MacKay accepts permanent CEO position at Heartland Partnership
- Details
- Published on Monday, 25 February 2013 10:18
- Written by Paul Gordon
Cal MacKay will remain with The Heartland Partnership as its permanent CEO, the organization announced on Monday. The move is effective immediately.
MacKay, former chief financial officer of Methodist Medical Center, had been acting CEO since last August, when he was named to that position after the resignation of Jim McConoughey.
Mark Spenny, chairman of The Heartland Partnership board of directors, said MacKay has been instrumental in guiding the organization through a reorganization, which he termed "a very difficult period." The Heartland Partnership is being restructurwed to better align itself with the new regional economic development plan being created by Focus Forward Central Illinois (FFCI).
"Under his leadership, we have been able to streamline our costs and enhance our efficiency and we have also refocused our efforts on the private business sector so we are in alignment with the current regional vision," Spenny said.
When MacKay accepted the role of interim CEO his plan was simply to help the organization get through the reorganization and to step aside when a new permanent CEO was hired. He decided to accept the permanent position, however, because he found the work enjoyable and rewarding.
MacKay said one of his biggest accomplishments so far at The Heartland Partnership is the newly formed CEO Council (formerly the CEO Roundtable).
"It not only has a new name, there's a new mission, updated vision and new members. There are currently 59 members on the CEO Council and we continue to grow every week. We have had two meetings so far and we couldn't be happier with the engagement we've received," he said.
MacKay said the CEOs involved are working together to promote a common vision and strategies that promote the growth of Greater Peoria. The first three initiatives they plan to get involved in include the warehouse district/downtown revitalization, the Greater Peoria Regional Scorecard and education/workforce.
"The goal is to promote a climate conducive to fostering entrepreneurship, commerce and growth in order to make Greater Peoria a top mid-sized region in America. We want to work collaboratively with other organizations throughout the region that have similar missions. The members of the CEO Council are ready to roll up their sleeves and make a difference in our region," MacKay said.
MacKay has lived in Peoria for the past 11 years and currently serves as treasurer on the Peoria Riverfront Museum board of directors and president of the WD Boyce Council of Boy Scouts of America Council board of directors. He also sits on a variety of committees and workgroups for FFCI.
MacKay was the former Methodist Medical Center chief financial officer for 10 years and held similar roles in Atlanta, Ga. and Nashville, Tenn. prior to that.
He replaced McConoughey, the Partnership's CEO for more than 10 years. McConoughey resigned rather than allow any possible friction between The Heartland Partnership and the FFCI to make its way into the reorganization process.
CAPTION: Cal MacKay, the new CEO of the Heartland Partnership
