President and CEO
Since 1999, Fred G. Lebed has been President and CEO of The Prairie Group Consulting, Inc. During a 40-year career in the public sector, business, politics and non-profit, Fred has held significant positions, gaining significant achievements in all of these arenas.
Fred’s network is unequaled in the field of public policy and government relations. His career in the public sector began in 1974 as an intern in state government reporting directly to a Governor’s Cabinet official. He was later appointed Assistant State Comptroller at the State Comptroller’s Office. Fred then moved to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office where he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs working closely with local public officials throughout the Chicago metropolitan area and the State of Illinois.
In 1994, he was appointed Special Assistant to the President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and served as the Cook County liquor control commissioner. Fred acted as the presidential liaison to the Board of Commissioners and between mayors, local government officials and community organizations throughout Cook County.
Fred was the Cook County Board President’s chief liaison during the 1995 heat emergency, one of the worst natural disasters in Cook County history. He was later awarded the Certificate of Commendation for Outstanding and Dedicated Service during the heat wave disaster.
He has been repeatedly acknowledged for his commitment to the community. In 1997, he received the “Public Service Award” from the Anixter Center. In 2005, he was inaugurated Honorary Mayor of Little City Foundation. In 2012, he was the recipient of the “Human Service Award” from the Westside Minister’s Coalition and most recently, received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the HOPE Technology and Education Center.
In 1999, Fred served as National Business Development Director for Eplyon Corporation, the largest E-procurement company in the country at the time. In 2008 and 2009, Lebed was chosen for to serve as a national judge for the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) at their annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
Fred attributes his reputation for being well organized and his penchant for producing results and mapping successful strategies for his clients to political organizing. At just 21 years old, Fred managed his first state-wide campaign. Since then, he has been involved in dozens of winning, significant and even historic campaigns on all levels. In 2010, he received the “Best Bare-Knuckled Street Victory Award” from Campaigns and Elections Magazine at their annual awards banquet in Washington, D.C.
Fred currently serves on the Board of Directors and Vice Chair of the Cook County Health Foundation, Little City Foundation where he was former Board President. He is also a former Board member of Friends of the Parks and the Chicago Christian Industrial League.
Recently, Lebed began his Masters program in Urban Studies at the University for Peace in Costa Rica. Established by the United Nations in 1980, this is one of the most unique universities in the world. The University for Peace is the only UN affiliated institution authorized to grant master and doctoral level degrees in the fields of peace and conflict studies, human security and the environment. He also serves on the International Advisory Board for the university.