John Russo, Chair
John Russo is Executive Vice President of Broeren Russo Companies. He began his career in 1971 as a carpenter for Hallbeck Homes in Champaign. He studied architecture at the University of Illinois and received his Bachelor's degree in construction management from Bradley University in Peoria.
Following graduation, John joined Schal Associates in Chicago where he worked with clients such as Amoco, Ameritech, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and Norwest Bank (Wells Fargo). In 1989, John and long-time friend, Stuart Broeren, formed Pinnacle Consultants. Two years later, this firm merged with S.W. Broeren to form Broeren Russo Construction, Inc.
John is Chief Operations Officer for Broeren Russo. His primary duty is to oversee and manage the entire construction process – initial stages of design or bid compilation, award subcontracts and purchase orders, CPM scheduling, coordination of daily field operations, commissioning, and closeout.
John is former President of The High School of St. Thomas More's Foundation Board. Prior to moving his family to Chicago in 2007, he and his family were very active with St. Matthew Parish and School. John has been involved with youth sports for many years, serving as president of the Kiwanis Border Little League and coached from 1997-2007. He also coached basketball and baseball at St. Matthew from 2001-2007. In additional to his service on the board of the Christie Foundation, John has also served on the Provena Covenant Medical Center Advisory Board, Don Moyers Boys & Girls Club Building Committee, and served as chairman of the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer for four years.