Meeting/Event Information

Tuesday, April 22, 2025 Luncheon

An Earth Day Conversation: 

Building Sustainable, Green Communities

The Union League Club Environmental and 2^nd Act Groups and A&WMA Lake Michigan States Section are pleased to invite you to join us at the April 22, 2025 Earth Day Luncheon. Nature and nature-based spaces are vital civic infrastructure that drives sustainable community development and environmental resilience. This engaging panel discussion, moderated by Jill Koski, President and CEO of The Morton Arboretum, will explore the transformative role of nature in public and private initiatives. Our panelists bring expertise from policy work, community development, finance, civic engagement, and innovative public/private partnerships to showcase impactful work across the region. They will share actionable insights on fostering cross-sector collaboration, advancing urban forestry, and mobilizing support for projects that enhance communities. 

Our panelists bring expertise from policy work, community development, finance, civic engagement, and innovative public/private partnerships to showcase impactful work across the region. They will share actionable insights on fostering cross-sector collaboration, advancing urban forestry, and mobilizing support for projects that enhance communities. This session is an opportunity to learn, connect, and take action—to grow a greener, healthier future for all.

Panelists include:

Jill Koski, President and CEO, The Morton Arboretum

• Jill is president and CEO at The Morton Arboretum, an internationally recognized tree-focused botanical garden 25 miles west of Chicago in Lisle, Illinois. In her role, she oversees the organization’s mission to collect, study, display, and conserve trees and plants from around the world to inspire learning, foster enjoyment, benefit communities, encourage action, and enhance the environment. She came to the Arboretum from Holden Forests and Gardens in Ohio, where she was the president and CEO from 2017 to 2022. 

Arnold Randall, Executive Director, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation

• Arnold is the executive director of the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, which supports land conservation, artistic vitality, and Broadening Narratives in the Chicago region and Lowcountry of South Carolina. Prior to joining GDDF, he held numerous leadership roles in public and government service, including serving as General Superintendent of the Forest Preserves of Cook County for 13 years. 

Curtis Reed, Managing Director and Region Manager – Chicago, JPMorgan Chase

• Curtis has 28 years of experience in the banking industry. He has been with JPMorgan Chase for the past 20 years, recently named to his current role in January of 2025 as the Head of Government and Healthcare, Higher Education, and Not-For-Profit Banking for JPMorgan Chase. Before that, he was the Region Manager for Chase’s Middle Market banking operations for the Chicagoland Region since 2017. He is currently involved in many associations across Chicago and serves on the board of the Civic Consulting Alliance.

Zach Wirtz, Director, Chicago Region Trees Initiative, The Morton Arboretum

• Zach leads the Chicago Region Trees Initiative, The Morton Arboretum’s flagship urban and community forestry program, working to improve the health, diversity, and equitable distribution of trees in the Chicago region and throughout Illinois. Before joining the Arboretum in 2021, Zach served as the Urban Forestry Manager for the Texas Tree Foundation in Dallas, Texas.