Gov. Pritzker Announces Two Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Illinois Workforce Innovation Board

Alexander Purcell will serve as a Member of the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board.* Purcell has dedicated his professional life to supporting workers through strategic talent management and organizational design. He currently serves as the Director HR Business Partner at United Airlines, where he has developed inclusive talent programs that enhance hiring, development, and employee success. He has worked in several departments within United Airlines, including Performance Management, Employee Engagement, and Talent Strategy. Prior to joining United Airlines, he was the Senior HR Business Partner at V&V Supremo Foods, where he created a company-wide safety training program, managed talent programs, and supported employees across the organization. Purcell is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management. Purcell earned a Bachelor and Master of Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Roosevelt University.

State Employees’ Retirement System Board of Trustees

Melverta Wilkins will continue to serve as a Member of the State Employees’ Retirement System Board of Trustees.* Wilkins currently serves as the CEO and Founder of Sista Girls and Friends, where she manages the budget and oversees key decisions made within the organization. She also leads the Metro Decatur Black Chamber of Commerce and received the City of Decatur’s Citizen of the Year award in 2024. Previously, she spent 20 years as a Product Change Engineer at Caterpillar Inc. Wilkins earned a Bachelor of Science from Greenville College and both a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science from the University of Saint Francis.

* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.

###