Governor Quinn Makes Appointments to Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Board

CHICAGO – March 19, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today announced three interim appointments to the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), which owns and operates McCormick Place and Navy Pier in Chicago.

Those MPEA board members are:

Devon Bruce, Member – Bruce is an attorney at Power, Rogers and Smith P.C. Bruce received his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Illinois and is an adjunct professor of law at the University. After graduating from law school, Bruce clerked for the Illinois Supreme Court. He is a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the Illinois State Bar Association and the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice.

Anita Cummings, Member – Cummings is the founder of independent consulting firm, A.M. Consulting, specializing in professional management assistance. Cummings is the executive director of the United Business Association of Midway. She was previously a Chicago Public School teacher, Commissioner of the Chicago Park District and member of the board of directors of Neighborspace – a not-for-profit dedicated to acquiring and beautifying community parks.

Peter O’Brien, Member – O’Brien is the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of MADO Management, LP. O’Brien has served as a member of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority board since 2003. He has also served on the boards of the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association, Jesse White Tumbling Team Scholars, Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau and is a member of the Illinois Restaurant Association and Union League Club of Chicago.

After two major trade shows recently announced plans to move their conventions out of Chicago, Governor Quinn and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley called for legislation aimed at restructuring and improving the MPEA board.

Governor Quinn signed Senate Bill 1868 (Public Act 096-0882), which ended current board members’ terms of office 30 days after the bill was signed into law. An interim seven-member board will be named until the Illinois General Assembly establishes a new permanent board.

Under the new law, Governor Quinn and Mayor Daley each appoint three interim board members. The mayor will appoint a chairperson of the board, who will serve until a permanent board is named. The positions are unpaid.

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority is a municipal corporation created by the Illinois General Assembly. For more information on Illinois Boards and Commissions, please visit Appointments.Illinois.gov.