# Marlene Byrne

> Marlene Byrne is the founder and former CEO of Celtic Chicago, transitioning to an advisory role in 2024. Also an author, she writes the Project Play children’s series, true-story-based books including Do Not Discard, and Life Point Books about family transitions. She grew up in Brillion, Wisconsin, and is based in Chicago.

- **Role:** Founder, former CEO and advisor at Celtic Chicago, Inc.
- **Organizations:** Celtic Chicago, Inc., Good Stories Publishing, NPH USA
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- **Known for:** Built Celtic Chicago, established in 1992, and developed a succession plan for its 2024 leadership transition., Authored five Project Play books about neighborhood games., Celtic Chicago appeared on the 2017 Inc. 5000 at No. 4,552.

## Career timeline

- **1992** — Founded Celtic Chicago.
- **2012** — Named incoming president of the St. Mary of the Woods Athletic Board.
- **2016** — Published Employees are the Living Brand on LinkedIn.
- **2017** — Celtic Chicago ranked 4,552 on the Inc. 5000, as announced by Byrne.
- **2020** — Coauthored Change the World. Start with the Children. with Ronald Hicks.
- **2023** — Published Do Not Discard; Welcome Home was covered in September as the first Life Point Books title.
- **2024** — Transitioned from CEO to an advisory role at Celtic Chicago in the July leadership announcement.

## Achievements

- Built Celtic Chicago, established in 1992, and developed a succession plan for its 2024 leadership transition.
- Authored five Project Play books about neighborhood games.
- Celtic Chicago appeared on the 2017 Inc. 5000 at No. 4,552.
- Coauthored Change the World. Start with the Children. with Ronald Hicks.

## Latest updates

- **2024-07** — Celtic Chicago announced her transition to an advisory role and the appointment of its successor leadership team.
- **2024-09** — A Project Play blog post promoted Ghost in the Graveyard as an invitation to backyard games.

## Links

- Website: https://www.marlenebyrne.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlenebyrne
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/marlenebyrne
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marlenebyrneauthor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WritingGoodStories

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/marlene-byrne
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-25