By Ikenna Asomba With Agency Report
Stephen H. Hagerty was elected the 21st Mayor of Evanston, Illinois, United States of America, in April 2017.
As Mayor, Steve has reiterated his commitment to work in a collaborative, straightforward, and honest manner with the City Council, staff, and residents to expand the City’s tax base and create a City that is more just, vibrant, inclusive, and equitable.
Steve is a management consultant, entrepreneur, municipal government expert, and civic leader with over 20 years of experience managing large federal programs and improving the public sector.
As founder and CEO of Hagerty Consulting, Steve has helped communities across the US prepare for and recover from disasters, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and Super Storm Sandy.
After 9/11, Steve managed the $7.4 billion federal recovery effort, working closely with the NYPD and FDNY. For 10 years, he has managed a $1.5 billion community disaster loan program to local governments in over a dozen states who have incurred significant tax revenue loss as a result of a disaster.
Locally, Steve and his wife, Lisa Altenbernd, volunteer time and resources to many Evanston organizations, including Y.O.U., YMCA, YWCA, Evanston Scholars, the Moran Center, and the Evanston Community Foundation.
Steve co-chairs the Evanston MashUp, is a past President of Evanston Chamber of Commerce, and served on the board of First Bank and Trust.
Steve is also a Fellow with the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), a non-profit established by Congress to assist government leaders in building more effective and transparent organizations, and he serves on the board of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.
Steve grew up on a small farm in the working-class town of Attleboro, MA. His parents were public middle school teachers.
Steve earned his bachelors from Syracuse University in Consumer Studies and his MPA from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School. Steve and Lisa have lived in Evanston since August 1999.
Their two children, Caroline and Garrett, are currently or formerly active in many Evanston institutions including AYSO, YWCA Flying Fish, Evanston Jr. Wildkits Hockey, EBSA, and YMCA’s Camp Echo.
