August CEO Spotlight: Cary D. McMillan

World Business Chicago continues to interview the city's business leaders on why they chose Chicago and what they love about the city. This month the spotlight is on Cary D. McMillan, CEO of True Partners Consulting LLC.

How long have you lived in Chicago?
Twenty-eight years. After graduating from the University of Illinois, I followed my girlfriend and college fraternity brothers here. It was scary for someone from downstate Illinois! But I was particularly helped by my colleagues at Arthur Andersen. At that time they seemed to be omnipresent in everything good about Chicago.

What is your favorite place to visit in Chicago?
Well it has certainly changed over the years, Rush Street, Lincoln Park, the neighborhoods. Those would be some of my past favorites. Today, without question, my favorite place is Millennium Park. You can find spots with peaceful, beautiful views. Or you can stand on the Promenade and watch all the kids enjoying the Crown Fountain. You can smile as thousands of people flock to the Bean (Cloud Gate). A mostly desolate railroad yard has been magically transformed into a world-class wonderland with awesome views of Michigan Avenue and the Art Institute. And it is all free!

What is the best thing about running a business in Chicago?
Businesses — all businesses — are about people. Attracting, retaining and developing people. We started True Partners two and one half years ago. We intentionally located the headquarters here in Chicago.

Why? The ability to recruit top tax professionals both experienced and right out of college is better here than anywhere in the U.S. We are surrounded by world-class universities: U of I, Notre Dame, Loyola, DePaul, Indiana, etc. And those graduating students overwhelmingly desire to begin their professional careers here. And about half of them were not originally from the Chicagoland area.

And experienced professionals love the great client base here. When companies like Boeing and MillerCoors select Chicago that just supports our client base. They also love the great mass transportation, two world-class airports and school choices for their children. The work ethic of people in the Midwest is well-known. Professional services firms succeed or fail in part based on that work ethic. No one works harder than people in Chicago.

What do you think the city could do to enhance the business environment?
We are the best place for business. So we should have the highest goals and standards.

First: mass transportation. We have a wonderful collection of systems. We need significant investment to improve and expand them. All I read about is insignificant investment to maintain what we have. Standing still, accepting what we have as good enough is surely a recipe for being passed by.

Second: airports. As good as O'Hare and Midway are they are also arguably the most valuable assets a city in the center of the country has. Especially in the age of the knowledge worker. At True Partners we can serve clients easily on either coast. That is something New York and California will never, ever have. Let's not blow that remarkable advantage!

Finally, we need to invest in our youth — our future workforce and citizens. You can't have a company without great employees. And you can't have a great city when a large portion sits, economically, on the outside looking in.

How would you describe Chicago's business community?
A great partner with the city. Enthusiastic about our future. And proven leaders in putting their money and time behind improving the cultural, educational and economic lives of all the people who live here. The two best examples of this are Arthur Andersen and John Bryan.

I worked at Andersen for 19 years. From the first day on the payroll, when we all enrolled in giving our fair share to the United Way to the last day I was there, you always knew of Andersen's incredible support for the civic institutions of Chicago.

I learned that from the great senior partners I worked for there — Jim Kackley, Bob Allgyer, Deb DeHaas and many more. You not only were expected to give your time and money, you were expected to provide leadership.

What would an ideal Saturday afternoon in the city be for you?
I would be with family or friends who don't know the city. Perhaps we start in Lakeview for breakfast at Ann Sather. Then we would bike through Roscoe Village and over to Bucktown and Wicker Park.

Grab lunch in West Town at Wishbone. Be amazed by all the people and activity in the newly booming west and near south loop developments.

Head over to the Museum Campus. Check out the Aquarium. Enjoy the lakefront. Bike back to Millennium Park for a free concert at the Pritzker Pavilion. End the night at Navy Pier with the best view anywhere and fireworks to boot.

And we never even visited Michigan Avenue, the Gold Coast or Lincoln Park!

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