CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has selected the Co-Chairs of the Early Learning Council in the Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development and appointed members to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board.

Name: Beth Purvis

Position: Co-Chair - Early Learning Council

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected his Secretary of Education, Dr. Beth Purvis, to serve as a Co-Chair of the Early Learning Council. Dr. Purvis has more than 22 years of experience in various levels of education. Most recently, Dr. Purvis was the Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago International Charter School. She was also an assistant professor of special education and associate director of the Child and Family Development Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Name: Phyllis Glink

Position: Co-Chair - Early Learning Council

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Phyllis Glink to serve as a Co-Chair of the Early Learning Council. Glink is currently the Executive Director of the Irving Harris Foundation, which focuses on investments to early-childhood education and children and family welfare, among other issues. She is an advocate for the well-being of infants, toddlers, and pregnant women, focusing on early intervention through increasing non-profit advocacy, government involvement and public understanding. Glink has also served on the Illinois Department of Human Services Advisory Council on Childcare.

 

 

 

Name: Andrea Waintroob

Position: Chairman - Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has named Andrea Waintroob the chairman of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board. She brings more than 35 years of experience in negotiating labor contracts with private and public sector employers.

Waintroob has negotiated and settled more than 50 collective bargaining agreements for educational employers in the State of Illinois as well as cities and other public entities. She is currently Of Counsel at Franczek Radelet and was one of its founding partners. Prior to her work at Franczek Radelet, she was a partner at Vedder Price, representing public school districts in labor and employment negotiations.

In addition to her work as an attorney, she is also a lecturer at the University of Chicago in both the law and business schools. She has taught courses on public sector labor relations and government regulation of the employment relationship.

Waintroob is a graduate of Brown University and earned her law degree at the University of Chicago. She lives in Deerfield.

 

Name: Judy Biggert

Position: Board Member - Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed former U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board. Her experiences in Congress and at the state and local level bring a unique perspective to the board.

Biggert represented the southwestern suburbs in Congress from 1999-2013. She served on the Education and the Workforce Committee, including subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, and Higher Education and Workforce Training. She also served on the Financial Services Committee, and was the Chairwoman of the Insurance Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee.

Before serving in Congress, Biggert served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1993 to 1999. She also was a member of the Hinsdale Township High School District 86 from 1978 to 1985, and served as its president from 1983 to 1985.

Biggert is an attorney and graduated from Northwestern University's School of Law. She earned her bachelor's degree from Stanford University. She lives in Hinsdale.

 

Name: Michael Prueter

Position: Board Member - Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Michael Prueter to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board. He has served on the board since 2010.

Prior to serving on the board, Prueter served as government liaison for a number of corporations and trade associations where he negotiated labor contracts with local and national food service vendors. He also served on a national legislative policy board in Washington, D.C. for several years.

Prueter has several years of business experience in the banking and financial services industry. He also worked as a staff member in the Illinois House and Illinois Senate.

Prueter received his bachelor's degree and an MBA from Columbia State University. He lives in Naperville.

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CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner today granted two and denied 57 clemency petitions. He inherited nearly 3,000 petitions from the previous administrations, dating back more than six years.

The 59 clemency petitions Governor Rauner acted upon today are part of dockets dating back to October 2008. Each person granted clemency has recently undergone a criminal background check through the Illinois State Police's Law Enforcement Agencies Data System.

A granted clemency request for a pardon with expungement allows the petitioner to seek expungement of their conviction through the court system.

These are the first petitions he has reviewed since taking office. The Governor's Office has developed a process to review clemency petitions on a regular basis.

For additional information on the granted clemency cases, please contact Ken Tupy at the Prisoner Review Board at (217) 782-1610 or Ken.Tupy@illinois.gov.

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CHIAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner has made the following appointments to the Illinois Enterprise Zone.  

Name: Jovita Carranza  

Position: Board Member - Illinois Enterprise Zone Board  

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Jovita Carranza to become the Illinois Enterprise Zone. Carranza has extensive experience developing businesses in both public and private sectors.  

Carranza was a Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration from 2006 to 2009. She was responsible for the agency's turnaround, built an executive development program now used by 200 small businesses in 10 states and oversaw 80 national field offices. President George W. Bush appointed her to the position, and she was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate.  

Currently, Carranza is the President and Founder of The JCR Group, which provides business development services to companies and non-governmental organizations. Previously, she was the Vice President of Airline Operations and was the highest ranking Latina in the company.  

Carranza earned her M.B.A. from the University of Miami. She lives in Skokie.  

Name: Lawrence W. Falbe  

Position: Board Member - Illinois Enterprise Zone Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Larry Falbe to the Illinois Enterprise Zone. His 20 years of experience in site selection and environmental law make him uniquely qualified for the position. Falbe's extensive planning experience and public service include eight years on the Lake County Regional Plan Commission, and he currently serves as a member of the METRA Citizens Advisory Board, among numerous other boards and community leadership positions.

 

Currently, Falbe is a Chicago-based environmental and energy attorney at the national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP.  His practice focuses on environmental transactional support, Brownfields issues, environmental regulations and litigation, energy development and facility siting. Falbe has worked extensively with Illinois state agencies like the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Pollution Control Board.

 

Falbe is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Augustana College, Illinois, and earned his law degree from DePaul University College of Law.  He is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Wisconsin, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and numerous Federal District Courts. Falbe is also a former adjunct professor of environmental law at Northwestern University.  He currently lives in Mettawa, in Lake County Illinois, where he previously served as a Village Trustee.

 

 

Name: Larry Ivory

Position: Board Member - Illinois Enterprise Zone Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Larry Ivory to the Illinois Enterprise Zone. Ivory's experience as a member of the Business Enterprise Program Council and his business background make him qualified for the position.

 

Currently, Ivory is the President and CEO of the Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce, which promotes job creation and growth of African-American businesses. Ivory oversees the daily operations of the organization while promoting its mission across the state. He was the Chamber's Chairman from 1997-2002. Ivory is also a board member of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Regional Vice President for Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin.

 

Ivory previously worked for Salomon Smith Barney Holdings Inc. as the Vice President of Investment Services from 1998 to 2004. He also was a Senior Financial Consultant at Merrill Lynch from 1991 to 1998.

 

Ivory is a veteran of the U.S. Marines. He graduated from Saddleback College and currently lives in Peoria.

 

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Dates Likely to Change Under Federal Consent Decree

   

CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner today issued writs of election as required by law to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of former U.S. Representative Aaron Schock.  

The writs include election dates compliant with the 115-day timeline required by Illinois law, but the dates will be modified after the state enters into a consent decree to comply with the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.  

The Administration expects the actual dates for the Special Primary Election and Special Election each will be delayed several weeks from the dates indicated in the writs of election. Governor Rauner will issue amended writs of election with the revised election dates after the consent decree is entered.  

As prescribed by Illinois law, the first day for candidates of established political parties to file original nomination papers with the State Board of Elections will be Wednesday, April 15, 2015. The last day to file nomination papers will be Monday, April 20, 2015. Those dates will not be modified by the consent decree.  

The writs are attached to this release. 

Additional Background

For years, the Illinois Election Code has prescribed a timeline for conducting special elections for U.S. Representative that is not compliant with federal law. The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) is intended to protect the voting rights of citizens residing abroad, including in particular military men and women stationed overseas. Illinois law, however, does not provide sufficient time for ballots to be mailed abroad.

For that reason, the State of Illinois entered into a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2013 to bring the State temporarily into compliance with UOCAVA for the last special election for U.S. Representative. Governor Rauner, Attorney General Madigan, and the Illinois State Board of Elections are now working cooperatively with the Department of Justice to enter into a similar consent decree for the special election caused by former Rep. Schock's resignation.

This problem has persisted without a permanent solution for too long. Governor Rauner is working with the General Assembly leadership to pass legislation to protect the voting rights of our military men and women serving overseas, while still providing that any vacancy is filled as expeditiously as possible to ensure full representation in Congress for the people of Illinois.

Current Writs

·         Special Primary Election will be June 8 (excepted to be delayed until late June or early July)
·         Special Election will be July 24 (expected to be delayed until late August)

 

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CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has made appointments to two cabinet-level positions. The appointments include the Illinois Lottery, the Illinois Department of Aging and the Illinois Human Rights Commission.  

Name: B.R. Lane   

Position: Illinois Lottery Superintendent  

Governor Bruce Rauner announced he has selected B.R. Lane to become the next Superintendent of the Illinois Lottery. Lane's experience in the gaming industry and with regulatory matters in the public and private sectors make her uniquely qualified for the position.   

For nearly five years, Lane was the Manager of Regulatory Compliance at International Game Technology, a leader in computerized gaming equipment. Lane managed compliance in development and distribution of casino content and oversaw corporate gaming licenses. Lane also negotiated favorable regulatory treatment of a new gaming system in select markets, which generated $4 million in savings for the company, its affiliates and subsidiaries.   

Most recently, Lane was the Interim Director of the Gary/Chicago International Airport. She oversaw the entire organization to ensure compliance in the highly regulated aviation industry. In this role she was responsible for the competition of capital projects, business and legislative affairs, stakeholder relationship management and regulatory integrity.   

Prior to her work with the airport, Lane was the Chief of Staff for the City of Gary, Indiana. She oversaw all city departments from legal and finance to public safety. She negotiated a lengthy legal dispute with a casino interest, which resulted in $13 million to the city. She also developed and managed organizational key performance indicators to drive operational efficiency.    

Lane is a graduate of Morgan State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English. She earned a law degree from Harvard Law School and an M.B.A from the University of Memphis.     

   

Name: John Holton  

Position: Director - Department on Aging     

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Director John Holton to continue leading the Department of Aging. He has served as the agency's director for the past three years.     

Holton's work for Illinois dates back to 2007, when he began working for the Illinois Department of Human Services. For three years, he was the Associate Director in the Division of Mental Health. Prior to that, he studied public health in Chicago's neighborhoods when he served as a site director for Harvard University School of Public Health's project on human development.     

Holton holds a Ph.D. in Human Development from Pennsylvania State University, a master's degree in Urban Education from the University of Hartford and a bachelor's degree from Howard University.     

   

Name: Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias  

Position: Chairman - Illinois Human Rights Commission    

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias to become the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission. Bombela-Tobias is the former Director of the Illinois Department of Human Rights. She was the first Hispanic to hold the position and the first Hispanic to hold a cabinet-level position.    

For more than 35 years, Bombela-Tobias has worked to improve diversity and treatment of minorities. She is currently a principal of the Global Diversity Solutions Group, which specializes in diversity consulting and multi-cultural workforce dynamics. Prior to this, she was the Director of Central States for SER - Jobs for Progress, the nation's largest Latino direct services organization.     

Before Bombela-Tobias' work in the private sector, she served the people of Illinois for 20 years in a variety of roles. Her most notable contribution was instituting the Minority and Female Business Enterprise Program. In addition to becoming the first Hispanic to lead the Illinois Department of Human Rights, she also worked for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services and the Illinois Department of Personnel. Bombela-Tobias was also the Special Assistant to the Governor for Hispanic Affairs under Governor Jim Thompson.

 

Bombela-Tobias has a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas-El Paso. She lives in Chicago.

 

 

 

Name: Hamilton Chang

Position: Commissioner - Illinois Human Rights Commission

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Hamilton Chang to the Human Rights Commission. He is the Vice Chair of U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk's Asian-American Advisory Committee and has been recognized in the Chinese community for his contributions.

 

Chang has more than 25 years of experience in finance and management. He led groups specializing in risk management. He is currently the Managing Partner of Ballparks of America-Branson, which is a youth baseball facility for 10-12 year olds. He also serves as a Trustee for New Trier Township.

 

Chang earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master's degree from the University of Chicago.



Name: Duke Alden

Position: Commissioner - Illinois Human Rights Commission

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Duke Alden to the Illinois Human Rights Commission. His experience in business and involvement with a number of non-profit organizations make him well-suited for the position.

 

Alden is extremely active in the Chicago community and currently is the Chairman of the Howard Brown Health Center, which works to eliminate disparities in health care experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. He has also worked with Vital Bridges, an organization that helps men and women impacted by AIDS/HIV, and for CARPLS, which provides legal services to people who could otherwise not afford them.

 

Alden is currently the global leader of Information Governance for Aon. He oversees risk assessment and policy development to drive business efficiency, mitigate risk, and reduce spending. Prior to joining Aon, Alden was a strategy consultant for Huron Consulting Group where he assisted some of the world's largest companies in the areas of discovery strategy, process design and cost-savings.

 

Alden earned his bachelor's degree from Missouri State University and his law degree from Tulane University. He lives in Chicago.

 

 

 

Name: Nabi Fakroddin

Position: Commissioner - Illinois Human Rights Commission

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Nabi Fakroddin to the Illinois Human Rights Commission. Fakroddin has served on the commission since 2010.

 

Fakroddin is a licensed professional and structural Engineer. He is past president of the Illinois Engineering Council and the Illinois Association of County Engineers. He is a member of the St. Charles Zoning Board of Appeals and a former member of the Western Illinois Regional Manpower and Planning Commission.

 

Fakroddin is the recipient of numerous awards, including American Public Works Association's Top Ten Public Works Leaders in the U.S. and a Distinguished Service Award from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.

Fakroddin earned his bachelor's degree from Indiana Technical College. He lives in St. Charles.

 

 

 

Name: Robert Cantone

Position: Commissioner - Illinois Human Rights Commission

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Robert Cantone to the Illinois Human Rights Commission. He has served on the commission since 2011.

 

Cantone is an attorney focusing on personal injury claims on behalf of people who have been injured due to motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall accidents, construction accidents, product defects and medical malpractice. Additionally, he has acted as an arbitrator for the Cook County Mandatory Arbitration program since 1990. He is also a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. 

Cantone earned his bachelor's degree from DePaul University and his law degree from Lewis University College of Law He lives in Orland Park.

 

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SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rauner took action on the following bills today:
Bill No.: HB 317
An Act Concerning: Appropriations
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
Bill No.: HB 318
An Act Concerning: Finance
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
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Governor Bruce Rauner issued the following statement:  

"I want to thank President Cullerton, Speaker Madigan, Leader Radogno and Leader Durkin for their leadership in fixing this year's fiscal crisis. With their help, a bipartisan group of legislators sent a strong message that the culture in Springfield is changing for the better.  

As promised, we are eliminating a $1.6 billion deficit without borrowing or increasing taxes on hard-working Illinois families. By choosing to make difficult decisions on a bipartisan basis, the General Assembly is helping set a new tone for what can be achieved in Springfield. 

 

While today's action is an important start, many more tough votes and challenging decisions must be made in the weeks ahead to complete the first steps of an Illinois turnaround. I look forward to continuing to partner with the legislature to enact policies that will create more jobs, increase local control and deliver value for taxpayers."

 

Governor Rauner plans to sign the legislation as soon as possible.   

 

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CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner today announced he has filled openings on the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, the Illinois Criminal Justice and Information Authority, the Illinois Employment Security Review Board, the Illinois Pollution Control Board and the Illinois Labor Relations Board.

 

 

Illinois Commerce Commission

 

Name: John Rosales

Position: Commissioner - Illinois Commerce Commission

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected John Rosales to join the Illinois Commerce Commission as a Commissioner. Rosales brings years of management experience to the position.

 

Rosales is currently the Director of the south Chicago campus of Olive-Harvey College. He is responsible for the management and direction of the campus by managing students, faculty and staff. He also works to grow enrollment within Chicago's southeast side.

 

In addition, Rosales is also a Commissioner on the Cook County Sheriff's Merit Board. He's held this position since 2011. This board considers the promotions of Cook County Sheriff's Police Officers and presides over disciplinary cases.

 

Prior to his work at City Colleges of Chicago, Rosales worked for more than 18 years at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Chicago and for Coca-Cola Enterprises. With the CCBC of Chicago he was the Sales Center Manager and Vice President of Community and Government Affairs. At Coca-Cola Enterprises, he was the Manager of Community Affairs and Business Development.

 

Rosales earned his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University. He is a resident of Chicago.

 

 

Illinois Prisoner Review Board

 

Name: Craig Findley

Position: Chairman - Prisoner Review Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Craig Findley to be the new Chairman of the Prisoner Review Board. Findley was appointed in February 2001 and has previously served as the chairman from January 2003 to May 2004.

 

Prior to joining the Prisoner Review board, Findley served as the President of Craig Findley Associates, a consulting firm. He also owned and published three Illinois weekly newspapers. Findley previously served as Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Transportation. He was also a former member of the Illinois House of Representatives and was a senior aide to Congressman Bob Michel.

 

Findley has long been active in organizations that advocate adoption and promote the best interests of children. Findley is a member and twice Chairman of the Lincoln Land Community College Board of Trustees, and member of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. He has served as President of the Jacksonville Public Library and as Chairman of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce.

 

Findley is a graduate of Knox College.

 

 

Name: Donald Wayne Dunn

Position: Board Member - Prisoner Review Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Donald Wayne Dunn to the Prisoner Review Board. Dunn brings more than 45 years of experience in counseling to the position.

 

Most recently, Dunn served as a Mental Health Administrator with the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, working out of the Illinois Youth Center in Harrisburg where he oversaw a staff of 20. In this role, he supervised the substance abuse program, the sex offender program, the post-incarceration program, and conflict resolution and anger management.

 

Prior to his work with the IDJJ, Dunn was the Director of Guidance and Counseling at Vienna High School for 25 years. He established a peer mediation program, established individualized career plans for all students, established the career guidance center and coordinated services for special needs children, among many other duties.

 

Dunn also worked as a District Guidance Counselor and Work Coordinator at Dongola Unit School, as a guidance counselor at Anna-Jonesboro Community High School, and as a Neighborhood Youth Corp Counselor at the Shawnee Development Council.

 

Dunn holds a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University in education. He also earned his master's degree from Southern Illinois University in guidance and educational psychology. Dunn lives in Cypress.

 

 

Name: Peter Fisher

Position: Board Member - Prisoner Review Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Peter Fisher to the Prisoner Review Board. Fisher brings 35 years of experience in law enforcement to the board.

 

Currently, Fisher is the Chief of Police at the Creve Coeur Police Department. He joined the department in 2010 and oversees the department's daily operations.

 

From 1980 to 2009, Fisher was a member of the East Peoria Police Department. He rose through the ranks to Deputy Chief of Police. In this position he was the commander of the operations division and oversaw patrol, the K-9 unit, scheduling and internal affairs.

 

Fisher attended Illinois Central College and is a resident of East Peoria.

 

 

Name: Vonetta Harris

Position: Board Member - Prisoner Review Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Vonetta Harris to the Prisoner Review Board. She joined the board in September 2013.

 

Harris began her career as a social worker for Gateway Outpatient Health Clinic and a Crisis Hotline Intervention Specialist for Call For Help: providing assessments and interventions for the dually-diagnosed, as well as, alcohol and substance abusers. She then transitioned her career from social work to education targeting displaced families and at-risk youth. Harris has served as an educational counseling specialist, program coordinator, and a director, organizing specific programs to delineate the stigma of low-income, first-generation youth and the rate of recidivism amongst juveniles.

 

Harris is an active board member for Call for Help, Inc., and a Planning Commissioner for the City of East St. Louis promoting community resources and job opportunities.

 

Harris earned a bachelor's degree in social work and a master's degree in public administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She also holds a master's degree in education administration from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.

 

 

Name: Daryl Jones

Position: Board Member - Prisoner Review Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Daryl Jones to serve on the Prisoner Review Board. Jones is a veteran and brings 10 years of legal experience to the board.

 

Jones currently works for the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) as the Senior Legal Adviser and Agency Ethics Officer. He reviews court-ordered sentences to ensure legal compliance and provides legal advice to departmental personnel. He also worked as the Chief of Intergovernmental Relations at the IDOC and worked closely with local, state and federal officials on constituent-related concerns and legislative initiatives.

 

Prior to his work at the IDOC, Jones was an Assistant State's Attorney for Cook County for seven years. He handled felony and misdemeanor trials for adults and juveniles.

 

Jones is a veteran, serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Sergeant. He was awarded two United States Embassy special duty assignments and named battalion "Marine of the Quarter."

 

Jones graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication and a Bachelor of Science in career and organizational studies. He earned his law degree from Southern Illinois University. Jones is a resident of Chicago.

 

 

Name: Adam Monreal

Position: Board Member - Prisoner Review Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Adam Monreal to the Prisoner Review Board. He was first appointed in 2010.

 

Monreal began his legal career as an Assistant State's Attorney for Cook County. Later he became the Assistant to the Mayor for Public Safety of the City of Chicago, where he was the liaison from the Mayor's Office to all City of Chicago departments for public safety related matters. After leaving the Mayor's Office, Monreal was a trusts, estates and real estate attorney. In February 2010, he became the supervisor of the Workers' Compensation Fraud Unit for the Illinois Department of Insurance.

 

Monreal received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 1990 from Loyola University of Chicago and his law degree from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1994.

 

 

Name: Aurthur Mae Perkins

Position: Board Member - Prisoner Review Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Aurthur Mae Perkins, 75, to the Prisoner Review Board. She brings more than 30 years of experience as an educator and administrator to the position.

 

Perkins began working as a Pre-K and kindergarten teacher in Peoria Public Schools in 1983. She eventually became principal of Harrison Primary School in 1993. Under her leadership, her students had some of the highest reading, writing and math scores among Peoria Title I schools. She has been recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education for her accomplishments as an educator.

 

Perkins is very active in her community, working for the Peoria Housing Authority. She also worked for the Peoria Public Library Board.

 

Perkins is a graduate of Bradley University, earning her bachelor's degree in education and master's degree in education administration. She lives in Peoria.

 

 

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

 

Name: Elizabeth Robb

Position: Chairman - Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected former Chief Circuit Judge (11th Circuit) Elizabeth Robb to become the chairman of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA). She brings more than 30 years of legal experience to the ICJIA.

 

Robb served as a trial judge for 22 years on the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois, and was the Chief Judge from 2004-2014. In that role, in addition to presiding over trials, she had administrative responsibility for the 20 judges in the court, oversaw court reporters, probation officers and other court staff.

 

Prior to becoming a judge, Robb was an attorney at Reynard & Robb Law Offices (1982-1987) and the Robb Law Office (1987-1993).

 

Robb earned her bachelor's degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and her law degree from Loyola University of Chicago. She lives in Normal.

 

 

Name: Paula Wolff

Position: Board Member - Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Paula Wolff to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Wolff has focused much of her career on justice policy.

 

Wolff is currently the Director of the Illinois Justice Project, which is a civic organization that works to reform the criminal justice system. She is responsible for research and policy development and seeing through its implementation. From 2000-2014, Wolff led the Justice and Violence Group of Metropolis Strategies, which was the predecessor to the Illinois Justice Project.

 

From 1992 to 2000, Wolff served as President of Governors State University. She was responsible for the management of the university, oversaw faculty, students, the budget and strategic direction. During her tenure, enrollment grew by 22 percent to more than 9,000 students.

 

Wolff also worked for former Governor James Thompson as the Director of Policy and Planning. She directed development and implemented policy at all levels of Illinois state government. She also worked for former Governor Richard Ogilvie.

 

Wolff earned her bachelor's degree from Smith College and has her master's degree and doctorate in political science from the University of Chicago. She lives in Chicago.

 

 

Illinois Employment Security Board of Review

 

Name: Jack L. Calabro

Position: Chairman - Employment Security Board of Review

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Jack L. Calabro, 73, as the Chairman of the Illinois Employment Security Board of Review. Calabro is the President and founder of Encore Partners, which focuses on change management and labor relations consulting.

 

Calabro previously worked at DeVry Inc. where he was the Corporate Vice President of Human Resources. There he led change management initiatives and oversaw acquisitions. His other human resources experience includes City Colleges of Chicago, Executive Synergies, Inc., Helene Curtis Industries, Inc., and Maremont Corporation.

 

Calabro earned his bachelor's degree in liberal arts from City University of New York, and he holds a master's degree in business management from the University of Illinois. Calabro lives in Chicago.

 

 

Name: Raymond Nice

Position: Member - Employment Security Board of Review

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Raymond Nice to the Employment Security Board of Review.  Nice has served on the Board since December of 2013.

 

Nice is a career public servant, retiring as Deputy Recorder of Deeds for Cook County in 2011.  He is a lifelong resident of Chicago.

 

Nice earned his bachelor's degree in accountancy from DePaul University in 1978.

 

 

Name: Nicholas Elias Panomitros

Position: Employment Security Board of Review

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Nicholas Elias Panomitros, 50, to the Illinois Employment Security Board of Review. Panomitros is a doctor of dental surgery and owner of Chicago All Care Dental Group.

Along with his dental practice, Panomitros is an adjunct professor of political science at Harper College. He has also worked as a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois, College of Dentistry. Panomitros has previously served on the Illinois Health Information Exchange Authority.

Panomitros received a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois, School of Dentistry in 1989. He received his law degree from John Marshall Law School in 2010. Panomitros lives in Chicago.

 

Name: Henry Winfield

Position: Employment Security Board of Review

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Henry Winfield, 62, to the Illinois Employment Security Board of Review.

 

Winfield spent his 30 year career at the Illinois Department of Revenue where he was the Special Agent Supervisor of criminal investigations. His tasks included preparing comprehensive investigative reports, testifying at criminal trials and coordinating joining investigations with other agencies. He was instrumental in establishing training programs for special agents and supervised their implementation. Winfield retired in 2005.

 

Winfield earned his bachelor's degree in accounting and his master's degree in criminal justice from Chicago State University. Winfield lives in Lansing.

 

 

Name: Michael James Woodward

Position: Employment Security Board of Review

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Michael James Woodward, 63, to the Illinois Employment Security Board of Review. Woodward brings more than 20 years of experience in the public sector to the position.

 

Currently, Woodward is the managing partner of Woodward Group, Inc., where he has worked since 2005. His firm specializes in traffic, real estate and probate matters.

 

Prior to that, Woodward was elected as the City Clerk and Secretary of the Public Board of Health for the City of Berwyn from 2001 to 2005. He served as Director of Community Development for the City of Berwyn, Assistant Attorney General at the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, City Attorney for the City of Berwyn and numerous positions with the Illinois Secretary of State.

 

Woodward earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Saint Joseph's College, and he holds a law degree from John Marshall Law School. Woodward lives in Berwyn.

 

 

Illinois Pollution Control Board

 

Name: Gerald Keenan

Position: Illinois Pollution Control Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Gerald Keenan, 61, to the Illinois Pollution Control Board. He brings years of experience as a regulator, entrepreneur and consultant in the electric, natural gas and telecommunications industries to the position. He also has experience working for the Illinois Commerce Commission.

 

Keenan is currently the Managing Director of Palmer Bellvue and advises many European utility companies on business in Central America. He focuses on management consultation, project development and evaluation.

 

Prior to that, Keenan was the lead partner for the energy strategy group at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He led a group of 80 professionals in the electricity, natural gas and petroleum sectors. Keenan also worked at PwC's predecessor, Coopers & Lybrand Consulting. He was a partner of the utilities practice, focusing on development and implementation of business, regulatory and financial strategies for utilities, power companies and telecommunications firm.

 

Keenan earned his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University. He also holds a master's degree from the Catholic Theological Union. Keenan lives in Glencoe.

 

 

Illinois Labor Relations Board

 

Name: Michael Coli

Position: Board Member - Illinois Labor Relations Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Michael Coli, 62, to the Illinois Labor Relations Board. Coli has served on this board since 2006.

 

Coli previously served as Trustee and President of the Teamsters Local Union No.727. During his time there, Coli negotiated contracts, supervised business agents, oversaw grievance and arbitration cases, and handled Labor Board hearings, elections, and changes at a federal and local level.

 

He has been an active member of many boards and committees including the Parking Industry Labor Management Committee, Turnberry Country Club and the Racing Industry Charitable Foundation.

 

 

Name: John R. Samolis

Position: Board Member - Illinois Labor Relations Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected John R. Samolis, 68, to the Illinois Labor Relations Board. Samolis brings over 30 years of human resources experience to the board.

 

Samolis is currently the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Exelon. His duties include employee and labor relations, talent management and labor strategy. Previously, Samolis spent 18 years with United Airlines where he ultimately served as Vice President, Labor Relations and Vice President, People Services. He was responsible for interactions between the company and the unions that represented more than 55,000 employees. He was also responsible for oversight of employment, diversity, international personnel and training for employees nationwide.

 

Samolis earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from John Carroll University.

 

 

Name: Keith A. Snyder

Position: Board Member - Illinois Labor Relations Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Keith A. Snyder, 55, to the Illinois Labor Relations Board. Snyder currently serves as the Mayor of the City of Lincoln, a community of 14,500.

 

Snyder also serves as the Associate Vice President at Lincoln Christian University, managing endowment fundraising along with developing monthly performance review processes for the school.

 

Previously, Snyder worked as a procurement specialist for State Farm Mutual Insurance Companies and an ethics officer for the Illinois State Senate. He also served as a board member of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board for six years under Governor Jim Edgar.

 

Snyder earned his bachelor's degree in political studies from the University of Illinois at Springfield, and he earned his master's degree in business administration from Illinois State University.

 

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Lt. Governor Sanguinetti to chair task force

CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today the members of the newly created Local Government and Unfunded Mandates Task Force. The task force is comprised of municipal and county leaders, representatives of school districts, state legislators, and experts in consolidation. They represent all areas of Illinois. The task force is chaired by Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti.

This task force will identify ways to help local governments consolidate and eliminate duplicate governmental bodies, school districts and taxing authorities. Streamlining these services will help prevent waste and use taxpayer dollars more efficiently. It will also find ways to reduce the number of unfunded mandates the state imposes on local communities.

"Illinois has an excessive number of local government units and the state severely limits local governments' ability to control their own costs," Gov. Rauner said. "Consolidating local government and reducing the burden of unfunded mandates imposed by the state will reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve delivery of services."

"Streamlining local governments will help them better provide core services to the hard-working families in Illinois," Lt. Gov. Sanguinetti said. "I am honored to work for the taxpayers by helping their local governments become more efficient so they can better serve the people they represent."

Members of the Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force are as follows:

Chaired By:  Lt. Governor Sanguinetti

Rep. Tom Demmer, Former Lee County Board Member

Rep.  Mark Batinick

Rep. Jack D. Franks

Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

Sen. Dan Duffy

Sen. Dale A. Righter

Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

Sen. Linda Holmes

Karen Darch, Barrington Mayor

Karen Hasara, Member of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, Former Mayor of Springfield, Chair of Sangamon County Citizens Efficiency Commission

Brad Cole, Executive Director of the Illinois Municipal League, Former Carbondale Mayor

Ryan Spain, Peoria City Council Member

Dan Cronin, DuPage County Chairman, Former Member of the Illinois General Assembly

Michael Bigger, Former Stark County Chairman

Mark Kern, St. Clair County Chairman, Former Alderman and Mayor of Belleville

John Espinoza, Whiteside County Board Member

Rev. James T. Meeks, Illinois State Board of Education

Dr. Darlene Ruscitti, DuPage Regional Superintendent of Schools

Steffanie Seegmiller, Arthur School Board Chairman

M. Hill Hammock, Senior Fellow - Metropolitan Planning Council, Former Chief Administrative Officer for Chicago Public Schools

Char Foss-Eggemann, Park Ridge Library Board of Trustees

Warren L. Dixon III, Naperville Township Assessor, Former DuPage County Board of Review

George Obernagel, Chairman - Kaskaskia Regional Port District

Serving in an Advisory Capacity: Clayton Frick, Deloitte Services LP

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CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner today announced the appointment of members to the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission. The commission provides guidance on Holocaust and genocide education and commemoration across the state. The governor will continue to make appointments to this commission in the coming days.

Michael Bauer (Co-Chair)

Michael Bauer is an experienced lawyer and political activist who has spent his life advocating for the Jewish, gay and women's communities. He served as the co-chair of fundraisers for the New Israel Fund and the American Jewish Committee. He also served as chair of the first gay and lesbian mission to Israel, as well as the first and only gay and lesbian mission to the United States Holocaust Museum.

As the son of two Holocaust survivors, Bauer has a deep understanding of the need for genocide education and commemoration. Bauer has been honored by the American Civil Liberties Union with its John R. Hammell Award, by CitiPAC with its Scoop Jackson Pro-Israel Advocacy Award in 2003, and by the Anti-Defamation League with its Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Civil Rights Award.

Keith Shapiro (Co-Chair)

Keith J. Shapiro currently serves on the Jewish United Fund board and as Chairman of the Lawyer's Division. He is a Vice Chairman of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of Greater Chicago and a member of its Development Committee, Executive Committee and Regional Board, in addition to serving as an ADL National Commissioner. Shapiro is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS).

Shapiro serves on advisory boards for DePaul University College of Law's Center for Jewish Law & Judaic Studies, List College of the Jewish Theological Seminary and the St. John's University School of Law Bankruptcy L.L.M. Program. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Chicagoland Jewish High School and was the Founding Chair of the Law and Justice Committee of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. He is a past recipient of the Simon H. Rifkind Award from the JTS and has served as a co-chair of the JTS' annual dinners in Chicago.

Goldie Langer

Goldie Langer was born to two Holocaust survivors in Feldafing DP Camp in Germany. Her mother was the only survivor of her family, and her father's first wife and four of his six children were killed in concentration camps. Langer was a teacher for a number of years before joining the AJC, a global Jewish advocacy organization. Its mission is to advance human rights and democratic values for all people. Langer worked at AJC for nearly 20 years as the Assistant Director of Development and Donor Relations.

Kelley Szany

Kelley Szany currently serves as the Director of Education at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. She is a leading Holocaust and contemporary genocide educator, speaking to audiences on the Holocaust; the genocides of Armenia, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur; and the atrocities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central America and South America. She also speaks and educates on the power of social change and youth activism. Szany was recently awarded with the 2014 Carl Wilkens Fellowship, a year-long program where she will work alongside national leaders to create and strengthen a permanent anti-genocide constituency through both advocacy work and influence of U.S. policy.  She serves on the Board of Directors for the Unsilence Project and Educators Institute for Human Rights.

Fritzie Fritzshall

Fritzie Fritzshall currently serves on the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission and is the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center President.  She is also a Holocaust survivor, and her husband served the United States on the Pacific front in WWII. Fritzshall has dedicated her life to teaching lessons of the Holocaust.

Alison Pure-Slovin

Alison Pure-Slovin currently serves on the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission and is the Midwest Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. She was also the first woman to become President of the Standard Club. Pure-Slovin is formally the Midwest Regional Director for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. She also worked for the Simon Wisenthal Center, which is a global Jewish human rights organization. Pure-Slovin began her career as a non-news producer at WMAQ in Chicago and later formed her own video production company.

Susan Abrams

Susan Abrams is currently a member of the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. Prior to joining the Museum, Abrams served as the COO for JCC Chicago. She has also served as Director of Program Review at Northwestern University and as Vice President of the Chicago Children's Museum.

Daniel Cohen

Danny Cohen currently serves on the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission and is an assistant professor at Northwestern University where he specializes in the design of Holocaust and human rights education. He teaches undergraduate courses on education and program design, including "The Holocaust and Education," "Holocaust Memory, Memorials, and Museums," and "Program Design and Implementation."  Cohen's research focuses on best practices for teaching about the Holocaust and genocide. He is also a fiction writer whose debut novel Train is set in 1943 Berlin. The book is accompanied by new educational programming that supports educators to integrate Roma, disabled, homosexual, and other victim narratives within and alongside the Jewish Holocaust narrative. Cohen is also the founder of Unsilence Project, a Chicago-based non-profit that creates and delivers compelling learning experiences that address hidden, marginalized, and taboo narratives of the Holocaust, atrocity, and human rights.

Richard Hirschhaut

Rick Hirschhaut is currently a member of the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission and has been a human rights advocate for more than three decades.  He currently serves as Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a leading global humanitarian organization. Hirschhaut was the founding Executive Director of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. He has also served as a consultant to Aegis Trust, which is dedicated to the prevention of crimes against humanity. As Director of International Outreach for Kwibuka20, he focused on building support for the 20th Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Spending more than two decades with the Anti-Defamation League, including ten years as its Midwest Director, Rick built bridges between Jewish and African-American communities and worked closely with law enforcement on issues of anti-Semitism and extremism.

Sanja Drnovsek

Sanja Seferovic Drnovsek currently serves on the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission and is the Director of the Bosnian-American Genocide Institute and Education Center (BAGI). That organization is the American branch of the Institute for Research of Crimes Against Humanity and International Law at the University of Sarajevo. Drnovsek is dedicated to raising awareness about the Holocaust and other genocides because of its underrepresentation or misrepresentation in media, education and among the public. She is an educator at Aspira Haugan Middle School in Chicago and at Triton College.

Sean Tenner

Sean Tenner is currently a member of the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission and is the President of KNI Communications. He has worked closely with Sudanese refugees in the Chicagoland area since 2007. He helped establish the first office of the Sudanese Community Association of Illinois and pass groundbreaking divestment legislation to fight the genocide in Darfur.  He is the Executive Director of the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation, created by Paul Rusesabagina - the hero of the Rwandan genocide who was portrayed in the acclaimed film "Hotel Rwanda."  Along with escaped former slaves from the West African nation of Mauritania, he helped create the Abolition Institute, dedicated to helping hundreds of thousands still trapped in descent based slavery.

Maria Korkatsch-Groszko

Maria Korkatsch-Groszko currently serves as a member of the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission and is Professor Emerita of Northeastern Illinois University (1975-2013). She also serves on the Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation - USA, Inc., is a member of multiple Executive Boards in the Ukrainian community of Chicago and suburbs, and serves on the National Education Council of Ukrainian Schools in U.S.A.

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