Jeff Adkisson: Springfield

Executive Vice President

Grain & Feed Association of Illinois

Advisory Council on Agriculture Committee

The Grain & Feed Association of Illinois is the statewide trade association for the grain and feed industry in Illinois. The Association traces its roots back to 1893 when a group of privately held companies called the Illinois Grain Dealers Association joined efforts. Since that time there have been three other associations that in 1971 merged together to become the Grain & Feed Association of Illinois.

Currently, The Grain & Feed Association of Illinois has a staff of four and is governed by a Board consisting of eleven state-wide Directors and six Executive Committee members. The Association has 240 member companies who represent over 950 facilities in Illinois and the neighboring states of Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri and Iowa. More than 90% of the commercial grain storage space in the state of Illinois is represented by the Grain & Feed Association of Illinois. Our members range in size from multi-national organizations to small, single facility operations

Mark Biel: Springfield

Chemical Industry Council of Illinois

Advisory Council Business & Economic Development Committee

Mark A. Biel, CAE is Executive Director for the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois (CICI), a statewide trade association based in Des Plaines. Mark is located in the Springfield office which closely monitors legislative and regulatory activity, with particular emphasis on environmental, energy and tort reform issues. Prior to becoming Executive Director in 1999, Biel served as Director of Government Affairs for six years. In 2005, Biel also served as President of the Illinois Society of Association Executives (ISAE).

Before joining CICI, Mark served for four years as Director of Government Affairs for the Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA). During that time, the American Society of Association Executives ranked the IMA’s lobbying program as the best in the nation.

Founded in 1951, CICI represents over 110 chemical firms which manufacture, blend, distribute and sell beneficial chemicals. These companies employ over 50,000 people statewide.

Linda Brookhart: Springfield

Executive Director

State Universities Annuitants Association

Advisory Council Higher Education Committee

The State Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA) provides the framework for a unified message dedicated to preserving and protecting a strong public pension system, healthcare benefits, and the general well-being of its membership.

SUAA advocates on behalf of all faculty and staff of public universities and community colleges - both retired and current employees - their spouses and survivors, those who are participants and beneficiaries of the State Universities Retirement System

Brad Cole: Carbondale

Mayor, City of Carbondale

Advisory Council Local Government Committee

Brad Cole is currently Mayor of the City of Carbondale, Illinois. He was elected and re-elected to that position by a city-wide vote and leads a seven-member, elected City Council. As mayor, Cole sets policy direction for a home rule municipal government, with a $52 million annual budget and 270 employees in a 26,000+ rural residential community, which is home to Southern Illinois University (SIU), the second largest public university in the state. He was elected the youngest-ever Mayor of the City of Carbondale at the age of 31, in April 2003.

Mayor Cole previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor of Illinois. He joined the Governor’s Senior Staff management team in January 2002, and was charged with directing the operation of the Governor’s downstate office.

Kevin Conway: Chicago

Cooney & Conway

Advisory Council Legal Affairs Committee

Kevin Conway is a partner and trial attorney in the Chicago, Illinois personal injury law firm of Cooney & Conway.

Kevin received his J.D. from the Loyola University School of Law in 1976 and his B.A. in 1973 from Loyola University of Chicago.  He has achieved million-dollar-plus settlements and/or verdicts in all areas of personal injury law, including aviation, construction, mass torts and asbestos.

Kevin was a member of the Board of Managers of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association from 1988-1997 and has been a member of the Executive Committee since 1995.  He was president of the Association in 2004.  Also, as an active member of the Chicago Bar Association, he chaired the CBA Tort Litigation Committee and co-chaired the Young Lawyers Section of the Trial Technique Committee.  He is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and is listed in Who's Who in American Law.

Jennifer Creasey: Springfield

AARP Illinois

Advisory Council on Nonprofits Committee

Jennifer Creasey joined AARP in December 2006 and is the Senior Program Specialist - Advocacy for AARP Illinois. Currently, she is the AARP staff lead for State Healthcare Legislation in the AARP Illinois Legislative Office. She represents AARP on a number of other appointed Committees and Sub-committees.

Jennifer previously served as Deputy Director of Boards & Commissions/Agricultural & Environmental Affairs in the Office of Governor. She has also worked in a number of political internships in both Washington DC and Springfield.

Jennifer has a BA in both Political Science and Speech Communications from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and was selected for the Dunn Fellowship program after graduation. She resides in Springfield with her husband, Justin.

Darcy Davidsmeyer:  Naperville

Lincoln Foundation for Performance Excellence

Advisory Council Business & Econ Development Cmte

Darcy Davidsmeyer brings a wealth of legislative and corporate experience to the Lincoln Foundation since joining it in 2011. Prior to joining the Lincoln Foundation for Performance Excellence, Darcyserved as Director of State & Local Government Relations for Motorola, a global leader in wireless and broadband communications technologies.  She served with Motorola for over 20 years.

Some of the major legislative issues that Darcy has professionally worked to impact are: North America Free Trade Agreement; permanent status of the Normal Trade Relations for China; and federal homeland security funding for local and state governments’ interoperable communications.

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William J. Fleischli: Springfield

Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association

Advisory Council Energy Committee

William J. Fleischli is the executive vice president of the Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association/Illinois Association of Convenience Stores.  Mr. Fleischli is a native of Springfield, Illinois and a graduate of St. Louis University in Missouri with a degree in teacher education.  After graduation he embarked on an 11-year career in teaching.  Afterwards, he moved on to various management position in state government.

In 1994, William assumed his current position of executive vice president of IPMA/IACS.  In June of 1996, he accepted a national award in government relations from the American Society of Association Executives in Washington D.C.  He and the IPMA/IACS staff were honored for leading the association's comprehensive campaign to pass an important piece of legislation that was integral to the livelihood of its members.

William and his wife Cindi reside in Springfield and are the parents of four sons: Cullen, Evan, Billy and Ryan.

Mark D. Hassakis: Mount Vernon

Illinois State Bar Association President, 2010-2011

Advisory Council Legal Affairs Committee

Mark D. Hassakis graduated from Northwestern University with an Arts and Sciences Degree in 1973 and from St. Louis University School of Law in 1976. He returned to Mount Vernon to practice law with his father. In 1978 Mark married Janet Strunk from Hazard, Kentucky, who graduated in journalism from the University of Kentucky. He is a premier personal injury litigator in Southern Illinois, practicing throughout most of the southern third of the state.

He was president of the Illinois Bar Foundation from 2000-2002, is an ISBA Assembly member (1978 to 1984 and 1988-present), serves on the ISBA Board of Governors (2002-present), and is a member of the Board of Directors of the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company (2007-present). He also belongs to the American Bar Association, the Hellenic Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, the Chicago Bar Association, the Justinian Society, the Women's Bar Association of Illinois, and the Jefferson County Bar Association, where he served as president in 1980.

 

Allison L. Jones, MD, MS: Danville

Carle Clinic

Advisory Council Medicine & Health Committee

Dr. Jones, a specialist in occupational and environmental medicine, joined the Carle Clinic Association in 2004, the same year she became a Medical Review Officer and a member of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  Dr. Jones received her B.S. in Physiology & Neuropsychology from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in 1986, her M.S. from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Urbana-Champaign in 1988, and her M.D. from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago in 1992.  Dr. Jones belongs to the American Medical Association, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and is an Honorary Delegate for Sigma Xi National Research Society.

Jack Kaplan: Chicago

United Way of Chicago and Illinois

Policy Director

Advisory Council on Nonprofits Committee

Brian Kasal: Chicago

Illinois Energy Forum

State Chairman

Advisory Council Energy Committee

Brian is a native Illinoisan who is proud to serve as the State Chairman for the Illinois Energy Forum and help Illinois citizens address the growing challenge of energy security through a non-partisan comprehensive, balanced approach. 

After graduating from Northern Illinois University with a BA in economics, Brian earned an MBA from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and has been servicing clients in the financial industry for over 26 years.  He is also an active member in the community, serving as a Board Member for the Boy Scouts of America, with the Union League of Chicago and with the Lincoln Central Association.  With his long-standing experience in business and the community, Brian sees the need to create a balanced approach to developing energy policy that helps families and communities while protecting – and creating – American jobs. 

Join Brian and the Illinois Energy Forum community to help our nation build a balanced approach to energy security and to hold our elected officials more accountable in shaping energy policy

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David Kohn: Chicago

Union League Club of Chicago

Advisory Council Civic Culture Committee

As Director of Public Affairs at the Union League Club of Chicago, David Kohn oversees the Club's public policy advocacy activities, serves as its liaison to local, state and federal government officials, and works to build coalitions with other civic organizations.  He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Illinois Council on Economic Education and is also Secretary of the Armed Forces Council of Chicago.

Mr. Kohn's background includes over 20 years of experience in media and government.  He served for many years as press secretary to former U.S. Congressman John Porter.  In that role he directed the Congressman's media relations and was spokesman for the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services and Education that Representative Porter chaired until his retirement.

Mr. Kohn earned his bachelor's degree in English from DePaul University in Chicago and a master's degree in Communication Studies from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Ms. Lawrence earned a bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in political science from Eastern Illinois University.

Brad McMillan: Peoria

Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service

Advisory Council Civic Culture Committee

Brad McMillan is the Executive Director of the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service at Bradley University.  This institute, designed to educate ethical, collaborative, and bipartisan leaders while providing students experiences leading to successful careers in public service, is a partnership between Bradley University and the Dirksen Congressional Center.

Prior to his current position, Brad was District Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative Ray LaHood.  He was responsible for supervising three district offices and serving as a liaison in the 18th District's 20 counties.  He has also worked with several law firms, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the Illinois Appellate Court of the Third District.  He was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve on the Character and Fitness Committee of the Third Judicial District.

Brad holds a law degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law and a bachelor's degree from Illinois Wesleyan University.

Sharon Meyers: Chicago

Sharon Meyers Communications

Advisory Council Civic Culture Committee

James Monk: Springfield

Illinois Energy Association

Advisory Council Energy Committee

James R. Monk is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois Energy Association, which represents seven electric and combination electric and natural gas investor-owned utilities in the State of Illinois.  The Association offices are located in the capitol city of Springfield.

Before being appointed to his current position with the Energy Association, Mr. Monk served as Chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission for five years.  Prior to that, he practiced law in Sullivan, Indiana and represented the 39th State Senate District in the Indiana General Assembly.  While serving in the Indiana Senate from 1982-89, Mr. Monk was the ranking minority member on the Senate Judiciary Committee and also served on the Education and Commerce Committees.

Mr. Monk earned his Bachelor’s Degree at Indiana University with a major in history in 1970.  He earned his law degree from the University of Florida in 1977. He, his wife Maritza, and their family reside in the Springfield area.

Ed Murnane: Arlington Heights

Illinois Civil Justice League

Advisory Council Legal Affairs Committee

Ed Murnane was named President of the Illinois Civil Justice League early in 1993 after serving for four years in the Reagan and Bush Administrations, including three years as the Midwest Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration.  He also served in the White House as an Assistant to President Bush and Director of Presidential Advance.

Prior to joining the Bush Administration, Ed was the Public Affairs Director for the Regional Transportation Authority.  He is also a former award-winning journalist and was the political editor of The Daily Herald in Chicago's suburbs.  Ed has served on the board of directors of the American Tort Reform Association since 1997 and currently sits on ATRA's executive committee.  He is a native of Chicago and lives in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Duane Noland: Springfield

Assn. of Illinois Electric Cooperatives

Advisory Council Energy Committee

N. Duane Noland is the President & Chief Executive Officer for the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives based in Springfield.  The Association provides legal, engineering, communication, safety training and legislative representation for 25 electric cooperatives, three generation and transmission cooperatives and eight telephone cooperatives.  Since formed in 1942, Noland is the fourth president of the Association.

After graduation from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Agriculture, Noland became the seventh generation to operate the centennial family farm in Macon and Christian counties.  As a member of the Illinois General Assembly, Noland represented the citizens of central Illinois serving four terms in the Illinois House of Representatives and two terms in the Senate, retiring as Assistant Majority Leader.  An active civic and agricultural leader, he serves on the board of directors for Millikin University, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Chairman of the Illinois Ag in the Classroom Coalition and on America's Heartland National Advisory Board.  Duane and his wife Tina are the parents of two sons and a daughter.

Ron O'Connor, APR: Belleville

O'Connor & Partners, Inc.

With nearly 30 years of experience in marketing, communications and public relations, Ron has worked on behalf of a variety of clients active in the financial services, tourism, hospitality, entertainment, professional services, retailing, healthcare, development, real estate, construction, environmental protection, agricultural and chemical industries.  Ron is currently President and Managing Partner of O'Connor & Partners, Inc.

A long-time member of the Public Relations Society of America, he served on the National Counselor's Business Standards and Practices Committee, where he wrote the preamble to the Code of Ethics for American public relations practitioners.  Ron has served as chair or member of a number of public relations committees, including the Board of the St. Louis chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

William Olson: Springfield

Executive Director

Illinois Beer Distributors Association

Advisory Council Business & Econ Development Cmte

Jean Payne: Bloomington

Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association

Advisory Council Agriculture Committee

Jean is President of the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association, which represents over 1100 members of agricultural input supply and service industry.

She is involved in the management of the Association, including oversight of regulatory and legislative issues that impact the industry.  Jean is also responsible for promoting membership, facilitating the communication of issues that affect IFCA members and organizing the annual IFCA winter Convention and Trade Show and summer Midwest Ag Industries Equipment Exposition. 

Jean received a B.A. in English from Illinois State University.  She has served on Board of Directors for the Ag Retailers Association and The Fertilizer Institute in Washington D.C. and the Mid America Crop Life Association.  She is a member of the College of Agriculture Advisory Committee for both the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University.  She also represents the fertilizer and chemical industry on Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s ag advisory committee.

Jean and her husband Rae reside in Bloomington, Illinois.

Bob Rich: Urbana

University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs

Advisory Council Higher Education Committee

Robert F. Rich is Director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs and Professor of Law, Political Science, Medical Humanities and Social Sciences, Community Health, and Health Policy and Administration at the University of Illinois. 

He is the author of seven books and over 50 articles in the areas of health law and policy, federalism, information policy, and science and technology policy.  His most recent book, Consumer Choice: Social Welfare and Health Policy, was published in 2005. 

He is married and has three children.

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Kevin Riggs: O'Fallon

St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Assn.

Advisory Council Business & Econ Development Cmte

Kevin Riggs was recruited by the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association as Director of Illinois Government Affairs to lead their lobbying and public policy initiatives in Springfield, Illinois.

An Illinois resident, Kevin brings varied public policy and governmental affairs experience to his position, including serving as a Senior Appropriations Budget Analyst for the Illinois General Assembly; working for the Census Bureau as a Regional Supervisor in Special Population Counts and Decennial Counts for Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, and previously he serving as Manager of Community Development for the East-West Gateway Council of Governments.

Kevin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.  Currently, Kevin resides in O’Fallon, Illinois with his wife and family.

Joshua Robbins: Chicago

Serafin & Associates, Inc.

Advisory Council Civic Culture Committee

Joshua began his interest in politics and communications in 1993 when he was appointed student trustee on the Miami University Board of Trustees.  In 1994 he managed special projects for George Voinovich’s 1994 Ohio gubernatorial campaign.  From 1995 to 1998 he served as director of special communications for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, a $23 billion agency.  Joshua joined Serafin & Associates in 1998 and has built a reputation for cultivating strategic partnerships and fighting for his public, private and governmental sector clients in the Midwest.  In 2004 he received an Emmy nomination for the NAACP Illinois/Fox Chicago U.S. Senate Candidates debate.  He and his family live in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Kathy Ryg: Chicago

President

Voices for Illinois Children

Advisory Council on Nonprofits Committee

Witnessing Illinois families struggle in the face of the state’s economic crisis and embracing her lifelong conviction to impact the lives of children and families compelled Kathy Ryg to join Voices as president in September 2009. Service to the many, varied needs of children and families has long marked her work in the public service sector, which included seven years as a state legislator.

Ms. Ryg has worked tirelessly to improve early learning opportunities for young children, bolster after-school programs and services for youths in need and increase schools’ quality and accountability. As President of Voices, Ms. Ryg serves on the Illinois Early Learning Council, Human Services Commission, the Illinois P-20 Council (as co-chair of the Family, Youth and Community Engagement Committee) and CHANGE Illinois Steering Committee. 


 

James Russell: Springfield

Illinois Association of School Boards

Advisory Council Education Committee

James Russell joined the Illinois Assn. of School Boards in 2000, after a 26 year career as a newspaper editor in Ohio and Illinois. The IASB represents the management of local schools and is dedicated to effective education through local citizen control.

The mission of the IASB is excellence in local school governance and support for quality public education. Nearly 98% of local schools are members of the IASB.

The IASB helps advance quality education by providing its members:

• Professional Development
• Workshops and Policy Development
• Government Relations
• Information from research, publishing & media relations

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Don Schaefer: Springfield

Mid-West Truckers Association

Advisory Council Transportation Committee

As Executive Vice-President of Mid-West Truckers Association, Don Schaefer represents the interests of 2,600 trucking company members who are domiciled in Illinois and 14 other states.

Schaefer joined the Association in 1992, overseeing their federal, state and local government and regulatory efforts and representing them on issues such as toll increases and truck taxes, truck and driver safety, and improved truck access to local business.

Prior to joining Mid-West Truckers Association, has was Associate Director of the American Petroleum Institute - Illinois Petroleum Council.  He also served as a television and radio reporter covering the Illinois & Wisconsin legislature and served as press secretary for state officers and political candidates.

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Dalitso Sulamoyo: Springfield

Illinois Assn. of Community Action Agencies

Advisory Council on Nonprofits Committee

Dalitso is currently working on his PhD in Organization Development from Benedictine University. He is married to Sara and together they have a son and a daughter.

David Sykuta: Springfield

Illinois Petroleum Council

Advisory Council Energy Committee

David is a lifetime-resident of Illinois.  He graduated from Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields in 1968 and he received his B.S. in Political Science and History from Illinois State University in 1972.  After interning with the Illinois legislative staff, he was hired as a full-time legislative consultant for the Illinois Senate Republican staff in 1974.  In 1976, he jointed the Illinois Petroleum Council as associate director and was appointed executive director in 1986.

In 1996, David co-founded the Partnership for Environmental Progress.  He is an active member of the Illinois Society of Association Executives and Business and Industry Federation.  He and his wife, Marcia, reside in Springfield and have two children, Amy and Jonathan.

William L Wheeler: Springfield

Executive Director

Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission

Advisory Council Legal Affairs Committee

Tom Wolf: Chicago

Executive Director, Illinois Energy Council of the

Illinois Chamber of Commerce

Advisory Council Energy Committee

As Executive Director of the Illinois Energy Council at the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, Tom Wolf is working to educate business and policy leaders throughout the state on the energy choices we're going to be facing in the coming years, as well as advocating for policies that enhance the opportunities to build energy infrastructure of all kinds in the state in an environmentally responsible and cost competitive manner. Let's not forget that energy development equals economic development

David Yepsen: SIU Carbondale

Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Director

Advisory Council Higher Education Committee

David Yepsen became director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on April 1, 2009.  Previously, he had a 34 year career with the Des Moines Register serving as the paper's chief political writer, political editor and political columnist.

He is a native of Jefferson, Iowa and is a 1972 graduate of the University of Iowa.  He has also done graduate work in journalism and mass communication at Iowa State University and in 1985 earned a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) degree from Drake University.

In 1989, he was a fellow at the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School.  In 2008, he was a fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard where he led a study group on the nation's presidential selection processes.

Sandra Burke, Ph.D.: Libertyville

Abbott Vascular (Retired)

Advisory Council Medicine & Health Committee

Sandra Burke, Ph.D., recently retired as director of Cardiovascular Biology Research at Abbott Vascular, a division of Abbott Laboratories.  A cardiovascular physiologist with more than 20 years of research experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Burke was most recently responsible for pre-clinical cardiovascular research studies in Abbott Vascular's Research and Advanced Development organization.

Dr. Burke is a member of the American Heart Association Council for Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; the American Physiological Society; the Association of Black Cardiologists; and the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.  She holds an A.B. degree from Boston University in Massachusetts, a Masters Degree in physiology from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, and a Ph.D. in physiology from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

William Furry: Springfield

Illinois State Historical Society

Advisory Council Civic Culture Committee