Leadership Greater Chicago names new CEO
Leadership Greater Chicago has named Myetie Hamilton the next chief executive officer of the region's premier civic leadership development organization, effective July 24.
The LGC Search Committee, comprised of board members and Fellows, led a rigorous national search in partnership with Koya Partners, a search firm that specializes in placing CEOs in mission-driven roles. Myetie, a proud LGC Fellow since 2016, will step into the CEO position as the first Black American woman to lead the organization.
"Myetie is a purpose-driven leader of high integrity and possesses the visionary leadership to achieve the next level of impact for LGC," said Michelle Stohlmeyer Russell, Ph.D., board chair, Leadership Greater Chicago. "Her deep insight into Chicago and its diverse neighborhoods, and commitment to creating equity in all spaces, will only strengthen LGC and our programming. I am excited about the future of LGC with Myetie as our leader."
Myetie brings more than 25 years of experience in Chicago's education and public sectors. Most recently, she served as senior vice president and executive director of City Year Chicago where she led the largest site of AmeriCorps members across the national organization and was responsible for securing corporate funding and partnerships. In February 2022, she was elected president of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners where she has committed to increasing access for Chicago's children and families to the more than 600 city parks and green spaces and programming in underserved communities. Myetie is also a Commissioner for the Public Building Commission of Chicago.
"I am deeply honored and beyond excited to lead LGC, a well-established and highly-regarded organization. The deeply rooted relationships I have developed since my experience in the LGC Fellows Program now come full circle," explains Myetie Hamilton. "When you have the power of the Fellows behind you, as well as the city, we can lead transformational change together for the Greater Chicago Region. I look forward to working with our amazing board, alumni, sponsors and current year Fellows to create an experience in the exploration of civic leadership that will position LGC for its next edge of elevation."
Throughout her career, Myetie has been a driver of equity and innovation in education. Raised on Chicago's South Side and having attended Chicago Public Schools schools, Myetie has brought her experiences, passion and commitment to her many roles in education and nonprofit leadership. Prior to her tenure at City Year Chicago, she was the executive director of EPIC Academy, a public, open-enrollment charter high school on the far Southeast Side of Chicago where she led organizational strategy and vision, fundraising and external relations and board engagement.
She also served in numerous leadership positions for CPS, including chief of school business services and deputy chief of schools for Network 9 where she managed transformative efforts for 28 schools in Chicago's Woodlawn, Bronzeville and Hyde Park communities.
Myetie serves as vice-chair for the Provident Foundation and as a board member for the Museum of Science and Industry and The Field Museum. Myetie has been acknowledged by Crain's Chicago Business as a Notable Leader in Community Development, by lifestyle media outlet Make It Better as one of Chicago's 38 Top Black Women of Impact and was a 2018 recipient of the Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Award. She earned a bachelor's degree in business management from Alabama A&M University and a master's degree in public administration from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Myetie lives in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago with her husband and twin daughters.
She joins Leadership Greater Chicago as the organization celebrates the 40th anniversary of its founding by The Chicago Community Trust. Since becoming an LGC Fellow in 2016, Myetie remains actively involved as a subject matter expert in the LGC School of Deans where she consults on the Signature Fellows Program curriculum.
Myetie succeeds Maria Wynne after nine years of leadership.
About LGC
Leadership Greater Chicago is the region's premier civic leadership incubator, delivering the knowledge and network to lead bold, transformative change. It convenes, connects and mobilizes the area's most promising leaders around key socioeconomic issues through dynamic education and experiential activities. These diverse individuals represent the most prominent corporate, nonprofit, government and education organizations.
The LGC Signature Fellows Program equips participants with the resources they need to understand how decisions are made, how complex policies are shaped, and how to influence meaningful change. Using the city as a classroom, LGC Fellows learn through interactions with private, public and nonprofit decision makers, and work as a group to develop critical thinking, analytical, governance and leadership skills.
The Daniel Burnham Fellowship is an accelerated civic onboarding experience for senior executives who, in their roles as change leaders and decision makers, are challenged to play an active part in shaping the future of Chicago. The Fellowship integrates participants into the civic fabric of the city - understanding its history and future trajectory and building relationships and networks across the greater Chicago region.
Leadership Greater Chicago creates connectivity among its Fellows to positively impact not only themselves but their employees, their constituents, their clients, their neighbors and their families. This connectivity is the backbone and strength of the LGC network, enabling leaders to leverage collective resources to make the Greater Chicago Region a more dynamic, inclusive and collaborative community.
Visit lgcchicago.org.