Ms. Escareño managed day-to-day operations and implemented policy reforms under three Chicago mayors and across multiple City agencies. Before she served as the Superintend and CEO of the Chicago Park District (now retired), she served as Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.

Rosa Escareño is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience leading complex public agencies through transformative change. Most recently, she served as General Superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District, the nation’s third-largest park system, where she oversaw 6,000 employees, managed a $600 million budget, and expanded access to wellness and leisure experiences while keeping programs affordable for all Chicagoans.

During her tenure, Escareño spearheaded a strategic overhaul to rebuild workforce confidence, restore public trust, and drive equitable capital investments across the city’s diverse communities. Her leadership revitalized the District’s event portfolio, attracting both local and tourist audiences, boosting revenue, and generating $1.4 billion in economic impact for Chicago.

A recognized change agent, Escareño has led reform efforts under four Chicago mayors, championing economic development, entrepreneurial growth, community revitalization, and income equity. As Commissioner of the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, she guided the city’s small business response during the COVID-19 pandemic, launching recovery initiatives and forging strategic alliances to support entrepreneurs and strengthen the local economy. She modernized business processes, established regulatory frameworks for emerging industries, enhanced safety standards through robust compliance efforts, and instituted the Office of Labor Standards to protect workers and promote fair practices.

Escareño holds a Master’s degree in Communications from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University Chicago. She has served on numerous civic boards and is a 2013 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow. Originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, she is a proud lifelong Chicagoan, where she resides with her family.

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