CHICAGO, Sept. 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The DuSable Museum of African American History has a new President and CEO. The board of trustees has selected Perri L. Irmer,
an attorney, architect, public policy advocate and facilities
management professional with a broad range of experience in executive
management, construction and fundraising.
Irmer, 56, a Chicago
native and lifelong resident of the Hyde Park-Kenwood community, brings
to the position a wealth of qualifications including business,
technical, legal and administrative experience, along with a commitment
to public service and the advancement of the African American community.
She starts September 14.
The DuSable was founded by Dr. Margaret Burroughs
to preserve African American history and be a center for thought
leadership. Irmer says she will focus on fulfilling Dr. Burroughs'
vision, raising the museum's visibility globally, expanding its donor
base, increasing community engagement and outreach, and collaborating
with other diverse educational and cultural institutions.
Irmer
also sees the museum playing an important role in community and
economic development initiatives. She says she would like to pursue
cross-pollination with leading institutions including universities, arts
and theater organizations, and to connect with corporate boards,
technology companies and other business leaders who seek to better
support their minority client and customer base and broaden their civic
engagement dialogue. Irmer expects to lead collaborative partnerships
with other cultural-identity and social justice groups as well.
"I
grew up in the community and with DuSable, so I have a vested interest
in the museum's success, in maintaining its independence and preserving
its philosophical mission. At the same time, I want to promote a forward
outlook for the museum and usher in an era of progress, expansion,
collaboration and financial growth," Irmer said. "I am deeply honored to
have been granted the opportunity to lead this important institution
which is both an anchor in the African American community and a
significant part of Chicago's historical and cultural fabric."
Since
2011, Irmer has worked as a consultant for various international and
local clients, serving most recently as president of her own company,
Intellectual Resource Management Group, Inc., a strategic planning firm
that promotes economic development through the integration of advanced
technology, sustainable design and public policy. From 2004 through
2011, she was chief executive officer of the Illinois Sports Facilities
Authority (ISFA), the government owner and operator of U.S. Cellular
Field, and the financing authority for the redevelopment of Soldier
Field. She managed the ballpark and its annual budget of over $40 million, and administered well over $100 million
in capital repairs and construction. During her tenure, Irmer greatly
expanded access to the publicly owned facility by the surrounding
community, non-profits and social services organizations.
DuSable Board Chairman Clarence Bourne
said, "Perri is everything we could have hoped for in a chief executive
and much more. She is uniquely qualified to broaden the museum's base
of support and the type of organizations who look to partner with
DuSable as an incubator for innovation and thought leadership. We
enthusiastically welcome Perri and look forward to working with her to
advance our mission to promote understanding and inspire appreciation of
the achievements, contributions, and experiences of African Americans
through exhibits, programs, and activities that illustrate African and
African American history, culture and art."
Irmer earned her Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1981, and her juris doctor (J.D.) from the University of Chicago
Law School in 1991. She has more than 36 years of experience in all
facets of the real estate and construction industries. She has worked on
the design side at prestigious architectural firms, on the development
side as a project and construction manager, as an attorney with a
concentration in construction law in both private and governmental
practice, as a private sector real estate executive and as a highly
respected public official. To date, Irmer has handled over $6 billion in public and private construction projects and is known for her advocacy on behalf of minority- and women-owned businesses.
She
has previously served on the board of directors of Choose Chicago, and
was a founding member of the Chicago Sports Commission. She is a member
of numerous civic and charitable boards, including the Alumni Board of
the Illinois Institute of Technology, where
she chairs its International Committee and was a founding member of its
African American Alumni Association. She is a member of the board of
World Chicago (a citizens' diplomacy organization that works directly
with the U.S. Department of State), a Trustee of the Catholic Theological Union, and sits on the advisory board of the Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions.
Ms.
Irmer has received numerous awards and honors, includingthe IIT Alumni
Award for Professional Achievement and the Chicago Defender Women of
Excellence Award, both in 2007, and a 2013 Women's Leadership Exchange
Compass Award. She is widely praised for her support of community and
youth services groups and her promotion of international business and
educational partnerships in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois.
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