Chris Kennedy

Chris Kennedy Email and Phone Number

Director @ Interface
Chicago, IL, US
Chris Kennedy's Location
Greater Chicago Area, United States, United States
Chris Kennedy's Contact Details
About Chris Kennedy

Christopher G. Kennedy is Chairman of Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises, Inc., which is the investment firm of the Kennedy Family. As Chairman, Chris is responsible for the development of the Kennedy Family’s real estate holdings in Chicago known as Wolf Point. Chris is also the Founder and Chairman of Top Box Foods, a non-profit, hunger-relief organization that addresses societal issues of hunger through the delivery of high-quality and affordable meats, fruits, vegetables and other food products throughout the city of Chicago.Chris is Chair of the Audit Committee and serves on the Governance and Management and Contracts Committees for Ariel Investments Mutual Fund, overseeing more than $3 billion in assets. Chris also serves on the Compensation Committee and is Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee of Interface, Inc., a floor covering company with more than $1 billion in annual sales. Chris serves as a Director on the Board of Knoll, a leading international firm that designs workplace and residential furnishings with a focus on modern design and sustainability. Chris is a member of the Executive Committee for and Chairs the Finance Committee for The Chicago Community Trust, which has assets totaling $1.5 billion.In August 2009, Governor Pat Quinn appointed Chris to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Chris was elected chairman of the Board by his fellow trustees at the first board meeting. He was re-elected as Chairman in January 2014 for his sixth consecutive term. Chris' appointment concluded in January 2015.Chris earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Boston College and a master’s in management from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management of Northwestern University. He is the son of Robert and Ethel Kennedy and is the eighth of their eleven children. He and his wife have four children and reside in suburban Chicago.

Chris Kennedy's Current Company Details
Interface

Interface

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Director
Chicago, IL, US
Chris Kennedy Work Experience Details
  • Interface
    Director
    Interface
    Chicago, Il, Us
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  • Top Box Foods
    Founder And Chairman
    Top Box Foods May 2012 - Present
    Chicago, Il, Us
    Chris is the Founder and Chairman of Top Box Foods, a market-based, transaction-oriented non-profit hunger-relief organization that addresses societal issues of hunger through the delivery of high-quality and affordable meats, fruits, vegetables and other food products throughout the city of Chicago.
    View
  • Experience Summary
    Anti-Hunger
    Experience Summary 1986 - Present
    Chris is the Founder and Chairman of Top Box Foods, a market-based, transaction-oriented non-profit hunger-relief organization that addresses societal issues of hunger through the delivery of high-quality and affordable meats, fruits, vegetables and other food products throughout the city of Chicago.Chris also participates in anti-hunger efforts through his role as a member of the Health, Housing and Human Services subcommittee at The Chicago Community Trust. The subcommittee seeks to create a healthy and safe region by ensuring access to affordable housing; reinforcing the safety nets for people facing homelessness, hunger and health problems; and finding long-term strategies to improve community health and public safety, including reforms to the criminal justice system.Chris served as Chairman of the Board for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the nation’s leading non-profit food distribution and training center. It provides food for hungry people through a network of 650 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters to 678,000 adults and children in Cook County every year.Under his leadership, the Greater Chicago Food Depository doubled its warehouse capacity, launched its first major corporate fundraising campaigns, developed its first fresh produce efforts, and recruited General Mike Mulqueen as Executive Director. Under Chris’ leadership during his time at The Merchandise Mart, the annual Sharing It Day event became the largest one-day food drive for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
  • Experience Summary
    Non-Profit And Civic
    Experience Summary 1986 - Present
    Chris served on the Board for the Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness, which worked to create, support and sustain effective strategies to end homelessness in Chicago. Anti-homelessness speaking engagements include remarks to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and a keynote address at the DuPage County Pads “Wake Up Your Spirit” Breakfast.In March of 2013, Chris joined the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition, which promotes sensible, comprehensive federal immigration reform to benefit the people and economy of the state and has delivered a keynote address the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.Chris is a member of the Executive Committee for the Chicago Community Trust, the Chicago-area’s community foundation that connects the generosity of donors with community needs by making grants to organizations working to improve metropolitan Chicago.In 2012, Chris served as a co-chair for the 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates.Chris has spoken to various groups about the importance of volunteering and civic service, including most recently his commencement address to the City Year Corps’ class of 2014 as well as his remarks to the students at Lake Forest College as they prepared for their Forester Day of Service.Chris has been honored by Little Company of Mary Hospital with the Mary Potter Humanitarian Award. He has also received the CARES Award from the Resurrection Health Care System, which is named after the core values of Resurrection Medical Center and the Resurrection Health Care system: Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Service.
  • Experience Summary
    Investment And Finance
    Experience Summary 1986 - Present
    Chris is Chairman of Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises, Inc., which is the investment firm of the Kennedy Family.Chris Chairs the Finance Committee for The Chicago Community Trust, which has assets totaling $1.5 billion.Chris is Treasurer of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, which works to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through funding, educational programming and by increasing public awareness of intellectual disabilities.Chris is chair of the Audit Committee and serves on the Governance and Management and Contracts Committees for Ariel Investments Mutual Fund, overseeing more than $3 billion in assets.Chris has delivered the keynote address at Worth Magazine’s 2014 Wealth Summit (Wealth and the American Dream) and has participated for multiple years in the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights’ Compass Conference. RFK Compass brings an elite group of investment officials from public and corporate pension plans, foundations and endowments, sovereign wealth funds, and notable family offices together with leading consultants, hedge fund and asset managers, policy makers and thought leaders to share ideas and views while building long-lasting relationships. Chris was also the keynote speaker at Morton College’s Economic Summit.
  • Experience Summary
    Education
    Experience Summary 1986 - Present
    In August 2009, Gov. Quinn appointed Chris to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Chris was elected Chairman by his fellow trustees at the first board meeting. He was re-elected as Chair in January 2014 for his sixth consecutive term. His term concluded in January 2015. The University has nearly 78,000 students and the largest alumni community in the world. It has the second-highest enrollment of international students of all colleges and universities in the U.S. Chris has delivered commencement addresses for both the College of Art and Architecture as well as the Honors College.Chris is also a member of the Global Advisory Board for Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. In 2008, Chris chaired the Kellogg School of Management’s Centennial Gala.Chris is a former member of the Association of Governing Boards’ Council of Board Chairs, an advisory board to the Association’s Board and President with regard to programs, services, publications, public policy issues, and membership development.Chris was the 2013 Lund-Gill Chair at Dominican University and taught an honors course that reviewed the effects of government and community policies on organizations which champion social justice. The course culminated in a public lecture (Catholic Social Justice and the American Ideal), and he also delivered the 2013 commencement address.Chris is a former Trustee for the Catholic Theological Union, one of the largest schools of theology in the world. He has spoken numerous times at the annual Blessed are the Peacemakers Dinner.Chris has delivered a series of speeches on the importance of research universities to the future of our state and general remarks on higher education. Venues include the City Club of Chicago, the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, the University of Illinois Foundation and Alumni Association, the University Club, UIC Urban Forum, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Innovation Council.
  • Experience Summary
    Real Estate
    Experience Summary 1986 - Present
    Chris was President of Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. (MMPI) from October 2000 until July 2011 and began his career there in 1990. As President, Chris managed the world-famous Merchandise Mart in Chicago. Under Chris’ leadership, MMPI managed ten million square feet of space, including the Chicago Apparel Center, Design Centers in Boston and Washington, DC, and tradeshow facilities across North America.Chris headed the redevelopment of Piers 92 & 94 in New York City. Chris also conceptualized and led the development of the new $500 million Cleveland Medical Mart. These projects serve as economic engines, driving more job opportunities, revenue and traffic into New York and Cleveland.As Chairman of Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises, Inc., Chris is responsible for the development of the Kennedy Family’s real estate holdings in Chicago known as Wolf Point. The Wolf Point development represents a private investment of over $1B that will bring more than 2,000 construction and permanent jobs to the city’s core. Wolf Point will be more than 3.5 million square feet of new construction, including 100,000-square feet of park, planting beds, riverwalk and pedestrian areas in addition to one residential tower, two mixed-used towers and a 1,285-stall parking garage.Chris is the former corporate officer of Vornado, a fully-integrated $30 billion real estate investment trust. Vornado is one of the largest owners and managers of commercial real estate in the U.S. with a portfolio of over 100 million square feet. Vornado's core businesses include New York; Washington, DC; and, Retail Properties primarily in the northeast states, California and Puerto Rico.Chris has spoken at the IL Real Estate Journal’s Annual Commercial Real Estate Forecast Conference, the Marshall Bennett School of Real Estate Gala as the keynote speaker, and at the Marcus & Millichap Commercial Real Estate Conference (Chicago Unvarnished: A Bullish Investor’s Hopes for the Future and Concerns of the Past).
  • Experience Summary
    Corporate
    Experience Summary 1986 - Present
    Chris is Chair of the Audit Committee and serves on the Governance and Management and Contract Committees for Ariel Investments Mutual Fund, overseeing more than $3 billion in assets.Chris also serves on the Compensation Committee and is Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee of Interface, Inc., a floor covering company with more than $1 billion in annual sales.Chris is the former corporate officer of Vornado Realty Trust, a $30 billion real estate investment trust.Chris has spoken to various business groups, including the Consular Corps of Chicago, the World Presidents Organization at the Toronto Forum, the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association, Young Presidents Organization, and the Illinois Department of Transportation at their annual Ethics in the Workplace workshop. Chris has also addressed CEOs for Cities and members of the Chicago Club on the importance of investing in job creation and business innovation.Chris participated in the 2012 Black Corporate Directors Conference, hosted by Ariel Investments, Ernst & Young, and Russell Reynolds Associates. His panel discussion addressed diversity, equality and inclusion at both the civic and corporate levels.Chris also delivered the keynote address at the A.R.I.S.E. Entrepreneurship Expo, a program designed to assist minority-owned businesses.
  • Experience Summary
    Tradeshows & Conventions
    Experience Summary 1986 - Present
    During Chris’ time as President, MMPI was one of the largest tradeshow producers in the United States, bringing nearly four million buyers to more than 15,000 sellers annually with over 300 trade and consumer shows across 12 different industries. Chris is also the former Chair of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, which handles convention sales for McCormick Place and Navy Pier. The Bureau promotes Chicago tourism and conventions through strategic partnerships with entities such as the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the Chicago Office of Tourism, the City of Chicago, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Bureau of Tourism.
  • Experience Summary
    Political
    Experience Summary 1986 - Present
    Chris was the treasurer for his brother Joseph Kennedy II’s reelection campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 8th Congressional district of Massachusetts, a seat formerly held by Speaker of the House Thomas Phillip “Tip” O’Neill, Jr. and President John F. Kennedy.Chris also chaired his nephew Joseph Kennedy III’s campaign for election to the U.S. House of representatives for Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional district, a seat formerly held by Congressman Barney Frank. Congressman Kennedy III raised more than $4 million in support of his campaign.Chris chaired Paul Vallas’ gubernatorial campaign in the democratic primary against former Governor Rod Blagojevich, and Chris chaired the transition committee for John Stroger when John became the first African American President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.Chris has addressed representatives from the State of Illinois’ General Assembly on the importance of research universities to the future of our state.
  • Experience Summary
    Rights For The Disabled
    Experience Summary 1986 - Present
    Chris has been a lifelong advocate of rights for the disabled. He is a former board member for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, one of the nation’s leading physical-rehabilitation hospitals.Chris is a longtime supporter of Special Olympics Chicago and Special Olympics Illinois, affiliates of Special Olympics. Co-founded by Chris’ aunt, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, Special Olympics aims to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes & the community. Chris has spoken multiple times at Special Olympics Chicago’s annual breakfast.Chris is also a longtime supporter of Best Buddies, founded by his cousin Anthony Shriver. Best Buddies is a leading nonprofit entity with an international reach across six continents, establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Chris was honored by Best Buddies in 2011 with the Spirit and Friendship Award for his years of advocacy for those with disabilities.Chris is Treasurer of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, which works to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through funding, educational programming and by increasing public awareness of intellectual disabilities.Chris is a former board member of VSA, formerly known as Very Special Arts, an international organization founded by Chris’ aunt and former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith. VSA provides people of all ages living with disabilities the opportunity to learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts.
  • Experience Summary
    Art & Design
    Experience Summary 1986 - Present
    Chris has been a leader in the fields of art, architecture and design.During Chris’ time as President, MMPI became the largest producer of contemporary art fairs in the country. In 2006, Chris negotiated the purchase of the fair Art Chicago, moved it from its former site at Butler Field to The Merchandise Mart and had the show operational within two days of being informed of its imminent closure. Art Chicago was an international contemporary art exhibition and was Chicago's longest-running major contemporary art exposition.Chris also led MMPI during its production of The Armory Show, the largest art fair in New York and one of the principal annual art events in the international art market calendar. Visited by tens of thousands of people each March, the Armory has for almost two decades been the showpiece for some of the world's most important modern and contemporary art galleries.During Chris leadership, MMPI also ran Art Toronto: Toronto International Art Fair, Canada’s only modern and contemporary fine art fair; the Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair, one of the country’s elite antiques shows that played host to more than 100 of the world's top dealers of antiques and fine art; and the One of A Kind shows, where more than 600 talented artists from across North America brought their imaginative, handmade creations in a wide range of media and categories, including jewelry, art, fashion, photography and accessories.
  • Experience Summary
    Sustainability
    Experience Summary 1986 - Present
    When Chris was President of MMPI, The Merchandise Mart became the largest LEED-certified building in the world, and along with its sister building, the Chicago Apparel Center, they are the first- and second-largest LEED-certified buildings in Chicago. The Apparel Center is home to the largest hotel in the United States to receive LEED certification and the first hotel in Chicago to be LEED-certified.Chris is Co-Chair of the Cook County Sustainability Advisory Council. The Council works with the County to put forward solutions and resources for sustainability programs.Chris is also a member of the Green Ribbon Committee, appointed first by Mayor Daley and reappointed by Mayor Emanuel. The Committee evaluates performance of the Chicago Climate Action Plan against its goals and recommends revisions, adjustments and improvements accordingly.Chris is a Director of Interface, Inc., an industry-leading floor-covering company that has adopted a bold vision to be the first company that, by its deeds, shows the entire industrial world what sustainability is in all its dimensions: people, process, product, place and profits—by 2020—and in doing so will become restorative through the power of influence.Chris has spoken about the importance of environmental consciousness and sustainability at events including Mayor Daley’s launch of the Green Office Challenge, the Chicago-Area Mayors River Summit, numerous Chicago Fish Ball events, and at the United States Green Building Council’s Greenbuild Conference.
  • Experience Summary (Cont'D.)
    Art And Design
    Experience Summary (Cont'D.) 1986 - Present
    Chris is a former board member of VSA, formerly known as Very Special Arts, an international organization on arts, education and disability, which was founded by Chris’ aunt and former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith. A primary focus of VSA is on arts education opportunities for young people with disabilities and to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the arts, education and culture around the world.Chris has delivered the commencement address to the graduating class of the Illinois Institute of Art and has spoken at the City Club of Chicago on the importance of art and Art Chicago. He has also addressed the International Interior Design Association at their Leaders Breakfast and has spoken multiple times at Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association meetings.Chris has been honored by the Illinois Arts Alliance with the Arts Advocate Award. He has also received the DePaul Award for Excellence in the Arts and the Apparel Industry Board, Inc. Leadership Award.
  • Experience Summary (Cont'D.)
    Anti-Hunger
    Experience Summary (Cont'D.) 1986 - Present
    Chris was asked by Cardinal Bernardin to represent the Archdiocese of Chicago in an ecumenical outreach to join various Protestant denominations in the annual CROP Hunger Walk, which Chris co-chaired for the remaining years of Cardinal Bernardin’s service to the church. CROP Hunger Walks are community-wide events sponsored by Church World Service and organized by religious groups, businesses, schools and others to raise funds to end hunger in the U.S. and around the world.Chris started the successful “Make a Charge Against Hunger” campaign in which partnering restaurants raised money from customers via their election to make tax-deductible donations directly on their credit cards.Chris has spoken about agriculture and the importance of anti-hunger efforts at the Illinois Farm Bureau’s annual meeting (The New Mercantilism – Government, University and Business) and at the Illinois Food and Agriculture Summit (Benefits of a Statewide Plan for Agriculture: How Government, Business and Academia can Work Together).Chris’s work through Top Box Foods was recognized with the Kleo Barrett Angel Award. The Award acknowledges individuals stepping up to be counted in the fight to eradicate domestic violence and helping women and children impacted by this societal scourge, as well as those working to help at-risk youth in Chicago.
  • Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises, Inc.
    Chairman
    Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises, Inc. 2012 - Present
    Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises, Inc. is the investment firm of the Kennedy Family. As Chairman, Chris is responsible for the development of the Kennedy Family’s real estate holdings in Chicago known as Wolf Point.
  • Interface
    Director
    Interface 2007 - Present
    Atlanta, Georgia, Us
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  • Ariel Mutual Funds
    Trustee
    Ariel Mutual Funds 1994 - Present
  • Knoll
    Director
    Knoll Dec 2014 - Jul 2021
    East Greenville, Pennsylvania, Us
    Knoll uses modern design to connect people to their work, their lives, their world. Since 1938, Knoll has been recognized internationally for creating workplace and residential furnishings that inspire, evolve, and endure. Today, our commitment to modern design, understanding of the workplace, and dedication to sustainable design have yielded a unique portfolio of products that respond and adapt to changing needs.
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  • University Of Illinois
    Chairman Of The Board Of Trustees
    University Of Illinois Aug 2009 - Jan 2015
    Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, And Springfield, Il, Us
    The University of Illinois has nearly 78,000 students and the largest alumni community in the world. The University has the second-highest enrollment of international students of all colleges and universities in the United States.
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  • Catholic Theological Union
    Trustee
    Catholic Theological Union 2006 - 2014
  • Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
    President
    Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. 1987 - Jul 2011
    Chicago, Il, Us
    MMPI is the world’s leading owner and operator of showroom buildings and trade show facilities, bringing buyers and sellers together in more than 300 market events, trade and consumer shows and conferences each year. MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 West Mart Center in Chicago; Market Square, Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; Architects & Designers Building, 7 W New York and Piers 92/94 in New York; Boston Design Center in Boston; L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; Washington Design Center in Washington D.C. and is developing Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center in Cleveland, OH.
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  • Archer Daniels Midland
    Management
    Archer Daniels Midland 1986 - 1987

Chris Kennedy Education Details

  • Northwestern University - Kellogg School Of Management
    Northwestern University - Kellogg School Of Management
    Management
  • Boston College
    Boston College
    Political Science
  • Georgetown Preparatory
    Georgetown Preparatory
    High School
  • Potomac School
    Potomac School

Frequently Asked Questions about Chris Kennedy

What company does Chris Kennedy work for?

Chris Kennedy works for Interface

What is Chris Kennedy's role at the current company?

Chris Kennedy's current role is Director.

What is Chris Kennedy's email address?

Chris Kennedy's email address is ch****@****ndw.com

What is Chris Kennedy's direct phone number?

Chris Kennedy's direct phone number is +161042*****

What schools did Chris Kennedy attend?

Chris Kennedy attended Northwestern University - Kellogg School Of Management, Boston College, Georgetown Preparatory, Potomac School.

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