CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner announced he has made appointments to the Illinois Health Information Exchange Authority, the Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

Name: Mason Budelier

Position: Executive Director - Illinois Health Information Exchange Authority

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Mason Budelier as Executive Director of the Illinois Health Information Exchange Authority. He currently serves as the General Counsel of the Authority.

Budelier came to the Illinois Health Information Exchange Authority in February. Before the Authority, Budelier served as a staff attorney at the Office of Council to the Inspector General within the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. He served in that role from 2011-2015 and handled legal and policy issues related to the administration of the Illinois Medicaid program. He also spent three years as an associate attorney with Bollinger, Ruberry & Garvey.

Budelier earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Iowa State University and a law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law. He lives in Chicago.

Name: Tim Stuthers

Position: Trustee - Northern Illinois University

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Tim Stuthers to the Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees. He holds two degrees from the institution.

Stuthers is the Illinois Market President of First National Bank of Omaha. His responsibilities include general market and administrative duties for banking operations across the state of Illinois. He has 35 years of experience with the company, having started with them in 1980.

Stuthers currently serves on the boards of the Northern Illinois University Foundation, the DeKalb Sanitary District, the Illinois Council on Economic Education, and Grace Lutheran Church.

Stuthers earned both a bachelor's degree in finance and an MBA from Northern Illinois University. He lives in DeKalb.

Name: David Walsh

Position: Member - Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed David Walsh to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

Walsh currently serves as the head of business development for Mark J. Walsh and Company. MJW&CO is a Chicago based commodity trading advisor. Previously, Walsh served as Senior Vice President of Advertising for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Prior to joining the Star Tribune, Walsh worked in a variety of positions within the Tribune Company, where his last position was Vice President of Advertising for the Los Angeles Times. Before joining the Times in 2005, he served as vice president of Tribune Interactive, where he oversaw print and online classified strategies for 10 Tribune owned newspapers.

Walsh earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois. He lives in Chicago.

State Fair Director Also Steps Down

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner today accepted the resignation of Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Phil Nelson. Nelson will remain employed with the Department for the next 30 days to help with the transition. State Fair Director Patrick Buchen has also stepped down.

"I appreciate Director Nelson's commitment to agriculture and his service to the people of Illinois," Governor Rauner said. "I wish him all the best."

Rauner appointed current Department of Agriculture Chief of Staff Warren Goetsch as Acting Director.  A search for a permanent replacement is underway.

CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner announced he has made appointments to the Illinois Gaming Board, the Illinois Workforce Investment Board and the Executive Ethics Commission.

Name: Teresa H. Bartels

Position: Member - Executive Ethics Commission

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Teresa Bartels to the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission. She brings an extensive background in non-profit work to the board.

Currently, Bartels serves as President of the Gateway for Cancer Research in Schaumburg, which is a member of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. In this role, Bartels leads a team of 14 to raise funds and grant money for cancer clinical trials. She also owns her own strategic consulting company, Hallbart Consulting, LLC, where she provides leadership training and coaching to organizations and individuals. Her previous experience includes four years at United Way Worldwide and more than 16 years at Complete Business Services of Illinois and Minnesota.

Bartels sits on the Newman University Board of Trustees, the United Way Worldwide International Donor Assisted Giving Advisory Board, the United Way of Lake County Women's Leadership Council, and the University Center of Lake County Founding Board.

Bartels earned a bachelor's degree in public relations from Northern Arizona University and a master's degree in organizational leadership from Dominican University. She lives in Mundelein.

Name: Ryan Ruskin

Position: Member - Executive Ethics Commission

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Ryan Ruskin to the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission. He brings more than 20 years of private sector experience to the commission.

Ruskin is currently the President and COO of The Ruskin Group, a packaging supplies company. This family-owned manufacturing business has been in operation for more than 120 years. Ruskin also worked as the Executive Vice President for Sterling Packaging where he was responsible for general management of the folding carton packaging company. His other experience includes consulting for A.T. Kearney.

Ruskin is dedicated to the Chicago area and sits on many boards including the Heartland Alliance, the Field Museum, the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Chicago Humanities Festival.

Ruskin earned a bachelor's degree in history from Princeton University and an MBA from Northwestern University. He lives in Chicago.

Name: Lee A. Gould

Position: Member - Illinois Gaming Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Lee Gould to the Illinois Gaming Board. He has served on the board since 2011 and brings close to 20 years of legal experience to the position.

Currently, Gould is a managing member of Gould & Pakter Associates, LLC, where he has worked since 2004. He renders and provides financial and litigation consulting services to clients. His areas of concentration include forensic accounting and analysis, financial damages determinations, and business valuations. He has previously worked for Russell Novak & Company, LLP and Rome Associates, LLC, where he was a partner.

Gould is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and the American Bar Association. He is a former board member and past chairperson of the Illinois CPA Society, as well as the former president and current board member of the CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois.

Gould is a graduate of the University of Illinois and earned his law degree from Loyola University of Chicago. He lives in Chicago.

Name: Grover C. Webb

Position: Member - Illinois Workforce Investment Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Grover Webb to the Illinois Workforce Investment Board. Webb has served on the board since 2010.

Webb is a self-employed partner of Tanglefoot Ranch in Simpson, Illinois. He has run the day-to-day operations of the livestock and grain farm for most of his life. He honorably served in the U.S. Navy Reserves from 1967-1970.

Webb is incredibly engaged in his community and sits on a number of boards and councils. He is a member of the University of Illinois Dixon Springs Ag Center Advisory Board, the Main Street Golconda Board and the Pope-Hardin Farm Bureau Board. He also serves as Chairman of the Bay Creek Conservancy District.

Webb earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois.

PORT BYRON, Ill. - State Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, joined officials from AT&T Monday to recognize the Tri-County Opportunities Council, a Rock Falls-based community service provider, and present a grant that will help the organization continue working to expand access to job training, educational opportunities and assistance for working families.

"The Tri-County Opportunities Council provides thousands of local families with resources to help them make ends meet during difficult times, and I'm thankful AT&T values their contributions to our community as much as I do," Smiddy said. "The governor's budget veto has threatened a number of important services, but we're fortunate that dedicated organizations like The Tri-County Opportunities Council are continuing to put the needs of local families first. This award is in recognition of the important role they play in our community."