Prairie State Wire

Metropolitan Pier Exposition Authority met March 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Board Members Present: Jeffrey Bethke, Chairman; Don Villar, Vice Chairman; Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart*; Nina Grondin; Sam Kukadia; Terrance McGann; Michelle Mills Clement; Christian Mitchell; Juan Morado; Sherman Wright

*Teleconference

Others Present: Larita Clark, Chief Executive Officer; Matthew Simmons, General Counsel; Jason Bormann, Chief Financial Officer; Pat Allen, Senior Director of Labor Relations and Campus Operations; Stephanie Lovelace Nieves, Controller, Gloria Juarbe, Director of Human Resources; Samantha Johnson, Assistant Controller; Pi Tao Hsu, Director of Treasury and Capital Management; Hilary Barker, Director of Procurement; Vickee Danz, Capital Finance Manager; Emilie Yount, Associate Director of Communications; Tiffany Wright, Business Diversity Program Manager; Cynthia McCafferty, Hawthorne Strategy Group; Jim Meyer, Choose Chicago; Chris Nelson, OVG Hospitality; Jack Lyon, OVG Hospitality; Matt Schalk, Hyatt Regency McCormick Place; Didier Luneau, Marriott Marquis; Pat Doerr, HBAC; Rufus Purnell; JC Griffin, GVG; Maria Calderon, Compliance Officer and Board Administrator

General Matters: Chairman Bethke asked for a motion to permit Member Birnecker Hart to participate via teleconference. Upon motion made by Member Villar and seconded by Member McGann, the remaining members present unanimously voted to pass the motion.

A1. Roll Call: Chairman Bethke, called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. and Ms. Calderon called roll.

A2. Approval of Minutes: Chairman Bethke called for the approval of the minutes from the February 25, 2025, Regular Board Meeting.

Moved by Member Villar, seconded by Member Morado, and the remaining members present voted to approve item A2.

Roll call vote. Record as:

Jeffrey Bethke, Chairman - Yes

Don Villar, Vice Chairman - Yes

Nina Grondin - Yes

Sam Kukadia - Yes

Terrance McGann - Yes

Michelle Mills Clement - Yes Christian Mitchell - Yes Juan Morado - Yes Sherman Wright - Yes

The motion passed.

A3. Public Comment.

There was no Public Comment.

Report from MPEA Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Clark reported the transition back to MPEA management of McCormick Place is proceeding as scheduled, and OVG has been a great partner in ensuring a smooth transition. Ms. Clark thanked their leadership team for so closely collaborating with MPEA during this time and setting the campus up for success come the start of the new fiscal year. Ms. Clark reported the initial feedback from customers has been overwhelmingly positive, and they are looking forward to this new chapter for McCormick Place.

Ms. Clark was pleased to present MPEA's 2024 Annual Report. Ms. Clark reported it is a wonderful reminder of the impact MPEA has had on the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, and wider events industry. Ms. Clark reported they focused on MPEA's role at the crossroads of conventions and community, with special attention paid to many of the people who make everything possible. According to Ms. Clark, the report includes highlights on everything from valued employees on the campus to long-term customers to a breakdown of the Authority's community partnerships, such as Fight2Feed and Unite Here Chicago Hospitality Institute. Ms. Clark wanted to extend a big thank you to Emilie Yount for her work on this report and collaborating across the campus to pull all the materials together.

Ms. Clark reported earlier this month she had the opportunity to meet with key legislators in Springfield to discuss MPEA's ongoing initiatives and the vital role McCormick Place plays as an engine for the state and local economy. Ms. Clark reported they emphasized the importance of continued investment in Chicago's convention and tourism sector, which supports jobs and generates significant economic impact for the state. Discussions included the need for strategic infrastructure improvements to keep McCormick Place a top-tier destination for major events and exhibitions. Ms. Clark appreciates the ongoing partnership with lawmakers and looks forward to working together to support policies that strengthen Illinois' convention and hospitality industries.

Ms. Clark reported their partner, Choose Chicago, are partnering with local artists to create short and visually appealing videos that promote upcoming McCormick Place campus events. Choose Chicago recently released the Q2 video, just a few events highlighted in the new video are the ASCO annual meeting, the American Diabetes Association, and C2E2. Ms. Clark reported she was glad that local creatives are getting this opportunity and that they are producing such unique work in collaboration with Choose Chicago. MPEA appreciates all the effort that goes into making sure people are aware that the McCormick Place campus is the place to be!

Ms. Clark reported she will be heading to Austin for the Society for Independent Show Organizers (SISO), CEO Summit at the end of the month. SISO represents the for-profit network of show organizers, many of MPEA's customers and prospects are members. In fact, SISO's more than 195 members produce over 3,500 events, creating an overall $122B impact on the global economy. Ms. Clark reported she will be joining Mark Bickler from the McCormick Place sales team along with Choose Chicago at the meeting. Ms. Clark has attended this event for the past few years and always leaves with lots of great insights.

McCormick Place Food Service Update OVG Hospitality. Mr. Lyon reported that McCormick Place has successfully earned the Silver Sustainability Certificate from the Events Industry Council (EIC). Mr. Lyon reported OVG Hospitality helped WEFTEC earn the Gold Sustainability Certificate from EIC with a diversion rate, which reached 89% in 2023.

Mr. Lyon reported on 2024 sustainability updates: 204,729.4 pounds of food diverted from the landfills, 135,151 Meal portions were prepped out of McCormick East Kitchen; 14 tons of food scraps were converted into energy-rich slurry for transport to an anaerobic digestion facility where methane was extracted for energy production; 1,650 pounds of produce was harvested from the McCormick Rooftop Garden with Chicago Botanic Garden's Windy City Harvest Program; 9, 640 pounds of waste vegetable oil was recycled; and eco-conscious packaging replaced singe-use plastics with biodegradable alternatives like PLA containers, fiber bowls, bamboo food boats, and compostable cutlery. Mr. Lyon reported a total of 16.89 tons of waste was composted.

Mr. Lyon reported on Marketing Highlights: Media - CBS News Chicago Coverage of Chicago French Press, Plans for DNC and MPEA Campus-wide Business Diversity Fair, July 11, 2024; CBS News Chicago Interview with Chef Michael Kingsley discussing DNC Food Preparation and Food Safety, Aug. 9, 2024; Fox 32 News Feature Live and Pre- recorded Segments Showcasing Chicago Botanic Garden's Windy City Harvest Program and Chef Michael Kingsley Garden to Table and Sustainability Efforts, Sept. 19, 2024; and Chicago Auto Show First Look for Charity at the Salt Shed with Ryan Chiaverini of ABC Chicago, Local Media, and Influencers, Jan. 8, 2025. Increased Social Media Presence: Top X (Twitter) Post for 2024: Sky Season Concession Preview; Top Performing Instagram Post September 2024: "McCormick Place Rooftop Takes Gardening to New Heights"; Top Performing LinkedIn Post November 2024: Franz Schubach; Top Performing Linkedin Post December 2024: "Old Fashioned Christmas Cheer"; and Top Performing Facebook Post January 2025: "Welcome La Tasha Abernathy and Congrats Letitia Willis."

Mr. Lyon reported the Sales & Marketing department collaborated to rebrand and create new resources and assets for the Hospitality Division: new catering, exhibitor, Hyatt, staff and customized menus; an Exhibitor online ordering portal was created to boost pre-orders and advance sales for events; developed a new Sustainability & Leadership Innovation Guide to educate clients; a Show Management profile form was created to help clients prepare in advance with their Catering Sales Manager; and Customization and Partnership development to generate additional revenue and build traffic engagement for exhibitors.

Mr. Lyon reported on the Rooftop Garden: five tours were conducted along with numerous rooftop receptions; "McCormick Place Rooftop Takes Gardening to New Heights" Fox 32 News Feature on September 19, 2024; and Two Windy City Harvest apprentices placed at MCP Rooftop for their labs and paid work experience. Mr. Lyon reported on the beehive update: projecting installment of three beehives mid-April; over 3,000 sq. ft. of bee feed flowers will be planted for the bees to forage; and goal to harvest 100lbs of honey this Summer. OVG Hospitality and Chicago Botanic Garden marketing teams are collaborating on packaging for honey to increase awareness of partnership and shared mission. Mr. Lyon reported on the Rooftop Hops update: in 2024, students at the Northwestern McCormick School of Engineering produced preliminary plans for innovative ways to trellis the hops while maintaining accessibility for harvest. They plan to implement these trellises and improve the hops yield so they can have enough supply for a craft brew. They are engaging Chicago breweries to explore a collaboration showcasing their shared dedication to the community and urban agriculture sustainability.

Mr. Lyon reported on M/WBE new partners from October 2023 to present: Chicago French Press; Black Dog Food Service; Mama Lee's Popcorn; Spread the Love; Ida's Artisan Ice Cream & Treats; Sugar Bliss; MYLK Labs; Not Just Cookies Wholesale; Josephines Southern Cooking; and Overture. Mr. Lyon reported for FY25 total spend was 25.5 with 16.5 WBE and 8.8 MBE.

Mr. Lyon reported on Improvements: mobile carts + Grab & Go markets; South Market Renovation; rolling banquet tables; back of house support equipment; implemented Oracle POS and Food-Trak; and improved branding and imaging.

Mr. Lyon reported on Wintrust Arena's Big Chicken: successful install of new façade and kitchen equipment; culinary team and staff received significant training under the guidance of Big Chicken's head chef and operations team; newly designed digital menus; and a food sampling event was held prior to the soft opening on April 12, 2024. News of the opening on Saturday, June 8, 2024, was shared by: QSR Magazine; QSR A.M. Jolt Newsletter (Top Headline); Franchsing.com; Oak View Group Corporate; and Big Chicken Corporate.

With respect to Wintrust Arena, Mr. Lyon reported planning meetings are underway with both DePaul University and the Chicago Sky to discuss suite upgrades. Mr. Lyon also reported that his team is currently working on upgrading to Spectrio's digital menu software, a leading solution that is user-friendly, reliable, and scalable. This program will enhance the customer experience and elevate business in the arena.

Report from Controller. Ms. Lovelace Nieves presented the financial results for March 2025.

Report from Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Bormann presented the tax collections for March 2025.

Report from McCormick Place General Manager. Mr. Thomas reported the event highlights that took place on campus in February and March: United Airlines Leadership Conference; Annual Greater Chicago K-12 Chess Championship; Chicago Auto Show; Chicago Dental Society Annual Midwinter Meeting; MagicCon: Chicago; The Inspired Home Show; NSBE National Convention; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority; ProMat; and AnitaB.org Spring GHC.

Mr. Thomas reported the 160th Midwinter Meeting for Chicago Dental Society was held from February 20-22 in the West Building with over 20,000 attendees. Mr. Thomas reported according to Choose Chicago, the 2025 Midwinter Meeting "contributed nearly $25 million to the local economy, generated $1 million in state taxes, generated $997,000 in local taxes, and supported more than 6,000 jobs."

Mr. Thomas reported on upcoming events: American College of Cardiology (ACC) Annual Meeting & EXPO (March 29-31) with an estimated 17,600 attendees in the North, South, and Lakeside Center Buildings; Podcast Movement (March 30-April 3) with an estimated 2,500 attendees in the West Building; ABA TECHSHOW (April 2-5) with an estimated 450 attendees in Lakeside Center; Varsity Brands Cheer Events (April 5) with an estimated 6,000 attendees in the West Building; Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) (April 11-13) with an estimated 63,000 attendees in the South and North Buildings; ASBMB Annual Meeting (April 12-15) with an estimated 3,000 attendees in the West Building; Adidas Windy City National Qualifier (April 18-20) with an estimated 19,613 attendees in the South and North Buildings; and AACR Annual Meeting (April 27-30) with an estimated 23,000 attendees in the South, North, Lakeside Center Buildings and Arie Crown Theater.

Mr. Thomas reported on upcoming events at Wintrust Arena: Critical Role Live: Chicago (April 10, already Sold-Out); New Japan Pro-Wrestling Windy City Riot (April 11); The Millennium Tour (April 17-18, due to demand, April 17 show was added); and Theo Von: Return of the Rat (April 24).

Mr. Thomas reported on upcoming events at Arie Crown Theatre: R&B Invitation (May 2) and Games Women Play (May 10).

Mr. Thomas reported the Customer Satisfaction Surveys at McCormick Place overall score for FY 2025 was 91.33% with YTD Averages for: Medical Services: 97.33%; Sales Manager: 94.55% and Event Management: 92.28%.

Mr. Thomas reported on sustainability highlights at McCormick Place: Waste Diversion Rate (Oct-Feb): 51%; Grind2Energy year-to-date: 13.3 tons processed; and Fight2Feed partnership (cal. 2024): 102.36 tons rescued. Mr. Thomas reported on client success stories: Packaging News (PKN) released a news article in March about campus sustainability during PACK EXPO 2024 and RSNA released a news article in January about campus sustainability during RSNA 2024. Mr. Thomas reported that the new McCormick Place Green Team under Jackie Tauber is coordinating a 'Recyclepalooza' campus event for Earth Day 2025 for Campus staff and partner organizations.

Mr. Thomas reported on the community engagement at McCormick Place: college campus tours, April 2025: PCMA Student Day Convention Center Tour with DePaul University School of Hospitality and Sports Business; Roosevelt University Convention Center Tour; #ChicagoGoesRed with AHA Illinois, February 2025: The American Heart Association of Illinois invited landmarks across Chicagoland to "Go Red" to raise awareness about women's heart health as part of AHA's American Heart Month celebration. Both McCormick Place Convention Center and Wintrust Arena participated, and their participation was shared in an American Heart Association Newsroom release on February 6; and Fight2 Feed Thanksgiving volunteering, November 2024: over 2,000 hot Thanksgiving meals prepared by Fight2Feed, McCormick Place, OVG Hospitality, and MPEA team members.

Review of Covered Actions and Eligible Agreements:

C1. Consideration of Approval of Contract Extension for Retirement Plan Financial Consulting Services.

Moved by Member Villar, seconded by Member McGann, and the remaining members present voted approving item C1.

Jeffrey Bethke, Chairman - Yes

Don Villar, Vice Chairman - Yes

Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart - Yes

Nina Grondin - Yes

Sam Kukadia - Yes

Terrance McGann - Yes

Michelle Mills Clement - Yes

Christian Mitchell - Yes

Juan Morado - Yes

Sherman Wright - Yes

The motion passed.

Consideration of Approval of Resolution No. MPEA 25-03 Designating U.S. Bank as a Depository for MPEA Funds.

Moved by Member Mills Clement, seconded by Member Mitchell, and the remaining members present voted approving item C2.

Jeffrey Bethke, Chairman - Yes

Don Villar, Vice Chairman - Yes

Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart - Yes

Nina Grondin - Yes

Sam Kukadia - Yes

Terrance McGann - Yes

Michelle Mills Clement - Yes

Christian Mitchell - Yes

Juan Morado - Yes

Sherman Wright - Yes

The motion passed.

Consideration of Approval of Contract Amendment for Oracle JDE Enterprise One Software.

Moved by Member Villar, seconded by Member Grondin, and the remaining members present voted approving item C3.

Jeffrey Bethke, Chairman - Yes

Don Villar, Vice Chairman - Yes

Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart - Yes

Terrance McGann - Yes

Michelle Mills Clement - Yes

Christian Mitchell - Yes

Juan Morado - Yes

Sherman Wright - Yes

Nina Grondin - Yes

Sam Kukadia - Yes

The motion passed.

C4. Consideration of Approval of New Contract for Drug Testing Services.

Moved by Member McGann, seconded by Member Mitchell, and the remaining members present voted approving item C4.

Jeffrey Bethke, Chairman - Yes

Don Villar, Vice Chairman - Yes

Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart - Yes

Nina Grondin - Yes

Sam Kukadia - Yes

The motion passed.

Terrance McGann - Yes

Michelle Mills Clement - Yes

Christian Mitchell - Yes

Juan Morado - Yes

Sherman Wright - Yes

Member Morado left at 10 a.m.

C5. Consideration of Approval of Reference Contract Extension for Audio Visual Equipment and Supplies.

Moved by Member Villar, seconded by Member Wright, and the remaining members present voted approving item C5.

Jeffrey Bethke, Chairman - Yes

Don Villar, Vice Chairman - Yes

Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart – Yes

Nina Grondin - Yes

Sam Kukadia - Yes

Terrance McGann - Yes

Michelle Mills Clement - Yes

Christian Mitchell - Yes

Sherman Wright - Yes

The motion passed.

D1. New Business.

There was no new business.

D2. Adjournment.

Chairman Bethke moved to adjourn the meeting moved by Member Birnecker Hart, seconded by Member Mitchell, and the meeting was adjourned by unanimous vote of the Board.

Roll call vote. Record as:

Jeffrey Bethke, Chairman - Yes

Don Villar, Vice Chairman - Yes

Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart - Yes

Nina Grondin – Yes

Sam Kukadia - Yes

The motion passed.

Time meeting adjourned: 10:01 a.m.

Terrance McGann - Yes

Michelle Mills Clement - Yes

Christian Mitchell - Yes

Sherman Wright - Yes

https://www.mpea.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MPEA-Board-Minutes-Regular-Session-March-25-2025.pdf