Founding CEO of Choose DuPage to Retire

Mike Skarr, who played a lead role in attracting over 4,000 jobs to
DuPage County as CEO of Choose DuPage, is retiring after leading the economic development agency since its inception.

Skarr has been with Choose DuPage since the beginning and served as the inaugural president and CEO when the organization was founded in 2008.

“As Mike retires, we hope that in the future we may still call upon him to help Choose DuPage continue to retain existing business and attract new business within DuPage County,” said Greg Bedalov, president of Choose DuPage.

During his time with Choose DuPage, Skarr secured the support of numerous private-sector organizations to invest in the organization and serve on its board of directors.

He also played a major role in successfully retaining, expanding and relocating several companies to DuPage County, bringing thousands of jobs to the region. Notable examples include Peerless Industries Inc., which opened a facility in Aurora, Ill., expected to create 800 jobs; SunCoke Energy, which relocated its corporate headquarters to Lisle, Ill., bringing with it 105 jobs; and Navistar Inc., which purchased the vacant Alcatel-Lucent campus in Lisle, securing more than 3,000 jobs for the region.

Prior to his time at Choose DuPage, Skarr served as president and CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, where he helped the chamber double its membership. He received national recognition through serving on the U.S. Chamber of Commerceʼs Association Committee of 100, and joined the board of directors of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. Before working with the chamber, Skarr worked for Nicor Inc., a Fortune 500 energy holding company located in Naperville.

Skarr looks forward to spending time with his wife, Mary Ann, his three sons and seven grandchildren upon retirement.