Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle formed the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA), a group of more than 20 distinguished business and civic leaders, to help shape the County’s and region’s economic growth agenda.

2024 membership

• 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
• 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
• Joseph Flanagan, Chairman and CEO, Acquirent
• 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
• Richard Price, Chairman and CEO, Mesirow Financial
• Robert Reiter, President, Chicago Federation of Labor
• Michael Sacks, Chairman and CEO, Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P.
• Samuel Wm. Sax, Chairman, Financial Relations, Inc.
• Sam Scott, Retired Chairman, President and CEO, Corn Products International
• Alejandro Silva, Retired Chairman and CEO, Evans Food Products
• 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