January 30, 2014 – The mayor’s former deputy communications director starts a new job on Monday as Chief Operating Officer of the incubator for technology start-ups at Merchandise Mart.

Tom Alexander (left) was Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s buffer to the news media for almost three years. He will be responsible for daily operations at 1871, a 50,000 square foot self-described “warehouse” for small companies with big dreams.

He reports to Howard Tullman, the veteran entrepreneur who started as Chief Executive Officer of 1871 on January 6.

In addition to providing an environment and resources to help start-ups grow, Alexander says 1871 has become “an unofficial gathering place for the Chicago technology community.”

“I think that’s a huge opportunity,” he told Loop North News on Wednesday. “I’m really excited about finding additional ways to keep that energy going.”

(Above) Offices at 1871 on February 8, 2013. Click on image to view larger version.

His work in the mayor’s office gave him experience with public schools and city colleges, and now that he is responsible for the facility’s business development, Alexander says he will look for opportunities for 1871 to be more involved in those areas.

He says the missions of his former boss and 1871 are aligned.

“I think that the mayor has established as a key priority attracting people to work in the technology economy and growing jobs in the technology economy,” says Alexander. “I was able to work with him on those initiatives extensively during my time in his office and I know that that’s a key priority for him for the city.”

Before he worked for the mayor, Alexander was Senior Communications Officer for the University of Chicago, Policy and Communications Projects Director for the Governor of Illinois, Senior Disaster Analyst for the Small Business Administration, and Adjunct Professor for Columbia College Chicago.

He has worked in the news media, too, as a reporter, editor, and publisher.