Metropolitan Appoints New Chair, Board Members

Metropolitan Family Services, one of Chicago’s oldest human services agencies, today announced the appointment of a new Chairman, Vice Chairman and several new members of its board of directors. The appointments were made at Metropolitan’s 156th Annual Meeting, held October 15 at the organization’s downtown headquarters.

Tony W. Hunter, CEO and Publisher of Chicago Tribune Company and CEO of Tribune Publishing, was named Chairman of the Board of Directors for Metropolitan, effective immediately. He will serve a two-year term.

Hunter joined Metropolitan’s Board in June 2009, and has served on the Board’s Executive Committee and Strategic Issues Committee since October 2010. In addition, he has been a Host Committee Member of Metropolitan’s Holiday Celebration, the agency’s largest fundraiser, since 2010. Hunter served as the Event Chair in 2011, and helped raise more than $1 million benefiting families in need.

“I am honored and humbled by this appointment, and by the opportunity to continue to build upon the momentum and success achieved by Metropolitan during the last two years,” said Hunter. “Along with my colleagues on the board and Metropolitan’s great staff, we will continue to make a real difference and improve the lives of thousands of people.”

Other key appointments include the agency’s new Vice Chair, John MacCarthy. MacCarthy is Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of Nuveen Investments, an investment management company with more than $200 billion of assets under management. MacCarthy heads the Legal & Compliance Department of Nuveen and serves on the firm’s Executive Committee. He joined Nuveen as Senior Vice President and General Counsel in March 2006.

New Board Members include Patrick Canning, Managing Partner of KPMG’s Chicago office and a Partner in the Audit Practice, where he is responsible for overseeing the delivery of high-quality client service, development of marketplace strategy, attracting and retaining key resources, and representing the firm in the marketplace and community.

Adrienne Weiss also has joined Metropolitan as a Board Member. Weiss is the principal of the Adrienne Weiss Corporation, which develops brand strategies for companies in a multitude of industries – food and beverage, retail, consumer products, convenience stores, real estate developments, sports stadiums and entertainment concepts.

“We at Metropolitan are thrilled to be moving forward under the dynamic leadership of Tony Hunter and our talented Board of Directors,” says Ric Estrada, President and CEO of Metropolitan Family Services. “They bring expertise that will aid us as we strive to empower 63,000 low-income families throughout the Chicago area. And as we do so, we help create a foundation for strong communities and great quality of life that benefits all of us.”

About Metropolitan Family Services
Metropolitan Family Services empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857 Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities. Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 63,000 families and individuals annually through seven community centers in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs and DuPage County. Metropolitan’s services promote education, economic stability, emotional wellness and empowerment.