Christopher George Kennedy

Infobox_Person


image_size = 150px
name = Christopher George Kennedy
imagesize =
caption =
birth_date = birth date and age|1963|7|4
birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts
education = bachelor’s degree in political science (Boston College)
MBA (Northwestern University)
occupation = President of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
spouse = Sheila Sinclair Berner (1987 - present)
children = Katherine Berner Kennedy, Christopher George Kennedy, Jr., Sarah Louise Kennedy, and Clare Rose Kennedy
parents = Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel
religion =

Christopher George Kennedy was born July 4 1963 in Boston, Massachusetts. He is the 8th of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy's 11 children, and grew up in a country house in McLean, Virginia.

Kennedy attended the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia through 9th grade, and thereafter went to Georgetown Prep, graduating in 1982. While in high school, he volunteered at a home for runaway children. Together with his friend Brad Blank, at age 16 he incorporated his first business, Breakwater Boats, a sailboat rental operation on Kalmus Beach in Hyannis.

His political activism began at an early age, and in 1979 and 1980 he worked on his Uncle Edward M. Kennedy's bid for the Democratic Nomination for President. He was also treasurer of the Joseph P. Kennedy for Congress Committee in 1988. Over the years he has organized numerous fundraising events in Chicago for Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Joseph P. Kennedy and Mark K. Shriver.

Beyond his family, Kennedy chaired the Transition Committee for John Stroger when Stroger was first elected as Cook County, Illinois' Board President and was General Chairman for the Paul Vallas for Illinois Governor Committee, and he hosted a fundraiser for Barack Obama in his bid for United States Senate.

Kennedy earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Boston College in 1986, where he met Sheila Sinclair Berner (b. December 4, 1962) [ [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/kennedys/sfeature/sf_tree_text.html American Experience | The Kennedys | Kennedy Family Tree | PBS ] ] . While at Boston College, Chris was selected by the Political Science department to represent the school at the Presidential Leadership Conference at the Gerald R. Ford Library in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Kennedy moved to Chicago in 1986 and originally worked for Archers Daniel Midland and married college Berner in 1987 [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE7DE1331F935A2575BC0A961948260 Sheila Sinclair Berner Wed To Christopher G. Kennedy - New York Times ] ] . Sheila earned a law degree and practiced at Sidley & Austin in Chicago before retiring to take care of their children. Kennedy began working at The Merchandise Mart, while attending graduate school in the evening. He was awarded a Masters of Management from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management of Northwestern University in 1994. [http://www.merchandisemartproperties.com/company_information/christophergkennedy.cfm Merchandise Mart ] ]

The Kennedys live in the suburbs of Chicago and have four children:

*Katherine Berner Kennedy (b. October 4 1990);
*Christopher George Kennedy, Jr. (b. June 15 1992);
*Sarah Louise Kennedy (b. September 26 1994);
*Clare Rose Kennedy (b. November 3 1998)

He is President of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., a subsidiary of Vornado Realty Trust, one of the largest commercial property realtors in the United States. Kennedy was named President of MMPI in October, 2000. [http://www.merchandisemartproperties.com/company_information/index.cfm Merchandise Mart ] ]

He began his career with MMPI as a research analyst in 1987. In 1988, he was promoted to Director of the Architectural Products Division of The Merchandise Mart and earned promotions to Vice President in 1991 and Executive Vice President in 1994.

Kennedy sits on the board of trustees of Ariel Mutual Funds [ [http://www.arielinvestments.com/content/blogcategory/72/1065/ Ariel Investments - Board of Trustees ] ] , and also serves on the board of directors of the Interface, Inc. [ [http://www.forbes.com/finance/mktguideapps/personinfo/FromMktGuideIdPersonTearsheet.jhtml?passedMktGuideId=185388 Christopher Kennedy Profile - Forbes.com ] ] , as well as several privately held companies. Chris is also active in numerous nonprofit groups. He is the treasurer of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Foundation [ [http://www.jpkf.org/ The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation ] ] . He serves on the board of directors of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago [http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?mpid=35;page_id=665&seenIt=1 Chicago Business News, Analysis & Articles | Who's Who K | Crain's ] ] and the Catholic Theological Union. He is the past chairman of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau and is a former chairman of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Additionally, he served on the boards of Citizens' Energy Corporation, El Valor Agency, the Heartland Alliance, Children's Memorial Hospital, the Irish Fellowship Club, the Center for Disability and Elder Law and the Illinois Council on Economic Education.

Kennedy is also involved in numerous civic organizations in Chicago, including the Chicago Council on Global Affairs [http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/corporate_members.php] , the City Club of Chicago, the Executives Club of Chicago, the Economic Club of Chicago and The Commercial Club of Chicago [ [http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?mpid=35&page_id=665 Chicago Business News, Analysis & Articles | Who's Who K | Crain's ] ] .

References

External links

* [http://www.merchandisemartproperties.com/company_information/christophergkennedy.cfm Official bio]