To stay updated on Governor Pritzker’s most recent press conferences, please visit the Governor’s Twitter page @GovPritzker or the Governor’s Facebook page @GovPritzker for the latest livestreams. Downloadable video footage of press conferences can also be accessed at the following link: https://cms.illinois.gov/agency/media/video/videos.html 

The State of Illinois Newsroom

To stay updated on Governor Pritzker’s most recent press conferences, please visit the Governor’s Twitter page @GovPritzker or the Governor’s...

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Chicago—Governor JB Pritzker today signed SB2930 and HB5507 in advance of the 2024 Chicago Pride Parade. SB2930 requires nonprofits to publicly report the aggregated demographic information about their boards of directors to encourage nonprofits to reflect the diversity of the communities they support. HB5507 removes barriers to the process of changing legal gender on a birth certificate for Illinois residents born in other states.

Gov. Pritzker Signs LGBTQ+ Affirming Bills in Honor of Pride Month

Chicago—Governor JB Pritzker today signed SB2930 and HB5507 in advance of the 2024 Chicago Pride Parade. SB2930 requires nonprofits to publicly...

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

Angela Morrison will serve as a Member of the Energy Workforce Advisory Council.* Morrison has over two decades of workforce development experience. She currently serves as the Policy Engagement Manager with Chicago Jobs Council, where she previously worked as a Policy Associate and Project Coordinator. Her career experience also includes working as Business Services Representative and Business Services Manager at the Inspiration Corporation, and as the Employment Services Workforce Development Manager of Southwest Women Working Together. She served as a Member of the Governor’s Commission on Workforce and Equity Access and is a current member of the Energy Transition Workforce Commission. Morrison attended DePaul University where her studies focused on non-profit management.

Gov. Pritzker Announces Five Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Michael Sutton will continue to serve as a Member of the Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Board.* For over twenty years, Sutton has served as the President and CEO of Infrastructure Engineering Inc, growing the business from two employees in its inception to nearly one hundred employees today. With over forty years of professional experience in study, design, and construction, Sutton contributes to the larger engineering community as a founding member of the Council for Black Architects and Engineering Companies. He is a member of the Business Leadership Council and Illinois chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Sutton’s work has been heavily recognized in the professional community, as the 2014 Minority Professional Engineer of the Year, awarded by the Suburban Minority Contractors Association, and the Construction Council and Community Service Award from the Evanston/NorthShore Branch of the NAACP. Sutton earned his Bachelor of Science from the College of Engineering at Northwestern University.

Gov. Pritzker Announces Two Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Doug House will serve as a Member of the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority.* House has spent his entire professional career in public service at all levels of government with a focus on transportation, infrastructure, and workforce development. He has served as the Deputy Secretary of Illinois Department of Transportation and General Manager of Municipal Services for the City of Moline. Doug has worked closely with the existing business community in northwestern Illinois and understands their need to grow and foster new businesses to create jobs for the state’s skilled workforce. House was honored to be recognized as the Preservationist of the Year for his work revitalizing Historic Prospect Park and was recently inducted into the AFL-CIO Organized Labor Hall of Fame. Doug Served four years in the Illinois Air Force National Guard and two years in the Army Reserves and was honorably discharged from both as a Sergeant.

Gov. Pritzker Announces Three Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Bob Morgan will serve as a Member of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission.* Morgan has been the Illinois State Representative from the 58th District since 2019. His leadership in the House has centered around improving healthcare access and human services for all and reducing gun violence–most notably shepherding the ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in Illinois. Formerly, Rep. Morgan was the lead healthcare attorney for the Illinois Office of the Governor, and General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Public Health, helping to implement the Affordable Care Act and Medical Cannabis Program in Illinois. Active in the local community, Morgan is a tireless advocate for those without a voice, serving as a Board Member of the Anti-Defamation League and a Board of Trustees member of Equip for Equality. Rep. Morgan received his Bachelor of Arts from University of Illinois-Urbana and his J.D. from Northern Illinois University.

Scott Baskin will serve as a Member of the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Committee.* Baskin currently serves as the CEO of the Small Business Advocacy Council. While in this role, he serves as a Board and Executive Committee member, and promotes the success of small businesses in the Chicago area. Prior to his current role, Baskin was the President and CEO of Mark Shale, a men’s and women’s clothing retailer. Baskin has been an active member in his community, and was a member of WBEZ, the Chicago Public Radio Board of Directors, and the Young Presidents Organization. Baskin received a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College and a Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law.

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

Van Austin will serve as a Member of the Commission on Equity and Inclusion.* Austin has over a decade of public and private procurement experience. He most recently served as an Agency Procurement Officer with the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT). While in this role, Austin served as the principal policy-formulating administrator for DoIT’s procurement operations. Prior to joining DoIT, Austin served as an Agency Procurement Officer with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and was a Policy Advisor for the Chief Procurement Officer for the Capital Development Board. Austin received a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Ama Addai will serve as a Member of the Capital Development Board.* Addai has over twenty years of civil engineering experience. She currently serves as the Director of Utility Engineering and Land Development with The Roderick Group. While in this role, Addai leads several diverse teams of engineers, designers, and field personnel on a wide variety of projects Addai is a member of the Women’s Transportation Seminar International Chicago Chapter, Women’s Energy Network Chicago Chapter, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Addai received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois and Master of Construction Engineering and Management from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Gov. Pritzker Announces Eight Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Lakeshia Bell will serve as a Member of the Children and Family Services Advisory Council.* Bell has over fifteen years of experience as a Licensed Social Worker, Certified Life & Parent Coach, Mental Health Consultant, and Independent Contractor. Bell is the Founder of Elements of Life Coaching, where she offers Life and Parent Coaching services to individuals and parents. Bell received a Bachelor and Master Degree in the field of Social Work, along with a minor in Sociology, from Southern Illinois University.

Kelly Rosenberg will serve as a Member of the Children and Family Services Advisory Council.* Rosenberg is a passionate social worker, currently serving as a Child Welfare Advocate at a domestic violence shelter. She focuses on providing counseling services to children who have experienced domestic or sexual violence, advocating for parents and leading parenting groups. Throughout the course of her career, Rosenberg has interned with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, served as a foster care worker for Children's Home and Aid Society and taught preschool at the local park district. An involved member of her community, Rosenberg serves on the Saint Charles Mental Health Board. Rosenberg earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Melineh Kano will continue to serve as a Member of the Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes.* Kano is the Executive Director of RefugeeOne, one of the largest refugee resettlement agencies in Illinois. Under Kano’s leadership, RefugeeOne annually serves more than 2,500 refugees and immigrants of all ages, ethnic groups, faiths, and backgrounds. She previously served as the Program Director for RefugeeOne, and before that, as the Reception and Placement Program Coordinator for InterChurch Refugee and Immigration Ministries. Kano received her degree in Business Management from the University of Rome and is fluent in five languages (Armenian, Farsi, French, Italian, and English).

William Hook will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Committee for Agricultural Education.* Hook has dedicated his career to Chicago Public Schools since 1991 and currently serves as Principal of the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, a position he has held since 2008. Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences is the second school of its kind in the nation and provides Chicago students with a strong college preparatory program, complete with career and technical education programs in agriculture. All students are members of the Future Farmers of America. Hook has secured numerous grants to foster innovation and growth for these agricultural programs. He regularly serves on advisory boards and special committees for agricultural organizations and serves on the Illinois State Fair Advisory Board. Hook earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Northwestern University and holds Master’s Degrees in Political Science, Special Education and Educational Administration from Governors State University.

Personnel Releases

Gov. Pritzker Signs LGBTQ+ Affirming Bills in Honor of Pride Month

Gov. Pritzker Announces One Appointment 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 Three 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 Five Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces Eight Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces Five Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces One Appointment to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Pritzker Announces One Appointment to Boards and Commissions

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