Benesch is pleased to announce that partner Juan Morado Jr. has been appointed by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to serve as a Director on the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) Board.
The MPEA is a municipal corporation created by the Illinois General Assembly to attract trade shows, conventions, meetings, expositions and public events to strengthen the economy of Illinois and the region at large. MPEA owns McCormick Place, the largest convention center in North America, and the 10,000-seat Wintrust Arena. MPEA also supports events at the city’s iconic Navy Pier and other venues.
Morado, a member of the Benesch Health Care & Life Sciences Practice Group, begins serving his four-year term immediately. The Board is comprised of nine members, four appointed by the Governor of Illinois and four appointed by the Mayor of Chicago.
"Juan Morado Jr. has dedicated much of his professional life to creating, advocating for and advancing socioeconomic opportunities for Latinx and Hispanic communities both in our city and across our entire state," said Mayor Lightfoot. "This expertise and experience, rooted in the values of equity and inclusion, make him an invaluable add to the MPEA team. I want to extend my congratulations to Juan for his exciting new role and look forward to working closely with him in the future."
Morado’s appointment to this vitally important board is the latest example of his outstanding civic commitment to his hometown of Chicago. He also serves on the Chicago Bar Association Board of Managers and is a former commissioner of the city’s Illinois Medical District and the former General Counsel to the Health Facilities and Services Review Board of the State of Illinois. Morado served on Mayor Lightfoot’s Health & Human Services Transition Team following her election. He is the immediate past president of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois and is deeply involved in mentoring young lawyers, especially those from underrepresented communities. Now, Morado brings this unique skill set to the MPEA team.
“I am honored to have been asked by Mayor Lightfoot to join the MPEA Board,” said Morado. “While these are challenging times, Chicago remains a truly global city with unmatched vitality and diversity. I’m confident we can find new and creative ways to once again convene the great civic and commercial events that have always brought people together here and fueled our economy.”
Focusing his practice on health care matters, Morado advises hospitals, health systems, physician groups, consulting firms and pharmacies on complying with regulatory requirements and implementing industry best practices. He is one of the leading Certificate of Need (CON) attorneys in Illinois, working with clients to establish new hospitals, surgery centers and nursing homes in communities where they’re needed most and to obtain regulatory approval for changes of ownership.
“Juan Morado will add great depth of knowledge and experience to the Board of Directors,” said Larita Clark, CEO, MPEA. “This is a pivotal time for the authority and we are glad that he is joining us as we adapt to the new landscape and plan for the future.”
The appointment to the MPEA Board comes after Morado was nominated in June 2020 by the Chicago Bar Association to serve on that organization’s 2020/21 Board of Managers for a two-year term.