Gov. Pritzker Announces Three Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Illinois Housing Development Authority

Thomas Morsch will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Housing Development Authority.* Morsch is an accomplished infrastructure executive with expertise in the development, financing, and delivery of large-scale capital and infrastructure projects for governments and institutions. He is the Founder and President of Oakwood Summit Group and previously served as the Managing Director of not-for-profit investment banking with Fifth Third Bank. Morsch has served as a board and advisory board member of the Metropolitan Planning Council and Community Partners for Affordable Housing, was elected for three terms to the City Council of Lake Forest, and was appointed a member of the City of Lake Forest Planning Commission. Morsch earned a Bachelor of Arts from Beloit College.

Illinois State University Board of Trustees

Robert Navarro will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois State University Board of Trustees.* Navarro currently serves as President and CEO of Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau. In this role since 2006, Navarro administers a destination marketing program for the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor area, the first hundred miles of Route 66 in Illinois, and the Starved Rock Country area. He previously served as Director of Housing Services at U.S. Equities Reality, where he worked to open the 18-story University Center in the Chicago loop that houses students. He is a founding member of Illinois State University’s Latino Alumni Network and a former chairman of the Illinois Council of Convention and Visitors Bureau. Navarro earned a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy from Illinois State University.

Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees

Montel Gayles will continue to serve as a Member of the Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees.* Gayles is a former litigator with over 30 years of experience in the legal, government, and business sectors. He currently serves as President of MMG Group, where he provides legal consulting to businesses on laws, rules, regulations, and policies governing participation in public and private disadvantaged contractor set-aside programs. Previously, he was Chief of Staff of the Chicago Housing Authority, Executive Director of the Public Building Commission of Chicago, and Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Chicago. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Tuskegee Next Foundation. Gayles earned a Bachelor of Science from Northern Illinois University and a Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.

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