George Ranney also serves as chair and chief executive of Prairie Holdings Corporation, the firm developing Prairie Crossing, a nationally recognized conservation community in north suburban Grayslake. He served in various capacities over many years for Inland Steel Industries, including vice president for raw materials and general counsel. He was deputy budget director for the State of Illinois under Governor Richard Ogilvie. He chaired the task force that recommended the creation of the Regional Transportation Authority and led the successful referendum campaign to create the RTA. Mr. Ranney is also senior counsel to the Chicago law firm of Mayer Brown LLP and serves as a trustee of many civic and non-profit organizations including the University of Chicago and Chicago Public Television (WTTW). Ranney is a former trustee of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.