Chicago Veteran to Lead Company’s Big Urban Client Program
CHICAGO, September 11, 2018 — Arcadis has appointed LeeAnn Tomas-Foster as its city executive for Chicago. In her new role, Tomas-Foster will lead the company’s Chicago Big Urban Client Program, overseeing its city operations with its existing client base, while enhancing it through various go-to-market strategies and pursuing new client business development opportunities.
“LeeAnn is a tested and proven leader who has deep rooted knowledge of the Chicago business environment resulting from more than 20 years working in the market,” said Peter Glus, senior vice president, Arcadis. “With our customers facing major industry and technology transitions, LeeAnn will improve the client experience in our Chicago market and accelerate development of growth opportunities. She is singularly committed to fueling our customers’ profitability while helping them navigate the disruptive opportunities and challenges to help them be successful.”
Ms. Tomas-Foster has a rich background of industry leadership in the Chicago market, with experience in environmental program management, due diligence and compliance in the public and private sector for more than 25 years. In the public sector, she led successful environmental programs for two large City of Chicago sister agencies including the Public Building Commission (PBC) and the Chicago Park District.
At the PBC, Ms. Tomas-Foster successfully scoped, procured and managed more than $14 million in environmental consulting contracts and over $220 million in remediation projects. She generated over $1 million of federal and state grant funding, $1 million of revolving loan funding and $1.4 million in cost recovery to support PBC projects.
In addition, she managed the environmental due diligence, compliance and remediation program for Chicago Public Schools developed under the $1.1 billion Modern Schools Across Chicago Program. This program included the development of 17 new schools and two major school renovations in neighborhoods throughout the City of Chicago.
She developed a forward-thinking sustainable soil remediation program which saved the City of Chicago millions of dollars. This program nobly received the Governor’s Sustainability Award as well as the NAEP Environmental Excellence and Keep Chicago Beautiful Awards.
While at the Chicago Park District, Ms. Tomas-Foster developed environmental programs for over 400 public facilities and service yards. She also administered programs including the Mud to Parks Program, West Nile Virus Prevention Program; Waste Recycling Program; former NIKE Missile Base Closure Program; as well as the planning, design and remediation of more than 125 sites throughout her tenure.
“Arcadis is embarking on a very unique chapter both for the company and the industry it serves,” said Ms. Tomas-Foster. “I am genuinely honored to oversee the company’s Chicago operations, and support an outstanding local team in serving an unrivaled customer base. The make-up of our team here in Chicago uniquely positions Arcadis for high touch-points with customers, enabling us to rapidly address their transformation needs and improve speed to market for the Arcadis’ industry-leading capabilities and ground-breaking technologies.”
She graduated with a degree in Environmental Science from Chicago’s DePaul University.
Chicago was originally one of the first cities in Arcadis’ Big Urban Client Program, one of four nationwide, and continues to lead the portfolio in opportunities for regeneration, mobility and resiliency.