Demetria Giannisis
President and CEO
Demetria is President and CEO of the Chicago Manufacturing Center (CMC) an independent, nonprofit consulting company that provides solutions for public stakeholders and industry business leaders investing in sustainable growth. Before assuming this role in 1997, Demetria gained 11 years of experience in public policy and economic development, technology transfer and strategy consulting. She started up the Chicago Manufacturing Technology Consortium a public/private consulting network which led to the formal establishment of CMC in 1994 as part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
Demetria's role as CEO includes envisioning services to meet future economic and business challenges. She works with CMC staff, local and national public/private sector leaders to develop and deliver solutions in areas such as workforce development, sustainability leadership (environmentally sound and profitable manufacturing) and security.
In the wake of the September 11 attacks, Demetria understood the need to create systems-based solutions to better manage environmental assets, safeguard the public good and build regional economic resilience. In consultation with FEMA Region V and industrial clients, CMC has since established the Great Lakes Partnership program. Solutions are at various stages of development for network driven innovation, manufacturing supply chain continuity, enterprise-wide risk management and public/private sector planning for energy and water security.
Demetria recently served on the Executive Committee of the US Business Council for Sustainable Development and currently serves on the Leadership Council of the National Council for Advanced Manufacturing; and the Leadership Council for Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. She received a B.S. in political science from Northwestern University and M.A. in public policy from the University of Chicago , Irving Harris School of Public Policy.
