“Putting Our Minds Together: The Digital Network Infrastructure and Metropolitan Chicago” drew upon the work of many people. Northwestern University faculty were invited to prepare “think papers” on key issues related to the impact of digital networking and information technology. Other University faculty were consulted through in-depth interviews. Many joined, along with Metropolitan Planning Council members and staff, in two seminars on the topic. Three Kellogg graduate students spent many hours researching various facets of the report. And, experts from Michigan State University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the Chicago Consortium on Higher Education contributed.

The development of this report was truly a collaborative effort. Great appreciation and credit goes to everyone who shared his or her scholarship or reflections. It could not have been done without them.

The authors also thank Jacques Gordon and his colleagues on the Regional Development Committee for the Metropolitan Planning Council, Scott Goldstein, MPC Regional Development Director, and MarySue Barrett, MPC President, for the many hours they spent shepherding, counseling, and commenting on the various sections of this report. Many other MPC corporate members and partners also shared their perspectives and input.

The authors, however, accept full responsibility for the final report. We hope we did justice to all of your work, and that this report results in new opportunities being identified and old challenges being faced anew. Such an outcome is the best reward.

Patricia Widmayer, Gary Greenberg
August, 1998

“Think Paper” Contributors
http://www.nwu.edu/it/metrochicago/ and http://www.metroplanning.org/

Croteau-Chonka, Clarisse, Director, Chicago Consortium for Higher Education, “Technology Forcing Transition: The Future of Education in Chicago.”

Frazer, Karen, Northwestern University Graduate Student; and Steven Wildman, Associate Professor, School of Speech and Director, Northwestern University Program in Telecommunications, Science, Management, and Policy, “Implications for Chicago Region: Education and Training as They Affect Employment and Workplace Issues.”

Halverson, Richard, Northwestern University Graduate Student; and Louis Gomez, Associate Professor, School of Education and Social Policy, and Computer Science, “Technology and Schools.”

Mills, Edwin, Professor of Finance Emeritus, Kellogg Graduate School of Management, and Director, Center for Real Estate Research, “Interactions Between Information Technology and Metropolitan Growth.”

Sawhney, Mohan, Assistant Professor of Marketing, Kellogg Graduate School of Management; Guy Cipriani, Kellogg Graduate School of Management Master’s Candidate; and Scott Evans, Kellogg Graduate School of Management Master’s Candidate, “Positioning for the Future: Metropolitan Chicago’s Place in the Information Economy.”

Valdiserri, Susan, IBM Adjunct Professor of Leadership, “Implications of the New, Mobile Work Environment.”

Ziliaskopoulos, Athanasios, Louis Berger Junior Professor of Civil Engineering and Transportation, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, “Moving Transportation into the Information Age: Transportation and the Next Millennium.”

Consultation and Discussion with Scholars and Policy Makers

Kenneth Corey, Dean, College of Social Science, and Professor of Urban Planning, Michigan State University

Paul Dillon, Manager Director-Corporate Services, American Express Tax & Business Services, Inc.

Joseph Feinglass, Research Associate Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School

Gary Fresen, Attorney, Baker & McKenzie, and Board member, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

Linda Goodman, Principal, Goodman Williams Group

Elizabeth Hahn, Director of Biostatistics and Data Management Systems, Center of Outcomes Research and Education, Northwestern Evanston Healthcare

Donald Haider, Director, Center for Public and Nonprofit Management, Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University

Albert Hunter, Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University

Elmer Johnson, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis

Frank Koppelman, Professor of Civil Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Northwestern University

Lewis Manilow, Investor

John McDonald, Professor of Economics, University of Illinois/Chicago

Morteza Rahimi, Vice President for Information Technology, and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Northwestern University

Allan Schnaiberg, Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University

Joseph Schofer, Chairman and Professor of Civil Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Northwestern University

David Schultz, Director, Infrastructure Technology Institute, Northwestern University

Wesley Skogan, Professor of Political Science, College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University

Paul Tang, Medical Director of Information Systems and Associate Professor of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School

Thomas Thornton, Executive Director, Illinois Coalition

Priscilla A. (Pam) Walter, Partner, Gardner, Carton & Douglas Henry Webber, Vice President for Community Affairs, The University of Chicago

Carole Lane Widmayer, Midwest Sales and Marketing Manager, Cahners Business Information Systems

The Metropolitan Planning Council Telecommunications Working Group

Jacques Gordon, Managing Director, LaSalle Advisors, Ltd., Chair

Jean Allard, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal

David Baker, Vice President for External Affairs, Illinois Institute of Technology

Mike Farmer, Manager of External Relations, Ameritech Illinois

Marita S. Grobbel, Relationship Executive, Unisys Corporation M. Hill Hammock, COO & Chief Credit Office, LaSalle National Bank Geoff Hewings, REAL, University of Illinois

Thomas H. Klier, Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Ray O’Connell, Vice President-Public Affairs, AT&T

Tom Phillips, Vice President-Law and Government Affairs, AT&T

Thomas Reiman, Senior Vice President-Public Policy, Ameritech

Ray Romero, Competitive Strategies Group

Patrick Schaefer, National Director of Sports Consulting Services, Ernst & Young

Lawrence Stricking, Office of General Counsel, Federal Communications Commission

Alisa Miller, MPC Telecommunications Intern

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