Business POV

The second annual Innovation Summit, presented by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and World Business Chicago, drew close to 600 members of the Chicago business community to Navy Pier on October 25. Here Mesirow CEO James Tyree discusses innovation, both in Chicago and at his company.

Attendees also saw demonstrations of the latest Microsoft technology, including Surface, which turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, interactive computing platform, on display for the first time in Chicagoland.

About James Tyree:

James C. Tyree serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Mesirow Financial, a diversified financial services firm headquartered in Chicago. The firm is an employee-owned, private company with more than 1,100 employees in 30 locations across the country, Puerto Rico and London. With nearly $25 billion in assets under management, Mesirow Financial is well capitalized and has been consistently profitable, with revenues for fiscal 2007 reaching a record $450 million and capital of $210 million. Jim's entire career has been with Mesirow Financial, joining the firm in 1980 as a research associate and quickly rising through the ranks to be named president in 1990, chief executive officer in 1992 and chairman and chief executive officer in 1994.

Jim’s vision is to build a firm that offers clients a range of high-quality financial services. To accomplish this, he has assembled a team of experts in Investment Management, Investment Services, Insurance Services, Investment Banking, Consulting and Real Estate. During his tenure as CEO, he has led Mesirow Financial to exceptional levels of growth in all areas of the business. Over the past 20 years the firm has grown both internally as well as through over 50 acquisitions. Acquisitions of firms such as Stein & Company, a premier real estate organization, Near North Insurance Brokerage’s Chicago office and Dann Insurance, two leading insurance agencies, and the U.S. Corporate Recovery practice from KPMG, have strengthened Mesirow Financial’s ability to serve clients with a variety of needs.

Throughout his career, Jim has served on more than 50 corporate, civic and not-for-profit boards of directors. Civically, Jim provides active leadership and participates in numerous organizations in support of healthcare, education and children. In 2000, Mayor Daley appointed Jim as chairman of the board of City Colleges of Chicago, an organization with seven colleges and 110,000 students. In addition, Jim is the chairman for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and past chairman of The Executives’ Club of Chicago. He currently serves on the boards of Illinois State University Foundation, Roosevelt University, Illinois Education Foundation, University of Chicago Medical Center, Big Shoulders Fund, Illinois Emerging Technologies Fund, and University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Advancement Council. Jim also serves on the Advisory Board of the Northwestern University Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Program Project Grant.

Jim is chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. In addition, Jim has held various leadership positions during the past 15 years with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Illinois Chapter, including serving as president of the board and as chairman of their annual gala. Currently, Jim is the member-at-large of the executive committee and a life member of the board of directors and was named its 2004 Person of the Year.

A native Chicagoan, Jim grew up on the South Side in the Beverly neighborhood. He received both his bachelor’s degree and his master’s degree in business from Illinois State University. Jim, his wife, Eve, their daughter, Jessica, and twin sons, Matthew and Joseph reside in Chicago.