Michael M. Edwards

President & CEO

Michael M. Edwards is the President & CEO of Chicago Loop Alliance. Since joining Chicago Loop Alliance in 2012, President and CEO Michael M. Edwards—an economic development expert—has been overseeing the organization’s strategic planning process, which will guide efforts in promoting a high-performing urban experience that will attract people and investment to the Loop. Edwards is a founding member of the Paris-based Global Business District Innovation Club, a group formed in 2018, as well as a member of the International Downtown Association Board of Directors.

His experience also includes six years as President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, where he administered the City’s business improvement district, advocating for businesses and property owners and marketing downtown as the region’s premier location to live, work, shop, dine, play and visit.. Edwards led an aggressive campaign of business and office retention and recruitment, overseeing the reconstruction of historic Market Square, construction of 2,500 new residential units, completion of a five-year strategic plan and two City Council renewals of the 100-block business improvement district. For seven years, Edwards was also responsible for overseeing advocacy and comprehensive service programs for Spokane’s central 80-block business improvement district as President and CEO of the Downtown Spokane Partnership. He has also served as Principal of The Saratoga Associates and Executive Director of the Buffalo Place, Inc., in Buffalo, New York.

Originally from Buffalo, he holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh