Barbara Brown

Clerk of the Court

Office of Circuit Court

1 Taylor Street, #302

Chester, Illinois 62333

Member

Clerk of Courts for Randolph County.  Lecturer in Political Science at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale where she has also co-directed the Summer Institute on the American Political System.

Michael T. Carrigan

President
Illinois AFL-CIO

534 S. Second Street

Springfield, IL 62701

Member

Michael T. Carrigan was elected president of the Illinois AFL-CIO on February 28, 2007, by unanimous decision of the State Federation Executive Board.  He is serving out the remainder of the unexpired term of retired president Margaret Blackshere, which expires in October of 2008.  Carrigan served as secretary-treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO for seven years. Prior to that, he served as business manager/financial secretary for IBEW Local 146 in Decatur from 1992 to 2000.  He was a journeyman wireman in Decatur from 1978 to 1990 before becoming assistant business manager of the local.

 Todd Dietterle

Consultant

410 E. Nebraska
Frankfort, IL 60423

Member

Private consultant.  Todd has over 30 years of experience in community organizing, issue-oriented citizen lobbies, community development organizations, philanthropy and public affairs campaigns, both in the US and internationally.

 Edward Geppert, Jr.

President
Illinois Federation of Teachers
500 Oakmont Lane
Westmont, Illinois 60559

Member
Ed Geppert, Jr. has worked on behalf of public education, public services and the rights of working men and women for nearly 40 years. He was elected president of the 90,000-member Illinois Federation of Teachers at the union’s 2007 convention. Geppert began his career in education as a social science teacher at Cahokia High School (1969-1977). He has been an IFT member since 1969 and is the former president of the Cahokia Commonfields Federation of Teachers, Local 1272.  His expertise in education and labor has been recognized by such groups as the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Learning Partnership and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

 Leonard Lieberman

Former Associate Vice Preisdent
Government Affairs of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
321 Garvey Lane
Chatham, Illinois 62629

Member

Former Associate Vice President, Government Affairs of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.  Len was the lead representative since the opening of the Springfield office in May 1981.  He Has led advocacy efforts to establish the first state funded program for the homeless, as well as actively supported and shaped state government Medicaid reforms.  Mr. Lieberman has assisted local Jewish Community Relations in state legislative interests, and continually remains active in health and human service public policy generally, and in issues of concerns to non-profit organizations.

 David Marzahl

Executive Director

Center for Economic Progress

29 E. Madison, Suite 910

Chicago, IL  60602

Member

Executive Director of the Center for Economic Progress in Chicago, Illinois.  The Center is a statewide and national advocacy and service organization that seeks to increase economic opportunities for low-income families, children and individuals by improving access to public, private and non-profit programs and services.  Prior to joining the Center in 1998, David was the founding director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights, a statewide coalition of organizations promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees.  He has worked in the Chicago non-profit community since 1981, as a community organizer, outreach worker and activist seeking to advance opportunities for economically and politically disadvantaged persons. 

William McNary

Co-Director

Citizen Action/Illinois

27 E. Monroe, Suite 1100

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Member

President of US Action and Co-Director of Citizen Action/Illinois, the largest consumer watchdog group on health care reform, environmental safety, utility reform, education funding and campaign finance reform.  Currently serves as the Senior Policy Advisor to Public Campaign, a Washington DC based organization.  Mr. McNary is one of the leading advocates in health care reform and has participated in legislative forums, panels and town hall meetings on both the state and federal levels.  Mr. McNary continues to be active in the fight to win social, racial, economic and environmental justice.

Diana Nelson

Project Consultant
3740 N. Lake Shore Dr, #3B

Chicago, Illinois 60613

Member

Former Republican State Legislator from the western suburbs.  A long-term proponent of public school finance reform, she remains active in the Chicago school reform movement

Patrick Patt

1228 W. Kajer Lane

Lake Forest, Illinois 60045

Board Treasurer

Former Superintendent of Oak Grove School District 68, in Green Oaks, Illinois.  Mr. Patt has been active in various statewide tax reform and public school finance reform campaigns. 

William C. Perkins

SEIU, Local 1
111 E. Wacker, Suite 2500
Chicago, Illinois 60601

Member
Legislative Director of the Service Employees International Union, Illinois Council.

Jim Reed
Illinois Education Association
100 E. Edwards Street
Springfield, Illinois 62704

Member
Director of Government Relations for the Illinois Education Association since April 2006, Jim Reed believes that the most effective way to win long-term social, racial, gender, economic and environmental justice is through progressive leadership working with a network of grassroots organizations!  Prior to joining the IEA, Jim was the Deputy Legislative Director for Attorney General Lisa Madigan. In Springfield and throughout the state, Jim has testified before numerous Illinois committees and hearings.  He has led and participated in legislative forums and panels and convened town hall meetings. Jim currently sits on the Coalition for Justice, a commission of the American Bar Association.  Jim currently serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors of Methodist Youth Services and as a Board member of the Hope School in Springfield, Illinois.

Kappy Lawler Scates

12347 McGuire Road

Shawneetown, Illinois 62984

Member

Staff Assistant to US Senator Dick Durbin.  Taught English and Spanish for 26 years in Gallitan County.  Kappy works with her husband and sons in running Illinois’ largest family farm.  Serves on numerous statewide boards including Illinois Agri-Women.

Hank Scheff

AFSCME Council 31

205 N. Michigan Avenue
Suite 2100

Chicago, Illinois 60601

Member

Director of Research and Employee Benefits of AFSCME Council 31, which represents over 95,000 active and retired public employees in Illinois.  Has a strong working knowledge of public sector tax and spending issues in Illinois. Currently serves on several labor/management committees on employee benefits.  Former public member of the Illinois Pension Laws Commission.

Stephen B. Schnorf

Illinois Liquor Control Commission

101 West Jefferson
Suite 3-525
Springfield, Illinois 62702

Board Vice President

Stephen B. Schnorf has had a distinguished 26 year governmental career, spending 22 years as senior advisor or Cabinet member to Illinois Constitutional officials including: Director, Illinois Bureau of the Budget (1997-2002); Director of Policy, Office of the Governor (1995-1997); and Director, Illinois Department of Central Management Services (1991-1995).  He currently serves as a member of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.

Alexander Sharp

Executive Director

Protestants for the Common Good

77 West Washington Street
Suite 1124

Chicago, Illinois 60602

Board Vice President

Executive Director of Protestants for the Common Good.  Formerly served as Vice President for Business and Finance at the University of Chicago and Commissioner of the Department of Public Welfare for the State of Massachusetts.

Suzanne Strassberger

Vice President, Government Affairs

and Strategic Initiatives

Metropolitan Family Services

One North Dearborn

Chicago, IL 60602

Member

Vice President of Government Affairs and Strategic Initiatives at Metropolitan Family Services. Suzanne has twenty-three years of legislative advocacy experience on behalf of public policies, which strengthen families and communities.  She also has a strong working knowledge of issues that affect the design, funding, and regulation of human services. Suzanne chairs the Illinois Child Support Advisory Committee. 

David Wilhelm

Founder and President

Woodland Venture Management

2580 Fair Avenue

Bexley, OH 43209

Member

Founder and President of Woodland Venture Management, which aims to foster shared and sustainable economic growth in regions of the county that lie between the coasts.  Selected by President Clinton to head the Democratic National Committee and previously served as executive director of Citizens for Tax Justice.