Eileen Carey Leaves PBC Post, Will Devote Time To New Daughter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 11, 2003
Contact: Jack Beary
(312) 744-9277

Daley Thanks Her For Decades of Service; Board Names Kevin Gujral

Mayor Richard M. Daley today thanked the board of the Public Building Commission of Chicago for approving his recommendation to name Kevin Gujral to replace Eileen J. Carey as PBC executive director. Daley accepted Carey's resignation and thanked her for more than two decades of public service. Gujral has served as PBC interim executive director since May.

Carey, who has served as PBC executive director since June of 1999, said she will devote her time to raising her daughter, whom she adopted last year. "I have enjoyed working in government, helping Mayor Daley raise our sights to a new vision of growth for Chicago and caring for its citizens," Carey said. "I'm now looking forward to watching my daughter, Mary Laura, grow, caring for her and sharing dreams for her life."

The mayor praised Carey's single-minded dedication to city projects and problem-solving and congratulated her on becoming a parent. "Eileen Carey's passion for helping people and serving the city has helped make Chicago a better place to live and raise a family," Daley said. "I will miss her hard work, her enthusiasm and her caring, but I know those qualities make her a great parent as well. She leaves with my gratitude and admiration."

Before joining the PBC, Carey served for seven years as Chicago's Streets and Sanitation commissioner. She was the longest-serving Streets and Sanitation commissioner in a generation and the first woman to hold that post. Carey's 22-year public service career also included posts with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and the Mayor's Office of Inquiry and Information. A Chicago native, she received the 1991 Superior Public Service Award [now the Kathy Osterman Award] for her government service.

Gujral, 39, is also PBC's director of construction. He joined the PBC in 1999. Gujral has worked in construction management for several major commercial builders. Commissioners also named Edgrick Johnson to the post of board secretary.