Michael Edwards

Biography: MICHAEL M. EDWARDS 215 West Washington Street, #3109 Chicago, Illinois 60606 Cell: (224) 251-0380 [email protected] SUMMARY Twenty-nine years of executive experience in public administration including downtown management; economic development; placemaking; planning and advocacy; transportation; land development; capital programs; project finance; organizational visioning; grant and proposal writing; parks, recreation and open space and urban design. Masters degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh. EXPERIENCE 2012 to Present CHICAGO LOOP ALLIANCE (CLA) Chicago, Illinois President & CEO CLA is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization charged with the management of the State Street business improvement district. Established in 1997, CLA provides an array of downtown management services including advocacy, planning, enhanced services, placemaking and economic development. Accomplishments since November 2012 include: the completion of the organization’s first five-year Strategic Action Plan; establishment of the Street Team Ambassador program; State of the Downtown Economic Update; new consumer-facing website and mobile mapping; comprehensive placemaking and stabilized financial and staffing. Reported to a 45-member board of directors and numerous committees and managed a $2.8 million budget with a professional staff of 9 and a crew of 24 providing public works and security services. Go to: www.loopchicago.com for more information. 2011 – 2012 MAYOR’S OFFICE - CITY OF SPOKANE Spokane, Washington Economic Development Consultant Economic Prosperity Strategy Led the creation of a new economic prosperity strategy for the Mayor to address the City’s financial situation through more aggressive economic development efforts. Goals and strategies are based on market realities and reflective of global trends to spur more businesses, more jobs and higher incomes. The process included an economic analysis of the state of the local economy; review of global trends; analysis of the City’s financial position; development of revised vision, mission and values statements and identification of specific goals, strategies and action items. The final strategy was used to make significant organizational changes to better align City resources. Change of Use Completed a thorough review of the burden associated with the City of Spokane change of use/plan review process to be more supportive of small business creation throughout the City. Improvements include: communication of a compelling internal vision; a targeted education campaign to real estate professionals; engaging multiple City departments earlier in the process and utilizing predevelopment to assure change of use is identified prior to final plan review. Michael M. Edwards P a g e | 2 EXPERIENCE (continued) 2005 – 2011 PITTSBURGH DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP (PDP) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania President and CEO The PDP is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization providing administrative leadership, program management and planning services, including keeping downtown clean and safe; business recruitment and marketing; transportation management and capital facilities. The PDP led all downtown planning, housing, transportation and economic development programs while advocating public policy on critical City issues. Accomplishments include: exemplary public works and downtown security services; aggressive business and office retention and recruitment; reconstruction of historic Market Square; the construction of 2,500 new residential units; maintenance of a robust office market; increased organizational revenue; strong partner relationships; capital facilities investments and the completion of the five-year Strategic Plan. Between 2006 and 2011 approximately $4.2 billion was invested in public and private development in Downtown Pittsburgh. Reported to a 39-member board of directors and numerous committees and managed a $5 - $9 million budget (depending on the amount of the annual foundation investments) with a professional staff of ten and a crew of 20 providing public works and downtown security services. Go to: www.downtownpittsburgh.com or www.marketsquareblog.com for more information. 1998 – 2005 DOWNTOWN SPOKANE PARTNERSHIP (DSP) Spokane, Washington President The DSP is a membership-based downtown planning and advocacy group. The DSP manages an 80-block business improvement district that provides a comprehensive package of programs including clean and safe; economic development; marketing; and transportation and parking. Accomplishments include: advocacy on important downtown issues; conversion of Post Street to 2-way traffic; implemented effective public works and policing services; completed the Streetcar Feasibility Study; implementation of Green Streets; I-90 Gateway enhancements; strategic organizational and community planning; completion and implementation of the Downtown Development Plan, Davenport District Sub Plan, Downtown Parking Management Plan and Gorge Park Master Plan; business retention, expansion and recruitment; public infrastructure finance and development; and establishment of the DSP as a leading Spokane regional economic development agency. Reported to three boards of directors and managed a $1.2 million budget with a professional staff of seven and fifteen public works and police services crew. Michael M. Edwards P a g e | 3 EXPERIENCE (continued) 1997 – 1998 THE SARATOGA ASSOCIATES Buffalo, New York Principal The Saratoga Associates is a 55-employee, New York State based firm with over 30 years of experience providing private and public sector community master planning, land use and project finance expertise. Responsibilities included land development; transportation; economic development; and ongoing business development for clients. Accomplishments include: a brownfield master plan for the redevelopment of the 1,600 acre former Bethlehem Steel mill site in Lackawanna, New York; creation of the Orleans County (New York) Strategic Development Plan; Victor, New York Downtown Plan; and Penn Yan, New York Community Master Plan. 1995 – 1996 BUFFALO PLACE, INC. Buffalo, New York Executive Director Buffalo Place is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization providing downtown administration and marketing services. Buffalo Place manages 24 blocks of Downtown along the Light Rail Rapid Transit system and provides planning, housing, transportation and event services focused on attracting new investment and economic activity. Responsibilities included supervising a staff of 25 employees engaged in maintenance, security, marketing, research and planning, housing and commercial development, communications, event promotion, budgeting and financial management. Reported to a 15-member board of directors and managed a $1.6 million budget. 1989 - 1995 LACKAWANNA COMMUNITY Lackawanna, New York DEVELOPMENT CORP (LCDC) Executive Director The LCDC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit development corporation dedicated to the revitalization of a former industrial city located south of Buffalo, New York. Accomplishments include: management of $3 million reconstruction of an existing 7,500 linear foot rail network; increased the efficiency of the Gateway Metro port through the installation of a truck scale to support intermodal transfer facility in a Foreign Trade Zone; the build out of the LCDC-owned, 40-acre industrial park including securing funding, infrastructure, site development, construction monitoring and property management; marketing and leasing tenant space, and providing tenant improvements; sold land to seven companies resulting in the creation of 197 new job opportunities; developed and constructed a 15,000 sq. ft. multi-tenant business incubator; underwrote and managed 15 CDBG funded small business loans valued at $750,000 leveraging $4.5 million in private investment; and constructed 16 new single-family homes and rehabilitated 150 existing homes. Reported to a 16-member board of directors and managed a $480,000 operating budget with a professional staff of five. Michael M. Edwards P a g e | 4 EXPERIENCE (continued) 1984 – 1989 NORTH EAST PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE, INC. North East, Pennsylvania Executive Director Managed an historic preservation-based downtown revitalization program. Provided organizational leadership, promotion and marketing, design and building renovation, and economic restructuring services. Reported to a nine-member board of directors and borough manager. 1982 – 1984 TWIN RIVERS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS McKeesport, Pennsylvania Program Manager Managed the shared service delivery of CDBG funds for public improvements and delivery of shared street cleaning and storm water equipment across 12 municipalities. 2004 – Present PARKS AND OPEN SPACE CONSULTANT Conference Presenter Provide international presentations on various subjects focused on the economic value of parks, recreation and open space to community building. Research identifies a growing outdoor lifestyle trend, significant demographic trends and health concerns driving renewed interest in the need for compelling and accessible green space in urban areas around the world. Presentations have been given at the National Parks and Recreation Association in Seattle, Washington, and Indianapolis, Indiana; International Federation of Recreation and Parks Association, Dublin, Ireland; International Downtown Association, Portland, Oregon; Green Infrastructure Conference, Malahide, Ireland; River Recreation Symposium, Spokane Washington; and the Urban Land Institute, Phoenix, Arizona. AFFILIATIONS National Parks and Recreation Association International Downtown Association EDUCATION Master of Public Administration, 1982 University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and History, 1981 Canisius College, Buffalo, New York