MBIRE 21st Annual Gala to feature the 2022 Industry Leader Honoree, Lori Healy
Lori Healey is leading work to build and operate the OPC – a 19.3-acre campus within Jackson Park – that includes a presidential museum, auditorium, restaurant, retail store, fruit and vegetable garden, playground, lush parkland and greenspace, and a new branch of the Chicago Public Library.
Lori Healey Biography
In December 2020, Lori Healey joined the Obama Foundation as Senior Vice President and Operations and Implementation Lead for the Obama Presidential Center (OPC). She is leading work to build and operate the OPC, a 19.3-acre campus within Jackson Park, that includes a Presidential Museum, Auditorium, Restaurant, retail store, Fruit & Vegetable Garden, playground, lush parkland and greenspace, and a new branch of the Chicago Public Library.
She previously served as President of Clayco’s Chicago Business Unit. In that role, she led enterprise activity for development, design, and construction related activities in the greater Chicago area and surrounding region. Prior to joining Clayco, she was the Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), owner of McCormick Place and the 1,258 room Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. During her tenure, Ms. Healey oversaw the development of the 10,000-seat Wintrust Arena and the 1,205-room Marriott Marquis Chicago.
Ms. Healey served as the Chief Executive Officer of Tur Partners LLC (“Tur”), a firm founded by Chicago’s former Mayor Richard M. Daley, which partnered with leaders and innovators to drive growth within global urban markets. She also served as Principal in the Development Group for the John Buck Company, focused on growing the firm’s private real estate and infrastructure-related transactions.
Ms. Healey coordinated the organizational and planning activities for the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago, acting as Director of the NATO Host Committee. Additionally, in 2009, Ms. Healey was appointed as President of Chicago 2016, where she was responsible for co-leading Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics Games.
Ms. Healey held several senior leadership positions for the City of Chicago under the administration of Mayor Richard M. Daley, most recently acting as Mayor Daley’s Chief of Staff. She earlier served as Commissioner of the City’s Department of Planning and Development. Her previous experiences also included time as a principal at Perkins + Will, and as Deputy Director for Business Development of the (then) Illinois Department of Commerce & Community Affairs. She began her career as a policy aide to former Governor John Carlin of Kansas in 1983.
Ms. Healey holds a B.A. in Economics and M.S. in Public Administration from Kansas State University. She serves on the Boards of Civic Consulting Alliance, Local Initiatives Support Chicago (LISC), Chicago Sports Commission, the Chicago Fire Department Foundation and the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. She is also an advisory board member of the Loyola University Health System and on the Corporate Advisory Council for Cradles to Crayons. Ms. Healey is also a member of the Economics Club of Chicago and the Commercial Club of Chicago.