Chicago/Midwest People & Company News, week of October 23, 2026

Draper and Kramer, Incorporated, announced that James Hayes, chief financial officer for the Chicago-based company, was appointed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to serve as a member of the state’s Teachers’ Retirement System Board of Trustees. Once confirmed by the state Senate, Hayes will join the 15-member board in providing fiduciary oversight and strategic direction for one of the largest public pension systems in the United States, with assets and investments totaling more than $85 billion.

Syska Hennessy Group, an international engineering firm, has promoted Clint Moreno to principal. He is based in the Chicago office. Moreno has 28 years of experience in the design and management of telecommunications and electrical systems. He specializes in technology infrastructure, including wireless, structured cabling, and network design, for corporate headquarters and critical facilities.  His work in critical facilities encompasses several local data centers and projects for a multinational software client.

JLL has hired Patrick Miller as the new global president for its technology sector. In his new role, Miller oversees strategic account management and the delivery of customized real estate management solutions that help technology companies worldwide navigate evolving business and workplace needs through data-driven insights. Miller now oversees a team of more than 8,300 experts delivering integrated facilities management and workplace solutions.

Cushman & Wakefield announced the addition of Peter Adamo, Adam Lawler and Madeline Leland to its Chicago office leasing and capital markets teams. Adamo and Lawler will serve as Executive Managing Directors, while Leland joins as Transaction Manager. The strategic hires strengthen the firm’s ability to serve investors and owners across Chicago’s suburban office market, adding deep local expertise in lease-up strategy, office capital markets and investment sales for clients’ properties and portfolios. Adamo, Lawler and Leland join Cushman & Wakefield from CBRE.

The 25 E. Washington Street office building has received AIA’s 2026 People’s Choice Award in the retail and hospitality category following the 2025 completion of an extensive $20 million renovation program that was highlighted by the creation of The Atrium Club on the seventh floor. 25 E. Washington is a 400,000-square-foot, Daniel Burnham-designed office building and formerly the Marshall Field & Co. Men’s Store Annex. The property has been managed by Aspire Properties for 30 years. The additional members of the design and development team included Geniant Eastlake Studio, Redmond Construction and Forefront Structural Engineers.

Wanxiang America Real Estate Group (Wanxiang), owner of Prudential Plaza (Pru), announced the planned installation of a life-size bronze sculpture honoring famed film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert in Pru Plaza. The six-foot-five statue, called “Siskel & Ebert: Two Thumbs Up,” is an homage to the duo’s famous movie rating system. Illinois sculptor, painter, and educator Preston Jackson, Professor Emeritus of Sculpture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, will create the statue.