing, leather crafting and woodworking.

• Engaging in tests of physical fitness.

• Practicing the art of mindfulness.

The Upper School also offers opportunities to participate in a simulation of the Nuremberg trials as part of our Nazi Mind class; take part in an annual festival featuring student-run plays; go on field trips to cadaver labs and witness open-heart surgeries for science class; and see the world via global exchanges to Spain and South Africa.

Our Middle School, serving students in grades five through eight, has a Project Week that features real-world experiences beyond the classroom. During this week, fifth and seventh graders explore the Chicago area, sixth graders visit the state capital, and eighth graders travel to Washington, D.C.

In addition to Project Week, our middle schoolers enjoy experiential learning opportunities that include:

• A “passport experience” for fifth graders that promotes self-advocacy.

• A sixth-grade visit to the Lincoln Park Zoo for a science unit on animal behavior that tests students’ observation and documentation skills.

• A science and computer science unit where seventh graders work together to build robot hands.

• A computer science-themed Shark Tank experience for eighth graders.

• Community engagement

initiatives where students partner with organizations throughout the city to meet the needs of various people and programs.

In the Lower School, hands-on learning takes various forms. In the Math Lab, students create and construct materials that help them experience and understand complex subjects. Our junior kindergarten classes immerse themselves in an annual JK Art Museum during which students study and replicate artists’ work, and then serve as docents who lead community members through their multimedia installations. Through this project, the students strengthen their academic skills in math, visual literacy, listening, reflection and oral presentation, while also learning about the importance of inclusivity and personal expression. Our fourth graders model teamwork as they navigate the design challenges associated with their yearly oil spill cleanup project. In addition, field trips enrich classroom studies for our elementary students. These trips are selected based on their relevance and alignment with our curriculum and take advantage of the many resources the Chicago area offers.

As with all types of learning, the ability to assess the effectiveness of our experiential learning efforts is vital to their success. With this in mind, we choose experiences based on their learning potential. We also scaffold activities and programs to ensure they provide active, hands-on engagement that supports academic and socialemotional learning and fosters critical skills such as relationshipbuilding, risk-taking, curiosity and responsibility.

At Latin, we believe in the value of a well-rounded education that gives our students the chance to take ownership of their learning and experience the world outside of their classrooms. It’s through these hands-on experiences and opportunities that we help them realize their full potential.

For more information about Latin’s commitment to experiential learning and our success in preparing students for the future, please contact our Enrollment Management office, visit our website, or schedule a campus visit.

Latin fourth graders work together on their science class’s annual oil spill cleanup project.

CHICAGO SCHOOLS

SUBURBAN SCHOOLS

The Avery Coonley School

1400 Maple Ave., Downers Grove • averycoonley.org • 630-969-0800

Mission Statement: The Avery Coonley School elevates high-achieving and gifted learners through immersion in a mutually talented community where intellect, curiosity and creativity are enhanced by optimal challenge.

GRADES SERVED: Preschool-8

TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 337

ANNUAL TUITION:

• Pre-K 3 (Half Day): $11,763

• Pre-K 3 (Full Day): $25,358

• Pre-K 4 (Half Day): $14,573

• Pre-K 4 (Full Day): $28,017

• K-4: $30,501

• 5-8: $31,619

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 16

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1906

TOP SCHOOL LEADERSHIP:

• Dr. Kirsty Montgomery, head of school

• Dr. Gwen Cooper, Middle School head

• Sarah Batzel, Lower School head

• Kristen Teague, director of enrollment and financial aid

• Geraldine White, business manager

TOP BOARD LEADERSHIP:

• Prasad Veluchamy, chair

• Dr. Jennifer Reenan, vice chair

• Gerald Jablonski, treasurer

• Jeffrey Chen, assistant treasurer

• Lisa Vaughan, secretary

• Shilpa Gokhale ’94, assistant secretary

• Brendan Sheehy, past chair

CAMPUS AND FACILITIES: The Avery Coonley School (ACS) sits on 13 beautiful, wooded acres adjacent to a forest preserve. Its facilities include state-of-the-art technology, flexible space for individual and collaborative work, expansive art studio, music room, library, computer lab, and makerspace. The ACS campus features 9,000 square feet of outdoor play areas, including a ropes challenge course, an athletic field, a full gymnasium, an outdoor swimming pool and a rock pond.

ACCREDITATION:

• Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS)

• Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools (LMAIS)

• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS: Competitive sports are offered in volleyball, basketball, soccer, and track and field. Activities and clubs include STEAM, Math, Drama, Art, Chess, Debate, Strategic Gaming, Poetry and Writing, Book Club, Choir, Student Council, Orchestra, Robotics and Yearbook.

UNIQUE STUDY OPTIONS/PROGRAMS:

Students begin to learn French in preschool and typically obtain proficiency by graduation. ACS faculty and students are engaged in a dynamic exchange program with the students and faculty of a school in Toulouse, France. ACS students have the opportunity to visit Toulouse, France each summer with those from the Toulouse school visiting ACS each fall. In eighth grade, students travel to Quebec to fully immerse themselves in a French-speaking environment where they are able to authentically apply their proficiency with the French language.

FACULTY: ACS faculty are experienced at meeting the emotional and educational needs

of gifted learners with expertise in curriculum differentiation. Over 90% of Avery Coonley’s faculty hold advanced degrees, and the average tenure of an ACS teacher is nine years. Math and literacy specialists and social workers in the school’s Student Support Service department provide additional instructional and/or emotional support to students.

ALUMNI: Graduates of The Avery Coonley School are known as resilient and motivated citizens of the world. They are creative, curious and critical thinkers and independent, lifelong learners. They understand their personal strengths and weaknesses—and how to advocate for themselves and others.

Avery Coonley graduates attend some of the top public and private high schools in the Chicago area and beyond. They matriculate to fine universities throughout the country and world, including Ivy League and other highly selective schools.

FINANCIAL AID: Avery Coonley seeks to admit creative, talented, curious and motivated children. They offer a robust financial aid budget for needbased tuition assistance. Awards can be up to 90% of tuition for qualifying families. Assistance is also available for testing fees.

FALL OPEN HOUSE: Group tours are held on Tuesday mornings throughout the fall. ACS will also have an Open House on Feb. 8, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Bennett Day School

955 West Grand Ave., Chicago • bennettday.org • 312-236-6388

Mission Statement: At Bennett Day School, our mission is to provide a collaborative culture that nurtures our innate sense of inquiry and curiosity. We are committed to advancing creativity, innovation and the development of lifelong learners and leaders.

GRADES SERVED: Pre-K-12

TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 360

ANNUAL TUITION: $18,700-$34,400

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 15

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 2014

TOP SCHOOL LEADERSHIP:

• Jackie Miller, head of school

• Meg Fitzgerald, director of Early Childhood

• Lisa Kennedy, director of Lower School

• Dana Vance, director of Middle and Upper School

• Martin Moran, lead designer of Middle and Upper School

TOP BOARD LEADERSHIP:

• Cameron Smith, founder and CEO

• Patrick Branham

• George Fogel

• Bob King Jr.

• J. Michael Locke

• Betsy Morton

• Cyrus Patel

• Gail Ward

CAMPUS AND FACILITIES: Bennett’s campus originally operated as the Chicago Commons, which was established in 1894. It is fitting that our campus—which housed one of the country’s first progressive schools—once again fosters the same approach.

In 2019, Bennett completed a second phase of expansion, adding a modern wing to accommodate its Upper School students. The third phase of expansion was completed in August 2024, doubling the school’s campus to nearly 100,000 square feet with rooftop green spaces, TESLabs (Tinkering and Engineering Sciences), classrooms and 20,000-plus square feet of athletic/assembly facilities.

ACCREDITATION:

• National Independent Private Schools Association

• Cognia

EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS: Bennett offers a variety of after-school programs and clubs for Pre-K-12th grade students, including theater, robotics, book clubs, movie makers, VR creation and design, photography and more. In addition, it provides athletics opportunities like basketball, track and field, volleyball, tennis, martial arts and cross country.

UNIQUE STUDY OPTIONS/PROGRAMS: What makes our Pre-K-12 school different than others? At Bennett, students learn by doing through dynamic, project-based learning (PBL) experiences. Furthermore, our competency-based approach to education and assessment provides each learner with individualized feedback, based on their strengths and areas of feedback.

Our approach to PBL changes in complexity as a student moves through our program. In our Early Childhood classrooms, project work is emergent and balances student interest and careful observation. Meanwhile, in our Middle

and Upper School grades, project work balances competency coverage and student inquiry.

Another unique aspect of our program is that our Upper School students begin each day at 9 a.m. with advisory to support their executive functioning and social-emotional development. We know that later start times can improve students’ attendance, academic performance and well-being. Additionally, all Upper School students participate in an internship, yearly travel and ACT/SAT test prep with Academic Approach.

FACULTY: One of the core tenets of the Reggio Emilia philosophy, which inspires Bennett’s program, is the “Image of the Child,” or the way that adults perceive a child’s motivations, abilities and development. With “Image of the Child” in mind, Bennett faculty members do not see students as empty vessels who are waiting to be filled with knowledge, but as competent, capable individuals that are co-collaborators in their education instead. Our experienced educators are committed to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where children can thrive academically, emotionally and socially.

FINANCIAL AID: Bennett is committed to maintaining a community of diverse students from all backgrounds, regardless of their financial means. Our financial aid awards range from $500 to nearly 85% of tuition expenses, based on a family’s calculated needs and circumstances, along with the financial aid dollars that are available in a given school year.

FALL OPEN HOUSE: Bennett Day School is where joy meets education. Our students love coming to school every day, eager to explore, learn and grow in an inclusive and collaborative environment. Discover a place where your child can thrive at our All-School Open House (Pre-K-12) on Nov. 16. Learn more and register at bennettday.org/visit-us

British International School of Chicago, South Loop

161 West 9th St., Chicago • bischicagosl.org • 773-998-2472

Mission Statement: Our school is dedicated to shaping a generation of successful, creative and resilient global citizens. Our inclusive community and personalized international curriculum combine the best of both worlds, giving our Preschool, Primary School, Middle School and High School students a truly global outlook rooted in Chicago’s rich heritage.

GRADES SERVED: Pre-K-12

TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 715

ANNUAL TUITION: $17,100-$41,950

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 15

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 2001

TOP SCHOOL LEADERSHIP:

• Mike Henderson, executive principal

• Nicola Able, head of Secondary School

• Jo Gardiner, head of Primary School

CAMPUS AND FACILITIES: There’s no end of places to explore in South Loop’s 98,000-square-foot, purpose-built space. In their free time, students can enjoy the beautiful green surroundings, indulge themselves in a book in our two expansive libraries or hang out with friends in our university-style kitchen and cafeteria. We even have a spacious rooftop park with fabulous views over Chicago!

EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS: With a host of exciting collaborations and extracurricular activities, your child can discover their talents, while developing their well-being, resilience and teamwork. With over 30 clubs to choose from, there’s something for everyone at British International School of Chicago, South Loop (BISC-South Loop). Whether you’re a budding artist, a science enthusiast or a sports fanatic, you’ll find a community that shares your interests. Explore your talents, make new friends and create lasting memories.

FACULTY: As a member of Nord Anglia Education, the global family of premium international schools, we attract the world’s most sought-after international educators. It’s one of the many reasons why 95% of parents say their child receives a high-quality education at BISC-South Loop.

UNIQUE STUDY OPTIONS/PROGRAMS: By providing world-class academic excellence and comprehensive pastoral care to every child, BISC-South Loop gives our students the tools they need to thrive and make their mark on the world. For example, our curricula are enhanced through collaborations with the world’s best, including Juilliard, MIT and UNICEF.

In addition, our students regularly engage with Chicago and other parts of the globe. Whether your child goes camping, visits Tanzania to contribute hands-on service or fundraises for

UNICEF to take the lead in upholding the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, these varied experiences—alongside peers—will enhance your child’s international mindset and strengthen their global citizenship.

Furthermore, BISC-South Loop’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme provides students the best possible preparation for college or university, as it opens the door to their top choices and, in turn, successful futures. At the most important stage of their educations, the program is a rewarding chapter for students, aged 16 to 18.

After all, it enables such students to develop in six core subjects and gain vital life skills. While doing so, they’ll work towards earning an internationally-recognized qualification that is respected by the world’s top colleges and universities.

Offering a variety of curriculum choices, the program not only fully prepares students for their future college studies—it also helps them reach their full potentials, prior to entering the workforce.

FINANCIAL AID: At BISC-South Loop, we value socioeconomic diversity. As such, we proudly offer need-based financial aid. Financial aid awards are based solely on financial need without regard to race, religion or ethnic background. As with all independent schools, financial aid funds are limited.

FALL OPEN HOUSE: Attend

BISC-South Loop’s Oct. 26 Open House to see the difference that our premier international school can make for children—from pre-kindergarten through high school. Current BISC-South Loop parents, staff and students will participate in an interactive discussion about their experiences at our South Loop campus.

Chicago City Day School

541 West Hawthorne Place, Chicago • chicagocitydayschool.org • 773-327-0900

Mission Statement: Founded in 1981, the Chicago City Day School is an independent, coeducational, urban elementary school serving children in junior kindergarten through eighth grade. The School sees, as its mission, the preparation of students—intellectually, socially, physically, emotionally and aesthetically—to participate in a changing and increasingly complex society. The School seeks to develop each child’s intellectual abilities in a nurturing environment. To this end, we offer an academically challenging program in a noncompetitive school climate, in which children are encouraged to take risks.

Our purpose is to prepare students to achieve academically at a level which is commensurate with their abilities. Through traditional curriculum, we seek to enable students to be successful in high school and beyond. Through active, positive and mutually respectful interaction among their peers and with their teachers, both in and out of the classroom, our students will be prepared for active, positive participation as members of society.

GRADES SERVED: JK-8

TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 150

ANNUAL TUITION: $32,200 to $35,600

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 15 (with smaller groups for core subjects)

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1981

TOP SCHOOL LEADERSHIP:

• Chris Dow, head of school

CAMPUS AND FACILITIES: The School’s two-acre campus, a true “oasis of learning,” sits on a tree-lined residential street in Chicago’s Lakeview East neighborhood, less than a block from Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan. Its classroom buildings provide 71,000 square feet of imaginative space, which has been specially designed for elementary students.

Offering a variety of indoor facilities, the School has two science laboratories, an expansive library and computer labs. In addition, it has two gymnasiums, an inviting art studio, a stimulating shop/design lab and a professional-grade theater. Meanwhile, its outdoor facilities include an innovative new playground (opened in 2023), art installations, a pollinator garden, a koi pond and an expansive front yard, which has an ice rink during the winter.

ACCREDITATION:

• Independent Schools Association of the Central States

EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS: The Chicago City Day School (City Day) offers three seasons of competitive sports, along with an eclectic array of after-school programs led by teachers.

UNIQUE STUDY OPTIONS/PROGRAMS: Its program’s highlights include an emphasis on public speaking, which builds confidence and critical thinking skills; science and environmental work along the Chicago River; and immersive language trips to France and Spain. Furthermore,

it has a summer research expedition in the Bimini region of the Bahamas, as well as numerous experiential learning trips around Chicago and across the country.

FACULTY: Teachers are an extraordinary group of dedicated professionals, chosen for their professional experience, skill, devotion to children and passion for teaching. The School places the highest premium on the graduate degrees its teachers have earned, along with the wealth of professional experiences they bring.

ALUMNI: At the end of Grade 8, City Day graduates are admitted to independent, parochial, and public day and boarding schools in Chicagoland, as well as throughout the United States. Since 1985, all graduates have enrolled in college.

FINANCIAL AID: Need-based financial aid is available.

FALL OPEN HOUSE: Chicago

City Day School will host an Open House from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 9. Attendees will see the campus, talk to teachers and meet current parents, students and alumni.

City Day also hosts informal Coffee Morning events throughout the fall, providing parents a chance to learn about it in a relaxed, informal setting. Register for all events at chicagocitydayschool.org

Francis W. Parker School

330 West Webster Ave., Chicago • fwparker.org • 773-797-5107

Mission Statement: Francis W. Parker School educates students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.

CAMPUS AND FACILITIES: As Chicago’s only independent school that provides students— across 14 grades—a single building that they share together, Parker’s campus functions as a model home, as it offers collaborative opportunities between grade levels.

Recently, Parker students have immersed themselves in cultural and academic experiences in Belize, China, Cuba, Dubai, Ghana, Mexico and Thailand.

GRADES SERVED: Pre-K-12

TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 900 students, residing in 63 ZIP codes; 46% selfidentify as students of color

ANNUAL TUITION: $42,555

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 19

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1901

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP:

• Daniel B. Frank ’74, Ph.D., principal

• Robert Haugh, CPA, CFO

BOARD LEADERSHIP:

• Jennifer Friedes, co-chair

• Isabel Navarrete Polsky, co-chair

Providing a six-acre campus with a private turf athletic field, the school also has a cutting-edge library, which offers students a vibrant space to learn, collaborate and innovate.

ACCREDITATION:

• National Association of Independent Schools

• Independent Schools Association of the Central States

EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS:

Athletics: Parker students discover and develop skills in a variety of sports, as the school has more than 40 interscholastic teams each year.

Initial offerings begin in 6th Grade and develop to the Varsity level in Upper School. More than 75% of students in Grades 6-12 join at least one athletic team during the academic year.

Clubs and Activities: Our offerings evolve to reflect our student body’s diverse interests, ensuring all learners have something engaging, including math and science Olympiads, robotics teams, activism clubs and Model United Nations.

In addition, students can acquire a range of writing and arts opportunities and participate in affinity groups that are geared towards diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

UNIQUE STUDY PROGRAMS/OPTIONS: Upper School students can work one-on-one with advisors to craft independent study experiences, while Middle and Upper School students have annual opportunities to travel abroad, too.

FACULTY: Nearly 90% of our 122 faculty hold advanced degrees and 35% self-identify as people of color.

ALUMNI: Parker educates students to connect reflection with action, wisdom with innovation, deeds with consequences and character with citizenship. Notable alumni include:

• Jonathan Alter

• Matt Friend

• Lori Greiner

• Ayanna Pressley

FINANCIAL AID: This year our Financial Assistance Program provided over $5.9 million to 20% of our students that demonstrated financial need—with an average award of $33,000. Furthermore, through our Tuition Remission Program, 5% of our students received $1.8 million in tuition assistance.

FALL OPEN HOUSES:

• 10 a.m. Oct. 19, Lower School (Junior Kindergarten-Grade 3)

• 10 a.m. Oct. 26, Middle School (Grades 6-8)

• 10 a.m. Nov. 9, Upper School (Grades 9-12)

For more information, please visit fwparker.org/openhouse.

Apply for the 2025-26 school year starting September 1, 2024. Need-based financial assistance available Junior Kindergarten* through Grade 12 *Child must be four years old by September 1, 2025

Welcome to our Open Houses

Saturday, October 19 | 10 a.m. Lower School (Junior Kindergarten–Grade 3)

Saturday, October 26 | 10 a.m. Middle School (Grades 6–8)

Saturday, November 9 | 10 a.m. Upper School (Grades 9–12)

Hyde Park Day School

6254 South Ellis Ave., Chicago; 1980 Old Willow Road, Northfield; 13860 Main St., Lemont • hydeparkday.org • Chicago: 773-420-2550 • Northfield: 847-446-7025 • Lemont: 630-296-1229

Mission Statement: The mission of Hyde Park Day School is to provide students of average to superior intelligence, who have learning disabilities, an innovative and comprehensive educational model that will help prepare them for a successful transition to public or private schools in their home community.

GRADES SERVED: 1-8

TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 150

ANNUAL TUITION: $54,900

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 10

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 2000

TOP SCHOOL LEADERSHIP:

• Dr. Casey Crnich, executive director

• Sarah Scheurich, principal, Chicago Campus

• Sarah Imboden, principal, Lemont Campus

• John Stieper, principal, Northfield Campus

TOP BOARD LEADERSHIP:

• Janet Hoffman, chair, Leslie Shankman School Corporation (LSSC) Board of Directors

CAMPUS AND FACILITIES: Hyde Park Day School (HPDS) has three campuses.The Hyde Park/Woodlawn Campus is a purpose-built, LEED-certified and state-of-the-art building that’s been designed with bright colors, natural light and green spaces throughout. Meanwhile, the Northfield Campus and Lemont Campus are former Catholic school buildings, which are nestled in leafy suburban areas surrounded by abundant green space.

ACCREDITATION: HPDS is accredited by Cognia (formerly North Central Association) and The Independent School Association of the Central States. It is also an institutional member of the Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools, the International Dyslexia Association and The Association of Learning Disability Schools.

EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS: A rotating menu of after-school options are available each year.

UNIQUE STUDY OPTIONS/PROGRAMS: HPDS seeks to prepare students for a successful transition to mainstream schools through a rigorous, individualized curriculum, which focuses on academic and self-advocacy skills in a collaborative environment.

The school also believes that the complex nature of significant learning disabilities necessitates the delivery of a program that will emphasize fundamental skills’ remediation. A program should also develop strategies that compensate for learning challenges, while using appropriate accommodations, too.

In addition to the in-depth information that’s gathered as part of the admissions process, each HPDS student is given assessments to identify his or her learning strengths and challenges. This information is then used to create an

Individualized Learning Plan, which guides instruction throughout the year.

Furthermore, students work toward developing an accurate awareness and acceptance of individual skills and abilities, learning differences and challenges. At the same time, they learn to capitalize on skills and talents, while also identifying and utilizing strategies and support systems that allow them to compensate for learning challenges. Moreover, they’ll internalize personal qualities, which will help them successfully achieve academic, personal and professional goals.

In doing so, students will transition from HPDS as successful self-advocates who are equipped to reach their maximum potential.

FACULTY: To deliver a highly personalized learning experience, HPDS maintains a 5:1 student-teacher ratio. Its integrated service model allows for push-in and pull-out services from social workers, occupational therapists and speech/language pathologists. Ninety-five percent of its faculty have advanced degrees.

ALUMNI: HPDS’s alumni successfully transition to a wide variety of private, public and parochial schools; the vast majority will attend four-year colleges after high school.

FINANCIAL AID: Need-based financial aid is available.

FALL OPEN HOUSE: Open Houses are held monthly during the school year.

More information can be found at hydeparkday.org/open-houses

Lake Forest Country Day School

45 South Green Bay Road, Lake Forest • lfcds.org • 847-618-6188

Mission Statement: Through inspired teaching and partnership with families, Lake Forest Country Day School nurtures a love of learning and builds a foundation of strong character, preparing students to navigate their path with purpose.

GRADES SERVED: Age 2-Grade 8

TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 410

ANNUAL TUITION: $6,195-$38,710

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 15

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1888

TOP SCHOOL LEADERSHIP:

• John Melton, head of school

• Dick Paulus, associate head of school for finance and operations

• Alex Sheridan, associate head of school for advancement

• Sara Walsh, head of Early Childhood

• Rachel Diaz, head of Lower School

• Steve Robnick, head of Upper School

TOP BOARD LEADERSHIP:

• Gilly Growdon, president

• David Neighbours, vice president

• Chip Grace, treasurer

• Mavi Thakkar, secretary

• Alex Goldfayn, secretary

• Kate Holland, secretary

• Robyn Rosenblatt, secretary

CAMPUS AND FACILITIES: Located on more than 30 acres, Lake Forest Country Day School (LFCDS) delivers a program that requires space. All three divisions share a 150,000-square-foot building that’s been largely renovated over the past 20 years. It includes a new Innovation Lab, a performing arts center, a gymnasium and a greenhouse.

Outside, students have age-/division-specific playgrounds and outdoor classrooms. In addition, an outdoor lab, used by students of all ages, comprises the campus’s southeastern section and features a pond with an observation deck, an amphitheater and a cross-country track.

ACCREDITATION: LFCDS is accredited by the Independent School Association of the Central States, a regional body of National Association of Independent Schools. Furthermore, it’s a member of the Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools, a 40-school consortium across Chicagoland and Indiana.

EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS: LFCDS

builds what many schools would consider to be extracurricular programs directly into its schoolday learning. In the Upper School, students’ music class is band; students can enroll in fine arts and drama classes, too. Additionally, everyone participates in an athletics program, rather than a traditional PE curriculum. By including these elements in its regular schedule, LFCDS provides a diverse breadth of learning and growth opportunities.

UNIQUE STUDY OPTIONS/PROGRAMS: With an average class size of 15 students and a 7:1 student-teacher ratio, LFCDS seeks to meet each student at their own level of learning. Moreover, LFCDS has a student support team that’s comprised of learning specialists and school counselors who are dedicated to supporting every child’s academic and social growth.

Learning Hub. For each of the past two years, LFCDS has invited Chicagoland educators to

participate in peer-led conferences on topics that are relevant to teaching and learning. The inaugural event focused on the impact of A.I. on schools, while the 2024 gathering covered neurodiversity and instructional design. Each of these events provided opportunities for LFCDS to share and facilitate conversation around best practices and emerging approaches, leaving an impact that extends beyond its campus.

Responsible Citizenship. LFCDS students learn the value of becoming active, responsible leaders in their community. Various service projects nourish empathy, explore new perspectives, and promote kindness and compassion. All students are encouraged to participate in service projects during their time at LFCDS. Participation is required for students in Grades 7 and 8.

Social-emotional Learning. LFCDS’s socialemotional learning curriculum is designed to enable and foster core skills. Various delivery systems offer opportunities for students to develop a sense of self-awareness, while taking charge of themselves and their learning. The school also uses a shared framework around social and emotional competencies, allowing faculty and students to develop a clear sense of purpose and understanding.

FACULTY: LFCDS has more than 100 faculty and staff members who have an average tenure of 18 years. It has retained 95% of its employees over the last two years.

FINANCIAL AID: LFCDS allocates $2 million in tuition assistance resources to applicants who have varying levels of qualified and articulated needs. Families with questions about affordability should contact Lisa Horstmann, director of financial aid and associate director of enrollment, at 847-615-6188 or lisa.horstmann@lfcds.org

FALL OPEN HOUSES: • Oct. 23 • Nov. 20 • Jan. 15, 2025 • March 4, 2025

Latin School of Chicago

59 West North Blvd., Chicago • latinschool.org • 312-582-6000

Mission Statement: Latin School of Chicago provides its students with a rigorous and innovative educational program in a community that embraces diversity of people, cultures and ideas. Latin inspires its students to pursue their passions and lead lives of purpose and excellence.

GRADES SERVED: JK-12

TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 1,190

ANNUAL TUITION: $40,590-$46,395

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1888

TOP SCHOOL LEADERSHIP:

• Thomas Hagerman, head of school

• Ryan Allen ’95, assistant head of school

• Michael Szczepanek, CFO

• Dottie B.B. Gordon, chief development officer

CAMPUS AND FACILITIES: Latin’s urban campus is located in Chicago’s vibrant Gold Coast neighborhood. Each of our divisions has onsite resources, such as a makerspace, a Math Lab and a library that support our students’ learning needs. We are located near cultural institutions and iconic landmarks (like Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago History Museum and Lake Michigan) that we use on a regular basis to enrich the lessons that are being taught in our classrooms. We also have access to nearby green spaces that we utilize for a variety of academic, athletic and recreational events and activities year-round.

ACCREDITATION: Latin is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS).

EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS: Latin offers a myriad of opportunities—both within and outside of the classroom—that enable our students to discover their interests. We have athletics programming in all three of our divisions that helps us develop confident, enthusiastic and disciplined student-athletes who value teamwork, exemplify sportsmanship and enjoy a lifelong love of sports and fitness.

At the same time, we also have clubs that bring students with common passions or interests together. Moreover, we have affinity groups that give students, who have similar backgrounds and identities, the chance to explore and discuss their shared experiences.

In addition, we have arts programming that promotes our students’ talents and nurtures their creativity through various activities, opportunities and resources. For instance, we have annual performing arts productions, art studios in each division, art galleries, and a photography and multimedia production lab.

UNIQUE STUDY OPTIONS/PROGRAMS: One of the hallmarks of Latin’s proud tradition of academic excellence is our strong commitment to providing all of our students with access to valuable, experiential learning opportunities. The most well known of these opportunities is our Upper School Project Week, which gives our students, faculty and staff the chance to engage in life-changing experiences.

As an example of their recent experiences, they have performed in a band and chorus concert in Austria and Germany, explored the Civil Rights Trail and immersed in the history, art and culture of Mexico City. Furthermore, they have sought solutions for ending gun violence in Chicago, studied the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and learned how to dogsled in Northern Minnesota.

ALUMNI: We are fortunate to have a diverse community of independent thinkers as our alumni. They leave Latin with a lifelong love of learning, along with a passion to make their mark on the world. Please visit latinschool.org/alumni for more information.

FINANCIAL AID: We will be awarding more than $5.2 million in need-based aid during the 2024-25 school year, which will enable families from socioeconomically diverse backgrounds to benefit from a Latin education.

VALUE PROPOSITION: Latin School of Chicago has been preparing students for success for more than 135 years. Our efforts are grounded in a strong liberal arts education that emphasizes rigor and makes learning inquiry-based, personal and inclusive. It is also guided by our fervent belief in putting our students at the heart of everything we do, as well as our unwavering commitment to helping them realize their full potential.

IT’S THE LOOK IN THEIR EYES WHEN THEY GET READY IN THE MORNING.

IT’S THE SOUND OF THEIR VOICE WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT THEIR DAY.

IT’S THE FEELING YOU GET WHEN THEY DISCOVER THEIR PASSIONS AND THEMSELVES.

THERE ISN’T ONE THING THAT IDENTIFIES THEM AS A LATIN LEARNER.

IT’S EVERYTHING.

At Latin School of Chicago, we are committed to helping our students in every aspect of learning, from critical thinking to creative communications, from curious exploration to inclusive collaboration. We embrace passions, forge successes, and help students discover themselves.

DISCOVER HOW WE CREATE LATIN LEARNERS

Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School

6245 South Ingleside Ave., Chicago • oschool.org • 773-420-2900

Mission Statement: Providing a safe haven and path to hope. Continuing a century of tradition, the Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School (O-School) remains committed to providing the best quality intensive therapeutic milieu treatment and education for children, adolescents and young adults navigating complex emotional challenges—and those on the autism spectrum.

CAMPUS AND FACILITIES: Located adjacent to the University of Chicago and blocks from the site of the new Obama Library, the O-School’s LEED-certified, state-of-the-art building was meticulously designed to support its therapeutic milieu with bright colors, natural light and green spaces throughout.

GRADES SERVED: K-12

TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 115

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 10

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1915

TOP SCHOOL LEADERSHIP:

• Dr. Diana Kon, executive director

• Dr. Karen Fried, clinical director

• Michelle Zarrilli, M.Ed., principal

• Dr. Carmen Roberts, director of transitional services and programs

TOP BOARD LEADERSHIP:

• Janet Goelz Hoffman

• Scott McDonald

• Sonya Malunda

• Adam Steinback

• Lenny Asaro

Its features include a full gymnasium, a performance area, a science lab and a music room. Addtionally, it has an art studio, a large courtyard, an exercise and training room, and student and family therapy rooms.

ACCREDITATION:

• Cognia

• Illinois State Board of Education

CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS: The O-School’s co-curricular opportunities include a Student Work Program, Job Readiness Training, College Readiness Training and Shakespeare Slam. Moreover, it has After-School Programs (such as Running Club, Anime Club and Chess Club), Student Council, Food Council, Gender and Sexuality Alliance, and MultiCultural Student Union.

UNIQUE STUDY OPTIONS/PROGRAMS:

Offering a variety of programs—including fine arts, music, a foreign language, school dances and a rich array of student leadership and cocurricular opportunities—the O-School provides an exceptional school experience within a therapeutic setting.

FACULTY: Under an experienced leadership team, the O-School blends key aspects of therapy and education into a seamless milieu rooted in learning, relationships and safety. In addition, a host of credentialed professionals support the students, including experts in Psychiatry, Social Work, Special Education, Art Education, Occupational Therapy, and Wellness and Nutrition. Furthermore, the school has experts in Psychology, Education, Physical Education, Nursing and Pediatrics, Family Support, and

Speech and Language Therapy.

VALUE PROPOSITION: For vulnerable students who have struggled in a traditional setting, the O-School expertly balances complex clinical care with an ambitious curriculum and robust co-curricular and leadership opportunities—all in an inclusive and accepting therapeutic milieu.

The O-School is also committed to providing comprehensive support through a robust continuum of care. Tailored to meet the diverse needs of children and adolescents who are facing mental health challenges, the suite of programs includes:

Therapeutic Day School: A dynamic educational experience within a therapeutic milieu, designed for bright and creative students with significant social-emotional needs.

Transition Learning Center: A supportive space for super seniors who require additional time and skill development in order to successfully transition into adulthood.

Camp O: A summer camp for children, aged 6 to 15, offering a joyful and supportive setting for those who need extra assistance to fully enjoy the camp experience.

Diagnostic and Evaluation Center: Offering neuropsychological and psychoeducational evaluations, the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center makes the O-School’s unique clinical and educational lens available to any family in need— while also answering key questions and providing a clear roadmap for services and treatment.

This continuum of care reflects the O-School’s commitment to supporting every child’s growth, learning and well-being.

FALL OPEN HOUSE: • Oct. 7

Providing a path to hope for students facing a mental health challenge and/or those with ASD. Offering a therapeutic day program characterized by:

• A diverse and affirming community

• A highly-skilled team of clinicians and instructors

• An ambitious curriculum paired with proper supports

• A rich array of fine arts, co-curricular and leadership opportunities

O-SCHOOL SERVICES ALSO INCLUDE:

– TRANSITION LEARNING CENTER

– CAMP O SUMMER DAY PROGRAM

– DIAGNOSTIC + EVALUATION CENTER

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart

760 East Westleigh Road, Lake Forest • woodlandsacademy.org • 847-234-4300

Mission Statement: As a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the United States, Woodlands Academy commits itself to educate to our five goals: a personal and active faith in God, a deep respect for intellectual values, a social awareness which impels to action, the building of community as a Christian value and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.

FINANCIAL AID: Woodlands Academy offers an indexed tuition model in support of its commitment to socioeconomic diversity, which enhances academic performance, promotes social awareness and sustains a healthy school culture.

EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS: Opportunities include a wide range of sports, two dozen student-run clubs—including competitive engineering and math clubs—multiple choirs, a theater program and a full orchestra.

GRADES SERVED: 9-12

TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 115

STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIO: 7:1

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE: 16

ANNUAL TUITION: $32,985

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1858

TOP SCHOOL LEADERSHIP:

• Susan Tyree Dempf, Ph.D., head of school

TOP BOARD LEADERSHIP:

• Kathryn Talty, P’24, chair

CAMPUS AND FACILITIES: Woodlands’ stately, 41-acre Lake Forest campus is dotted with trees and green spaces, along with five newly constructed tennis courts and an enhanced athletic field. It is a place where young women can find a learning environment that is demanding, welcoming, joy-filled and inspiring, allowing them to thrive throughout their high school years and beyond.

This environment extends beyond the classroom. The Woodlands Residence Life Program offers students a home away from home, with students from around Chicagoland, the country and the world. Our picturesque campus provides a safe, secure and idyllic place to live and learn.

In addition to being consistently ranked as the #1 Catholic high school and the #1 all-girls high school in Illinois, we are also named one of the best boarding schools in the state—and among the top 10 all-girls boarding schools in the entire country. Five-day and seven-day boarding options are available.

ACCREDITATION:

• Independent Schools Association of the Central States

• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

FACULTY: Ninety percent of Woodlands’ faculty members hold a master’s degree or higher. They also have 18 years of teaching experience, on average.

UNIQUE STUDY OPTIONS/PROGRAMS: The Woodlands Academy Center for Global Studies is a comprehensive academic and experiential program that provides every student a global education during their time at Woodlands. Students will have multiple opportunities to become culturally competent, globally minded citizens by exploring their world through group and individual exchange programs, group trips and a locally based, global-focused curriculum.

VALUE PROPOSITION: Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic, independent, college-preparatory, day and boarding high school designed to cultivate each student’s gifts and allow intelligent, interested and energetic young women to thrive. Our core promises include:

• An outstanding academic environment and curriculum, leading to acceptance and enrollment at top colleges and universities

• Small class sizes focused exclusively on engaging and inspiring high school girls

• Opportunities to participate and grow as a leader inside and outside of class

• A multifaceted student experience with the strongest, most immersive global offering of any school in the Chicago area

• An excellent education grounded in Woodlands Academy’s commitment to Sacred Heart values and beliefs

Strong lifetime values inform everything that we do at Woodlands Academy. Woodlands graduates young women with intelligent minds and intelligent hearts.

The Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools (LMAIS) is a consortium of forty independent schools, accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), fostering excellence in education, promoting intellectual curiosity, personal, social and emotional growth, and civic responsibility. LMAIS Schools are individually unique in their mission and philosophy, student body, and curriculum.

>We invite you to attend a fall independent school webinar featuring renowned School Psychologist, Dr. Ashley Ehrhardt, where you will:

•Discover the value of an independent school education.

•Explore which students thrive best in a public or independent school setting.

•Hear the experiences of independent school graduates and how this education has impacted their lives.

LMAIS SCHOOLS IN CHICAGO:

ANCONA SCHOOL

3 Yr–Gr 8 | Hyde Park | anconaschool.org

BERNARD ZELL ANSHE EMET DAY SCHOOL

3 Yr–Gr 8 | Lake View | bernardzell.org

BRICKTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL

3 Mo–Gr 8 | O’Hare | brickton.org

CATHERINE COOK SCHOOL

3 Yr–Gr 8 | Old Town | catherinecookschool.org

CHICAGO ACADEMY FOR THE ARTS

Gr 9–Gr 12 | River West | chicagoacademyforthearts.org

CHICAGO CITY DAY SCHOOL

4 Yr–Gr 8 | Lake View East | chicagocitydayschool.org

CHICAGO FRIENDS SCHOOL

5 Yr–Gr 8 | Edgewater | chicagofriendsschool.org

CHICAGO JEWISH DAY SCHOOL

4 Yr–Gr 8 | Irving Park | chicagojewishdayschool.org

CHICAGO WALDORF SCHOOL

36 Mo–Gr 12 | Andersonville | chicagowaldorf.org

THE FRANCES XAVIER WARDE SCHOOL

3 Yr–Gr 8 | Chicago Loop | fxw.org

FRANCIS W. PARKER SCHOOL

4 Yr–Gr 12 | Lincoln Park | fwparker.org

GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL CHICAGO

3 Yr–Gr 8 | Ravenswood | germanschoolchicago.com

HYDE PARK DAY SCHOOL CHICAGO

Ages 6–15 | Hyde Park | hydeparkday.org

LATIN SCHOOL OF CHICAGO

4 Yr–Gr 12 | Gold Coast | latinschool.org

LYCÉE FRANÇAIS DE CHICAGO

32 Mo–Gr 12 | Ravenswood | lyceechicago.org

MORGAN PARK ACADEMY

3 Yr–Gr 12 | Beverly | morganparkacademy.org

NEAR NORTH MONTESSORI SCHOOL

6 Mo–Gr 8 | Bucktown / Wicker Park | nnms.org

NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

3 Yr–Gr 8 | Lincoln Square | npeschool.org

ROGERS PARK MONTESSORI SCHOOL

2 Yr–Gr 8 | Andersonville | rpms.org

SACRED HEART SCHOOLS

3 Yr–Gr 8 | Edgewater Beach | shschicago.org

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LABORATORY SCHOOLS

3 Yr–Gr 12 | Hyde Park | ucls.uchicago.edu

WOLCOTT COLLEGE PREP

Gr 9–Gr 12 | West Town | wolcottcollegeprep.org

LMAIS SCHOOLS IN SUBURBS AND NW INDIANA:

ALCUIN MONTESSORI

6 Wks–Gr 8 | Oak Park | alcuin.org

AVERY COONLEY SCHOOL

3 Yr–Gr 8 | Downers Grove | averycoonley.org

BAKER DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL

3 Yr–Gr 8 | Wilmette | bakerdemschool.org

BEACON ACADEMY

Gr 9–Gr 12 | Evanston | beaconacademyil.org

CHIARAVALLE MONTESSORI

16 Mo–Gr 8 | Evanston | chiaravalle.org

Thursday, October 10 8:00pm (CT)

Link to register: https://lmais.org/admissions-events/

COUNTRYSIDE DAY SCHOOL

16 Mo–Gr 6 | Northbrook | countrysideday.org

FOREST RIDGE ACADEMY

3 Yr–Gr 8 | Schererville, IN | fra.edu

HYDE PARK DAY SCHOOL LEMONT

Ages 6–15 | Lemont | hydeparkday.org

HYDE PARK DAY SCHOOL NORTHFIELD Ages 6–15 | Northfield | hydeparkday.org

LA LUMIERE SCHOOL

Gr 9–Gr 12 | La Porte, IN | lalumiere.org

LAKE FOREST ACADEMY

Gr 9–Gr 12 | Lake Forest | lfanet.org

LAKE FOREST COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL 2 Yr–Gr 8 | Lake Forest | lfcds.org

NORTH SHORE COUNTRY DAY

4 Yr–Gr 12 | Winnetka | nscds.org

QUEST ACADEMY

3 Yr–Gr 8 | Palatine | questacademy.org

ROCHELLE ZELL JEWISH HIGH SCHOOL

Gr 9-Gr12 | Deerfield | www.rzjhs.org

ROYCEMORE SCHOOL

3 Yr–Gr 12 | Evanston | roycemoreschool.org

SCIENCE & ARTS ACADEMY

4 Yr–Gr 8 | Des Plaines | scienceandartsacademy.org

SOLOMON SCHECHTER DAY SCHOOL

2 Yr–Gr 8 | Northbrook | schechter.org

THE STANLEY CLARK SCHOOL

3 Yr–Gr 8 | South Bend, IN | stanleyclark.org

WOODLANDS ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART

Gr 9–Gr 12 | Lake Forest | woodlandsacademy.org