Lynn Osmond

Lynn Osmond

Lynn Osmond assumed the position of President and CEO of the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) in 1996. Osmond is responsible for overseeing CAF’s comprehensive program of architecture tours, exhibitions, public programs, including lectures and specials events, youth and adult education programs. With Osmond’s strong leadership in organizational development, CAF has realized 300% in organization growth, has consistently ranked among the top ten Chicago cultural institutions, and has grown in audience to more than half a million visitors. CAF’s docent program has also thrived during Osmond’s tenure, becoming internationally recognized as the leading program of its kind in the world. Osmond also spearheaded the launching of the Association of Architecture Organizations and the Architecture + Design Education Network, which now has over 125 members. In 2013, the American Architectural Foundation (AAF) presented CAF with its 2014 Keystone Award. The Keystone Award is an annual national award that honors an individual or organization from outside the field of architecture for exemplary leadership that has increased the value of architecture and design in our culture. In 2005, Osmond was recognized as an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects. In 2002 she was awarded the Paul Berger Arts Entrepreneurship Award presented by Columbia College, and in 2009 she received the Chicago Woman Achievement Award from the Chicago Alliance for Women. In addition to serving CAF as a docent, Osmond currently serves as Founding Chair of the Association of Architecture Organizations and is a Mayoral appointment as Chair of the Toronto Sister Cities. She serves on the boards of Choose Chicago, the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association, the Central Area Committee, the Chicago Loop Alliance, and the Richardson Architecture Center in Buffalo, New York. She is an active member of The Chicago Network, the Economic Club of Chicago, the Executives’ Club of Chicago, the Ely Chapter of Lambda Alpha International, International Women’s Forum Chicago, and Urban Land Institute. Osmond holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Queens University, Ontario, Canada, she is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), and a graduate of the Advanced Executive Program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.