Monica Metzler, Vice President

Monica Metzler focuses on non-profit strategic planning and management, and helping organizations navigate the political landscape and achieve their goals in the public arena, using expertise gained from an accomplished 20-year career in the legal, political and nonprofit sectors. 

Prior to joining Conlon Public Strategies, Monica gained extensive experience in developing large, transformative events for organizations.  She consulted with the law firm of Hogan Marren, Ltd. on the creation of a health care symposium; with Northwestern University's Transportation Center for its 50th anniversary; the University of Miami for a $1 billion campaign launch; and with McDonald's corporation for a product rollout.

From 1998–2002 Monica served as Director of Northwestern University’s 150th Anniversary, where she created and managed scores of events including: alumni events featuring Broadway and Hollywood celebrities, an academic symposium on the Human Genome, taking 8,500 people to a Chicago Cubs game, and a campus kick-off weekend of 37 events that included serving the world’s largest cheesecake.  She also developed the content and architecture of a website, oversaw publication of a book on the history of the University and supervised production of an award-winning historical video.

Monica's experience in managing large events was honed in the political world. She managed site logistics for the 1996 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and she produced events and did policy research on a number of state and national political campaigns.  She practiced intellectual property law at the Chicago firm of Winston & Strawn with a focus on marketing, advertising and event sponsorship agreements.

Monica is the founding president of the Illinois Science Council (“ISC”), a non-profit organization aimed at increasing public awareness and appreciation of science and technology.  ISC develops programs to engage non-scientific adult audiences and that highlight the work of Chicago-area researchers and institutions.  ISC collaborates with other science-oriented institutions to promote existing and create new science outreach initiatives.  Monica also serves on the board of directors of the Big Idea Forum, an organization that promotes innovative endeavors by providing guidance to entrepreneurs in the development of business ideas.  She also serves on the advisory board for the Northwestern University magazine. 

Monica earned her Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law, along with a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the Sanford Institute at Duke University, and a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University.  She lives in Chicago’s Roscoe Village neighborhood.