JOHN A. ROBERSON
CHICAGO, IL 60643
312-***-****(cell) Email:**************@*****.***
Senior executive with over 14 years of public and private sector management
experience. Extensive experience in leading large, complex, multi-faceted
organizations as well as small, flexible and innovative entrepreneurial
enterprises. Skilled at building and leading collaborative teams of
varying skill levels and personnel dynamics. Skilled at developing and
managing organizational culture that results in a cohesive teams that are
results oriented. Extensive public policy and public affairs experience.
Strong communications skills. Able to exeucute and manage multiple
strategies and operations that meet critically urgent timelines. Strong
relationships amongst elected and government officials as well as key
corporate and entrepreneurial business leaders.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Strategic Planning Public/Private Partnerships Public/Private
Financing
Cost Containment and Profit Maximization Turnaround Management
Government Relations
Contract Negotiations and Procurement Public Affairs and Relations
Government Privatization
Real Estate Development Construction Program Management Marketing
Labor Relations and Negotiations Public Speaking and Presentations
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Alexi Giannoulias for Illinois October 2009-
February 2010
Political/Field Director
Responsible for managing all political, field and Get Out The Vote(GOTV)
activities for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias.
Activities include relationship management for over 100 elected official s
across the state of Illinois, securing support and endorsements from
elected officials, coordinating outreach to religious and ethnic community
leaders and their constituencies. Coordinated campaign visibility and
election day GOTV including coordinating candidate visits to various
polling places throughout the city of Chicago and public rallies.
L3 Development, LLC-Chicago, IL September 2007-
Present
Executive Vice President, Corporate Development
Responsible for coordinating company's government affairs strategies for
over $200 million in development related projects in Chicago and Reno,
Nevada. Serve as company liaison to government agencies to coordinate all
regulatory reviews and public financing initiatives. Develop new revenue
generating and revenue enhancement initiatives for the company for
portfolio diversification. Serve as primary project lead for all Chicago
based development projects and business acquisitions.
Assisted in the negotiation of licensing agreement with Lucky Strike
Entertainment for new hotel casino project in Reno, Nevada.
Urban Retail Ventures, LLC October 2006-
October 2008
Managing Partner
Managing Partner of holding company that owned and managed a Cold Stone
Creamery Franchise with over $300,000 in annual revenue. Responsible for
managing day to day operations including all marketing, revenue
enhancement, cost containment and inventory management strategies.
Responsible for ensuring that store operations met all franchise operating
standards.
Target Group, Inc.-Chicago, IL December 2005-
September 2007
President and CEO
Chief executive responsible for leading a 20 year supplier diversity and
corporate responsibility consulting firm with over $3million in annual
revenue. Developed new strategic plan for company focused on technology
innovation and business diversification. Managed all client relationships
which included the University of Chicago, Standard Parking, City of
Chicago, Art Institute of Chicago, and Children's Memorial Hospital.
Managed day to day activities of project executives. Responsible for
managing profit and loss of company and developing strategies for
maximizing profits and cost reduction and containment. Initiated new
partnership with company that developed state of the art data collection
system designed to achieve greater productivity and cost for the company
City of Chicago January 2004-
December 2005
Commissioner of Aviation
Served as chief executive of the Chicago Airport System overseeing the day
to day operations of "The World's Busiest Airport" O'Hare International
Airport and Midway International Airport. The City of Chicago's Department
of Aviation had over 2000 employees, with an operating budget of $1.2
billion and a capital improvement budget of $800 million. Areas of
responsibility included terminal management, airline relations, security
and public safety, commercial development, retail development and
management, human resources and facility maintenance.
Accomplishments include:
. Assisted in securing federal approval and $6.6 billion of funding for
the O'Hare Expansion and Modernization Program
. Implemented new cost savings initiative by outsourcing custodial
services at O'Hare Airport resulting in a 10% reduction in operating
and maintenance cost and while creating a more efficient and
effective operation
. Managed the construction of a new $100 million, 6300 space parking
garage and roadway at Midway International Airport
. Developed and implemented a new revenue/business strategy resulting in
double digit growth in retail, food and beverage and advertising
revenue for the Airport System
. Negotiated agreement with Michael Lewis, an air logistics company, to
relocate their company from a suburban location to the airport. This
resulted in bringing 300 new jobs to the city of Chicago
City of Chicago March 2003-January
2004
Executive Director, Department of Construction and Permits
Led the team responsible for the creation and management of new city
department created to improve city building permit issuance process.
Served as the first executive director for the new department. Department
reviewed all design plans for residential and commercial construction
projects with a valuation of over $1 billion. Oversaw the development of
all construction and design standards for the City of Chicago.
Accomplishments include:
. Streamlined design review and permit issuance process, resulting in a
70% reduction in wait time for customers
. Eliminated backlog of reviews for customer plans resulting in an 18%
increase in permit revenues
. Designed and oversaw the implementation of the City's new outsourced
plan review for large complex residential, commercial and industrial
development projects
. Created new system resulting in the City's ability to issue permits
via the internet
. Created and implemented the first ever management performance metrics
for department activities.
. Oversaw the re-writing and modernization of the City of Chicago's
Mechanical, Structural, Life/Safety and Fire Codes.
. Developed new processes and procedures that resulted in a reduction
of permit issuance time by two thirds within the first six months of
operation.
City of Chicago January 2002-March
2003
Commissioner, Department of Buildings
Managed department of 400 persons who were responsible for building permit
issuance and inspections. Developed and implemented a new inspection
process that streamlined department operations, increased department
productivity resulting in increased permit and inspection revenue for the
City. Oversaw the ongoing development of a handheld computer and backbone
system for building inspectors in the field. Instituted management
performance metrics for every operation in the department.
Accomplishments include:
. Oversaw the creation of the City of Chicago's new high-rise fire
safety ordinance
. Oversaw the creation and passage of the City of Chicago's first
Scaffold Safety Legislation
. Oversaw the creation and passage of the City of Chicago's first ever
Energy Conversation Code for building construction
. Managed the City of Chicago's enforcement efforts against slum
landlords
. Re-organized department inspection activities resulting in increased
productivity and efficiency
City of Chicago December 2000-
January 2002
Commissioner, Department of Sewers
Managed a 900 person department with an annual operating and capital budget
of $600 million. Responsible for maintaining and repairing the city's
waste and storm water infrastructure. Developed and implemented the first
ever 5 year strategic plan for the department.
Accomplishments included:
. Oversaw the completion of the city's Rain Blocker Program, which
reduced the flooding of resident basements by 50% in its first year of
operation.
. Completed the reconstruction or lining of over 20 miles of
infrastructure on time and on budget
. Increased city sewer revenues from suburban municipalities from
$30,000 to $700,000 by renegotiating service agreements
Chicago Housing Authority-Chicago, IL June 1999-
December 2000
Chief of Development
Responsible for managing the Chicago Housing Authority's $1.5 billion
Capital Improvement Program for the rehabilitation of new construction of
25,000 units of housing within mixed income communities. Managed all real
estate activities including site planning, developer selection and
negotiations, as well as capital investment decisions.
Accomplishments included:
. The creation of a agency's real estate strategy
. Oversaw the re-organization of real estate development activities
resulting including the recruitment of staff with specific expertise
in project management and real estate development
. Assisted in negotiations with the Department of Housing and Urban
Development for the creation of the City of Chicago's Moving to Work
Agreement that allowed for the demolition of all high rise buildings
within our portfolio
. Coordinated over 10 project working groups of public, resident and
private sector stakeholders in communities through the city.
City of Chicago, Mayor's Office January 1997-
June 1999
Assistant to the Mayor
Chicago Park District February 1995-
January1997
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
. Roosevelt University-Chicago, IL
Area of Concentration: Political Science and Economics
. Dartmouth College, Tuck Business School-Hanover, NH December
2006
MBDA Executive Education Seminar, Business Management
. City of Chicago Executive Leadership Program Spring 2001
. Various real estate development and finance courses
. Served in the United States Air Force, Top Secret clearance, Persian
Gulf Veteran
CIVIC/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
. Member, The Druids Club of Chicago
. Member, The Original Forty Club of Chicago
. Current or former member of the Economic Club, Chicago Club and the
Executives Club of Chicago, Illinois Restaurant Association Advisory
Board
. Participant, Lindblom Math and Science Academy Principal for A Day
and Career Day
. Volunteer Coach, Ride/Beverly Baseball League, Pony Division
. Former board member of Lookingglass Theater Company
. Board Member, The Beloved Community(St. Sabina Affiliate)
. Former Chairman, Chicago Metropolitan Housing Development Corporation
AWARDS AND HONORS
. Crain's Chicago Business 2005 Forty Under Forty
. National Forum of Black Public Administrators, Young Administrator of
the Year
. Monarch Award for Statesmanship, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Xi
Nu Chapter
. March of Dimes Public Servant Award