CEOs for Cities is a national cross-sector network of urban leaders from the civic, business, academic and philanthropic sectors dedicated to building and sustaining the next generation of great American cities. CEOs for Cities works with its network partners to develop great cities that excel in the areas most critical to urban success: talent, connections, innovation and distinctiveness.
Carol Coletta, President and CEO
Carol Coletta is president and CEO of CEOs for Cities and host and producer of the nationally syndicated public radio show Smart City.
Previously, she served as president of Coletta & Company in Memphis. In addition, she served as executive director of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Conference of Mayors and American Architectural Foundation.
Carol was a Knight Fellow in Community Building for 2003 at the University of Miami School of Architecture. She is a highly sought after speaker on the success formula for cities and creative communities and is frequently interviewed as an expert on urban issues by national media.
In 2008 she was named one of the world’s 50 most important urban experts by a leading European think tank. Most recently, she was named the recipient of the Lamda Alpha International 2009 International Journalism Award for her work with CEOs for Cities and Smart City, and as one of the top 50 urban thinkers of all time by readers of PLANetizen.com.
Rebecca Eggleston, Program Director
Rebecca Eggleston has recently joined the CEOs for Cities team as the Program Director, Creative Cities. She brings with her experience in creative industries development, creative cities and urban activation gained in Western Australia. Initiating the Creative Cities Network and other programming, Rebecca is building the organization’s offerings in this area of growing relevance and potential for cities operating in today’s knowledge economy.
In her role as Western Australia’s FORM Industry Development Manager, and previously Designing Futures Manager, Rebecca developed mechanisms to enhance the growth of Perth’s design industry through training, industry clusters, and creating opportunities for businesses locally and internationally. Rebecca was also a lead team member in initial scoping, visioning and planning for a creative industries hub to be created as a centerpiece for a broader urban redevelopment; and was a leading contributor to the Creative Capital program, examining the future of Perth and how to stimulate Western Australia’s competitiveness and creativity through physical, attitudinal and systemic change.
Bridget Marquis, Program and Partnership Director
Bridget Marquis joined CEOs for Cities as Program and Partnership Director in July 2007. With an MBA in Arts Administration she has more than seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector. In this position she works to develop an expansive urban leaders network in cities across the country to engage both traditional and new urban change agents in the organization’s work. The City Cluster model has developed more fully under her management, creating strong local delegations composed of a cross-sector of leaders in cities such as Boston, Charlotte, Pittsburgh and Portland.
Prior to her work with CEOs for Cities, Bridget served as Development Coordinator for Howard County Arts Council outside of Baltimore. In that position she launched individual and corporate giving campaigns, managed membership relationships and provided special events coordination. Bridget also brings expertise in budgeting and financial analysis. In addition to business management, her graduate work included courses in urban and regional planning, culminating in a thesis that revolved around the application of the Urban Institute study Investing in Creativity: A Study of the Support Structure for U.S. Artists in southwestern Wisconsin.
Shreya Parekh, Office Manager
Shreya Parekh joined the CEOs for Cities team in December 2008 as the Office Manager. She holds a Masters degree in Human Resources Management from Loyola University and has five years of recruiting experience in the private sector. In this position she manages all office functions from supporting the CEO to event planning. She brings with her an expertise of event production and the ability to develop and manage efficient systems.
Prior to her work with CEOs for Cities, Shreya worked as a Recruiter for McKinsey & Company, a strategic management consulting firm in Chicago. Realizing that she wanted to make a more direct contribution to the cause of cities and community building, she was immediately drawn to the mission of CEOs for Cities. She is a lifelong resident of Chicago and truly believes it is one of the best American cities.
Board of Directors
Board Chair:
Paul Grogan, President and CEO, The Boston Foundation
Board Members:
Rita Athas, President, World Business Chicago
Carol Coletta, President and CEO, CEOs for Cities
Bruce Mau, Chief Creative Officer, Bruce Mau Design
Josh McManus, Co-founder and Creative Strategist, CreateHere
Bob Milbourne, President and CE, RHM Advisors LLC
Kim Walesh, Chief Strategist, City of San Jose
Nancy Zimpher, Chancellor, SUNY
