CCAC eNews
September 2021
A Message from CCAC Executive Director Mark Hopkins  
Dear Members and Friends,
Although August is usually a slower month, this August was a bit of a whirlwind for Chicago Central Area Committee and me.  Since joining the organization in mid-July I’ve been fortunate to meet with dozens of CCAC members both in person and online.  Our August special edition Membership Meeting was very well attended and we had an interesting and valuable conversation about the future of CCAC and the upcoming strategic planning process.  Thanks to each member who participated.
Please mark your calendar for September 14th from noon to 1:00 p.m. for the next CCAC Membership Meeting where we’ll hear from Commissioner Mark Kelly of the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.  Commissioner Kelly will be retiring soon and this will be a good chance to hear his perspective on the city and its potential for the future.
The organization is also working closely with the Department of Planning and Development as it continues to implement the Mayor’s Invest South/West initiative.  Commissioner Cox has recruited Perkins & Will to help develop a two-year “report card” on the progress of the program.  We’re working closely with the Perkins & Will and City teams and the process to develop the report is already underway.  Overall, Invest South/West is moving ahead well – and quickly.  The planning work in many of the target corridors is moving swiftly and we all look forward to seeing scaffolds, bulldozers and cranes at the sites.
As I mentioned, we’re about to begin a strategic planning process to develop the big, long-term goals of the organization and the program of work to achieve them.  The overarching aim of the process is to increase the impact of the organization.  If you’re interested in providing input and guidance in this process, please get in touch with me.  I would appreciate your perspective and insight.
Thank you for your membership and your commitment to our organization.  Together we can accomplish great things for Chicago and Chicagoans.
Enjoy the remaining weeks of Summer and I look forward to seeing and speaking with you in the near future.
All the best,
Mark Hopkins
Executive Director
mhopkins@ccac.org  
Next CCAC Member Meeting:  Tuesday, September 14, 2021 
FEATURED SPEAKER
Commissioner Mark Kelly
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

A chief recommendation of the Chicago Recovery Roadmap is the use of cultural opportunities to reinvigorate the Central City, which will be led by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.  At the September meeting Commissioner Kelly will discuss the department's plans.  The Commissioner will also perhaps reflect on his distinguished career with the City of Chicago as he prepares for his retirement this fall. 
Commissioner Mark Kelly
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)

WHAT:
CCAC September Membership Meeting
GUEST SPEAKER:
Mark Kelly, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
DATE:
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
TIME:
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. 
LOCATION:
Webinar via Zoom
RSVP TO:
CCAC is continuing its tradition of Monthly Membership Meetings held on the second Tuesday of each month.  During the pandemic, in-person lunches have been replaced with virtual gatherings on Zoom.  We’re hoping to resume in-person meetings soon and will let you know as soon as that’s possible.  
Please note: Monthly presentations are for MEMBERS ONLY and a registration link will be sent directly to current members.
CCAC Member Leads on ESG Reporting
As CCAC members learned at the July 2019 membership meeting, the importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies are becoming more important for investors, potential employees, and customers to know about the companies they are associated with.  It in that spirit CCAC member HOK is pleased to release its most recent ESG report.  This report, which includes significant contributions by CCAC Board Member Kimberly Dowdell, is a model other firms can use for their own reports.  Please view HOK's report here.    
The 8th Annual Summit on Regional Competitiveness will be held Monday, October 18, 2021 to Friday, October 22, 2021.  This year’s theme will be Regional Development Opportunities Following a Global Pandemic.  More information will be released via e-mail in the coming weeks. 
Change to CCAC Newsletter 
Starting with this issue, the monthly newsletter will be sent at the beginning of each month and there will be no August 2021 issue.  CCAC members who have news they would like to share with the CCAC community please e-mail us at newsletter@ccac.org
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