New appointees to help progress economic development efforts throughout the state
CHICAGO, IL – Intersect Illinois today announced that Mesirow Executive Chairman Richard Price and Locke Lord LLP Partner/Chicago Skyway Toll Bridge Chairman Kirk Dillard have joined its board of directors. These new appointees will help advance the organization’s mission to bring economic growth and jobs to Illinois.
“Illinois’ business and civic leaders want to be involved in creating the best environment for growth and joining Intersect Illinois’ board provides them with the opportunity to impact the state’s economic development trajectory,” said Intersect Illinois Chairman John Atkinson. “I’m thrilled to welcome Richard and Kirk as they are both trailblazers in their respective industries and will add tremendous insight into our business attraction efforts.”
Richard S. Price serves as Executive Chairman of Mesirow, an independent, employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937. In this role, Price is actively involved in organizational strategy, civic and community engagement, and the firm’s focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. Over the course of 50 years with Mesirow, Price has been a key driver of the firm’s vision and success, serving in prior years as Chairman and CEO, President and Chief Operating Officer, and President of Insurance Services. He has been a member of the Mesirow board of directors since its inception in 1987. Price joined the organization in 1972 to establish the firm’s insurance services business, which was sold to Alliant Insurance Services in July 2016. Price is a member of the Executives’ Club of Chicago, The Economic Club of Chicago and the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago. He also serves on the board of directors of Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Navy Pier, Metropolitan Family Services, the Big Shoulders Fund, the Civic Consulting Alliance and the Ravinia Festival, as well as the board of regents for Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.
“I am honored to join the board of Intersect Illinois,” said Price. “As a leader in the region’s financial services sector, Mesirow has long recognized the immense potential of our state’s diverse economy. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow board members to foster innovation and drive sustainable growth across Illinois, ensuring that our communities thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.”
Kirk Dillard is a partner at Locke Lord LLP, concentrating his practice in the representation of manufacturers in product liability and Chairman of the iconic Chicago Skyway Toll Bridge (aka the “Skyway”). He is also the Chairman of the Northeastern Illinois Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) — the nation’s second-largest mass transit system with assets of nearly $200 billion and over one million weekday riders. Dillard served with distinction as former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar’s Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for the late Governor James Thompson. He also served the western suburbs of Chicago in the Illinois Senate for nearly 20 years and was a Judge on the Illinois Court of Claims. Senator Dillard served as a member of Governor Pritzker’s Restoring Illinois Infrastructure Transition Committee. Recently, Governor Pritzker appointed Dillard to his alma mater, Western Illinois University, Board of Trustees and he serves as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Committee at DePaul University’s College of Law.
“I am honored and excited to join Intersect Illinois in driving innovative inclusive economic growth in my lifelong home Illinois,” said Dillard. “The Land of Lincoln is the transportation leader in America… I see it every day in my current leadership roles in our world class distribution and transportation sectors. Where transportation infrastructure goes the economy grows! My professional life has centered around education, science, engineering and technology. Intersect Illinois is the finest group ever assembled to lead the Governor and State efforts to make Illinois an even better place to do business, reside, work or raise a family.”
Intersect Illinois has added more than 30 members to its board of directors since the end of last year. The non-partisan group of academic, civic, and private-sector leaders advises the organization on ways to position Illinois for business attraction, leverages its collective expertise to make the case for the state, and ultimately helps generate economic growth and jobs. Board members represent a diversity of regions, industries, and backgrounds and are approved by a board vote.
Board and Executive Advisory Council members have the unique opportunity to join in business attraction efforts, such as the recent Illinois trade mission to Japan. The delegation that traveled to Japan included members and representatives from 16 Intersect board companies, a prime example of how the organization is increasing board engagement to foster economic growth. Delegates in attendance were able to network with business and government leaders from Japan and Illinois while advocating for the state as a premier destination for U.S. expansion.
As the state’s business attraction organization, Intersect Illinois collaborates with partners in the public and private sectors to attract new jobs and investment. The organization showcases the state’s advantages including its central location with access to the country and world, its unmatched infrastructure, and its robust workforce fueled by its dynamic higher education system. Intersect Illinois makes it easier for companies to expand in Illinois by providing a range of services to help navigate the site selection process.
Intersect Illinois board companies include: Ameren Illinois, ADM, AT&T, Busey Bank, Cabrera Capital, Carle Health, the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Bulls, Chicago State University, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Comcast, ComEd, Constellation, Clayco, DLA Piper, 8 Hospitality Group, Evergreen Climate Innovations, GCM Grosvenor, Illinois American Water, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, Illinois REALTORS, Kirkland & Ellis, Loop Capital, Marsh Chicago, Nicor Gas, NielsenIQ, OSF Healthcare, P33, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, PsiQuantum, Related Midwest, Skyway Concession Company, Southern Illinois University System, SPAAN Tech, Inc., TCCI Manufacturing, United Airlines, University of Chicago, the University of Illinois System, Wanxiang America Corporation, and Zurich North America.
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INTERSECT ILLINOIS is the statewide economic development organization focused on bringing new jobs and investment to the state. Intersect Illinois collaborates with industry, academic, and government partners throughout the state.
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