Bill Barclay

Member

Prior to retiring in 2004, Dr. Barclay worked for 22 years in financial services.  His areas of expertise were financial product creation, including development of derivative products, and business strategy planning.  During his years in financial services he worked at the MidAmerica Commodity Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade, the Chicago Board Options Exchange and the Chicago Stock Exchange. Currently he is an Adjunct Professor in the Liautaud College of Business Administration at the University of Illinois, Chicago.  Dr. Barclay serves on the board of the Illinois Finance Authority and chairs the Health Committee of the IFA’s Board.  He has also served as board member and co-chair of the Chicago-based Crossroads Fund. Dr. Barclay is a founding member of the Chicago Political Economy Group (CPEG; www.cpegonline.org), a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, the Oak Park Coalition for Truth and Justice, the Oak Park/Austin Health Alliance and serves on the Chicago Jobs with Justice steering committee. He has written on the 2008 financial crisis, the economics of inequality in the U.S. and the political dynamics of the 2008 elections.  Most recently, as a member of CPEG, he has participated in the development of a proposal for a permanent jobs program for the U.S. CPEG is working to develop political support for this program under the call for “Living Wage Jobs for All.”

LES F. BOND, JR.

Chief Executive Officer

Attucks Asset Management, LLC

Member
Mr. Bond is co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Attucks Asset Management, LLC responsible for portfolio management and the development of new business. Attucks is a minority-owned and operated firm that understands the unique challenges of this market segment, and currently manages over $1.8 billion in assets for some of the largest institutional investors in the country, helping them structure and run customized investment programs. Prior to founding Attucks Asset Management, LLC, Mr. Bond held senior positions in both government and the investment banking industry. He served as Deputy General Counsel for the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority of Chicago. Subsequently, he served as General Counsel to the Comptroller of the City of St. Louis, with additional responsibilities as Fiscal Manager of External Finance. Mr. Bond founded Columbia Capital Management, LLC, which provides financial and investment advisory services to government entities and treasuries. Mr. Bond divested his ownership interest in Columbia in 2009. He is also an active member of the Alliance of Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs, the New America Alliance and the Association of Asian American Investment Managers. Mr. Bond is also a frequent commentator and lecturer on emerging managers.

John Cameron
Director of Political and Community Relations

AFSCME Council 31

Member
John D. Cameron is the Director of Political and Community Relations for AFSCME Council 31, the statewide public service union representing more than 75,000 active and 25,000 retired Illinois state and local government workers.  Mr. Cameron has directed the political, legislative and community outreach for the statewide council and its 285 local unions, as well as supervising its retirees program. Previous to his employment at AFSCME, he spent 21 years working at Citizen Action/ Illinois as an organizer, campaign director, program director and its executive director.  Over the last 30 years, he has worked on a wide range of public policy initiatives at the local, state and federal levels that involve legislative, grassroots and media advocacy, including recent battles to defend county public health services, enact protections against privatization, defend pension and retiree health benefits, and build support for state tax reform and revenue enhancements.  Mr. Cameron is also the 9^th Congressional District COPE chair for the Illinois AFL-CIO, serves as Secretary-Treasurer of Citizen Action/Illinois, and a board member of US Action.  In March, 2009, US Action honored him with its “Paul Wellstone Award for Progressive Activism.” 

Michael T. Carrigan

President
Illinois AFL-CIO

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

Vice-Chair

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.

Member

Robin Kelly is chief administrative officer (CAO) of Cook County.  As CAO, Kelly is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and implementing policy in Cook County government, which is the second largest county in the United States. 

Prior to her current position, Kelly served as chief of staff of the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office where she directly oversaw the agency’s operations, policy and programs. She also served as state representative of the 38^th Legislative District, sponsoring numerous bills, including landmark legislation to protect victims of domestic violence. As vice chair of the Mass Transit Committee and chair of the Southland Caucus, she spearheaded efforts to promote economic development and improve public transportation.  She also was a member of the Housing and Urban Development, International Trade and Commerce, Appropriations, and Human Services Committees.

Before her election to the Illinois General Assembly, Kelly was director of Community Affairs in the Village of Matteson for more than 10 years. She holds both B.A. and M.A. degrees from Bradley University in Peoria Illinois and a Ph.D. from Northern Illinois University.

William McNary

Co-Director

Citizen Action/Illinois

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.

 Dan Montgomery

President
Illinois Federation of Teachers
 

Member
Daniel J. Montgomery has worked on behalf of public education and the rights of working men and women for 15 years. He was elected to a three-year term as president of the 103,000-member Illinois Federation of Teachers at the union’s 2010 Convention.  A veteran educator and union activist, Montgomery has been an IFT member since 1993. He served as head of the 1,700-member North Suburban Teachers Union, Local 1274, for nearly 10 years and was a vice president on the IFT Executive Board from 2002 until his election to the IFT presidency. As a board member, he chaired numerous Executive Board committees, including the Personnel, Negotiations and Locals Committees and was a member of the board’s 12-member Executive Committee. He also served as chair of the union’s PreK-12 Constituency Council and the 2009 IFT President’s Conference Planning Committee.   Montgomery has been active at the national level, as well. Since 2004, he has been the co-chair of the American Federation of Teachers K-12 Program and Policy Council.  A dedicated and experienced educator, Montgomery taught English for 18 years at Niles North High School in Skokie, Illinois. He also taught in the City Colleges of Chicago and at Northwestern University. His teaching expertise has earned him a place as a member on the board of directors of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. 

Bill O'Connor
Managing Director
Stack & O'Connor

Board Chairman
Bill is a managing director of Stack & O’Connor Chartered. He counsels on corporate, commercial and international transactions. He has extensive knowledge of state regulatory law and represents clients before state boards and commissions on licensing and other matters. He advises school clients on federal and state education law, as well as on accreditation. He works on rulemaking and in the legislative arena as well, drafting legislation where appropriate. He also works in specialized civil litigation.

Bill is fluent in Spanish. He has represented Latin American companies in the United States and companies based in the United States whose management prefers to communicate in Spanish.

Patrick Patt

Member

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
 

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

Jim Reed
Illinois Education Association
 

Vice-Chair
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

Staff Assistant

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.

Stephen B. Schnorf

Member

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

Board Treasurer

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.

Member
Jean Sussman is an elected Trustee in the Village of Riverside.  In this capacity she focuses on strategic planning, the budgeting process and community planning.  She holds a Ph.D. in agricultural and applied economics and has worked in both the private and public sectors.  Jean has worked throughout Latin America as an economist, first working on economic development projects, and then with the The Quaker Oats Company and PespsiCo.  She worked for many years in the private sector, focusing on agricultural commodities and procurement practices.  Jean also worked as an advocate for migrant farm workers in the public sector.  She serves on the board of the Rauner Family YMCA, a Y in the heart of Chicago’s Mexican-American community, where she has been co-president of the board and head of fundraising. 

David Wilhelm

Founder and President

Woodland Venture Management

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.