Gov. Pritzker Announces Five Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Capital Development Board

Araceli Garza will continue to 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.

Illinois International Port District Board

Betty Sanchez will serve as a Member of the Illinois International Port District Board.* Sanchez is an experienced finance and operations leader with a proven track record in managing organizational resources and driving sustainable financial results. She currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer with Chicago Foundation for Women and Vice President of Sanchez Management, Inc. Previously, she held finance leadership roles at the American Vein & Lymphatic Society, the Foundation for Venous & Lymphatic Disease, and La Casa Norte, and led operations at the Jane Addams Resource Corporation, Erie Neighborhood House, and Erie Elementary Charter School. Sanchez earned a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University and a Certificate of Nonprofit Management from North Park University.

Labor Advisory Board

Frances Orenic will continue to serve as a Member of the Labor Advisory Board.* Orenic currently serves as the Legislative Director at Illinois AFL-CIO, where she represents over 900,000 Illinois union members. She negotiates bills with business groups, labor advocates, and organizations focused on women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental issues. Previously, Orenic served as a Coalition Director for Illinois AFL-CIO and Vote Yes for Workers’ Rights. She was also a participant in the Women Innovating Labor Leadership apprenticeship program at Georgetown University. Orenic earned a Bachelor of Arts from Xavier University.

State Board of Health

David Taewoong Chung will continue to serve as a Member of the State Board of Health.* Dr. Chung has been practicing general family medicine at Sparta Community Hospital for over 20 years, serving patients in rural Southern Illinois. He was recently appointed as Medical Health Officer for the Randolph County Health Department. He also mentors students as a Community Physician Preceptor for the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford. Dr. Chung is an active member of the Southern Illinois Medical Association, the Illinois State Medical Society, the American Academy of Family Practice, and the American Medical Association. Dr. Chung earned a Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine from Northwestern University.

Juleigh Nowinski Konchak will continue to serve as a Member of the State Board of Health.* Dr. Nowinski Konchak has spent her career concentrating on public health and health policy. She currently serves as the Program Director for Public Health and General Preventive Medicine with the Cook County Health Department and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Nowinski Konchak is also the principal investigator on several projects aimed at improving access to substance use disorder care for individuals in the criminal justice system. Previously she held public health roles within the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Chicago Department of Public Health. Dr. Nowinski Konchak earned a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, and a Master of Public Health and Certificate in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety from Northwestern University.

* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.

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