Christopher George Kennedy
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| Christopher George Kennedy | |
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| Born | July 4, 1963 Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Education | bachelor’s degree in political science (Boston College) MBA (Northwestern University) |
| Occupation | President of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. |
| Spouse | Sheila Sinclair Berner (1987 - present) |
| Children | Katherine Berner Kennedy, Christopher George Kennedy, Jr., Sarah Louise Kennedy, and Clare Rose Kennedy |
| Parents | Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel |
Christopher George Kennedy was born July 4, 1963 in Boston, Massachusetts. He is the 8th of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy's 11 children, and grew up in a country house in McLean, Virginia.
Chris attended the Potomac School in McLean, VA through 9th grade, and thereafter went to Georgetown Prep, graduating in 1982. While in high school, Chris volunteered at a home for runaway children. Together with his friend Brad Blank, at age 16 Chris incorporated his first business, Breakwater Boats, a sailboat rental operation on Kalmus Beach in Hyannis.
His political activism began at an early age, and in 1979 and 1980 he worked on his Uncle Ted Kennedy's bid for the Democratic Nomination for President. He was also treasurer of the Joseph P. Kennedy for Congress Committee in 1988. Over the years he has organized numerous fundraising events in Chicago for Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Joseph P. Kennedy and Mark K. Shriver.
His commitment to politics extends beyond his family; Chris chaired the Transition Committee for John Stroger when Stroger was first elected as Cook County, Illinois' Board President; Chris was General Chairman for the Vallas for Illinois Governor Committee, and he and Sheila hosted a fundraiser for Barack Obama in his bid for United States Senate.
Chris earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Boston College in 1986, where he met Sheila Sinclair Berner (b. December 4, 1962)[1]. Sheila earned a law degree and practiced at Sidley & Austin in Chicago before retiring to take care of their children. Chris began working at The Merchandise Mart, while attending graduate school in the evening. He was awarded a Masters of Management from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management of Northwestern University in 1994.[2]
Chris and Sheila live in the suburbs of Chicago and have four children: [3]
- Katherine Berner Kennedy (b. October 4, 1990);
- Christopher George Kennedy, Jr. (b. June 15, 1992);
- Sarah Louise Kennedy (b. September 26, 1994);
- Clare Rose Kennedy (b. November 3, 1998)
He is President of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., a subsidiary of Vornado Realty Trust, one of the largest commercial property realtors in the United States. The Merchandise Mart was owned by the Kennedy family from 1945 until 1998, and, at 4.2 million square feet, was once the largest privately owned building in the world. Sitting on the Chicago River, the iconic Merchandise Mart is 2 city blocks large and has its own zip code.
Chris was named President of MMPI in October, 2000. [4]
He began his career with MMPI as a research analyst in 1987. In 1988, he was promoted to Director of the Architectural Products Division of The Merchandise Mart and earned promotions to Vice President in 1991 and Executive Vice President in 1994.[5]
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI), is recognized as the leader in its niche of the real estate market in which it operates showroom-anchored real estate throughout North America. As a market-maker for various industries, MMPI produces tradeshows either in its buildings or in free-standing tradeshow facilities. It is the largest operator of gift markts in the country. MMPI produces NeoCon, an annual tradeshow for architects, designers and facility managers. MMPI produces the most important show for the bridal industry, the largest construction shows in Canada, the most important show for casual or patio furniture, and it helps lead the organization of the largest furniture tradeshow in the world in High Point, North Carolina. MMPI manages design centers in Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. The Merchandise Mart created LuxeHome, a kitchen and bath design center in Chicago. MMPI is currently developing a $400 million medical mart in Cleveland, Ohio,[6] and redeveloping $100 million tradeshow facilities at Piers 92 and 94 in New York City.[7] MMPI is the dominant producer of art fairs in North America. They produce Art Chicago and NEXT in Chicago, their hometown, as well as The Armory Show and VOLTA NY in New York City and The Toronto International Art Fair, the national art fair of Canada, and VOLTA Basel in Switzerland. [8]
Continuing his family's involvement in environmental stewardship, under Chris' leadership, The Mart is the largest building in the world to be awarded LEED-EB (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings) Silver Certification by the United States Green Building Council. [9] MMPI was a founding member of the Clean Air Council [10], and Chris is a founding member of the River Walk Marketing Committee and Chicago's Green Ribbon Committee.
Chris sits on the board of trustees of Ariel Mutual Funds[11], and also serves on the board of directors of the Interface, Inc.[12], as well as several privately held companies. Chris is also active in numerous nonprofit groups. He is the treasurer of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Foundation[13]. He serves on the board of directors of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago[14] and the Catholic Theological Union. He is the past chairman of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau and is a former chairman of the Greater Chicago Food Depository[15]. Additionally, he served on the boards of Citizens' Energy Corporation, El Valor Agency, the Heartland Alliance, Children's Memorial Hosptal, the Irish Fellowship Club, the Center for Disability and Elder Law and the Illinois Council on Economic Education.[16]
Chris is also involved in numerous civic organizations in Chicago, including the Chicago Council on Global Affairs[17], the City Club of Chicago, the Executives Club of Chicago, the Economic Club of Chicago and The Commercial Club of Chicago[18].[19]
[edit] External links
--Communications MMPI (talk) 16:20, 20 May 2008 (UTC) --Communications MMPI (talk) 16:30, 20 May 2008 (UTC)--Communications MMPI (talk) 23:13, 20 May 2008 (UTC)
