Mitchell succeeds Robert J. Biehl, who served as CFO and Treasurer for 16 years. Mitchell was most recently executive vice president and chief financial officer of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA). She was responsible for the overall financial management of the $1 billion governmental corporation, which also administers $44 million of education and employment programs for 138,000 low-income residents.
“We are thrilled to welcome Linda to our diocesan team,” said the Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, the ninth Bishop of the Diocese and chair of EHF’s board of directors. “She comes with the heart of a servant, strong credentials and experience in finance that will allow her to help guide the future growth of the Diocese and the Foundation in our mission.”
“I’m very pleased to have found a person who has such a deep history with organizations devoted to underserved populations who has the expertise to help us consider a variety of financing mechanisms to achieve impact in community health,” said Elena Marks, EHF’s president and CEO.
While on staff at CHA, Mitchell realized a $30 million savings in interest as a result of her oversight of their capital debt restructuring, led CHA’s pension plan funding level to 100 percent and raised its credit rating to the highest rating given to any US Public Housing Authority. Formerly, Mitchell served as CFO of the $10 billion Illinois State Board of Education and Vice President of Finance Services for the Tribune Company, a $5 billion media company spanning broadcasting, publishing and education businesses. Between 1990 and 1995, Mitchell was CFO for the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority where she presided over a $1.6 billion capital plan for the expansion of McCormick Place and the development of Navy Pier, now one of the most popular tourist attraction in Illinois with more than eight million visitors annually.
Mitchell is a Certified Public Accountant and a cum laude graduate of Marquette University. She also completed the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Leadership Program.
