Gov. Pritzker Announces Nine Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Illinois State Toll Highway Authority

Theodore Hengesbach will continue to serve as Inspector General at the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.* Hengesbach has over 30 years of experience in public service, and he has served as Inspector General at the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority since 2015. During his time as Inspector General, Hengesbach has improved stakeholder outreach, increased transparency, and enhanced case management efficiency through online reporting programs and process standardization. Before this role, he worked as Deputy Inspector General for the City of Chicago, where he oversaw policy implementation and provided legal counsel for nearly 10 years. Earlier in his career, Hengesbach also served as General Counsel for the Illinois Office of Executive Inspector General. Hengesbach holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from University of Notre Dame and a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University Bloomington’s Maurer School of Law.

Workers’ Compensation Commission

Michael Glaub will continue to serve as an Arbitrator on the Workers’ Compensation Commission.* Glaub currently serves as an Arbitrator for the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC). He began his legal career working for the IWCC as a Staff Attorney, and he entered private practice in 1987. There, he concentrated solely on workers’ compensation law, becoming partner at the Law Offices of Hennessy & Roach. Glaub received his appointment to serve as an Arbitrator at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission in 2016. Glaub has consistently received high ratings in evaluations of his service as an Arbitrator by the bar. He also has served as a lecturer for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education. Glaub has been elected on five occasions to serve as Trustee of the Norridge Park District and as a School Board member of CUSD 234 (Ridgewood HS), where he also served as President of those Boards. He earned his undergraduate degrees from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and his Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law. 

William McLaughlin will continue to serve as an Arbitrator on the Workers’ Compensation Commission.* McLaughlin has served as an Arbitrator with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission since 2019. Prior to serving as an Arbitrator, McLaughlin was a sole practitioner in Cook County and surrounding Counties for over twenty years. There, he handled matters in a variety of areas, including criminal defense, real estate, personal injury, wills, and administrative hearings. During this time, McLaughlin also served as a Cook County Arbitrator. Before entering private practice, he worked as a staff attorney for the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, prosecuting violations of the Medical Malpractice Act. He was also a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney, responsible for cases in all areas of criminal prosecution. McLaughlin earned his Juris Doctorate at the University of Nebraska College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice at St. Xavier College.

Francis Brady will continue to serve as an Arbitrator of the Workers’ Compensation Commission.* Brady has dedicated his legal career to defending employers in workers’ compensation litigation. Brady began his career with his father in Bloomington, Illinois trying cases and arguing appeals in state and federal courts across Illinois, primarily for plaintiffs and petitioners. He also handled injury and property damage claims for a major insurer. Brady received a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his Juris Doctorate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Advisory Board

Kisa Sthankiya will serve as a Member of the Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Advisory Board.* Sthankiya is a partner at Rusin Law, Ltd. in Chicago, specializing in workers’ compensation defense. Throughout her legal career, she has focused on representing clients in both the public and private sectors, providing strategic guidance from case inception through litigation and appeals. Sthankiya has extensive experience in the courtroom and has successfully argued cases before various courts. Before joining Rusin Law in 2011, she served as in-house counsel for a national insurer, where she focused on workers' compensation and civil litigation. In 2023, she was appointed to the Workers' Compensation Commission Review Board. Sthankiya is a frequent speaker and author for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Education and the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Sthankiya received a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. 

Guardianship and Advocacy Commission

Ava George Stewart will continue to serve as a member of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission.* George Stewart has dedicated her legal career to a diverse array of criminal justice cases, including the legalization of cannabis, medical cannabis, and specialty courts such as drug and Veteran’s courts. Stewart currently serves as an adjunct professor at University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and owns the Law Office of Ava George Stewart. She also has experience as a chief with the Lake County State Attorney and the City of Chicago’s Municipal Prosecutions Division. George Stewart received a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science in Managerial Communication from Northwestern University, and a Juris Doctorate from University of Illinois.

Illinois Gaming Board

Dionne Hayden will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Gaming Board.* Hayden is a results-driven corporate executive, attorney, and board member with over 20 years of experience managing complex legal issues, compliance matters, and policy development. She currently serves as Vice President of Employee Relations with CNA Insurance. There, she has developed and managed implementation of employee relations strategies, policies, and procedures. Hayden gives back to her community as a Board Member of K.L.E.O Community Family Life Center and a youth volleyball coach. Hayden received a Bachelor of Science from University of Pittsburgh and her Juris Doctorate from Emory University School of Law. ​ 

Enterprise Zone Board

Stacey Young will continue to serve as a Member of the Enterprise Zone Board.* Young currently serves as Senior Business Strategist at Ameren Illinois. She is responsible for planning, budgeting, and managing implementation of strategic community development programs across the organization, with accountability for reporting on results and effectiveness. Young is heavily involved in her local community, serving as Director of the Richland Community Board, Commissioner for the Decatur Park Board, and is a proud Rotarian. She received her Master of Business Administration from Norwich University and her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. 

Affordable Housing Advisory Commission

Alan Zais will serve as a Member of the Affordable Housing Advisory Commission.* Zais has over 28 years of affordable housing experience, currently serving as Executive Director of the Winnebago County Housing Authority and the Boone County Housing Authority. As Director of these two HUD-designated agencies, he completed over $80 million in new construction and rehab using Low Income Housing Tax Credit, HOPE VI, and Rental Assistance Demonstration I and II. Zais has also received awards from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and the Illinois Association of Housing Authorities. He currently serves as NAHRO’s State of Illinois Senior Vice President and is a member of the association’s International Research and Global Exchange Committee, Legislative Committee, and Housing Committee. He also sits on the Board of Governors. Zais received his Bachelor of Arts from Western Illinois University and his Master of Public Administration from Walden University. 

* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.

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