After nine years of service as a member of the Beverly Arts Center (BAC) Board of Directors, Barb O’Malley has retired from her BAC board position. O’Malley joined the BAC Board in 2008 and has served as President since 2013, navigating the organization during a restructuring of leadership, the development of a long-range strategic plan, and the hiring of the first full-time development director.
In recognition of her service and accomplishments, O’Malley was recognized as the BAC’s first Lifetime Trustee so her legacy of dedication to and support of arts and culture can continue to inspire the community.
“Barb O’Malley was the right person at the right time to lead the BAC through a challenging time in our history,” said Ed Laginess who served alongside O’Malley as BAC Board Vice President and who replaces her as Board President. “Barb’s ability to blend multiple constituencies and drive the BAChallenge fundraising campaign across the finish line is a testament to her strong leadership. BAC is grateful to for her commitment to helping ensure that the visual and performing arts will continue to thrive in our community long into the future.”
Among the other successful BAC programs that O’Malley supported are the 50th Anniversary Celebration and Gala and Main Stage Live concerts.
O’Malley is a longtime resident of Chicago’s Morgan Park neighborhood and a Senior Vice President at Northern Trust Bank.
“As a Lifetime Trustee, Barb will continue to participate and work with the board to drive our plans to move the organization forward,” Laginess said.
Going forward, the Lifetime Trustee honor will be awarded to individuals who have demonstrated a deep commitment to the mission of the BAC.
Laginess joined the BAC Board in 2013, bringing with him experience in volunteer leadership roles focused on resource development, board governance and strategic direction. He was Board Chair for Chicago House where he led a successful organizational transition that nearly tripled revenues, broadened the mission, and increased services. An artist, Laginess has studied at Oxbow Arts Program in Saugatuck, Mich. and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Serving with Laginess as BAC Board officers are:
Businessman Ed McGunn, a founding partner of Corporate Safe Specialists, the top supplier of safes for retail businesses in the United States. He holds five U.S. patents on inventions centered on cash management needs for retail businesses. He retired in 2015 as president of FireKing Security Group, and has helped develop and manage two neighborhood pizza pubs and a youth baseball training facility. McGunn joined the BAC Board in 2013 and serves as Treasurer.
David Fletcher, a transactional attorney and partner at Roberts McGivney and Zagotta LLC. Fletcher joined the BAC Board in 2015 and serves as Vice President.
Katie Coderre, a contract employee with the University of Chicago, working on educational research in the department of economics, and also serves as an accounting assistant at County Fair Foods. Coderre joined the BAC Board in 2013 and serves as Secretary.
The Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago, is a not-for-profit institution founded in 1968 and dedicated to providing fine arts programming and education across a wide spectrum of disciplines. Learn more at 773-445-3838 or www.beverlyartcenter.org.
