Gov. Ryan Appoints Top Business Executives to Gaming Board - Other Boards and Commission Appointments Also Announced

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. George H. Ryan today appointed Chicago area real estate developer Elzie L. Higginbottom and entrepreneur and former Dominick's Finer Foods CEO, Robert A. Mariano to the Illinois Gaming Board.

The Governor said Higginbottom and Mariano are accomplished business leaders who will bring private sector expertise to the board. They will fill the positions held by Staci Yandle and Sterling Mac Ryder respectively.

"Elzie Higginbottom and Bob Mariano will bring fresh perspectives to the board grounded in their successful business careers," Gov. Ryan said. "I want to thank Staci Yandle and Mac Ryder for their dedicated service."

Ryan, who has never reappointed a sitting member of the Gaming Board, noted the legislature intended for three-year terms for board members in part to bring fresh insights to the board.

"The work of this board is important and challenging and today's appointments simply reflects my desire to keep infusing it with top flight people who bring new energy, enthusiasm and ideas to the demanding job of serving on the gaming board," Gov. Ryan said.

Higginbottom, 59 years old, is the Chairman and CEO of East Lake Management and Development Corporation of Chicago. He also serves as the Co-chair of Gov. Ryan's Workforce Investment Board. Last October, the Chicago Association of Realtors inducted him into their hall of fame.

Mariano, 51, is the manager of La Cucina Mariano LLC, a consulting firm. He is the former President, CEO and COO of Dominick's Finer Foods, before it was acquired by Safeway.

Gov. Ryan also announced the following appointments to other Illinois Boards and Commissions:

To the Department of Labor Advisory Board:

• James W. Compton, 63, of Chicago, reappointed for a term ending Jan. 20, 2003. Compton is President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League.
  
• Terry L. Fairclough, 50, of Springfield, reappointed for a term ending Jan. 20, 2003. Fairclough is the Business Manager for Carpenters Local 16.
  
• Colleen M. McShane, of Oak Park, reappointed for a term ending Jan. 20, 2003. McShane is the President of the Illinois Restaurant Association.
  
• Levi Moore, 38, of Chicago, reappointed for a term ending Jan. 20, 2003. Moore is Managing Director - A Proxy Division, Center for Association Resources, LLC.
  
• William J. Nolan, 66, of Chicago, reappointed for a term ending Jan. 20, 2003. Nolan is President of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police.
  
• Thomas J. Walter, 49, of Naperville, reappointed for a term ending Jan. 20, 2003. Walter is Vice President, Labor Relations for Jewel-Osco Co.

Members of the Department of Labor Advisory Board are paid expenses only. The reappointments require Senate confirmaton.

To the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities:

• John Scott Aiello, 53, of Westchester, reappointed for a term ending Jan. 1, 2004. Aiello is a dentist.
  
• Diana Braun, 50, of Springfield, reappointed for a term ending Jan. 1, 2004.
  
• Rebecca Froman, 38, of Alhambra, reappointed for a term ending Jan. 1, 2004.
  
• John T. Porter, 60, of Bellwood, reappointed for a term ending Jan. 1, 2004. Porter is retired.
  
• Lester T. Pritchard, 51, of Urbana, reappointed for a term ending Jan. 1, 2004. Pritchard has been active in civic groups.
  
• Kevin Hall, 46, of Downers Grove, appointed for a term ending Jan. 1, 2004. Hall is a member of the technical staff of Tellabs.

Members of the Council on Developmental Disabilities are paid expenses plus $50/day for loss of wages. The reappointments and appointment do not require Senate confirmation.

To the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission:

• Rodney J. Ahitow, 54, of Cuba, appointed for a term ending February 1, 2004. Ahitow is Deputy Director, Juvenile Division, Illinois Department of Corrections.
  
• Cheryl D. Cesario, 51,of Chicago, reappointed for a term ending February 1, 2004. Cesario is General Counsel for the Department of Children and Family Services.
  
• Rev. Charles W. Collins II, 48, of Freeport, reappointed for a term ending February 1, 2004. Rev. Collins is CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Services of Illinois.
  
• Dallas C. Ingemunson, 63, of Yorkville, reappointed for a term ending February 1, 2004. Ingemunson is an attorney.
  
• Joe P. Mayo, 70, of South Holland, reappointed for a term ending February 1, 2004. Mayo is retired.
  
• John R. Mickler, 51, of Decatur, reappointed for a term ending February 1, 2004. Mickler is Director of Safety and Security at Millikin University.
  
• Wayne M. Straza, 57, of Countryside, reappointed for a term ending February 1, 2004. Straza is Chief of Health Related Investigations for the Department of Professional Regulation.

Members of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission are paid expenses only. The appointments do not require Senate confirmation.

To the Pollution Control Board:

• Thomas E. Johnson, 45, of Urbana, appointed to a term ending July 1, 2004. Johnson is an attorney.
  
• Claire A. Manning, 47, of Williamsville, reappointed as Chairman for a term ending July 1, 2004.

Members of the Pollution Control Board are paid $99,414 and the Chairman is paid $102,809. The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

To the Prisoner Review Board:

• James R. Donahue, 62, of Pekin, reappointed as a member for a term ending January 15, 2007.

Members of the Prisoner Review Board are paid $70,620. The reappointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

To the State Rehabilitation Advisory Council:

• Henrietta Battle, 53, of Chicago, appointed to a term ending July 1, 2004. Battle is a consultant.
  
• David B. Dailey, 45, of Springfield, appointed to a term ending July 1, 2004. Dailey is an ADA Coordinator for the Illinois Department of Transportation.
  
• Pam Heavens, 44, of Joliet, appointed to a term ending July 1, 2002. Heavens is Executive Director of the Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living.
  
• Bang Long Jr., 57, of Joliet, appointed to a term ending July 1, 2004. Long works on disability issues for the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center.
  
• Ronald William Malik, 47, of Tremont, appointed to a term ending July 1, 2002. Malik is President of RP Malik Enterprises, Inc.
  
• Mary K. Rogers, 49, of Makanda, appointed to a term ending July 1, 2002. Rogers is the Chief Rehabilitation Counselor of the Evaluation and Developmental Center in Carbondale.
  
• John S. Trach, 47, of Champaign, appointed to a term ending July 1, 2002. Trach is with the Department of Special Education at the University of Illinois.

Members of the State Rehabilitation Advisory Council are paid expenses only. The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

To the Western Illinois University Board of Trustee:

• Ted Brunsvold, 31, of Milan, appointed to a term ending January 17, 2005. Brunsvold's the Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

Members of the Western IL University Board of Trustees are paid expenses only. The appointment requires Senate confirmation.

Named as Public Administrator and Public Guardian for individual counties were: Harlan C. Newbold, of Vandalia, for Fayette County; Wilbur Fowler, of Eldorado, for Saline County; and Robert I. Mork, of Wheaton, was appointed Public Guardian in DuPage County. All of the appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

Frank David Rezac, of Peoria, was reappointed as the Assistant Adjutant General-Air for the Department of Military Affairs. He will be paid $81,000.

Jason Holzum, of Columbia, was designated by Governor Ryan as the voting student member of the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees.