More About Peter Tsiolis

In 2007, Peter Tsiolis created a program that bridged the “digital divide” by using Tax Increment Financing dollars to open two computer centers and provide $200 rebates to families that purchased a computer in the Village of Bellwood.  The project led to the firm’s first client, Best Buy. Formed in 2009, Strategic Project Management, Inc. (SPM) is a boutique firm that specializes in project management, economic development, budget formulation and implementation, and private and public sector synergies.  In late 2009, the mayor of Bellwood hired the firm to handle its project management and economic development department. By 2010, the firm expanded its role to include the duties of Chief of Staff and Finance Director for the village.

Facing an $8,500,000 deficit for 2010 left in the wake of the previous Comptroller and associate professionals, Tsiolis spearheaded the effort to reduce the deficit, gain operational efficiencies, prioritize resources, and present workable options to deal with the staggering debt facing the client. The strategy formulated and implemented at the outset of 2010 has resulted in six consecutive balanced budgets without any increase in taxes or staff reductions. Even more impressive is retiring nearly $20 million in debt in a three-year period and obtaining an A stable rating at Standard and Poor’s from a previous non-rated credit.​

​The firm was retained by the West Cook Railroad Relocation and Development Authority as Program Manager in the fall of 2009. The Authority was created by state statute in 2000 and charged with the responsibility of creating a railroad grade crossing on 25th Avenue over the Union Pacific tracks. This vitally important project for the West Cook region had come to a screeching halt prior to SPM’s engagement.  The previous team favored a tunnel design rather than a bridge. Within months of assuming this assignment, Tsiolis worked with the engineers and redesigned the project for a bridge. This redesign reduced overall costs by millions. Working tirelessly to obtain funding for Phase I and ultimately for Phase II and III, Peter and the Authority celebrated the signing of the legislation to fund the project in 2012. Construction of the bridge began in December of 2014 and the ribbon cutting occurred on December 22, 2016, turning 25th Avenue from an underperforming corridor for economic development to one that will rival that of North Avenue. SPM has also been retained by the Authority to Program Manage two additional grade separations.