James C. Tyree serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Mesirow Financial, a diversified financial services firm headquartered in Chicago. The firm is an employee-owned, private company with more than 1,200 employees in locations across the country and in London.  Jim's entire career has been with Mesirow Financial, joining the firm in 1980 as a research associate and quickly rising through the ranks to be named president in 1990, chief executive officer in 1992 and chairman and chief executive officer in 1994.

Under Jim’s leadership, Mesirow has become a leading provider of investment management services, owns Chicago's largest independent Insurance agency, and is a major presence in Investment Banking and Public Finance.  Mesirow is also a national leader in financial advisory consulting services.

Throughout his career, Jim has served on more than 50 corporate, civic and not-for-profit boards of directors.  Jim is chairman of the Sun-Times Media Holdings, a media firm that publishes 58 newspapers and websites including the Chicago Sun-Times.  In 2007, he was appointed to the board of PrivateBancorp, Inc., a publicly held commercial bank.

Jim has been a tireless advocate for the community.  Civically, he provides active leadership and participates in numerous organizations in support of healthcare, education and children. In 2000, Mayor Daley appointed Jim as chairman of the board of City Colleges of Chicago, an organization with seven colleges and over 121,000 students.  In addition, Jim is the chairman for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and past chairman of The Executives’ Club of Chicago and currently serves on the boards of The Executives’ Club of Chicago, University of Chicago Medical Center, Illinois State University Foundation, Illinois Institute of Technology, Illinois Education Foundation, and Big Shoulders Fund.

Jim was chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International from 2006 to 2008 and continues to serve on its executive committee.  In addition, Jim has held various leadership positions with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Illinois Chapter.  Currently, he is member-at-large of its executive committee, a life member of its board of directors and was named its 2004 Person of the Year.

A native Chicagoan, Jim grew up on the South Side in the Beverly neighborhood.  He received both his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in business from Illinois State University.  Jim, his wife, Eve, their daughter, Jessica, and twin sons, Matthew and Joseph reside in Chicago.

Her award-winning columns run in the Chicago Tribune on Wednesdays and Sundays and reach millions of readers in leading newspapers throughout the country. Her best-selling book, “Saving for Retirement without Living Like a Pauper or Winning the Lottery” has received widespread acclaim.

Kiplinger, MSN Money, and the Wall Street Journal’s financial planning website have all placed the book among the top five for young investors. And Oprah has placed it on her “select list.”

MarksJarvis is a regular commentator for PBS’s Nightly Business Report and delivers advice regularly on CLTV, WGNTV and radio. She is a frequent commentator for National Public Radio and has appeared on CNBC, Fox Business News, and NBC, CBS and ABC affiliates throughout the country.

Formerly a reporter for public radio’s Marketplace program and USA Today, she currently serves on the board of directors of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, which sets ethical standards for business journalists. In speeches throughout the country, she simplifies the investing process so regular Americans can handle 401(k)s and IRAs successfully.