Full Name
Gery J. Chico
Job Title
Co-Founder
Company Name
Chico&Nunes, P.C.
Speaker Bio
For more than 30 years, he has practiced law and represented leading companies in Chicago and across the nation. He brings particularly deep expertise in real estate, land use, government regulation, and business counseling, including mergers and acquisitions.
In April 2004, Mr. Chico co-founded Chico & Nunes, P.C. and has been a senior partner here ever since. Prior to that, he was a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2004. Mr. Chico was also a senior partner in the law firm of Altheimer & Gray from 1996 through 2003, and before that he was a partner at Sidley & Austin in 1995 and 1996, where he served as the head of the firm’s State and Local Government practice. While an associate at that firm from 1987 through 1991, Mr. Chico served as General Counsel to the Chicago Development Council, the city’s largest real estate development association. He worked for the City of Chicago Department of Planning from 1977 through 1980, and was later a senior staff member for the Chicago City Council – Committee on Finance from 1980 through 1987. Mr. Chico graduated from the Loyola University School of Law in 1985, where he was a member of the Loyola Law Review.
Mr. Chico served as Chief of Staff to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley from 1992 through 1995. Prior to that, he was Deputy Chief of Staff for the Mayor. In 1995, Mayor Daley appointed Mr. Chico President of the Board of Trustees of the Chicago Public Schools, the nation’s third largest school system. Mayor Daley reappointed Mr. Chico for a second term in 1999. During his tenure as President, the Chicago Public Schools initiated a broad series of nationally recognized education and fiscal reforms which led to six straight years of student performance increases, six years of balanced budgets, eight years of labor peace and the unprecedented rebuilding of Chicago’s public school buildings. All of this activity led to the turnaround of one of the most troubled public school systems in the nation that was acknowledged by President Bill Clinton in his State of the Union Address.
In June, 2011, Governor Pat Quinn named Mr. Chico as Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). ISBE sets policy for Illinois schools and administers well more than $10 Billion in funding each year for Illinois public schools. In 2010, Mr. Chico served as the Chairman of the City Colleges of Chicago. Prior to that appointment, Mr. Chico served as President of the Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District from 2007 – 2010. Mr. Chico twice served as a Commissioner of the Public Building Commission of Chicago. The Commission is responsible for the construction of hundreds of millions of dollars annually of schools, park field houses, libraries, fire and police stations and other public facilities.
Mr. Chico has received many awards and honors over his career including: University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award; Distinguished Award for Excellence by the Illinois Bar Foundation; Citizen of the Year by the City Club of Chicago; Outstanding School Board President by the Illinois State Board of Education; Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Outstanding Public Service; Champion of the Public Interest by the Business and Professional People for the Public Interest; Champion of Debate Award by the Chicago Debate Commission; and Chicagoan of the Year by Chicago Magazine.
Mr. Chico currently serves as Chairman of the Local Initiative Support Corporation (“LISC”) Chicago Chapter. He is also a past Trustee and Secretary of the Board of Directors of Navy Pier, Inc. Mr. Chico is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Urban League, the former Chairman of the University of Illinois Alumni Association and the former Chairman of the Erikson Institute. Mr. Chico was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as a member of the committee overseeing the Judicial Performance Evaluation Program. He was one of the founders of the Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce (now the 2000+ member Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce). He has written a column for the Chicago Sun-Times and remains involved in many other professional, civic and charitable activities.
In April 2004, Mr. Chico co-founded Chico & Nunes, P.C. and has been a senior partner here ever since. Prior to that, he was a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2004. Mr. Chico was also a senior partner in the law firm of Altheimer & Gray from 1996 through 2003, and before that he was a partner at Sidley & Austin in 1995 and 1996, where he served as the head of the firm’s State and Local Government practice. While an associate at that firm from 1987 through 1991, Mr. Chico served as General Counsel to the Chicago Development Council, the city’s largest real estate development association. He worked for the City of Chicago Department of Planning from 1977 through 1980, and was later a senior staff member for the Chicago City Council – Committee on Finance from 1980 through 1987. Mr. Chico graduated from the Loyola University School of Law in 1985, where he was a member of the Loyola Law Review.
Mr. Chico served as Chief of Staff to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley from 1992 through 1995. Prior to that, he was Deputy Chief of Staff for the Mayor. In 1995, Mayor Daley appointed Mr. Chico President of the Board of Trustees of the Chicago Public Schools, the nation’s third largest school system. Mayor Daley reappointed Mr. Chico for a second term in 1999. During his tenure as President, the Chicago Public Schools initiated a broad series of nationally recognized education and fiscal reforms which led to six straight years of student performance increases, six years of balanced budgets, eight years of labor peace and the unprecedented rebuilding of Chicago’s public school buildings. All of this activity led to the turnaround of one of the most troubled public school systems in the nation that was acknowledged by President Bill Clinton in his State of the Union Address.
In June, 2011, Governor Pat Quinn named Mr. Chico as Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). ISBE sets policy for Illinois schools and administers well more than $10 Billion in funding each year for Illinois public schools. In 2010, Mr. Chico served as the Chairman of the City Colleges of Chicago. Prior to that appointment, Mr. Chico served as President of the Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District from 2007 – 2010. Mr. Chico twice served as a Commissioner of the Public Building Commission of Chicago. The Commission is responsible for the construction of hundreds of millions of dollars annually of schools, park field houses, libraries, fire and police stations and other public facilities.
Mr. Chico has received many awards and honors over his career including: University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award; Distinguished Award for Excellence by the Illinois Bar Foundation; Citizen of the Year by the City Club of Chicago; Outstanding School Board President by the Illinois State Board of Education; Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Outstanding Public Service; Champion of the Public Interest by the Business and Professional People for the Public Interest; Champion of Debate Award by the Chicago Debate Commission; and Chicagoan of the Year by Chicago Magazine.
Mr. Chico currently serves as Chairman of the Local Initiative Support Corporation (“LISC”) Chicago Chapter. He is also a past Trustee and Secretary of the Board of Directors of Navy Pier, Inc. Mr. Chico is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Urban League, the former Chairman of the University of Illinois Alumni Association and the former Chairman of the Erikson Institute. Mr. Chico was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as a member of the committee overseeing the Judicial Performance Evaluation Program. He was one of the founders of the Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce (now the 2000+ member Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce). He has written a column for the Chicago Sun-Times and remains involved in many other professional, civic and charitable activities.
Speaking At
