Kurt Summers

Kurt Summers Jr.

City Treasurer of Chicago
In office
December 1, 2014 – May 20, 2019
Preceded by| Stephanie Neely
Succeeded by| Melissa Conyears-Ervin
Personal details
Political party| Democratic
Residence(s)| Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois
Alma mater| Washington University in St. Louis
Harvard University

Kurt Summers Jr. is the former Treasurer of the City of Chicago, Illinois.[1] Summers was appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel on October 22, 2014,[2] and took the oath of office on December 1, 2014.[3] Summers was elected to his first full-term in office during Chicago's citywide election on February 24, 2015. He was preceded in office by Stephanie Neely.[4]

## Early life and education[edit]

Summers graduated from Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Management Distinction High Honors in Finance and International Business, with a minor in East Asian Studies, from Washington University in St. Louis. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.[5]

## Career[edit]

Summers began his career at the consulting firm McKinsey & Company. He was later appointed Chief of Staff to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and as the appointed trustee for the county's $9 billion pension fund.[citation needed] In that capacity, Summers led changes to provide performance management in every department, which Preckwinkle claimed in 2014 had saved the city $400 million annually.[6] In his role as Chief of Staff for President Preckwinkle, Summers also steered the closure of a $487 million budget deficit while keeping the administration's promise to roll back the county sales tax, saving taxpayers more than $400 million a year. Additionally, Summers aided in reforming the county's procurement rules and helped pave the way for a more sustainable health and hospital system.

In 2008, Summers was appointed as chief of staff for "Chicago 2016", the city's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.[7]

He was a senior vice president at Grosvenor Capital Management, and a member of the Office of the chairman. In that role, he led the Emerging and Diverse Manager business, which invested over $2 billion with minority- and women-owned firms.[8]

When he was City Treasurer, Summers managed the city's $7 billion[citation needed] dollar investment portfolio and is responsible for maintaining records and accounts of the city's finances while ensuring transparency and accountability for all transactions. Summers sat on five local pension boards with nearly $25 billion under management.[citation needed]

Summers's first act in office was the proposal of a 90-day-plan called "Invest in Our Chicago",[9] which aimed to increase investment in the city. Summers also launched a listening tour, visiting Chicago's 77 communities in 77 days.[10][11]

## Personal life[edit]

Summers currently resides in Hyde Park.[5]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Office of the City Treasurer, City of Chicago". chicagocitytreasurer.com.
2. ^ "Mayor Emanuel Announces Selection of Kurt Summers Jr. to Fill Remaining Term as City of Chicago Treasurer". City of Chicago.
3. ^ "Emanuel's treasurer appointment launches Summers into prominence". Chicago Tribune. December 12, 2014.
4. ^ "City Treasurer Neely stepping down". Chicago Tribune. October 20, 2014.
5. ^ a b "Hyde Parker Kurt Summers takes on new role as Chicago treasurer, prepares for re-election". Hyde Park Herald.
6. ^ "Statement from President Preckwinkle on Kurt Summers' Appointment as Chicago Treasurer". CookCountyil.gov. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
7. ^ "Aldermen approve Kurt Summers' appointment as city treasurer". Chicago Sun-Times. November 10, 2014.
8. ^ "Toni Preckwinkle's chief of staff to depart". Chicago Tribune.
9. ^ "New City Treasurer unveils 90-day plan to boost local investments". Chicago Sun-Times. December 1, 2014.
10. ^ "Kurt Summers Jr". Chicago magazine.
11. ^ "Investing in Our Chicago: One Community at a Time". Huffington Post.