Governor Quinn Names Simone McNeil Acting Director of CMS

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today appointed Simone McNeil as the acting director of the Department of Central Management Services (CMS), the state government's human resources, technology, management and procurement agency. McNeil has served as the Governor's Director of Operations since 2009. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to ensuring an efficient and responsive government for the people of Illinois.

"Simone McNeil is an innovative and capable public servant whose extensive experience will prove invaluable in her new position," Governor Quinn said. "I want to thank outgoing director Malcolm Weems for his dedicated service to the state, and we appreciate all that he has done at CMS."

Weems had served as CMS director since April 2012. He resigned to take a position in the private sector.

Simone McNeil brings a depth of management experience as a human resources professional with extensive work in budget management and staff oversight in state government, healthcare and private sector environments.

McNeil has served as Operations Director for the Office of Governor Pat Quinn since 2009, where she directed operations and managed a comprehensive human resources program. During her tenure as Operations Director, she made it a priority to analyze former human resources procedures in order to streamline processes and bring more efficiencies to the Governor's Office.

Previously, McNeil served as Operations Director under then-Lieutenant Governor Quinn where she maintained operations and human resources for all office employees; prepared the annual budget for submission to the General Assembly and managed and monitored federal and private foundation grants. While in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, McNeil also served as Ethics Officer for the administration, ensuring the compliance of state laws by all employees.

McNeil served as Human Resources Director for the Office of the State Treasurer where she oversaw the hiring process for all new employees, the administration of benefit plans and programs and participated in the negotiation of labor contracts for the state. In the field of healthcare, McNeil was the Human Resources Director for the Washington and Jane Smith Community where she maintained a human resources program for 350 health care professionals. She was also responsible for developing staff strategies that reduced all-staff turnover by 20 percent.

Having received a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois, McNeil's history in human resources also includes work at the Illinois Department of Public Aid as a personnel officer, and as a Human Resources Consultant for the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce in Chicago.

The Illinois Department of Central Management Services provides a broad range of programs and services to state agencies and the public. These include human resources and employee benefits, information technology and telecommunications, property and facilities management, procurement and business diversity, vehicle fleet management, and media and marketing.