This past year Aqua, the high-rise featured on the cover of this report, won the prestigious Emporis Award as the “best new skyscraper for design and functionality” in the world. Not only is the building visually stunning, but it also features the largest “green” roof in Chicago and is the tallest building in the world to have a woman (Jeanne Gang) as lead architect. This new architectural marvel is just one symbol of Chicago’s excellence on the world stage. We are a top city for business internationally, and continue to rank higher on indicators such as Global Financial Centres, Cities of Opportunity, and Global Cities Index, on which Chicago jumped from #8 to #6 as a leading global city this year.
These measures mean we are heading in the right direction. During the past year, we’ve found new ways to market Chicago’s business advantages with limited resources. We’ve relied on close relationships with our business and civic partners to collaborate and bring businesses to Chicago, despite the economic downturn. These collaborations have provided tremendously successful interactions with foreign business and government leaders, both here and abroad. We’ve hosted prestigious leaders in conjunction with the U.S. Saudi Opportunities Forum, Global Cities Forum, GreenBuild, Experience America, and more. We also traveled to the Shanghai World Expo to make Chicago top of mind for business and government leaders.
4. From the Chairman
Dear Friends,
As the end of my tenure as Mayor of Chicago approaches, one
of the accomplishments of which I am extremely proud is the
creation and success of World Business Chicago (WBC). This
unique partnership brings together the public and private sectors to
generate economic growth within the city and the region.
Over the years, WBC has worked with world-renowned companies
including Boeing, MillerCoors, Veolia Environment and ArcelorMittal
Steel. Whether domestic or international, big or small, companies
looking to grow here receive the attention and information they need from World Business Chicago.
Even in the toughest of economic times, companies are expanding to new cities and markets, and
World Business Chicago continues to promote Chicago to the world – showing that we are open for
business.
Year after year, WBC earns accolades for being one of the most innovative and effective economic
development agencies. Now more than ever, it is important that this distinguished organization
continues to bridge the public and private sectors, highlighting Chicago as the ultimate global
business destination.
Thank you for your continued support.
Richard M. Daley
Mayor, City of Chicago
Chairman of the Board, World Business Chicago
5.
6. Executive Summary
This past year Aqua, the high-rise featured on the
cover of this report, won the prestigious Emporis
Award as the “best new skyscraper for design and
functionality” in the world. Not only is the building
visually stunning, but it also features the largest
“green” roof in Chicago and is the tallest building in
the world to have a woman (Jeanne Gang) as lead
architect. This new architectural marvel is just one
symbol of Chicago’s excellence on the world stage.
We are a top city for business internationally, and
continue to rank higher on indicators such as Global
Financial Centres, Cities of Opportunity, and Global
Cities Index, on which Chicago jumped from #8 to #6
as a leading global city this year.
These measures mean we are heading in the right direction. During the past year,
we’ve found new ways to market Chicago’s business advantages with limited
resources. We’ve relied on close relationships with our business and civic partners
to collaborate and bring businesses to Chicago, despite the economic downturn.
These collaborations have provided tremendously successful interactions with foreign
business and government leaders, both here and abroad. We’ve hosted prestigious
leaders in conjunction with the U.S. Saudi Opportunities Forum, Global Cities Forum,
GreenBuild, Experience America, and more. We also traveled to the Shanghai World
Expo to make Chicago top of mind for business and government leaders.
Our board and the private sector serve as our biggest advocates in promoting Chicago
as a business destination, making our organization unique – and successful.
7. The city’s supportive government has also been a huge reason for
success. Since World Business Chicago’s creation nearly 11 years ago,
the business community has worked closely with Mayor Richard M.
Daley to lay the foundation for the ultimate global business destination.
That foundation is strong. We are continually reminded of Chicago’s
unrivaled attributes: its strong and diverse economy; central location
with easy access to the world; leadership in a wide range of key
industries; and quality of life that cannot be surpassed.
We invite you to review our accomplishments over the past year in the
pages ahead. And we look forward to working together to continue to
bring companies—and jobs—to Chicago in 2011.
Sincerely,
Michael O’Halleran
Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors, World Business Chicago
Executive Chairman, Aon Benfield Corporation
Rita R. Athas
President, World Business Chicago
8. Chicago is
Growing
Firms that located or expanded
in Chicago during 2010
4over | Accenture Global Technology Lab | Accretive Health |
Allegiance Capital | Allianz Global Risks US Insurance (AGCS) |
Ashley Ellis | Associated Foreign Exchange (AFEX) | Bank Leumi
| Barnes & Thornburg | BiOWiSH | Brewer Investment Group |
Berlin Packaging | CB2 | CORConcepts | C.R. England | CSC |
CWCapital | Carr Workplaces | Cathay Pacific Cargo | Chicago
Coating Company | Chicago Trading Company | Compushare |
Coyote Logistics | DePaul University | Diana’s Bananas | Digital
Aisle | DoWin Enterprises | Edward Jones | EnergyConnect Group
| The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) | Fetch Logistics
| The French Pastry School at City Colleges of Chicago | Getco |
Goldwind | Groupon | The Growth Agents | Horwood Marcus &
Berk | Houseal Lavigne Associates | The Internal Revenue Service
| International Assets Holding Corp | JRM Technology | James
9. Hardie Industries | James McHugh Construction | Jigsaw | John
Marshall Law School | Jump Trading | Juniper | K+S | Kaplan
Higher Education | Kaye Scholer | Littler Mendelson | Liza’s
Furniture | Martinez Seafood and Produce | MIXIT | Munch’s
Supply | Neutral Tandem | Nico Holdings | Odeon Capital Group
LLC | Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart | Old Town
School of Folk Music | Peak6 | The Poetry Foundation | Precision
Discovery | PrinceRidge Group | Print Services & Distribution
Association (PSDA) | R.J. O’Brien & Associates (RJO) | Red
Foundry | Regina Webster & Associates | Rentrak Corporation
| The Rock Spot | Ronin Capital | SMB Operating Partners |
Sanders Morris | Harris Group | Savvis | Sedgwick Detert Moran
& Arnold | Sentry Technology Corporation | Servcorp | Sofame
Energy | Stan Johnson | Suncas TV | Sword Diagnostics | SYNC
Technology Center | TCS Education System | TMP Worldwide
Advertising & Communications | Tate & Lyle | Telx | Testa Produce
| Therapeutic Proteins | Threadless.com | Travelers Indemnity
| Trend Exchange | U.S. Cellular | Ullico | United American
Healthcare | Urban Retail Properties | Valspar | Varitalk Holdings
| Vibes Media | Walgreens | WaterSaver Faucet Company |
WhenTech | Whirlpool Corporation | Workforce Management
11. Bringing Business
to Chicago
Chicago’s diverse economy has been a strong advantage during times of economic uncertainty. This year,
Chicago ranked among eight cities designated as Global Leaders in the 7th biannual Global Financial
Centres report, commissioned and published by the City of London. The report noted “Chicago is not
just strong in derivatives trading, for which it is probably best known, but is a real ‘all-rounder’: it is
strong in all areas, and in the Top 10 in all industry and area of
competitiveness sub-indices.”
Industry Leadership
In 2010, World Business Chicago (WBC) staff members supported
high-growth industries that have the potential to shape the future
of Chicago’s economy.
Financial Trading
“Chicago has become a catalyst in the transfor- Over the last year, numerous
mation of the global financial marketplace, and financial trading firms including
has reaffirmed its leadership with a new set of Nico Holdings, Infinium Capital
Management and Getco have
trading entrepreneurs now involved in hedge
grown significantly in the city. WBC,
funds, proprietary trading groups, arcades and along with Mayor Richard M. Daley,
technology companies. By creating a group convened a prominent group of
focused on the needs of these companies, WBC financial technology—“fin-tech”—
leaders to discuss ways the City can
and the City are laying the foundation for jobs support and expand the industry.
of tomorrow.” Financial trading and investment
- Terrence Duffy, Executive Chairman, CME Group accounts for nearly 50,000 jobs
locally and contributes significantly
& WBC board member
to Chicago’s position as a center of
the global economy.
12. The Tech Eco-System
The city has also seen a booming technology community converge, and WBC is cultivating a group of leaders pledging
their commitment to Chicago. WBC convened a prominent group of technology executives to offer both short- and
long-term suggestions on how to meet the explosive and unique needs of this industry.
The group met at 600 West Chicago Ave. (600 West), the former
Montgomery Ward catalog warehouse – one of the country’s most
successful mixed-use redevelopment projects and current headquarters
of Groupon.
Groupon is the flourishing group-buying website started in Chicago
in November of 2008. Forbes Magazine recently named Groupon the
“fastest growing company ever,” having expanded its presence to 85
North American markets, and 29 countries, and having hired more than
1,200 people in just 18 months.
A Diverse Range of
“The city has created a phenomenal foundation Companies
for today’s technology companies, and even From multi-national to homegrown,
more importantly for the technology companies WBC facilitates growth in Chicago.
of the future. It’s now up to Chicago’s leaders In 2010, the organization worked
with more than 100 companies. Of
in technology to create the next generation of these, 25 announced or completed
companies that will be started in our backyard. expansion projects in 2010,
World Business Chicago plays an integral role resulting in more than 3,200 new
jobs in the Chicago region.
in bringing our community together to think of
what we can all do as founders, cheerleaders, Highlights:
as facilitators of the next stage of success in
Chicago.” WBC worked with Accretive
Health Inc., a rapidly-growing,
- Brad Keywell, co-founder, Groupon innovative, Chicago-based
& Managing Director, Lightbank. healthcare financial services
company, on plans to hire 650
employees at its new Accretive
Health Processing Facility at
231 S. LaSalle St. The company,
which manages revenue cycles for hospital systems and physicians networks, currently employs 175 people at its
headquarters at 401 N. Michigan Avenue, and is creating the additional new office to accommodate its growing
business.
13.
14. More than 10 wind companies have
established headquarters in Chicago
including Goldwind in 2010
15. Amsterdam-based James Hardie, the world’s leading manufacturer of fiber-cement
building materials, also selected Chicago for its new North American headquarters in
2010. WBC worked with the company to sign a 22,000-square-feet lease for office
space at 231 S. LaSalle, housing approximately 100 R&D, engineering, manufacturing,
HR, logistics/product management, finance, legal and customer service functions.
And, when German company K+S acquired Chicago-based Morton Salt, it moved the
worldwide headquarters of its salt business from Santiago, Chile to Chicago, adding
employees and designating Chicago the “Salt Capital of the World.”
In addition, WBC assisted two life science companies relocating and expanding in
Chicago. Therapeutic Proteins Inc. (TPI) established its own FDA-compliant
manufacturing facility at the University Technology Park (UTP) Illinois Institute of
Technology (IIT). Sword Diagnostics also relocated its corporate headquarters and
research facilities to UTP, doubling the size of its previous space in the suburbs and
marking its shift from start-up venture to growth-stage commercial entity.
Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain, based in suburban Chicago opened
its first downtown Chicago office, with 65 of its e-commerce department employees
locating at the historic Sullivan Center, 1 S. State St. The move reflectes the city’s
strong position as a leader in technology-driven business and a center for information-
intensive industries, such as e-commerce.
WBC first provided Goldwind, one of the world’s top five global wind power
companies, with information on Chicago’s leadership as a wind power center in 2009,
and followed up with a visit to Goldwind’s Beijing complex. The wind giant’s U.S. arm,
Goldwind USA Inc., moved into short-term space at 22 W. Washington Street in spring
of 2010, with plans for a long-term office space underway. Goldwind joins at least 10
other wind companies that have established North American headquarters in Chicago.
Additionally, WBC assisted Coyote Logistics in its decision to locate its new corporate
headquarters in Chicago, after an extensive search throughout Chicago and Atlanta.
The company selected 65,000 square feet of new space on Chicago’s North Side
at 2545 West Diversey Ave., known as the Green Exchange for its emphasis on
sustainability. The company chose the location in part to have access to the city’s
unmatched talent pool.
16. Keeping Chicago Top-
of-Mind for Companies
Here and Abroad
Chicago has the advantage of being home to supportive business
leaders who promote the city here and abroad. In addition, WBC
is fortunate to be able to utilize the services of marketing partners
throughout the city to promote Chicago’s message globaly.
International Outreach
In 2010, World Business Chicago
traveled abroad to advance
awareness of Chicago as a
“Our delegation carried the message that business destination, and hosted
Chicago is open for business. Our goal was to visiting foreign dignitaries and
communicate that our city provides one of the business leaders to build key
world’s most diverse economies and cultures, relationships for future growth.
coupled with a highly skilled workforce; easy
For example, WBC helped
access to North American and world markets;
organize business and civic
and incomparable quality of life.”
leaders in the rare opportunity
- Deb DeHaas, Vice Chairman & Midwest Regional to showcase Chicago to the
Managing Partner, Deloitte LLP. & World Business world during the World Expo
Chicago board member. in Shanghai, China. “Chicago
Days” was the result of a
unique and strong collaboration
between many agencies within
17. the city, including the Chicago Office of Tourism, Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau,
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Sister Cities International, Illinois Office of
Tourism and World Business Chicago. To kick off the tribute to the city, WBC hosted a
reception for more than 150
guests at the USA Pavilion,
an elite business leader
roundtable discussion, and
a reception for Chicago
university alumni living in
Shanghai (Shanghai is home
to 643 alumni from DePaul
University, Northwestern
University, University of
Chicago, Columbia College
Chicago, University of Illinois
at Chicago, Illinois Institute
of Technology and Loyola
University Chicago).
In order to encourage direct
investment and trade, while
strengthening business
ties, World Business Chicago President Rita Athas traveled with Mayor Richard M. Daley and
corporate leaders, using this unique platform to showcase Chicago’s business advantages and
build long-standing relationships.
The mission was deemed a tremendous success. Mayor Daley’s Chinese counterpart at a
business roundtable noted that Chicago’s mayor was the first to engage Chinese business
leaders face-to-face by traveling to China.
WBC also hosted numerous international business delegations and dignitaries visiting Chicago,
many of which directly resulted from Chicago delegations traveling abroad. In response to a
business delegation trip to South Korea a few months earlier, the mayor of Seoul, South Korea
visited Chicago, where he met one-on-one with business leaders. And, a United Arab Emirates
(UAE) government delegation added Chicago to their “must visit” itinerary of Washington,
New York and Houston due to a Chicago business delegation trip to the UAE in 2009.
18. The U.S.-Saudi Business Opportunities Forum also provided a unique opportunity
for international outreach. Rita Athas delivered the keynote presentation at the two-day
Chicago conference highlighting the opportunities for greater economic collaboration
between Saudi Arabia and the U.S., presenting Chicago’s economic development strategy
to 800 participants, including Saudi government and business leaders.
WBC also hosted a reception honoring the companies it has helped move to, or expand in,
Chicago over the past 10 years. This connected them with international leaders attending
the 2010 Richard J. Daley Global Cities Forum. The Forum assembled leaders of more
than 100 cities and local governments, along with prominent business, civic, academic and
foundation leaders for discussions on key urban issues. Additionally, WBC, with the help of
many board members, hosted a high-level diplomatic corps that visited Chicago as a part
of new U.S. Office of Chief of Protocol program, Experience America.
Opportunities have also arisen for WBC to welcome visitors in conjunction with trade
shows taking place in Chicago, including hosting more than 100 Chinese manufacturing
executives in coordination with the International Manufacturing Technology Show
(IMTS), and more than 200 international leaders in green technology that were in
Chicago for GreenBuild 2010.
Innovating And Evolving
WBC has further engaged in new media to enhance the organization’s position as a full-
service provider of comprehensive information on Chicago and its business environment.
In 2010, WBC launched a state-of-the-art website developed on a powerful open-source
platform, allowing the organization to regularly publish news within Chicago’s business and
economic development communities. In the first 10 months the new site had more than
tripled the number of page-views over the previous year. News is posted to the site many
times each week, often featuring multi-media such as YouTube interviews with Chicago-
based business leaders, and up-to-date research and data.
Additionally, the organization topped 1,000 Twitter followers in 2010 and remains an active
business community voice on other social media outlets including LinkedIn and Facebook.
19. Developing a Data
Hub for Current and
Potential Chicagoans
Aggregating External Data For
Wide-Spread Use
In 2010, WBC provided research assistance for more than 200
company and partner agency requests, in addition to proactively
distributing more than 80 “economic alerts” on the state of
Chicago’s economy.
“As Chicago’s global position continues to WBC’s research department
analyzes and disseminates
increase in numerous rankings, it is vital
information from a variety
that we keep track of those indicators and
of sources and partner
use them to guide our efforts. World Business organizations. This year, one
Chicago plays an integral role in measuring study that was continually
where Chicago falls in global research reports, pointed to was Foreign Policy
disseminating the information and utilizing it Magazine’s Global Cities Index.
to build on the city’s plans for future economic Chicago jumped two places—up
development efforts.” from #8 in the world, to #6—
on the biennial study done in
- Paul A. Laudicina, Managing Officer & Chairman of the
conjunction with A.T. Kearney
Board, A.T. Kearney & WBC board member.
and The Chicago Council on
Global Affairs.
20. Creating Original Research
The research department also created original research reports
benefiting the city and its business community. Its comprehensive
New & Expanding Database & Reporting Initiative, created this year,
strengthens WBC’s role as a leading source for data on new and
expanding companies in the Chicago region. The department also
produced studies on Chicago’s
export impact, its metro
incentives and a study on
Chicago’s emerging workforce. “Running an organizationfocused on being
a leading global provider of career-oriented
The workforce study helps
educational services, we know the value of
readers understand what
brings students to—and what
a skilled workforce to companies and future
keeps students in—the Chicago employers. The City of Chicago understands
region. The brief compares the value behind its skilled employees, and
graduating student survey data World Business Chicago’s work in attracting
provided by local universities this workforce, and creating data resources
with data from the Illinois to appeal to potential Chicagoans cannot be
Board of Higher Education, the
underestimated.”
ACCRA Cost of Living Index,
- Daniel Hamburger, President and Chief Executive
and other local and regional
economic indicators. The Officer, DeVry Inc. & WBC board member.
study concluded that young
graduates choose Chicago
because it offers attractive
job and career opportunities,
competitive salaries combined
with a low cost of living, and a
superior quality of life.
21. Pursue Any Career
7%
8%
Prof. & Bus. Services^
32% Educ. & Health Services
10%
Wholesale & Retail
Leisure & Hosp.
10% Gov't, Other Services
Constr., Manuf.
Transp. & Utils
10%
23%
City of Chicago; ^Incl FIRE and
information industries. Source: Illinois
Department of Employment Security
Student surveys from undergraduate business programs at DePaul
University, Loyola Chicago, and the University of Illinois at Chicago
(UIC) reported that the most popular industries for recent graduates
seeking jobs were in accounting and financial services.
Some schools like the University of Chicago reported students
increasingly diversifying in fields such as healthcare, research science,
and computer technology.
- An excerpt from Make Your Mark; 10 Reasons Recent Grads Choose to
Start a Career in Chicago. A report by World Business Chicago.
23. Advancing Chicago’s
Human Capital
Chicago Career Tech
In 2010, WBC officially launched Chicago Career Tech (CCT),
an innovative program that creates a new corps of technology
professionals by providing technology training for displaced white-
collar workers.
The first pilot class of nearly 150 Chicago Career Tech participants
completed their six-month program with an 89% graduation rate
and a 98% certification rate. The second class began in October
with almost 300 participants. The
program prepares participants
for technology-based careers by
“Microsoft is honored to serve during providing training in an array of
Chicago Career Tech’s journey to empower fields in high demand, including
our residents with 21st century digital digital media, healthcare information
literacy skills. As chair of the CCT board, technology, Microsoft certifications,
I get a firsthand view of how digital network management, project
skills offer people a way to succeed in the management, technical sales,
telecommunications, and web design
workplace while positioning Chicago to
and development. The unique
compete on a global scale.” program strengthens Chicago’s
- Shelley Stern, Microsoft Central Region position as a technology center, while
Community Outreach Director providing a path into technology jobs
& Chairman, CCT advisory board for displaced workers.
24. Scorecard
World Business Chicago’s 2010 Results
√ Worked with companies creating & retaining more than 4,500 jobs
√ Worked with companies representing more than $400 mil. in investment
√ Worked with companies to occupy more than 1.3 mil. sq. feet of commercial real estate
√ Provided research and data for more than 200 company & partner agency requests
√ Successfully incubated & launched Chicago Career Tech
√ Published more than 80 “Economic Alerts”
√ Hosted more than 10 events with a total of more than 2,000 attendees
√ Presented to more than 125 domestic & international audiences
√ Received more than 300,000 webpage views
√ Generated more than 1.5 million advertising impressions
√ Topped more than 1,000 followers on Twitter
√ Created and distributed more than 5,000 print pieces
25.
26. Board
of Directors
Chairman Daniel M. Hamburger
President & CEO, DeVry Inc.
Honorable Richard M. Daley
Mayor, City of Chicago
Mellody Hobson
President, Ariel Investments
Co-Chairman Paul A. Laudicina
Michael D. O’Halleran Managing Officer & Chairman of the Board, A.T. Kearney
Executive Chairman, Aon Benfield Corporation
Michael H. Moskow
Vice Chairman, Senior Fellow for the Global Economy,
Board of Directors Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Rita Athas Thomas F. Motamed
President, World Business Chicago Chairman & CEO, CNA
James Bell J. Christopher Reyes
Executive Vice President & CFO, The Boeing Company Chairman, Reyes Holdings, LLC
Gregory Q. Brown John E. Rooney
President & CEO, Motorola Solutions President & CEO, U.S. Cellular Corp.
Debra Cafaro John W. Rowe
Chairman, President & CEO, Ventas, Inc. Chairman, Exelon Corp.
William Daley Patrick G. Ryan, Jr.
Chairman, Midwest Region, J.P. Morgan Chase CEO, INCISENT Technologies
Deborah DeHaas Carrie Simmons (Secretary)
Vice Chairman, Midwest Regional Managing Partner, Director of Opperations, World Business Chicago
Deloitte LLP
James Skogsbergh
Craig J. Duchossois President & CEO, Advocate Health Care
Chief Executive Officer, The Duchossois Group
Glenn Tilton
Terrence Duffy Chairman, President & CEO, UAL Corporation
Chairman, CME Group
William Wrigley, Jr.
George Farr Former Executive Chairman & Chairman of the Board,
Sr. Executive Vice President, Veolia Environnement Wm. Wrigley, Jr. Company
& Veolia Environmental Services, North America
27. Thanks
WBC Annual Report 2010 photographs:
Front and back covers: Aqua Building in Chicago
CC, Clarkmaxwell @ flickr.com
Inside front cover: Chicago from a Chopper
CC, Stuck in Customs @ flickr.com
Wind turbine image: Energy
CC, Tochis @ flickr.com
We would also like to thank the
following for their generous in-kind
donations to WBC throughout 2010:
AT Kearney
City of Chicago
Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau
Deloitte
Downtown Partners Chicago
Duane Morris LLP
United Airlines
WITH VEGETABLE OIL BASED INKS.
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
Printed sustainably using 100% wind power,
eco-safe inks, paper, & pressroom chemistry
28. About World Business Chicago
World Business Chicago (WBC) is Chicago’s not-for-profit economic
development corporation, chaired by Mayor Richard M. Daley and
directed by Rita R. Athas; the office fosters the Chicago region’s global
position as a thriving business location.
WBC enhances Chicago’s economy through the growth of the private
sector, building the best city in the world in which to live, work, and
play. WBC is a public-private partnership funded jointly by the City of
Chicago and the private sector; its Board of Directors, co-chaired by
Aon Benfield Corporation Executive Chairman, Michael D. O’Halleran, is
made up of some of the region’s leading business executives.
WBC coordinates the city’s business retention and attraction efforts,
raises Chicago’s profile as a prime business location and serves as a
resource for companies. The staff navigates the site selection process
for businesses by providing economic and industry data, site location
assistance, state and local incentive information, and bringing together
key parties in the public and private sectors to spur and accelerate
economic growth.
WorldBusinessChicago.com