George to lead statewide economic development organization following successful tenure as Executive Director of Chicago 2024 Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention
CHICAGO – Today, Intersect Illinois, the only statewide economic development organization focused on bringing new businesses, jobs, and investment to Illinois, announced Christy George as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. George most recently served as Executive Director of the Chicago 2024 Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention. In this role, she was responsible for leading the organization’s civic engagement, overseeing its record-breaking fundraising and volunteer recruitment efforts, and serving as the primary liaison between the City of Chicago, State of Illinois and Democratic National Convention Committee.
As President and CEO, she will harness her wealth of experience leading economic development initiatives, including her tenure as Governor JB Pritzker’s First Assistant Deputy Governor for Budget & Economy, to continue the momentum Intersect Illinois has built to elevate the state as a global destination for business location and expansion. Before joining the Governor’s Office, George served as the Executive Director of the Illinois Commerce Commission and held several roles at the City of Chicago including Deputy Budget Director for Public Safety, Assistant Commissioner at the Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection, and Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Department of Law. George will step into the new role this November.
“Christy George has served the state of Illinois at the highest levels in a multitude of roles—she embodies the absolute best of our state in every way,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “From her time in my office to her leadership of the DNC Host Committee to this new challenge, Christy always brings a steady and brilliant leadership to any project she takes on, and I know that she will push Intersect Illinois to new heights of economic development and statewide growth.”
As Executive Director of the Chicago 2024 Host Committee, Christy oversaw a record-breaking fundraising effort, bringing in over $94 million — the most for any political convention ever — while recruiting 17,000 volunteers and meaningfully engaging all 77 community areas to ensure the economic benefits from the event extended to Chicago’s diverse local businesses and communities. While serving in the Governor’s Office, she spearheaded the state’s business attraction and engagement efforts and led workforce development priorities.
“I am thrilled to join Intersect Illinois as its President and CEO to continue building upon the incredible progress Intersect has made to grow its impact and expand opportunities for business development in every corner of our state,” said George. “I’m humbled that the Governor and Intersect’s Board of Directors are entrusting me to lead the organization in this next chapter. I look forward to working with Chairman John Atkinson and the Board as we partner with our amazing Team Illinois leaders in advancing the state’s position as the premier destination for business.”
In her new role as President and CEO, George will lead the Intersect team on executing the organization’s day-to-day operations to further expand its reach to attract new business and spur investment across key industries.
Intersect has never been better empowered to lead these efforts thanks to the steady hand and financial management of Governor Pritzker and legislative leaders who’ve helped position the state to tell a powerful #BeinIllinois story. This work has helped the Board transform the organization into a proactive and impactful entity that is recruiting new investment and innovation in communities across the state.
“Intersect Illinois could not be more excited to welcome Christy George as our new CEO. Coming off the heels of the hugely successful Democratic National Convention as Executive Director of the Host Committee, coupled with her experience working to expand business opportunities across our state, no one is better positioned to tell the ‘Why Illinois’ story than Christy,” said Intersect Illinois Chairman John Atkinson. “Governor Pritzker and his administration have worked tirelessly to set our state on a path to fiscal sustainability and help Intersect’s efforts to attract new business, and I look forward to partnering with her to capitalize on this momentum and continue establishing Illinois as a global destination for business.”
In September 2023, Governor Pritzker appointed John Atkinson to serve as Chairman of Intersect Illinois’ Board of Directors after serving as chair of the Illinois Board of Higher Education for four years. Since then, Intersect Illinois has capitalized on its opportunities for growth, including transforming its board to exclusively include CEOs, Presidents, Managing and Executive Directors, and Market leader level members and adding 25 new members during that time; working closer and smarter with site selection professionals throughout the country so they understand the myriad assets that make Illinois so attractive; and collaborating more effectively with Team Illinois, a coalition that includes Governor Pritzker, the Governor’s Office, Intersect Illinois, DCEO and a network of partners throughout the state to drive coordinated economic development efforts.
Intersect Illinois recently hired the organization’s inaugural Chief Quantum Officer to strengthen the state’s position as a global leader in quantum technologies and also work alongside several partners on the historic Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP). Intersect also played a key role in securing the IQMP’s anchor tenant, PsiQuantum. Additional recent Intersect Illinois assisted project wins include Gotion locating its state-of-the-art, $2 billion electric vehicle (EV) lithium battery manufacturing plant, which is expected to create more than 2,600 good-paying jobs, in Manteno, IL; Bedrock Materials, pioneering battery technology startup, locating its research and development headquarters in Chicago; and food tech startup Aqua Cultured Foods announcing it will expand in Chicago’s West Loop for faster job creation. As a whole, Intersect Illinois-assisted projects from FY 2024 account for 2,738 new jobs, up 158% over last year, and $2.05B in investment, a 47% increase over last year.
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About Intersect Illinois:
Intersect Illinois is the statewide economic development organization focused on bringing new jobs and investment to the state. Intersect Illinois collaborates with industry, academic, and government partners throughout the state. To date, Intersect Illinois helped create over 19,726 jobs and generate $8.27 billion in investment over the last eight years.
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