Thomas D. McElroy II

Technology consultant Thomas D. McElroy II was born on November 1, 1961 in Chicago, Illinois to Bobbie Topsy and Thomas McElroy I. He graduated from Kenwood Academy in Chicago in 1980. McElroy received his A.D. degree from Kennedy-King College in 1982 and his B.S. degree in computer science from DePaul University in 1988, both in Chicago.

From 1986 to 1987, McElroy worked as an organizer for the Harold Washington Mayoral Campaign in Chicago. He later served as an advisor to the Obama for America political action committee between 2010 and 2012. In 2001, McElroy founded Level-1 Global Solutions, LLC, a technology consulting firm specializing in systems integration and strategic planning. Its clients included the Chicago Department of Aviation, the Chicago Housing Authority, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Public Schools, the City of Chicago, Cook County, the State of Illinois, and United Airlines. McElroy served as principal and CEO of the firm for more than twenty years.

McElroy sat on the advisory board of the Chicago Academy for Advanced Technology and participated in a number of civic and professional organizations, including the Chicago Central Area Committee, the Chicago Community Trust, the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council, and the Black Creativity Council at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. He also took part in the Chicago Public Schools’ Real Men Read mentorship program, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Ravinia Festival, and the Chicago Mayor’s Council of Technology Advisors.

McElroy joined the Forbes Technology Council in Chicago in 2020. Beginning in 2022, he served as a board member for World Business Chicago and the Grant Park Music Festival. He was also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Clayco Connects, the Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronics Industries Alliance Professional Network, the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, and Young Democrats of America.

McElroy received honors from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Chicago Urban League. He was featured on Crain’s Chicago Business’s Notable Entrepreneurs list in 2020. In 2022, Level-1 Global Solutions, LLC was a finalist for the Illinois Real Estate Journal’s Professional Service Firm of the Year Award.

He resides in Chicago, Illinois.

Thomas D. McElroy II was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on April 5, 2023.