Industry Councils
GNMAA is organized into Councils, which are groups of member companies with common interests. Participation in a Council is encouraged, but optional. Please contact Megan Williams at 312-344-2316 or mwilliams@gnmaa.com to learn more and get involved.
Cornerstone Council
Co-Chairs:
Stan Nitzberg, Mid America Real Estate Corporation
Bob Six, Zeller Realty
The Cornerstone Council is a forum for the discussion of issues important to property owners throughout the region. The Council serves as a source of resources for GNMAA with member businesses being among the strongest stakeholders.
Past Cornerstone Council meetings have featured presentations by Chicago's top experts in transportation, including Ron Huberman, President of CTA, and Mark Walburn, the City's consultant on urban light rail systems. Other presenters have included Michael Segobiano, the City's Director of Marketing and Michelle Woods, Deputy Commissioner of CDOT.
This Council is by invitation only.
Hotel General Managers Council
Co-Chairs:
Edward Andrews, InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
Maria Zec, The Peninsula Chicago
The Hotel General Managers Council is a forum for top management and marketing managers at area hotels to stay current on marketing initiatives and discuss issues of mutual interest.
The most recent Hotel Managers Council meetings included a "next big idea" presentation by GNMAA Marketing Co-chairs John Curran and Daniel Thomas, sharing plans for upcoming marketing campaigns and initiatives for The Magnificent Mile district, further brainstorming with hotel leaders on "big ideas" to ultimately put heads in beds.
Luxury Marketing Council
Co-Chairs:
Catherine Elward, Tiffany & Co
Dan Uslan, Michigan Avenue Magazine
The Luxury Marketing Council is a group of high-end retailers, restaurants, hotels, and other luxury businesses focused on attracting the very small segment of the consumer market where quality and brand integrity are paramount.
Past Luxury Marketing Council meetings have included presentations by Melissa Gamble, the City's top fashion advocate, a discussion on marketing to the luxury Asian traveler presented by United Airlines, and a tour of the Chicago Spire. While mass marketing generally entails getting as many people into the venue as possible to improve the likelihood of consumer purchases, luxury marketing focuses heavily on attracting the very few in a demographic that purchases high-end goods and services. This common bond brings luxury marketers together.
Commercial Property Managers Council
Co-Chairs:
Laura Bossert, U.S Equities Realty, LLC
Lloyd Berry, Colliers International
The Commercial Property Managers Council is a forum for the discussion of issues for those who manage commercial office, retail and hospitality buildings.
Typical discussions at Commercial Property Managers Council meetings have included topics such as security issues, City projects to improve vehicular and pedestrian infrastructure, public art in the gardens, and use of the public way by the homeless, panhandlers and street performers.
Institutions Council
Chair:
Phil Hale, Loyola University
The Institutions Council consists of not-for-profit universities, hospitals, museums, theaters and other not-for-profit organizations in the area.
This Council is a forum for developing how member organizations can benefit from being in the center of a world-class retail and hospitality district, either by leveraging the marketing function of others in the area or providing benefits to their constituents (i.e. students, patients, friends and family of patients, etc.).
Dining and Night Life Council
Co-Chairs:
Geoff Alexander, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
Danny Wirtz, Wirtz Beverage Group
The Dining and Nightlife Council is a forum for discussion of issues important to restaurant, nightclub, bar, and other food and beverage venues.
Past Dining and Nightlife Council meetings have included presentations by ABC7's The Hungry Hound Steve Dolinsky, Chicago Tribune food columnist Monica Eng and a social media forum with panelists Ari Bendersky (Co-Creator of foodie the app), Mohammed Saleem (Director of Social Media at the Chicago Tribune) and Audarshia Townsend (Journalist, Author and Blogger, www.312diningdiva.com).
