Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)
Service Information
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle formed the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA), a group of more than 20 business and civic leaders, to help shape the County’s and region’s economic growth agenda.
The CEA has three essential roles:
- Advise the President on effective strategies for Cook County to strengthen the region’s economy
- Assist the County in implementing economic growth strategies to advance inclusive growth and racial equity
- Assist the President in fostering regional collaboration among the seven counties of northeastern Illinois and the City of Chicago.
2025 membership
- Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President
- John Rogers, Chairman, CEO and Chief Investment Officer, Ariel Investments, LLC (CEA Chair)
- James Alexander, Trustee, Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust
- Paula Allen-Meares, Chancellor Emerita, University of Illinois-Chicago
- Frank Beal, Senior Advisor, Civic Consulting Alliance
- Adela Cepeda, Chair, Angels Investors
- Philip Clement, President and CEO, World Business Chicago
- Thomas Coleman, Lecturer and Executive Director of the Center for Economic Policy Research, Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago
- Wendall Dallas, President and CEO, Nicor Gas
- Derek Douglas, President, Civic Committee and the Commercial Club of Chicago
- Joseph Flanagan, Chairman and CEO, Acquirent
- Graham C. Grady, Partner, Taft
- Terry Howerton, President, Tech Nexus
- Bo Kemp, CEO, Southland Development Authority
- Howard E. Males, President, Research Pros
- Michael Moskow, Vice Chairman and Distinguished Fellow on the Global Economy, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
- Juan Ochoa, President and CEO, Miramar Group
- Alberto Paracchini, President and CEO, Byline Bank
- Robert Reiter, President, Chicago Federation of Labor
- Michael Sacks, Chairman and CEO, Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P.
- Andrea Sáenz, President and CEO, The Chicago Community Trust
- Samuel Wm. Sax, Chairman, Financial Relations, Inc.
- Ketan Shah, Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel, Mesirow
- Charles Smith, CEO, CS Insurance
- Scott Swanson, President, PNC Bank
- Bob Weissbourd, President, RW Ventures
- Kevin Willer, Partner, Chicago Ventures
- Bob Wislow, Chairman, Parkside Realty