Morrell Neely

A preeminent business professional, Morrell S. Neely has held a number of positions in service to the Chicago community. Appointed a Governing Board Member of Cinema/Chicago, Neely helped organize the Chicago International Film Festival, an annual two-week celebration of films and filmmakers from more than 40 countries. Cinema/Chicago brings a number of other opportunities to those in surrounding areas, including programming aimed at involving youth in the artistry of film and introducing them to projects outside of the Hollywood mainstream. Morrell S. Neely also acted as board member of the Board of Directors for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. For more than three decades, the nonprofit has instituted several programs for preventing and ending homelessness in metropolitan Chicago and the greater Illinois community. Its efforts connect the homeless to job opportunities, training, and education and offering them the services of public interest attorneys and influential community organizers. Neely additionally sat on the boards of The Executives’ Club of Chicago, a place for professionals to discuss leadership, business development, and best practices, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, one of the most prominent Chicago hospitals and academic medical centers. As the President and Chief Executive Officer of Neely Industries, Morrell S. Neely became a pioneer of the cellular telecommunications industry, opening the first cellular retail store in the early 1990s. He expanded his business to more than 200 outlets throughout the nation. Most recently, Neely has assumed responsibility for SereniTea, an organic green tea manufacturer that targets the growing American health food market. Already available in more than 1,400 grocery stores, SereniTea will soon appear in most major health food markets. In addition to these business endeavors, Morrell S. Neely provides consulting services to small- and mid-size private companies, working with several Fortune 100, Fortune 500, and Forbes Global 2000 business. In 2007, Morrell S. Neely opened the Center for AIDS Prevention, a nonprofit that fuels new clinical research for preventative and curative therapies. The center also funds awareness campaigns through a number of strategic partnerships.