CHICAGO - October 24, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced two top appointments to his executive cabinet. Today's actions are the latest in a series of appointments Governor Quinn will make as he continues to fulfill his commitment to creating jobs, fostering economic development, and increasing efficiency and accountability in all areas of state government.

Effective immediately, Governor Quinn named Ann Schneider as secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and John Holton as director of the Illinois Department on Aging. The Governor also appointed two acting directors and one interim director: Jim Larkin as acting director of the Department of Agriculture, Andrew Stolfi as acting director of the Illinois Department of Insurance and John Kim as interim director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

"Effective government requires leadership by talented and motivated public servants, and I am pleased to announce these qualified individuals to lead critical state agencies," Governor Quinn said. "These strong directors will serve the people of Illinois well with their skills and commitment to improving state programs and services."

Directors

Ann L. Schneider has served as acting secretary of IDOT since July 2011. Prior to her appointment, Schneider served as IDOT's chief of operations, responsible for managing and overseeing the department's six offices and four divisions. Schneider also spent five years as director and chief financial officer for IDOT's Office of Finance and Administration. Before joining IDOT, Schneider was the chief fiscal officer for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and in the Governor's Office of Management and Budget. Schneider has a bachelor's degree from Augustana College and a master's degree in public administration from Sangamon State University (now University of Illinois-Springfield).

John Holton will apply his expertise in community and human development to Illinois' unprecedented increase in its older adult population. Holton served from 2007 through 2010 as associate director of the Division of Mental Health at the Illinois Department of Human Services. Previously, he served as site director for the Harvard University School of Public Health's Project on Human Development in Chicago's Neighborhoods, and is a member of the American Public Health Association. Holton's experience addressing domestic violence and other issues impacting older adults and their families will strengthen the department's efforts to help older adults live with comfort and dignity. He holds a Ph.D. in human development from Pennsylvania State University, as well as a master's in urban education from the University of Hartford and a B.A. from Howard University.

Governor Quinn Makes Executive Appointments

Fills Terms at Gaming Board, Racing Board, Pollution Control Board, Tollway and More

CHICAGO - October 24, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today made a number of appointments to the state's more than 320 boards and commissions. In addition to university boards, the Governor's actions include filling positions on the state Gaming Board, the Illinois Racing Board, the Pollution Control Board, the Toll Highway Authority and several more.

"I'm pleased to announce a set of talented, qualified individuals who will bring new skills and new energy to our boards and commissions," Governor Quinn said. "After inheriting a backlog of more than 1,000 vacant and expired terms from the previous administration, we continue to make progress in appointing dedicated public servants while continuing to pursue opportunities for boards and commissions reform."

Of Illinois' more than 320 boards and commissions, 23 are compensated: six of which are full-time, paid positions while the remaining 14 are part-time or per diem. The remaining more than 290 boards are unpaid, volunteer boards. Board salaries are set by Illinois statute. Governor Quinn is currently conducting a top-to-bottom review of Illinois' boards and commissions to seek out ways to increase efficiency and save costs. While protecting essential boards in place that are greatly needed, potential future actions may include reducing board size and/or salary, and merging or eliminating some boards.

Today Governor Quinn made appointments to the state's Gaming Board who bring extensive backgrounds and expertise in oversight, regulation, law enforcement and finance to further strengthen the board's ability to keep Illinois' gaming industry scandal-free. Aaron Jaffe, who has chaired the board since 2005, was reappointed to head the board. Under Jaffe's leadership, the board has increased openness and transparency in the gaming industry, notably revoking the 10th casino gaming license in order to rebid the license through a fair and open process. Jaffe has consistently led efforts to hold entities that violate gaming regulations accountable.

Also appointed to the Illinois Gaming Board was Zaldwaynaka Scott, who was Illinois' first executive inspector general. Scott, who holds degrees from Indiana University and UIUC, also served as a criminal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago before joining the private sector as a licensed attorney. Maribeth Vander Weele is a certified Illinois inspector general with a strong financial and oversight background that includes service on the audit committee for Chicago Public Schools and experience in investigative services to the public and private sectors. Also appointed to the Gaming Board was Lee Gould, an attorney with more than 30 years of experience as an auditor and accountant. Gould specializes in forensic accounting investigations, locating unreported or hidden assets and identifying misappropriations. Mike Holewinski, who received degrees from both John Marshall Law School and the University of Illinois at Chicago, is a former Illinois State Representative and now serves as the president of Ace Industries.

Additionally, Governor Quinn made appointments to the state's Racing Board, whose members represent a set of diverse perspectives that will improve the board's ability to effectively oversee horse racing in Illinois. Their combined legal expertise, rural economic development and law enforcement experience will help strengthen the board's oversight. Benjamin Reyes graduated from UIUC, is currently the president of DSR Group, Inc. and has public and private sector experience with construction and program management. William Berry, an attorney who resides in downstate Collinsville, is a former board member of Southwestern Illinois Tourism Bureau and graduate of Millikin University and Washington University Law School.

Governor Quinn also appointed Kathy Byrne, an attorney who owns race horses based out of state. She is a graduate of Saint Mary's College of Notre Dame and the Loyola University School of Law. Patricia Beauvais is a horse breeder who has served on the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation. She also holds an Illinois Horse Racing License. Roger Whalen of Chicago is a retired Chicago Police Department captain, where he was commanding officer of the citywide gambling unit and supervisor in the organized crime division. For the past 35 years, he has also been in charge of off-duty police officers and security for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Governor Quinn announced five new appointments to the Illinois Toll Highway Authority. The new members will bring the important legal, construction and financial expertise that is essential for the Tollway's continued and anticipated growth. Mark Peterson, president of Bridgeview Bank, a former member of the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board and director of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, handled transportation matters for former Governor Jim Edgar. Jim Sweeney is president and business manager of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, the state's largest trade union. His technical expertise in construction projects landed him on the Tollway's Strategic Advisory Team in 2010 to assist with its comprehensive capital plan.

Governor Quinn also appointed Mayor David Gonzalez of Chicago Heights who will serve as a strong voice for the south suburbs, an area expected to experience significant growth. Gonzales also owns his own accounting firm. Attorney Jeffrey Redick has served on the DuPage County Board since 2006, where he is chairman of the environmental committee and vice-chairman of the development committee. Terrence D'Arcy is a former chairman of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association and the current president of D'Arcy Buick and GMC in Joliet.

Governor Quinn also named William Morris to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission. Morris, a former mayor of Waukegan who was appointed by Governor Quinn to the Toll Highway Authority, will replace Chuck Scholz, the former mayor of Quincy.

In addition, Governor Quinn named Tom Holbrook to head the Pollution Control Board (PCB). Holbrook previously served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives since 1995, where he represented the state's 113th District and focused on environmental and regulatory issues. As chairman of the House Environment & Energy Committee and vice chair of the Registration and Regulation Committee, Holbrook was heavily involved in crafting most of Illinois' environmental legislation for the past decade.

Governor Quinn also named Deanna Glosser to the board. Glosser has a doctorate in urban and regional planning from UIUC and is currently a natural resources planning specialist at Purdue University.

In addition, Governor Quinn appointed Tanner Girard of Chicago as the Executive Director of the Pollution Control Board. He has served on the Pollution Control Board since 1992, filling in as acting chairman in 2005, where he played a key role in shaping environmental rules and regulations in Illinois. Girard received a bachelor's degree in biology from Principia College, a master's degree in biological sciences from the University of Central Florida and a Ph.D. in science education from Florida State University.

As a result of Governor Quinn's unprecedented efforts to make the executive appointment process more accessible and transparent, citizens who are interested in serving on boards and commissions can now apply online. The Governor also signed legislation this summer to reform the appointment process and supports many of the reforms recommended in September by Auditor General William Holland.

For more information on all of the state's boards and commissions, please visit Appointments.Illinois.gov.

Full List of Appointments

Civil Service Commission:

Susan Krey of Des Plaines has been a trustee for Maine Township since 2007 and worked as a real estate broker for 22 years. She holds a degree from Northeastern Illinois University and is a member of the Illinois Library Association.

Chris Kolker of Fairview Heights has served as chairman of the Illinois Civil Service Commission since 2004. He is a private practice attorney and graduated magna cum laude from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, where he served as Law Journal editor.

Garrett Fitzgerald of Chicago is the executive director of the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce.

Education Labor Relations Board:

Michael Prueter of Lisle has served on the IELRB since 2000. He holds a B.A. and an M.B.A. in business administration from Columbia State University.

Employment Security Board of Review:

William McClusky of Harrisburg is a former Saline County Clerk and Recorder. He previously served as president of the Progressive Mine Workers of America Union and is a Veteran of the United States Navy.

William Nolan of Chicago has served on the ESBR since 1998 and spent more than 40 years as a police officer for the City of Chicago. He is also an active member of the Chicago Metropolitan Easter Seal Society.

Executive Ethics Commission:

Gil Soffer of Chicago was appointed to the Executive Ethics Commission by Governor Quinn in 2009. He is a former associate deputy attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice and previously worked in the Chicago U.S. Attorney's Office. He holds a degree from Brown University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Illinois Gaming Board:

Judge Aaron Jaffe of Evanston has served as chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board since 2005. Under Jaffe's leadership, the board has increased openness and transparency in the gaming industry, most notably revoking the 10th casino gaming license in order to rebid the license through a fair and open process. Jaffe has consistently led efforts to hold entities that violate gaming regulations accountable. He sat on the Circuit Court of Cook County for 30 years and served 14 years in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Maribeth Vander Weele of Chicago is the owner and founder of the Vander Weele Group, which provides investigative, security and integrity program services to the public and private sectors. She is also a certified Illinois inspector general with a strong financial and oversight background that includes service on the audit committee for Chicago Public Schools.

Lee Gould of Chicago has more than 30 years of experience as an accountant, auditor and tax preparer. Gould specializes in forensic accounting investigations, locating unreported or hidden assets and identifying misappropriations. Gould holds a degree in accounting from UIUC and a J.D. from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law.

Michael Holewinski of Chicago is the president of Ace Industries and is a former Illinois state representative. He sits on the board of directors for the Illinois Manufacturer's Association and previously chaired the Chicago Mayor's Task Force on Youth Crime Prevention. He holds a J.D. from the John Marshall Law School.

Z (Zaldwaynaka) Scott of Chicago was Illinois' first executive inspector general and previously worked as a criminal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago. She is currently a partner at Kaye Scholer and a commissioner for the Chicago Housing Authority.

International Port District Board:

Dean Maragos has served on the Illinois International Port District Board since 2007. He was previously the assistant director for the City of Chicago Department of Revenue and served in the Legal Division of the Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. He holds a J.D. from the Northern Illinois University College of Law.

Victor Crivello has 30 years of experience in air, water and land regulatory compliance and management for government and private industry. He holds a master's in Public Administration from Roosevelt University and was a Captain in the United States Army reserves.

Labor Relations Board:

Paul Besson of Chicago previously worked for more than 20 years at General Electric Company, rising to the position of global vice-president of human resources. He also served as senior vice president and chief administrative officer at American Commercial Lines. He holds an M.B.A from Cornell University and a J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law.

James Brennwald of Chicago has been a labor lawyer for 24 years, and represented both management and union clients before the ILRB and the NLRB in numerous collective bargaining negotiations and labor arbitrations. He was formerly an attorney for the city of Chicago and was the city's chief labor negotiator.

Michael Coli of Chicago has served on the LRB since 2006. Prior to his appointment, he was president of Teamsters Local #727 for 20 years, and was involved in all aspects of contact negotiations, labor changes and grievance proceedings.

Illinois Liquor Control Commission:

Bill Morris of Grayslake was appointed to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority by Governor Quinn in 2009. He was formerly mayor of the city of Waukegan, where he also served as city liquor commissioner and Illinois state senator, representing the 31st District. He earned a master's degree in public administration from Webster University.

Mid-America Intermodal Authority Port District Board:

Charles Hood of Frederick retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after 45 years as lockmaster at the LaGrange Lock and Dam.

Henry Brownback of Ashland is a founding director of the Port District Board and been vice president of Southwestern Illinois College since 1974.

Mining Board:

David Webb of Raymond has served on the Mining Board since 2003. He has worked and been a manager in the coal mining industry for more than 30 years in nine different mines. He holds a degree in mining engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla.

Don Stewart of Gillespie has served on the Mining Board since 2005. He has worked in the coal mining industry for 31 years and previously served on the Illinois Miners Examining Board from 2003-2006. He has also been the local president of the United Mine Workers in Gillespie since 1999.

Fred Frederking of Coulterville previously served on the Mining Board from 2007 to 2009 and retired after 32 years in the Illinois coal industry. He has also been a member of the Randolph County Farm Bureau for more than 53 years.

George Teegarden of Harrisburg has been a member of the Mining Board since 2003 and is a dozer operator in Equality, Illinois. He is a certified surface mine supervisor and has more than 40 years of experience in the coal industry.

Jerry Cross of Marissa has been a member of the Mining Board since 2003 and has worked in the coal industry for more than 30 years. He was a representative for the United Mine Workers in Benton, Illinois for more than 20 years.

Tim Kirkpatrick of Johnston City was appointed to the Mining Board by Governor Quinn in 2010. He has 35 years of experience in the coal industry and is a certified mine examiner, mine manager and E.M.T.

Pollution Control Board 

Deanna Glosser is the president of Environment Planning Solutions in Riverton and a natural resources planning specialist at Purdue University. She previously spent 13 years as a manager for the Illinois Department of National Resources. She holds an anthropology degree from Illinois State University and a Ph.D in environmental planning from UIUC's Department of Urban Regional Planning.

Tom Johnson of Urbana has served on the Pollution Control Board since 2001. He was a special assistant in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General and a special prosecutor in the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State.  He previously served on the Champaign County Board from 1994-1998. He holds a J.D. from Northern Illinois University.

Tom Holbrook of Belleville represented the 113th District in the Illinois House of Representatives since 1995, where he served as chair of the Environment and Energy Committee and was heavily involved in crafting most of Illinois' environmental legislation for the past decade. Holbrook worked in the private sector for more than 15 years, and helped develop state of the art instrumentation that is used for monitoring emissions and quality control.

Prisoner Review Board 

Charles Bowers of Edwards has served on the Prisoner Review board since 2006. He is a former officer in the Peoria police department where he earned a polygraph examination license. He is a Veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, where he served from 1966 to 1972.

Edith Crigler of Chicago is the president of the Chicago Jobs Council's Board of Directors and sits on the City Wide Restorative Justice committee. She holds a master's degree in Administration and Social Policy from the University of Chicago and teaches in the criminal justice department at Chicago State University. She was appointed by Governor Quinn to the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission in 2010.

Eric Althoff of Effingham has served on the Prisoner Review Board since 2004. He spent more than 20 years as the Effingham County coroner and a volunteer firefighter. He holds an associate's degree in law enforcement from Lake Land College.

Property Tax Appeal Board:

Jim Bilotta of Lockport has served on the Will County Board since 2002. He has also served on the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and the Zoning Board for the village of Bellwood. He is a certified residential appraiser and operates his own appraisal business.

Illinois Racing Board 

Benjamin Reyes of Chicago is president of DSR Group, where he oversees over $100 million in retail in residential development projects. He is a former executive director of the Public Building Commission of Chicago and chief operating officer for the Chicago Public Schools.

William Berry of Collinsville is an attorney and former board member for the Southwestern Illinois Tourism Bureau. He holds a J.D. from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis and has been admitted to the bar for the United States Supreme Court.

Kathy Byrne of Chicago is an attorney and racehorse owner. She is a graduate of Saint Mary's College of Notre Dame and the Loyola University School of Law.

Patricia Beauvais of Des Plaines is a former horse breeder and prior to her appointment, served on the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation. She also holds an Illinois Horse Racing License. She served as an alderman for the city of Des Plaines from 1993-2007.

Roger Whalen of Chicago retired as a captain in the Chicago Police Department following 40 years of service, where he was commanding officer of the citywide gambling unit and supervisor in the organized crime division. For the past 35 years, he has also been in charge of off-duty police officers and security for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Illinois State Police Merit Board:

A. George Pradel has served as the mayor of Naperville since 1995. Prior to his election, he spent 29 years as an officer with the Naperville Police Department, achieving the rank of lieutenant. He previously sat on the board for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

Illinois State Toll Highway Authority:

Carl Towns of Rockford has served on the board of for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority since 2002. He spent more than 38 years in human resource management at Ingersoll Mining Machine Co. and Chrysler in Belvidere and is a member of numerous Rockford-area community organizations.

David Gonzalez of Chicago Heights is a named partner of Gonzalez and Associates Accounting. He previously served as the superintendent and chief financial officer for the Chicago Heights Park District and as police and fire commissioner for the city of Chicago Heights.

James Banks of Chicago is an attorney concentrating in zoning and land use, and has served on the Toll Highway Authority since 1993, where he is chairman of the audit committee. He holds a J.D. from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law.

James Sweeney of Chicago was appointed to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority's strategic advisory team in 2010, where he assisted with the agency's comprehensive capital plan. He is vice president of the International Union of Operating Engineers and president of Local #150 in Countryside.

Jeffrey Redick of Elmhurst has served on the DuPage County Board since 2006, where he is chairman of the environmental committee and vice-chairman of the development committee. He holds a J.D. from the Drake University School of Law and an undergraduate degree from Eastern Illinois University.

Mark Peterson of Lincolnshire is a former member of the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board and is president of Bridgeview Bank. He is a former director of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority and handled transportation matters for former Governor Jim Edgar He holds a degree from the University of South Florida.

Terrence D'Arcy of Shorewood is a former chairman of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association and served as chairman of the Chicago Auto Show in 2007. He is a founder and board member of Joliet Community Bank and president of D'Arcy Buick and GMC in Joliet.

Tom Weisner is the mayor of the city of Aurora and was appointed to the Toll Highway Authority in 2009 by Governor Quinn. He is president of the Metro West Council of Government and founding chairman of the Northwest Water Planning Alliance.

Inspectors General:

Denise Kane (DCFS) of Chicago has served as inspector general for the Department of Children and Family Services since 2003. She previously worked in the Public Guardian's Office of Cook County, Juvenile Division and was a juvenile court probation officer.  She holds a Ph.D. in social service administration from the University of Chicago.

Bradley Hart (HFS) of Hillsboro is the deputy bureau chief of Medicaid fraud and nursing home abuse/neglect in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney-Central District. He graduated cum laude from the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale School of Law.

William Davis (DHS) of Palos Hills has served as inspector general for the Department of Human Services since 2006. He previously spent 25 years in the Illinois State Police, where he rose to the rank of commander.  He is a Veteran of the 173rd Airborne Brigade of the United States Army, where he served in South Vietnam from 1963-1966.

Chicago State University:

Adam Stanley of Chicago is global chief technology officer with AON Corporation and former senior vice-president of business transformation and technology for LaSalle Bank. He holds degrees in finance and international business from Washington University in St. Louis and received his master's in business administration in strategic management and management of electronic commerce at the Wharton School in Philadelphia.

James T. Joyce of Chicago was appointed Chicago Fire Commissioner following 34 years of service to the CFD. He graduated from Chicago State University and holds a master's degree in public administration from Governor's State University. He is a Veteran of the U.S. Army.

Anthony Young of Chicago is a former Cook County Circuit Court judge and represented the 17th District in the Illinois House for seven years. He is Veteran of the United State Air Force and earned a M.B.A. from Golden Gate University and a J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law.

Eastern Illinois University:

William Dano III of Oswego has more than 20 years of business experience in sales management for Extreme Networks, Avaya, Fujitsu, Lucent Technologies and AT&T. He holds a degree in business administration from Aurora University.

Joseph Dively of Charleston is the president of First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust and is a former chairman of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. He holds a degree from EIU and is a past president of the university alumni association.

Robert Webb of Mattoon was appointed chairman of the Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees by Governor Quinn in 2011. He has been a teacher, principal, district superintendent and community college president. He holds a doctorate in education from UIUC.

Rene Hutchinson of Chicago is a member of the Eastern Illinois University Board of Directors. She graduated with a degree in business and management from EIU and has worked at Allstate Insurance Company in Northbrook for almost 30 years.

Roger Kratochvil of Mt. Olive was a teacher and principal at Mt. Olive High School for 34 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in education from EIU and master's degrees in educational administration and secondary education from Sangamon State University (now UIS) and Southern Illinois University, respectively. He was inducted into the EIU Hall of Fame in 1998.

Kenneth Goetz of Elmhurst has been an attorney for more than 20 years and has served on the Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Commission for more than 15 years. He holds a J.D. from the Illinois Institute of Technology's Chicago Kent School of Law.

Governor's State University:

Brian Mitchell of Flossmoor is the administrator of the village of Matteson. He was previously a manager for the Cook County Bureau of Human Resources and program director for PSI Services. He holds a master's degree from the Spertus College of Jewish Studies and a bachelor's degree in sociology from Northern Illinois University

Eileen Durkin of Chicago has been president and chief executive officer of Neumann Family Services since 2000. She was previously executive director of the Howard Brown Health Center. She was appointed by Governor Quinn to the Illinois Human Services Commission in 2009 and serves on numerous state and city boards. She holds a M.B.A. from Loyola University in Chicago.

Jack Beaupre of Bourbonnais has served on the board for Governor's State University since 2000. He is a former Illinois House Representative and was a special assistant attorney general from 1977-1987. He was also a nominee to the 1960 Illinois constitutional convention and a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1958 to 1968.

Illinois State University:

Rocco Donahue of Tinley Park has over 30 years of experience at Pace, where he rose from an analyst to director of government affairs, and to his current position as deputy executive director for external relations. He holds a master's degree in public administration from Roosevelt University and earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Illinois State University.

Northeastern Illinois University:

Carlos Azcoitia of Chicago is assistant professor of educational leadership at National-Louis University and previously served as an administrator at numerous educational institutions, including as assistant superintendent of the Chicago Public Schools. He is a frequently-published author and holds a doctorate in education from Northern Illinois University.

Barbara Fumo of River Forest is a former middle school teacher and was assistant principal of Hanson Park School for 13 years. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Northeastern University.

Jin Lee of Des Plaines is the director of business planning for the Albany Park Community Center. He sits on the Illinois Secretary of State's Asian Advisory Council and the city of Chicago's Human Relations Council. He holds a degree from UIUC.

Omar Duque of Chicago has served on the Northeastern University Board of Trustees since 2007 and is the president and CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Bob Biggins of Wheaton represented the 78th District in the Illinois House for 18 years. He previously served on the board of directors for the Suburban Bank of Elmhurst and worked as a property tax consultant for 20 years. He is a former public school teacher and graduated with a bachelor's degree in education from Northeastern University.

Western Illinois University:

Donald Griffin of Macomb was a professor and director at the Institute for Regional and Community Studies at WIU from 1971 to 1993. He was a former military instructor for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He received a Ph.D. in Geography from Clark University.

Lyneir R. Cole of Chicago graduated from WIU with a degree in law enforcement administration and is president of the Western Illinois University Black Alumni Association and a member of the WIU Alumni Council.

William L. Epperly of Chicago has served on the WIU board of trustees since 2004 and was chairman from 2006-2008. He is the owner and president of Stoneage Marketing and the recipient of the WIU Distinguished Alumni Award in 2002.

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act introduced Today

Lyons, NE - The Center for Rural Affairs praised the introduction today of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011, a cross-cutting initiative aimed at helping the next generation of farmers and ranchers enter into agriculture and take advantage of emerging markets.  The bill is sponsored by Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Representative Tim Walz (D-MN). Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and other members of the Senate Agriculture Committee will introduce a companion bill in the Senate when next in session.

"We commend Senator Harkin and the other sponsors for introducing this bill. Their legislation is smart, cost-effective public policy that will create jobs and invest in the future of rural America," said Traci Bruckner, Assistant Director for Rural Policy of the Center for Rural Affairs. "It addresses obstacles that often prevent beginning farmers and ranchers from getting their operation started."

"As the average age of the American farmer continues to increase, it is critical for the well-being of rural America that young people engage in farming and agricultural entrepreneurship. This legislation provides common-sense incentives to young farmers and ranchers, helping overcome the initial challenges facing those who wish to establish their careers in agriculture and raise families on the farm," said Representative Jeff Fortenberry who represents Nebraska's first Congressional district and is a co-sponsor of the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act.

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act contains several key elements, including:

• Reauthorizing the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, a beginning farmer and rancher training and support initiative. It would increase mandatory funding from $75 million to $125 million over the next 5 years to help meet growing demand for the program, and include a new priority on agricultural rehabilitation and vocational training programs for military veterans.

• $30 million in annual funding for the Value Added Producer Grants Program and will retain the priority for projects benefiting beginning farmers and ranchers as well as a set-aside of program funding for these projects.

• Creating savings and enhancing lending provisions that help beginning farmers and ranchers access credit and establish a pattern of savings.

• Providing conservation incentives to assist beginning farmers and ranchers and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to establish conservation practices and sustainable systems on their farms and ranches.

"When you compare the numbers from the 2007 and 2002 Census of Agriculture, you see a big drop in the number of younger farmers in agriculture as their primary occupation. The revitalization of rural America depends, in large part, on reversing that trend," explained Bruckner.

"It can be difficult to get started in the world of agriculture," said Garrett Dwyer, a beginning rancher and former Marine infantryman from Bartlett, NE. "Skyrocketing costs of buying or renting land make entry into farming and ranching a daunting task." Dwyer traveled to D.C. in June to participate in a nationwide fly-in called, "Sound Investments to ensure the Next Generation of Beginning Farmers and Ranchers."

According to Dwyer, more beginning farmers and ranchers are needed because without a new generation of beginners, the land will concentrate in large farms. "And that will cause the permanent loss of opportunity for family farms, ranches, and rural communities and squander the chance to shift to a more sustainable system of agriculture," explained Dwyer.

Bruckner explained that the introduction of these bills in both the House and the Senate is a crucial step in focusing more of the public investment in the 2012 farm bill on the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Congressional investment in beginning farmers and ranchers is an investment, by all Americans, in the future of rural America.  

"And it is money well spent," continued Bruckner.