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Meet Our Board
Meet Our Board
Marilynn Gardner
Marilynn Gardner serves as President & CEO of Navy Pier, overseeing the operations, programming, and long-term vision of the Midwest’s most visited destination, a civic landmark welcoming more than 8 million guests annually.
A lifelong Chicagoan, Gardner has devoted over three decades to advancing Navy Pier through successive leadership roles before spearheading its transition to an independent, non-governmental nonprofit organization and becoming its inaugural President & CEO in 2011. Under her leadership, the Pier has undergone a more than $460 million physical, programmatic and organizational transformation into a world class civic space and enduring resource for the community.
Central to that transformation is the Centennial Vision, a bold initiative that united philanthropic investment and capital development to deliver Polk Bros Park, a Chicago-centric Food Experience, the modernized Family Pavilion, expanded facilities for Chicago Children’s Museum and Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and the iconic Centennial Ferris Wheel. Gardner further guided the development of the Sable Hotel, Offshore Rooftop, Flyover Chicago and the Navy Pier Marina, all while evolving the Pier’s identity as a year-round destination through cultural programming and guest experiences that reflect the best of Chicago.
Recognizing Navy Pier’s role as an economic catalyst, Gardner has cultivated a thriving on-site business ecosystem supporting more than 70 tenant businesses that collectively employ over 3,000 people. Her work emphasizes small-business development, workforce opportunity, and the ongoing vitality of one of Chicago’s most prominent public spaces. Under her leadership, Navy Pier has served as home to EXPO CHICAGO, the internationally acclaimed art exposition composed of the world's leading galleries, and has hosted marquee events including America's Cup, NBA Crossover, Sail GP, media and delegate gatherings for the Democratic National Convention, major concerts, regional sporting tournaments, and the city’s most prominent charitable and civic functions.
Gardner’s civic engagement reflects the same depth of commitment. She currently serves on the boards of the Chicago Chapter of the American Ireland Funds, City Club of Chicago, the Executive Committee of Chicago Sports Commission, the Magnificent Mile Association, and Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. She was recently appointed to the Advisory Council of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. She is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and the Executives Club of Chicago. In addition, Gardner serves on the Mission & Academic Committee of the Board of Saint Ignatius College Prep and on the College Leadership Council for the Diederich School of Communications at her alma mater, Marquette University.
