CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has appointed the Illinois Secretary of Education and the Illinois Fire Marshal. He also made appointments to the Illinois Gaming Board, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Board and the Executive Ethics Commission.
Name: Beth Purvis
Position: Secretary of Education
Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Dr. Beth Purvis to serve as Illinois' Secretary of Education. Dr. Purvis brings 22 years of education experience to the position.
For over 12 years, Dr. Purvis served as Chief Executive Officer for the Chicago International Charter School. Before joining Chicago International Charter School she was an assistant professor of special education and associate director of the Child and Family Development Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Previously, Dr. Purvis served as an early childhood special educator at Tennessee's Early Intervention System in Nashville, Tenn. She was also a teacher of the blind and visually impaired for Montgomery County Public Schools in Bethesda, Md.
Dr. Purvis is a graduate of Bucknell University where she earned a bachelor's degree in educational research and elementary education. She earned a master's degree from Teachers College at Columbia University and a Doctor of Education from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. She currently resides in Chicago.
Name: Matthew Perez
Position: Fire Marshal
Governor Bruce Rauner announced he has selected Matthew Perez to become the Illinois Fire Marshal. He has nearly 30 years of experience in public safety.
Perez is currently the Fire Marshal for the City of Aurora. He's been with the department for 27 years. As Fire Marshal, he is the supervisor of the fire prevention bureau and the Assistant Chief of the fire department.
Prior to his work as a firefighter, Perez was a Kane County Sheriff's Deputy. He worked for two years as a patrol officer.
Perez is a graduate of Southern Illinois University. He holds a bachelor's degree in fire service management. He lives in Sugar Grove.
Name: Hector Alejandre
Position: Board Member - Illinois Gaming Board
Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Hector Alejandre to join the Illinois Gaming Board. Alejandre will bring a law enforcement perspective to the position.
Alejandre is currently a Special Agent with the Illinois State Police. He conducts Medicaid fraud investigations. He also serves as president of the Hispanic Illinois State Law Enforcement Association. Previously, Alejandre worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration as a task force officer conducting pharmaceutical investigations. Prior to his work at the DEA, Alejandre worked for the Illinois Department of Corrections as a senior parole agent. In that position he supervised juvenile and adult offenders.
Alejandre is a graduate of Northeastern Illinois University. He earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice. He is a resident of Chicago.
Name: David Kahnweiler
Position: Board Member -Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Board
Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed David Kahnweiler to the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Board. He brings more than 35 years of real estate experience to the position.
Kahnweiler has spent his professional career at Colliers International, a leading global commercial real estate company. He is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. His experience spans office, industrial and investment brokerage, and industrial development. He concentrates on assisting corporations with relocation and strategic planning.
Kahnweiler is a graduate of the University of Michigan. He lives in Winnetka.
Name: James Schink
Position: Board Member -Executive Ethics Commission
Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed James Schink to the Executive Ethics Commission. Schink is an attorney with 47 years of experience who has published articles on ethics in the law.
Schink is currently Of Counsel for Kirkland & Ellis LLP, focusing on litigation in a number of areas including contracts, product liability, anti-trust, fraud, and water resource allocation, among others. He has argued more than 75 jury and bench trials, international arbitrations and agency proceedings. Schink started at the firm as an associate, working his way up to a partner in just four years. Schink served as General Counsel for Kirkland & Ellis LLP from 2004 to 2013.
Prior to his work at Kirkland, Schink was a law clerk for Judge Luther Snygert of the United States Court of Appeals - Seventh District.
Schink is a graduate of Yale University where he earned his bachelor's degree in economics and his law degree. He currently lives in Chicago.
Name: Stephen Schnorf
Position: Board Member - Executive Ethics Commission
Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Stephen Schnorf to the Executive Ethics Commission. Schnorf was the Illinois Budget Director under two governors. He has nearly 50 years of combined experience in the private and public sectors. He is currently a private consultant.
Schnorf's career in Illinois state government is expansive. He is currently the Chairman of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission. From 1997 to 2002, he was the Director of the Illinois Bureau of the Budget. He was also the Director of Policy for Governor Jim Edgar for three years. From 1991 to 1994, and again in 2002, he was the Director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services. Schnorf also worked for the Secretary of State from 1981 to 1991.
Before his career in state government, Schnorf was an advocate and teacher for people with disabilities. He was the Director of Advocacy Planning for the Governor's Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities from 1976 to 1978. He was also a high school teacher at Robinson High School from 1966 to 1969.
Schnorf earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Eastern Illinois University. He is a resident of Rochester.
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