Gov. Pritzker Announces Six Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Illinois Finance Authority

Douglas House will serve as a Member of the Illinois Finance Authority.* House is currently Owner of Stoke Solutions and Strategies, LLC, where he consults on local government affairs. Previously, House served as Deputy Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation until his retirement in 2022. Earlier in his career, House gained experience as Contract Analyst with the Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana Foundation for Fair Contracting, Public Works General Manager with the City of Moline, and Member of the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority. House was recently inducted into the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations’ (AFL-CIO) Organized Labor Hall of Fame. House served for four years in the Illinois Air Force National Guard and two years in the Army Reserves, where he was honorably discharged from both with the rank of Sergeant. House earned his high school diploma from Rockridge High School.

Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee

Patrick Besler will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee.* Besler currently serves as Senior Director of Government Relations for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, where he is responsible for developing advocacy plans and health care communications for commercial and Medicaid lines of business, as well as legislation affecting employers and businesses. In his previous roles at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Besler served as Director of Government Relations, Senior Manager of Government Relations, and Deputy Director of Research and Appropriations. Additionally, Besler gained experience as Research and Appropriations Legislative Analyst with the Illinois House of Representatives. Besler currently serves on the Ronald McDonald Charities of Central Illinois Board and the Illinois Insurance Association Board. Besler earned his Bachelor of Political Science from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and his Master of Business Administration from University of Illinois Springfield.

Laura Minzer will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange Advisory Committee.* Minzer currently serves as President of the Illinois Life and Health Insurance Council. Previously, Minzer was Executive Director of Health Policy at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Minzer brings extensive healthcare and insurance policy experience to the Committee, including experience as Director of Government Affairs at Cigna, Executive Director of Health Policy and Director of State Government Affairs with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and Legislative Analyst with the Illinois House of Representatives. Minzer earned her Bachelor of Political Science and International Relations from Boston University.

Illinois State Board of Investment

Peter Amaro will serve as a Member of the Illinois State Board of Investment.* Amaro currently serves as Founding Partner with Mako Capital Group, a lower-middle market private equity firm focused on consumer-oriented sectors. Previously, Amaro served as Managing Partner with L’ATTITUDE Ventures, Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Luminary Media, and Vice President of Raine Group. Amaro currently serves as Vice Chair of the St. Ignatius College Prep School Board, University of California Merced Board Trustee, and Treasurer of the Maestro Cares Board. Amaro has received numerous awards recognizing his achievements in business and community service, including Chicago United’s Business Leaders of Chicago in 2025, Crain’s Chicago Businesses’ Notable Latino Leaders in 2024, and St. Ignatius’ Alumni Award in 2021. Amaro earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics and Entrepreneurship from University of Pennsylvania.

Public Administrator and Public Guardian

Diana Law will continue to serve as the Public Administrator and Public Guardian of Kane County.* Law currently serves as Partner at Hesselbaum, LLP, where she specializes in elder law, estate planning, special needs planning, long-term care, trust and probate administration, and guardianship. Law holds extensive boards and commissions knowledge, with experience including President of the Kane County Bar Association, Member of the Illinois State Bar Association, and Commissioner on the Elder Law Commission. Law earned her Bachelor of Spanish and Sociology from Goshen College and her Juris Doctorate from Northern Illinois University College of Law.

Quality Care Board

Dr. Nneka Onyezia will serve as a Member of the Quality Care Board.* Onyezia currently serves as Clinical Psychologist and Learning Specialist at Wolcott College Preparatory School and as Psychology and Educational Consultant at Rush Day School. She is also Owner of Nneka E. Onyezia, PhD, LLC, a private practice where she provides therapy and psychological evaluations for children, families, and young adults to assess psychological needs, as well as social, emotional, and learning development. Previously, Onyezia worked in clinical psychology with medical organizations such as Rush Day School, La Rabida Children’s Hospital, and NorthShore University Health System. Her areas of expertise include racial identity development, complex trauma in the child welfare system, the impact of transracial adoption on racial identity, and the adjustment issues of adoptive families related to identity development. Onyezia earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Yale University and her Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology from Northwestern University.

* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.

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