Fills Key Positions on Violence Prevention Task Force, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Advisory Board and Many Others

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today made a number of key appointments to the state's boards and commissions. Today's announcement continues the Governor's commitment to making Illinois government more accountable, transparent and effective.

"These individuals have an ethic of service and will work on behalf of the people of our state," Governor Quinn said. "I am confident these appointees will make a positive difference on our boards and commissions and strengthen our mission to move Illinois forward."

As a result of Governor Quinn's efforts to make the executive appointment process more accessible and transparent, residents who are interested in serving on boards and commissions can now apply online. For more information on all of the state's boards and commissions, or to apply to serve on a board, please visit Appointments.Illinois.gov.  

Appointments made today by the Governor include :

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Advisory Board

Paula Kaufman of Champaign is a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. She holds an MBA from the University of New Haven, an M.L.S. from Columbia University, and an A.B. from Smith College.

David Spadafora of Chicago is the president of Newberry Library. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale University and a B.A. Williams College.

Broadband Deployment Council

Julie Oost of Mokena is an economic analyst at Kelley Drye law firm. She holds an M.S. in Economics and a B.S. in Economics and Finance from Illinois State University.

Central Management Services, Assistant Director

Austin Baidas of Chicago was formerly the Associate Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget and holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Economics and Management from the Gerstacker Institute of Professional Management at Albion College. Baidas has also served as Chairman of TriMatrix Laboratories, Inc., in Grand Rapids, Mich., and as CEO and Chairman of Four Seasons Housing in Middlebury, Ind. Baidas also sits on the Board of Directors of the Center on Halsted, a Chicago Community Center which provides social services to the LGBT community.

Central Illinois Economic Development Authority

Edward Heck of Nokomis is President and CEO of the First National Bank of Nokomis.

Civil Service Commission

Casey Urlacher of Mettawa serves as the Mayor of the Village of Mettawa, and holds a B.A. from Lake Forest College.

Commission on Environmental Justice

Robert A Messina of Springfield is the Executive Director of the Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group. He holds a J.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Illinois.

Kimberly Wasserman of Chicago is a Senior Advisor for the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization.

Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Board

Eva Serrano of LaGrange is an assistant professor of foreign languages/Latino studies at Aurora University and has a Doctor of Education and Educational specialist degree from Northern Illinois University. Dr. Serrano also holds a MBA from the University of Dallas and a B.A. from Mundelein College. Dr. Serrano is a graduate of Harvard University's JFK School of Government executive education program and the former executive director of the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission

Theresa "Tess" Fuller-Sakolsky of Springfield is the Director of Training & Public Education at the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She holds an M.A. and a B.A. from University of Illinois at Springfield.

Education of Children with Disabilities Advisory Council

Stephen Breese of Jacksonville is the Assistant Regional Superintendent at the Regional Office of Education #46. He holds an M.S. from the University of Illinois and a B.S. from Illinois State University.

Jennifer Naddeo of Barrington is the Director of Special Education at Schaumburg School District 54. She holds a Ph.D. from Loyola University and an M.A. and a B.A. from Truman State University.

Lauri Phillips of Oswego is a staff accountant at Professional Service Industries. She holds a B.A. from the University of St. Francis and an associate's degree from Joliet Junior College.

Elizabeth Purvis of Chicago is the Executive Director of the Chicago International Charter School. She holds a Doctorate in Special Education from Vanderbilt University, an M.S. from Columbia University, and a B.S. from Bucknell University.

Employment and Economic Opportunity for Persons with Disabilities Task Force

Nicole Jorwic of Elmhurst is the Executive Director of the Institute of Public Policy for People with Disabilities.

Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy Board of Trustees

Carey Mayer of Peoria is an Architectural Group Leader at Dewberry Architects and holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois.

Medical District Commission

Blake Sercye of Chicago is an associate at Jenner & Block. He holds a J.D. from University of Chicago Law School and an A.B. from Princeton University.

State Health Improvement Plan Implementation Coordination Council

Eugenia Sanders of Chicago is a pediatrician. She holds an M.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and an M.S. and B.S. from the University of Illinois.

Violence Prevention Task Force

Pastor Corey Brooks of Chicago is pastor at New Beginnings Church of Chicago, which he founded. While there, he has been instrumental in New Beginnings Church's Project H.O.O.D. (Helping Others Obtain Destiny). He holds a B.S. in Political Science from Ball State University and an M.A. in Ministry from Grace Theological Seminary.

Chair LaMar Hasbrouck, MD, MPH, of Chicago, is the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. He holds a Masters in Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley, and graduated from the Charles Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program, completing his medical residency in internal medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Fills Key Positions at Three Universities, Illinois Arts Council, State Museum Board and Illinois Department of Public Health

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today made a number of key appointments to the state's boards and commissions. In addition to three university boards, the governor filled positions on the Illinois Arts Council, State Museum Board and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Today's announcement continues the governor's commitment to making Illinois government more accountable, transparent and effective.

"These accomplished individuals will serve the people of Illinois well on our state boards and commissions," Governor Quinn said. "With their commitment to public service, I am confident they will do great things for our state."

As a result of Governor Quinn's efforts to make the executive appointment process more accessible and transparent, residents who are interested in serving on boards and commissions can now apply online.

The governor's appointments are as follows:

Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees:

Dr. Shirley J. Portwood, of Godfrey, is a retired professor of history who taught at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville from 1980 until 2010. She earned a Ph.D. in history from Washington University-St. Louis in 1982, after completing bachelor's and master's degrees in history from SIU-Edwardsville. She has served as a member of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Board of Trustees since Governor Quinn appointed her in March of 2010, and was recently appointed to the Illinois Amistad Commission. Dr. Portwood also has organized a scholarly symposium examining the history of African Americans in Illinois. Her two brothers and daughter are also SIU alumni.

Major General (ret.) Randal Thomas, of Springfield, served as the 36th Adjutant General of Illinois -- the highest National Guard post in the state. General Thomas is a graduate of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1973 and a Master of Science degree in Education in 1980. He also has a master's degree from the U.S. Army War College. General Thomas received his commission as an Infantry Officer in 1967, served in the Army Special Forces from 1966-1969, and was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor for his 1968-1969 combat service in Vietnam. Prior to his appointment as Adjutant General, General Thomas worked for 30 years as an English teacher, librarian and media director in Hillsboro, Illinois. General Thomas also served on the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission for three years. He is a lifetime member of the SIUE Alumni Association and a member of the 2011 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame. 

Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees:  

Jan Spivey Gilchrist, of Olympia Fiends, has a B.S. in art education from Eastern Illinois University, an M.A. in painting from the University of Northern Iowa, an M.F.A. in writing for children from Vermont College, and a doctoral degree in English from Madison University. Gilchrist was inducted into the International Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent in October of 2000. She was also inducted into the Society of Illustrators in 2001.  

Northeastern Illinois University Board of Trustees:

Dr. Darlene Ruscitti, of Bloomingdale, holds a Doctor of Education Policy Studies and Administration degree from Loyola University, and a M.A and B.A. from Northeastern Illinois University. Dr. Ruscitti currently works for the DuPage Regional Office of Education and has served in the education profession for more than 30 years.

Illinois Arts Council:

Gary Matts, of Darien, has a B.S. in music from Roosevelt University and has served on the Board of the Chicago Federation of Musicians, Local 10-208, since 1992 and most recently as president since 2004. A professional musician, Matts also serves as a trustee of the Chicago Federation of Musicians Employers Welfare Fund and the American Federation of Musicians and Employers Pension Fund.

Richard Daniels, of Evergreen Park, holds a B.A. in music composition from DePaul University and is the musical director for The City Lights Orchestra in Chicago. Daniels is the current chairman of the board at Chicago's Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, chair for the dean's advisory board at the DePaul University School of Music, and he is a delegate to the Chicago Federation of Labor. Daniels is also the senior board member at the Chicago Federation of Musicians.

State Museum Board:

Leo Welch, of O'Fallon, was a biology teacher at ROVA High School in Oneida prior to becoming a professor of biology at Southwestern Illinois College, where he currently serves as professor emeritus. Welch has been a member of numerous professional societies, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute for Biological Sciences, the Illinois State Academy of Sciences and the St. Louis Academy of Sciences. Welch received the 1991 Excellence in Teaching Award from Emerson Electric for outstanding achievement for higher education in the metropolitan St. Louis area. Welch, who obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees from EIU, went on to receive an Ed.S. degree from Southern Illinois University.

Illinois Department of Public Health:

Dr. David Gill, of Bloomington, received his bachelor's and medical degrees from the University of Illinois and has served as a family practice doctor and emergency room physician for more than 20 years. Most recently an emergency room doctor at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, Gill has been named Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Earlier this year, following an extensive review, Governor Quinn issued an executive order eliminating dozens of dormant or redundant state boards and commissions. Following the governor's action, Illinois now has 317 boards and commissions. Of those, 24 are compensated: eight of which are full-time, paid positions while the remaining 16 are part-time or per diem. The remaining 293 boards are unpaid, volunteer boards. Board salaries are set by Illinois statute.

For more information on all of the state's boards and commissions, or to apply to serve on a board, please visit Appointments.Illinois.gov.

###

Entry Deadline is July 15 for the Awards that Honor Volunteer Efforts to Improve Illinois Communities

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today marked National Volunteer Week by encouraging communities to submit entries for the 31st Annual Governor's Hometown Awards, a program that recognizes volunteer efforts to improve Illinois communities. The awards are part of Governor Quinn's commitment to honor volunteer service and community improvement across the state. The application deadline is July 15, and communities of any size may submit nominations.

"Local volunteers and organizations are improving communities across Illinois and enhancing the quality of life for everyday people," Governor Quinn said. "The Hometown Awards recognize people who are helping us build a better Illinois for current and future generations."

Applications for Hometown Awards may be submitted by local governments, schools, youth groups, community organizations, chambers of commerce, community action agencies, job training organizations, or other local entities. Awards are given based on population in six project categories: Services and mentorship, beautification and sustainability, parks and recreation, memorials and monuments, history and historic preservation, and general projects.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) oversees the award program.  Details and application forms are available at www.ildceo.net/HometownAwards. All Governor's Hometown Awards winners will be recognized at a reception at the Governor's Mansion this fall.

"Previous award winners have included an urban farm and apiary on a hospital parking lot rooftop, a memorial honoring women in military service, completion of a public skate park using private funds, and a reading mentorship program, just to name a few," DCEO Acting Director Adam Pollet said. "We encourage communities to submit Hometown Awards applications to help us recognize the people who are making Illinois a better place to live and work."

A team of impartial volunteer judges will evaluate the applications. The judges will select the category winners and also nominate one project from each population division to receive the coveted Governor's Cup, a traveling silver trophy which signifies the project deemed most representative of the spirit of Illinois volunteerism. The 2012 Governor's Cup recipient was East St. Louis for transforming an abandoned and overgrown parking lot into a community teaching garden that provides fresh produce to low-income citizens.

iBIO Report Shows Illinois at the Core of the Most Vibrant Bioscience Hub in the United States

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced that a new independent study has ranked Illinois at the top of the nation's biotechnology industry, and the state is at the core of the most vibrant bioscience hub in the United States. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois' economy forward. Citing "The Economic Engine of Biotechnology in Illinois," a new report from iBIO conducted by Ernst & Young LLP, the announcement comes during the BIO Conference in Chicago.

"This report shows that Illinois is a national leader in biotechnology jobs and economic impact," Governor Quinn said. "Public and private investments have fueled our strong track record of innovation and success in biotechnology. As this report makes clear, Illinois and the Midwest are well positioned for ongoing growth."

The report demonstrates that Illinois stands out as a significant player in the biotechnology industry in three ways. First, Illinois is at the core of the most vibrant bioscience cluster in the United States; second, biotechnology is a critical component and driver of the state's economy; and third, the state of Illinois is committed to fueling this growth and advancing the biotechnology industry.

"The Economic Engine of Biotechnology in Illinois" shows the Midwest Super Cluster, which includes Illinois and the surrounding eight-state region, surpasses California and the East Coast in biotechnology-related employment, number of establishments and research and development expenditures. Its four key findings are:

·         Within the Midwest Super Cluster there are more than 16,800 biotechnology establishments employing more than 377,900 people. By comparison, California has 7,500 biotechnology establishments that employ 230,000 people, and the East Coast cluster employs 253,000 among its approximately 7,100 biotechnology establishments.

·         The overall economic output of Illinois' biotechnology industry is more than $98.6 billion with 81,000 direct jobs and more than 3,500 biotechnology companies in the state. In fact, Illinois residents employed by biotechnology companies earn up to 91 percent more than the average Illinois resident. The biotechnology industry in Illinois has demonstrated the strongest revenue growth in recent years among all of the states analyzed in this study, an average annual growth of 13.3 percent.

·         During the past decade, the top seven universities in Illinois have steadily increased their research and development expenditures, creating new opportunities for biotech startups. Expenditures have nearly doubled since 2001, growing from $727 million to more than $1.3 billion.

·         The ability to secure early-stage funding is spurring innovation and growth among startup biotechnology companies in Illinois. Venture capital funding in Illinois has seen a 209 percent increase between 2009 and 2012.

Ernst & Young LLP conducted direct interviews with senior industry leaders throughout the Midwest region to create the report. Data was also gathered from reports by Battelle Memorial, information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Science Foundation, various university technology transfer offices, biotechnology organizations, publicly available data sources and reports, as well as proprietary databases. The nine-state Midwest Super Cluster includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.

The full report may be viewed at ibio.org/illinoisbiotechreport.

"Ernst & Young is committed to helping the Midwest become one of the top biotechnology communities in the world," Ernst & Young's Midwest Health Sciences Leader Jo Ellen Helmer said. "To succeed, our region must continue to invest in the industry, and increase collaboration and partnerships, as well as facilitate ongoing research, recruit the talent needed to ensure growth and emphasize the ease and ability to secure early-stage funding."

iBIO, which commissioned the study, aims to make Illinois and the surrounding Midwest one of the world's top life sciences centers, a great place to do business and a great place to grow new technology ventures. iBIO advocates for sound public policy at the local, state and federal levels; improves our region's ability to create, attract and retain businesses; and orchestrates industry involvement to help restore America's leadership in math and science education. To find out more about iBIO, please visit ibio.org.

The national Biotechnology Industry Organization named Governor Quinn "2011 Governor of the Year" at their international conference in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Illinois is home to several multinational bioscience companies, including  Abbott, Baxter, Takeda, Astellas, Valent BioSciences, Tate & Lyle, Hospira and Lundbeck. According to iBio, Illinois is home to more than 440 corporate R&D facilities and more than 200 academic, government, and nonprofit research institutions.

 ###