2009 CHICAGO UNITED BRIDGE ADVOCATE AWARD RECIPIENT

"Mesirow Financial’s commitment to diversity is based on a keen understanding of today’s world and what it takes to be successful in it. We understand the importance of reaching out and supporting all aspects of this diverse world we live in."

James C. Tyree
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Mesirow Financial

James C. Tyree serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Mesirow Financial, a
diversified financial services firm headquartered in Chicago. Jim’s vision is to build a
firm that offers clients a range of high-quality financial services. The firm is an employee-
owned, private company with more than 1,200 employees in locations across the
country and in London. Mesirow Financial is well capitalized and has been consistently
profitable with capital of $250 million, revenues for fiscal 2009 totaling $467 million
and over $30 billion in assets under management.

Jim’s entire career has been with Mesirow Financial, joining the firm in 1980 as a
research associate and quickly rising through the ranks to be named president in
1990, chief executive officer in 1992 and chairman and chief executive officer in
1994. During his tenure as CEO, he has led Mesirow Financial to exceptional levels
of growth in all areas of the business. Over the past 20 years, Mesirow Financial
has grown both organically as well as through over 50 acquisitions. Today, the firm
has become a leading provider of investment management, investment management
services, insurance services, investment banking, consulting and real estate.

Throughout his career, Jim has served on more than 50 corporate, civic and not-forprofit
boards of directors. Jim is chairman of the Sun-Times Media Holdings, a media
firm that publishes 58 newspapers and websites including the Chicago Sun-Times. In
2007, he was appointed to the board of PrivateBancorp, Inc., a publicly held commercial
bank. Civically, he provides active leadership and participates in numerous organizations
in support of healthcare, education and children. In 2000, Mayor Daley appointed Jim as
chairman of the Board of City Colleges of Chicago, an organization with seven colleges
and over 121,000 students. His commitment to diversity and inclusion has been evident
during his work at City Colleges and through his leadership of the Five Forward Initiative
at Chicago United. Since he took on the role of chairman of the Chicago United Economic
Task Force in 2005, his vision for creating a commitment to growing minority businesses
has impacted 80 local minority-owned firms to date. In addition, Jim is the chairman
for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on the Boards of The
Executives’ Club of Chicago, University of Chicago Medical Center, Illinois Institute of
Technology, Illinois Education Foundation, and Big Shoulders Fund.

Jim was chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International from
2006 to 2008 and continues to serve on its Executive Committee. In addition, Jim has
held various leadership positions with the JDRF Illinois Chapter. Currently, he is member-
at-large of its Executive Committee, a life member of its Board of Directors and
was named its 2004 Person of the Year.

A native Chicagoan, Jim grew up on the South Side in the Beverly neighborhood. He
received both his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in business from Illinois State
University.