The 2006 Gay Games in Chicago has hired Chicago native Brian McGuinness, MBA, CPA, as its executive director and CEO. Brian will be responsible for planning and implementing the vision and strategic direction of Chicago Games, Inc. ( CGI ) , the host organization planning Gay Games VII, in conjunction with its Board of Directors. Brian will oversee all of the organization's activities and operations.
Gay Games VII Sports & Cultural Festival will take place July 15-22, 2006 in Chicago.
Brian was most recently the Vice President of Marketing and Strategy for Chicago-based HomeMax LLC, a 3-year-old real-estate brokerage that he helped to launch. Prior to that, he served as finance director for the IPO team at Paris-based Trader Classified Media. During his three years in Europe, Brian managed the strategic and financial development for the company's initial public offering, yielding $200 million to fund Internet strategies. In his role, Brian was responsible for coordinating efforts with the company's general managers in more than 20 countries, reorganizing the global finance staff and managing investment banker relationships. During his tenure with the company, total revenue jumped 48% while share price made a 15% gain. He also learned French, a language skill he has since maintained.
Brian's other career highlights include financial consulting and software development for Kaufman Hall Associates in the healthcare industry, strategic and financial planning for EMS, a marketing information company, promotional consulting for EMI Music, and commercial auditing and compliance for Arthur Andersen.
His civic involvement has included the Howard Brown Health Center, the Red Cross, and the Special Olympics.
Brian is an award-winning Certified Public Accountant and graduated summa cum laude in accounting from Northern Illinois University. Brian also holds a Masters of Business Administration in Marketing and Strategy from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA. He is first-generation Irish and was born and raised in Chicago, where most of his family still lives.
Brian is a multi-sport athlete and brings significant experience in sport to his new Gay Games role. A former collegiate varsity tennis player, he is currently ranked among the top 100 gay tennis players in the world. He has competed in tournaments and leagues around the world in tennis, softball, volleyball, basketball, and badminton. He captained his volleyball team at Gay Games V in Amsterdam in 1998 and was a quarterfinalist in men's Open Tennis at Gay Games VI in Sydney in 2002.
In his spare time, Brian is an avid singer-songwriter. He has written more than 200 songs and has performed in a variety of Chicago and international venues, including the Cultural Stage at the Sydney Gay Games.
'Brian brings to the the Gay Games his strategic focus and seasoned business judgment gained during 15 years of experience in a variety of marketing, strategy, project management and financial positions domestically and abroad,' said Christopher Pries, Chair of CGI's Executive Director Task Force. 'His significant sports background and long-term experience with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) sports movement are ideal for a mission-driven event like the Gay Games. Brian's selection represents CGI's ongoing commitment to a financially sound business plan that also focuses on a high-quality experience for the athletes, artists and fans who make up the stakeholders of the Gay Games. We are extremely pleased at his willingness to serve the global LGBT community as the executive drector of the world's most significant LGBT sports and cultural event.'
McGuinness and a professional staff of nine took up residence at the new Gay Games VII offices in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood May 2, 2005. The new location is in the historic Bridgeview Bank building at 4753 N. Broadway, Suite 602. Office furniture was donated by the Northern Trust Bank and Gay Games volunteers worked to get the office painted, wired and equipped with state-of-the art technology. The space is steps away from bus and rail lines. Gay Games staff may be reached via phone at ( 773 ) 907-2006.
Gay Games VII staff joining Brian McGuinness include: C.C. Carter, Culture Manager; John Haley, Sponsorship Sales; Nancy Harris, Sports Manager; Jon Niehus, Fundraising Administrative Assistant; Aimee Pine, Government Relations Manager; Brenda Schumacher, Marketing Manager; James Simmons, Marketing Manager; Elizabeth Valenti, Finance and Office Manager; and Danny White, Marketing Administrative Assistant.
Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival will take place 15-22 July 2006. Over 12,000 athletes from more than 100 countries are expected to compete in 30 sports ranging from softball to dancesport, swimming to tennis. The weeklong event will include band, cheerleading and color guard performances, chorus, an ancillary arts festival, and a series of community-organized social events and parties. The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 15 at Soldier Field, the lakefront home of the Chicago Bears. Closing ceremony will be July 22 at Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs.
For the first time ever, the Gay Games in Chicago will receive widespread television coverage on the Q Television Network. Early sponsors of Gay Games VII include PlanetOut/Gay.com; Q Television Network; Sydney New Mardi Gras; McKnight, Kurland and Baccelli; Mate, Genre, Girlfriends and Pink Magazines; Windy City Media Group and more than 60 business sponsors. Registration for Gay Games VII is now open at www.gaygameschicago.org .
Games Comedy Benefit
Chicago's top lesbian and gay comics will help lighten up your gay pride this year in 'Proud to Laugh,' a benefit for Gay Games VII on Wednesday, June 22, at Joe's on Weed Street in Chicago.
Featured comics are Jessica Halem ( featured in the Chicago Tribune and at Caroline's Comedy Club in New York ) , Sapna Kumar ( Icehouse Annex II in Los Angeles, Park West, Zanies Comedy Club ) , and special guest Bill Cruz ( Zanies, The Duplex in NYC, and the Lincoln Lodge ) .
'We are happy to be hosting this benefit for the Gay Games, an event that will bring thousands of athletes and performers together from around the world next summer,' said producer Mike Oquendo of Mikey O Comedy at Joe's on Weed Street.
The night of comedy is Wednesday, June 22. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Joe's on Weed Street is located at 940 W. Weed St. Tickets are $20 and available at Ticketmaster.com, at Women & Children First Books, 5233 N. Clark in Chicago, or can be reserved at the Gay Games office by calling ( 773 ) 907-2006.
See www.GayGamesChicago.org, e-mail info@GayGamesChicago.org, or phone ( 773 ) 907-2006.
