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Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointment in his administration

Gov. Pritzker Announces One Appointment to Boards and Commissions

Howard Rosenblum will serve as a Member of the Human Rights Commission.* Rosenblum currently serves as the Chair and CEO of Deaf Equality, a civil rights organization he founded to advance equality for the Deaf and hard of hearing community on a local, state, national, and international level. An experienced disability rights attorney, Rosenblum spent eight years as a Senior Attorney at Equip for Equality. Previously, he was the CEO and Director of Legal Services at the National Association of the Deaf and served as a Legal Advisor for the World Federation of the Deaf. Rosenblum earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona and a Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration

Gov. Pritzker Announces Four Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Lisa Dziekan will serve as a Member of the Illinois Community College Board.* Dziekan is an experienced executive who has worked across the real estate and economic development sectors through public-private partnerships. She currently serves as the Principal of Economic Development at the Lamar Johnson Collaborative, where she leads strategic partnerships that drive growth and impact across the Chicagoland region. Formerly the Senior Vice President of Business Development at World Business Chicago, Dziekan played a key role in creating job opportunities and attracting new investments, helping to position Chicago as a leading destination for corporate relocation and expansion. Dziekan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Economics from the University of Michigan-Dearborn and a Master of Arts in Urban Planning and Public Affairs from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Ameya Pawar will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Finance Authority.* Pawar currently serves as the President and CEO of the Michael Reese Health Trust. Previously, he co-founded and served as CEO of OKAY Cannabis, a social equity cannabis operator in Illinois. He has also worked as a senior advisor with the Economic Security Project, helping drive policies for equitable economic development. Elected in 2011 as Alderman for Chicago’s 47th ward, Pawar served two terms and chaired the Chicago Resilient Families Task Force. Pawar earned a Bachelor of Arts from Missouri Valley College, a Master of Public Administration from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and a Master in Threat and Response Management and a Master in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago.

Gov. Pritzker Announces Two Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Araceli Garza will serve as a Member of the Capital Development Board.* Garza is an accomplished licensed architect and real estate developer with a robust background in both the public and private sectors. As the founder and principal of Obra Real Estate, she is dedicated to creating culturally relevant, community-focused projects. Her work emphasizes affordable, sustainable housing solutions that honor the unique needs and identities of the communities she serves. Before founding her firm, Garza was the Managing Director of Studio ARQ. She is affiliated with several professional organizations, including being a HACIA Executive Fellow, a 2022 Inner City Capital Connections graduate, and a participant in the Women’s Business Development Center. Garza earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design and Real Estate Development from Columbia University.

Alexander Purcell will serve as a Member of the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board.* Purcell has dedicated his professional life to supporting workers through strategic talent management and organizational design. He currently serves as the Director HR Business Partner at United Airlines, where he has developed inclusive talent programs that enhance hiring, development, and employee success. He has worked in several departments within United Airlines, including Performance Management, Employee Engagement, and Talent Strategy. Prior to joining United Airlines, he was the Senior HR Business Partner at V&V Supremo Foods, where he created a company-wide safety training program, managed talent programs, and supported employees across the organization. Purcell is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management. Purcell earned a Bachelor and Master of Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Roosevelt University.

Gov. Pritzker Announces Four Appointments to Boards and Commissions 

Beatrice Thompson will serve as a Member of the Energy Workforce Advisory Council.* Thompson is a business representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 134, with over three decades of experience in the electrical construction industry. Thompson represents more than 1,300 IBEW Local 134 apprentices and serves as Secretary of the Illinois IBEW Renewable Energy Fund (REF). As an instructor in the REF Summer Solar Program, she helps prepare diverse populations for the IBEW Local 134 apprenticeship program. She is dedicated to ensuring equitable access to clean energy career pathways for students in underserved areas. Recently, she was awarded Crain’s Chicago Business 2024 Leaders in Sustainability Award. Thompson earned a Bachelor of Science from Chicago State University.

Gov. Pritzker Announces Seven Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Allison Powers will continue to serve as a Member of the Executive Ethics Commission.* Powers has fifteen years of experience as an employment litigator, trial attorney, and strategic partner. She is currently a partner at Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP, where she co-leads the Compensation and Employment Practice Group and serves as the firm’s sole employment partner. Previously, she was an Associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, where she represented clients nationwide in systemic, class action, and single-plaintiff discrimination matters. Powers is actively involved in several organizations, including the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, where she serves on the Board of Directors as Vice President and chairs the Board Development Committee. In 2023, she was nominated and recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as a Notable Leader in Employment and Labor Law. Powers earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and a Juris Doctor from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law.

Gov. Pritzker Announces Three Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Katherine Drummond will serve as a Member of the Illinois Forensic Science Commission.* Drummond currently is as a partner at Drummond Law. In this role, they have served as the lead attorney for criminal cases, driver’s license reinstatements, DCFS appeals, juvenile delinquency cases, and Title IX violations. Prior to joining Drummond Law, they served as a partner at Winstein, Kavensky, & Cunningham, and were an Assistant State Attorney within the Office of the 9th Circuit State Attorney in Florida. Drummond is also the president of the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense. Drummond earned a Bachelor of Arts from Knox College and a Juris Doctor from Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law at Barry University.

Gov. Pritzker Announces Five Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Sean Brannon will serve as a Member of theIllinois Gaming Board.* Brannon retired from the Illinois State Police (ISP) as a Captain in July 2024, following over 27 years of service. His most recent assignment was managing ISP’s Statewide Gaming Command while simultaneously serving as the Illinois Gaming Board’s Deputy Administrator of Field Operations. Throughout his ISP career, Brannon heldvarious positions, including Trooper, Special Agent, Sergeant, Master Sergeant, and Lieutenant. Brannon earned a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Administration from Western Illinois University and a Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois University.

James Kolar will continue to serve as a member of the Illinois Gaming Board.* Kolar brings nearly forty years of professional experience to the Board. He recently retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) after 37 years, having served in the Financial Services Practice. Kolar held several leadership roles at PwC, including Managing Partner, Market Managing Partner, and Central Market Managing Partner. In addition to the Illinois Gaming Board, Kolar serves on the University of St. Thomas Board of Trustees and the PwC Charitable Foundation Board. Kolar earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Gov. Pritzker Announces One Appointment to Boards and Commissions  

Barbara Flynn Currie will continue to serve as Chair of the Pollution Control Board.* Representative Currie has served on the Pollution Control Board since her original appointment in 2019. Currie retired from the Illinois House of Representatives after serving for forty years, during which she was the first female House Majority Leader in state history. She sponsored the state’s first Freedom of Information Act and the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit. Currie was a champion for clean air and water, and she spearheaded changes to state funding for public education and the juvenile justice system. She’s been honored by many organizations including the Illinois ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Environmental Council, Friends of the Parks, the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, and the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. Currie earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Chicago.

Gov. Pritzker Announces Thirteen Appointments to Boards and Commissions

James Fuentes will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Finance Authority.* Fuentes is an entrepreneur and former CEO of Clarity Communication Systems Inc, a company he founded in 1998. After the company merged with ISCO International, he took on the role of Chief Strategy Officer at ISCO, where he played a pivotal role in integrating the two businesses. An engineer by training, he served as a senior engineer for Lockheed Advanced Development Projects, an engineer specialist with Northrop Defense, and a senior manager for Lucent Technologies. Fuentes is a Trustee for the Museum of Science and Industry where he serves on the Education and Building Capital Improvement committees. Fuentes earned a Bachelor of Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Personnel Releases

Gov. Pritzker Announces One Appointment to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces Four Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces One Appointment to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces Two Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces Two Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces Four Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces Seven Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces Three Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces Five Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces Two Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces One Appointment to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces Thirteen Appointments to Boards and Commissions

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