Chicago, IL, July 15, 2024 – Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC) announces the hiring of Lisa Dziekan as Principal, Economic Development. Dziekan brings extensive experience and a strategic approach to creating Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) that drive economic development with a lens on the partners and innovation ecosystems that are leading growing industry opportunities. In her new role, Dziekan will be responsible for driving forward projects, initiatives and relationships that propel growth and impact across Chicagoland and other markets for LJC, Clayco and its subsidiaries.
“Lisa’s extensive background and her passion for driving meaningful change through collaborations make her an invaluable addition to our team,” said Kapil Khanna, CEO of Lamar Johnson Collaborative. “We are excited to see the transformative projects and partnerships she will bring to our organization and the communities we serve.”
Dziekan brings a comprehensive background in economic development, real estate, and stakeholder engagement to LJC. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President at World Business Chicago (WBC). Her efforts included pitching Chicago on a global stage for new investment; working with companies, real estate partners and investors to drive new investment in Chicago’s downtown commercial corridors; expanding on efforts to build the life sciences and quantum ecosystems across the Chicago region; and working with regional partners to operationalize the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership, a partnership of the seven counties that comprise the Chicago MSA. As part of the leadership team, she contributed to significant Pro-Chicago decisions in partnership with corporates, universities, start-ups and other partners that resulted in over 410 projects wins, more than 9,000 jobs, and being named the 2023 Top Large Market Economic Development Organization.
Prior to her role at World Business Chicago, Dziekan was the Principal at Dziekan Consulting LLC, where she led projects focused on real estate market analysis, stakeholder engagement, and public affairs. Her notable projects included contributing to the CTA Red Purple Modernization Program TOD Market Analysis and the Chicago Loop Alliance State of the Chicago Loop Economic Profile. Additionally, she managed community and stakeholder engagement for various planning, development, and infrastructure projects across the Chicago region.
Earlier in her career, Dziekan was a Manager at Arthur Andersen LLP’s Real Estate Advisory Services Group, working on large-scale real estate and economic development projects in Chicago and nationwide. In this role, she worked with developers to identify market opportunities across the country, contributed to planning for Chicago’s industrial corridors and Central Area, and led efforts on behalf of the state and city to submit the successful joint proposal for the Ford Motor Company Supplier Park, in Chicago’s Calumet area. She also previously served as a as a liaison between industry and the City of Chicago on issues such as land use, zoning, and workforce development in the city’s Planned Manufacturing Districts, as part of the city’s Local Industrial Retention Initiative.
“I am excited to join Lamar Johnson Collaborative and contribute to the team’s mission of creating impactful and sustainable projects,” said Dziekan. “I look forward to leveraging my experience in economic development and working across innovation ecosystems to foster projects that create lasting impact, and drive growth and economic vitality within our communities.”
About LJC
LJC is a full-service design and architecture firm committed to enhancing the quality of the human experience and to improving how design and architecture can impact each individual’s emotional being. By harnessing the power of integrated design, including architecture, workplace strategy, interior design, landscape architecture, urban planning and engineering, the company achieves its clients’ goals and aspirations. For more information, please visit www.theljc.com.