Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced the appointment of Juan Morado Jr. to the Board of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA).
The MPEA Board is comprised of nine members. Four members are appointed by the Governor of Illinois and four members are appointed by the Mayor of Chicago. The Chairman is selected by the MPEA Board of Directors. These individuals lead MPEA in its mission to attract trade shows, conventions and public events to Chicago as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the state and city economies.
Mr. Morado has long been an economic driver for our City and State, creating a wealth of opportunities for local small businesses and workers.
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“Juan Morado Jr. has dedicated much of his professional life to creating, advocating for and advancing socioeconomic opportunities for Latinx and Hispanic communities both in our City and across our entire state,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “This expertise and experience, rooted in the values of equity and inclusion, make him an invaluable add to the MPEA team. I want to extend my congratulations to Juan for his exciting new role and look forward to working closely with him in the future.”
Juan Morado Jr. brings a deep background in community and civic engagement. He joined Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP in 2017 as a Partner in the health care practice group and recently served as the 23rd President of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois.
“Juan Morado will add great depth of knowledge and experience to the Board of Directors,” said Larita Clark, CEO, MPEA, “This is a pivotal time for the Authority and we are glad that he is joining us as we adapt to the new landscape and plan for the future.”
Previously, Morado served as General Counsel and Ethics Officer to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board (HFSRB). From 2013 to 2015, he worked in Governor Pat Quinn’s administration, where as Deputy Chief of Staff he advised on economic development and employment issues facing the Latino community in Illinois. Governor Quinn appointed him to the Board of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) and as Representative to the National Governor’s Association policy academy on public-private partnerships.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed Morado as Commissioner to the Illinois Medical District Commission, where he was subsequently elected by his colleagues to serve as Vice President. He is also on the Board of Managers for the Chicago Bar Association.
Morado’s other civic engagements include serving as a Board Director for La Casa Norte, the Medical Organization of Latino Advancement, the Public Interest Law Initiative, the We CAN Achieve Foundation and the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI) Charities. He also serves on the Teatro Vista Advisory Board and is an active member of the American Health Law Association, the Illinois Association of Health Law Attorneys and the Hispanic National Bar Association.
A lifelong Chicagoan, Morado lives with his family in the city’s Belmont Cragin neighborhood.
