Marilynn Gardner

Marilynn Gardner

As President and CEO of Navy Pier, Inc., one of Chicago’s most visible non-profits and the Midwest’s leading leisure destination, Marilynn Gardner has built a strong reputation as one of Chicago’s most respected female leaders. Since being appointed to her current role in 2011, Gardner has been the driving force behind the Navy Pier redevelopment, a comprehensive effort to update and transform 50 acres of Chicago’s premier urban waterfront space into a spectacular, global destination, with the goal of attracting more guests to the Pier and supporting Mayor Emanuel’s goal of attracting 55 million visitors to Chicago by 2020. Gardner has spent more than two decades establishing Navy Pier as the top destination in the Midwest, which welcomes nearly nine millions guests annually. To ensure the future vitality of the “People’s Pier,” Gardner led efforts in securing multi-million dollar gifts from prominent donors that include the Polk family for the new Polk Bros Park, which will include a new fountain and performance lawns, and a multi-year gift from Aon Corporation to underwrite the Pier’s summer fireworks and Grand Ballroom. Gardner has proudly told the Navy Pier story to millions of Chicagoans and guest’s since joining the team responsible for developing Navy Pier in the 90’s as the Assistant Director of Public Relations. She held various leadership positions over the years that ultimately led to her current role. Gardner is a lifelong Chicagoan and a member of the Chicago Sports Commission Advisory Board and the Regional Board of the American Ireland Fund. She attended St. Ignatius College Prep and received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Marquette University. In 2015, Gardner received the Alumni Award for Excellence in the Field of Business from St. Ignatius and was presented a 2016 Achievement Award from Streeterville Chamber of Commerce.