JUNE 2025  5 
FIRESIDE CHAT WITH 
DON THOMPSON
Don Thompson
CEO, Cleveland Avenue
Don Thompson brings his signature 
blend of savvy business acumen 
and warm personal touch to his role 
as CEO and Founder of Cleveland 
Avenue (CA), LLC. Founded in 
2015, with his life partner and wife, 
Liz Thompson, CA is a prominent 
Chicago-based investment firm spe­
cializing in lifestyle consumer brands 
and companies that positively disrupt 
large and growing markets.
	
The Thompsons concurrent­
ly formed The Cleveland Avenue 
Foundation for Education which is 
committed to supporting and men­
toring students and professionals as 
they progress from the classroom to 
the boardroom through philanthropy 
and education support services.
	
Mr. Thompson launched his own 
recipe for success at CA following 
over 25 years of climbing the ranks at 
McDonald’s, where he departed after 
successfully running the company as 
President & CEO.
	
Thompson not only invests in 
but also mentors entrepreneurs by 
combining his electrical engineering 
background, global leadership, and 
business expertise with his passion 
for customer innovation to create a 
powerful environment of analytical 
thinking and creativity.
	
Thompson is also at the inter­
section of potential and purpose by 
cultivating a culture that stays true 
to his foundations of faith, family, 
service, philanthropy, diversity, and 
inclusion. Thompson is a member of 
the Commercial and Economic Clubs 
of Chicago, World Business Chicago, 
the Arthur M. Brazier Foundation, 
and serves on the National Football 
League (NFL) Diversity Advisory 
Committee as well as is a Trustee of 
The Cleveland Avenue Foundation 
for Education.
	
Cleveland Avenue and the 
Cleveland Avenue Foundation for 
Education have received numerous 
awards and recognition for their so­
cial impact, including the Baumhart 
Center at Loyola University Chicago 
Social Impact Award. Additionally, 
Mr. Thompson has been honored 
with the National Black MBA As­
sociation’s Outstanding Leadership 
Award, been inducted into the Chica­
go Innovation Hall of Fame, and 
received 1871’s Momentum Chicago­
ness Award.
EMCEE 

Lourdes Duarte
Co-Anchor WGN Evening News 
and Lead Investigative Reporter, 
WGN 
 
Lourdes Duarte is a four-time 
EMMY Award winner.  
She co-anchors the WGN Evening 
News at 4pm and is one of the 
station’s lead investigative reporters.  
Prior to her role on the evening 
news, Lourdes co-anchored the 
top-rated WGN Morning News.  
She also hosts WGN’s public affairs 
program Adelante Chicago.

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