RESOLUTION HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF DEB LAHEY
WHEREAS, Deb Lahey has retired following 12 years of service as the President and CEO ofthe Chicago Academy of Sciences and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Musuem; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this milestone by the Honorable Michele Smith, Alderman of the 43rd Ward; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago Academy of Sciences and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is Chicago's oldest musuem founded in 1857 and is the 6th most visited musuem in the City; and
WHEREAS, Deb was a long-time member ofthe Nature Museum's Board when she was asked to join the staff in 2009 as Chief Operating Officer and immediately helped create a strategic and financial roadmap for the future growth ofthe institution; after she was named President and CEO in 2010, Deb used the same plan as her guide and the museum flourished; and
WHEREAS, Deb identified and leveraged the organization's key assets: the Chicago Academy of Sciences with its 165-year history, prestige, regionally focused collection, and legacy of education and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum with its accessibility, unique combination of natural history museum, nature center, and outdoor space; and
WHEREAS, Under Deb's leadership, the Academy reached over 50,000 students, 1,700 teachers, and 500 schools annually, expanded community-based science programs, was reaccredited, created a Public Engagement department, and did more hands-on teaching than any other museum in Chicago; the Nature Museum was reorganized to create a Guest Experience & Engagement Department, implemented the Wonder is in our Nature digital and traditional marketing campaigns, recorded new attendance and membership records, and developed award winning exhibits; and
WHEREAS, The Institution strengthened its financial position and built its financial reserves; most notably the largest fundraising event, the Butterfly Ball, grew from a $1.3 million to a $2.3 million event showcasing the amazing ways the muse...
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