RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, throughout the City of Chicago's history, some exemplary-public servants have contributed immeasurably to make our City a great place to work, live and visit; and
WHEREAS, one such public servant, Mary Slowik, has ably and humbly served the City of Chicago for a total of 34 years; and
WHEREAS, an adept project manager, event planner and administrator, Ms. Slowik worked in the Mayor's Office of Special Events and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, producing high-profile programs and events; and
WHEREAS, for 22 years, Mary Slowik has been the project manager for Taste of Chicago, the Nation's largest free admission food and music festival, which attracts millions of enthusiastic visitors, generates over $7 million in annual revenue, and has a yearly economic impact of $106 million; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, Mary led her team in a redesign of this iconic event to attract a new audience and reduce costs, resulting in a new, reinvigorated Taste of Chicago, which has received accolades as a premier culinary and cultural event; and
WHEREAS, Mary Slowik also oversaw the administrative functions of the Mayor's Office of Special Events for 10 years, overseeing human resources, and developing and implementing policies and managing the budgets for the Chicago Blues, Gospel, and Jazz Festivals, the Taste of Chicago and the Air and Water Show; and
WHEREAS, Mary also managed the Air and Water Show, the largest event of its kind in the Nation, in its first year, under the direction of the Mayor's Office of Special Events; and
WHEREAS, Mary Slowik has also coordinated numerous other events, including the annual City of Chicago Christmas Tree program in Daley Plaza and Millennium Park, Chinese New Year Celebration, Lake FX Summit and Expo, Food Truck Rallies, Chicago's Millennium Dinner, various Mayoral events and receptions and assisted with victory celebrations for the Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks, White Sox and Cubs; and
WHEREAS, in the course of her outstanding and inspiring career, Mary Slowik has received several honors, including the Kathy Osterman Award for Superior Public Service. Mary is a true Chicagoan and proven public servant who personifies our City's values as dedicated, compassionate and hardworking; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled on this twenty-sixth day of July, 2017, do hereby express our profound thanks and appreciation to Mary Slowik for her longstanding and devoted service, friendship, guidance, tenacity and countless contributions in support of the City of Chicago and its citizens, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we extend to Mary Slowik our best wishes for continued health, happiness, prosperity and success in all of her future endeavors; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Mary Slowik as a symbol of our appreciation and good wishes.