Governor Quinn Names New Member to Toll Highway Authority Board of Directors

CHICAGO – December 5, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn today named Maria N. Saldana to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Board of Directors. Saldana is currently the Senior Vice President for Public Finance at Duncan-Williams, Inc., a regional investment banking firm.

“I am pleased to appoint Maria Saldana to the Tollway Board of Directors,” said Governor Quinn. “I am confident that her commitment to public service and extensive legal and financial experience will be of great service to the Board and the millions of residents who use the Tollway each year.”

Saldana lives in Chicago and was the Managing Director and Head of U.S. Investment Banking for Popular Securities, Inc. from 2005 to 2008. Previously she was Senior Vice President at Ramirez & Co.,Inc. from 2001 to 2004 and a partner at Altheimer & Gray from 1997-2001. Saldana served as Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago from 1989 to 1997. (Background Information)

“I want to thank Governor Quinn for this opportunity to serve and I look forward to working with the Tollway Board,” said Saldana.

Saldana is a member of the Metropolitan Planning Council, the Chicago Metropolis 2020 Executive Council, Scholarship Chicago and the Resurrection Project. Additionally, she served as president of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners from 2002 to 2007. Saldana has an A.B. in Psychology from Stanford University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall).

The Tollway has an eleven-member board, including Governor Quinn and Secretary of Transportation Gary Hannig who serve as Ex-officio members. The Chairman and Directors are appointed by the Governor and serve four-year terms. The Board of Directors sets policy for the operation, maintenance and construction of Illinois toll highways.

The Tollway maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94, I-294, I-80). The Board meets on the last Thursday of each month, except in November and December when meetings are a week earlier due to holidays. All Board meetings are open to the public.