Name: Hugo Chaviano
Position: Director – Illinois Department of Labor
Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Hugo Chaviano, 62, to be the
Director of the Illinois Department of Labor. Chaviano brings more
than 35 years of legal experience to the job, including work as a
mediator and arbitrator.
Chaviano is currently a senior partner for Sanchez Daniels &
Hoffman, LLP, where he works on litigation cases in a number of
areas including employment, contracts, transportation and torts.
These cases have appeared before state and federal courts,
regulatory agencies, and in arbitration and mediation. Chaviano has
worked for a number of law firms throughout the Chicago area,
including managing his own law firm that was acquired in 1997.
Throughout his professional career, Chaviano has become a leader
among Hispanic lawyers within the United States and across Latin
America. He has received a number of accolades for his work
advocating diversity. Chaviano immigrated to the United States from
Cuba when he was just 13 years old. He is bilingual in Spanish.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Jan/24/images/ads/current/sunloan_bch_010715.png) Chaviano graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree
in history, and he earned his law degree from Northwestern
University.
Experience:
- Sanchez Daniels & Hoffman, LLP, Partner (2003-Present)
- Adorno Yoss Sanchez & Daniels, Partner in Charge (2004-2008)
- Cozen O’Connor, Senior Member & Partner – Latin America
Practice Group (2000-2002)
- Blatt, Hammesfahr & Eaton, Capital Partner & Chair – Latin
America Practice Group (1996-2000)
- Chaviano & Associates, Ltd, Principal (1990-1996)
- Broderick & Chaviano, House Counsel St. Paul Insurance
Companies (1985-1990)
• Pretzel & Stouffer, Associate (1984-1985)
- Shand Morahan & Co. (1979-1984)
- Corporate Counsel (1981-1984)
- Claims Counsel (1979-1981)
Education:
- Northwestern University, J.D. (1978)
- Rutgers University, B.A. History (1975)
Personal Information:
Age: 62
Hometown: North Barrington
Name: Rocco Claps
Position: Director – Illinois Department of Human Rights
Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he will reappoint
Rocco Claps, 53, as the Director of the Illinois Department
of Human Rights. Claps has overseen the IDHR for the past 12
years and is currently the longest-serving director in the
agency’s history. Claps is also the first openly-gay agency
director in the history of Illinois.
As the Director of the IDHR, Claps worked with the
legislature to expand the Illinois Human Rights Act and the
scope of human and civil rights laws in Illinois, which
includes Illinois’ first statewide law to protect the
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. He also
created a bilingual services department within the IDHR to
more effectively communicate with all communities in
Illinois. Claps currently oversees nearly 150 employees with
a budget of more than $14 million.
Prior to his work at the IDHR, Claps was a Deputy Assessor
in the Cook County Assessor’s Office. He also worked on two
Democratic National Conventions, and in the Office of the
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Jan/24/images/ads/current/brickey_lda_061314.png)
Claps earned his bachelor’s degree in mass communications
from Illinois State University.
Experience:
- Illinois Department of Human Rights, Director
(2003-Present)
- Office of the Cook County Assessor, Deputy Assessor
(1999-2003)
- 2000 Democratic National Convention, Director of
Planning (1997-1999)
- Office of the Secretary - U.S. Department of Health
& Human Services, Director of Scheduling & Advance
(1997)
- 1996 Democratic National Convention, Chief of Staff
(1995-1996)
Awards & Honors:
- The Civic Federation/Motorola Solutions
Foundation Award – Excellence in Public Service
- International Association of Official Human
Rights Agencies – Individual Achievement Award
- Chicago Gay & Lesbian Hall of Fame Inductee
Education:
- Illinois State University, B.S. Mass
Communications (1983)
Personal Information:
Age: 53
Hometown: Villa Park
Name: Leo Schmitz
Position: Director – Illinois State Police
Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Deputy Chief
Leo Schmitz of the Chicago Police Department to
become the Director of the Illinois State
Police. Schmitz, 55, has a proven record of
building community trust, while reducing crime
rates as a leader in the department.
Schmitz has spent his nearly 30-year career with
the Chicago Police Department, starting as a
patrolman and rising to the rank of Deputy
Chief. He currently oversees the Englewood
district, where his policies reduced the murder
rate by 44 percent, shootings fell by 14 percent
and all other crimes dropped as well.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Jan/24/images/ads/current/st_claras_lda_082114.png)
Prior to his work as Deputy Chief, Schmitz was
the Commander of the Gang Enforcement Unit. He
oversaw the centralization of 400 police
officers from 25 different districts into one
gang unit, which became the largest gang unit in
the United States addressing gang violence.
Schmitz has been recognized at the city, county
and state level for his excellence in police
work. Notably, he’s received the Illinois Law
Enforcement Medal of Honor; the Superintendent’s
Award of Valor and Blue Star Award; the Illinois
Police Association Medal of Valor; and the Cook
County Sheriff’s Medal of Valor.
Experience:
- Chicago Police Department (1986-Present)
- Deputy Chief, 007th District –
Englewood (2012-Present)
- Commander, Gang Enforcement Unit
(2009-2012)
- Commander, Gang Investigations
Section (2008-2009)
- Commander, 008th District – Chicago
Lawn (2007-2008)
- Lieutenant (2004-2005)
- Sergeant (1998-2004)
- Detective Division Sergeant
(1999-2004)
- Patrolman (1986-1999)
Awards
- Illinois Law Enforcement Medal
of Honor
- Superintendent's Award of Valor
- Superintendent’s Blue Star Award
- The Hundred Club Medal of Valor
- Illinois Police Association
Medal of Valor
- Cook County Sheriff’s Medal of
Valor
- The William Powers Leadership
Award
- Cook County Sheriff's Medal of
Merit
- Illinois State Crime Commission
Police Officer of the Year
- Fraternal Order of Police
Distinguished Service Award
Education:
- Southern Illinois
University, B.S. Administrative
Sciences (1982)
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Jan/24/images/ads/current/cca_laptop-sda021709.png)
Personal Information:
Age: 55
Hometown: Chicago
Name: Bryan Schneider
Position: Secretary – Illinois
Department of Financial and
Professional Regulation
Governor Bruce Rauner has
selected Bryan Schneider, 47, as
the next Secretary for the
Illinois Department of Financial
and Professional Regulation. He
brings a deep understanding of
law and corporate business
practices to the position.
For the past 15 years, Schneider
has worked as an attorney for
Deerfield-based Walgreens.
Currently, he is the Divisional
Vice President and Assistant
General Counsel, where he worked
on a number of programs and
initiatives. For example, he
offered regulatory and
transactional support for the
nation’s largest flu
immunization program.
Schneider is familiar with
leadership roles in Illinois; he
is currently a member of the
State Board of Elections, a
position he’s held since 2004.
He also served one term as the
board’s Chairman, and another as
Vice Chairman.
Schneider began his career in
the General Assembly, where he
worked as General Counsel for
Rep. Lee Daniels while he was
House Speaker and the Republican
Leader in the House.
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![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2010/Jan/07/images/ads/current/guzzardo_lda022609.png)
In addition to his law degree from the University of
Wisconsin, Schneider is a certified public accountant. He earned
his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Trine University in
Angola, Ind. He also holds an MBA from DePaul University in
Chicago.
Experience:
- Walgreen Co.
- Divisional Vice President & Assistant General Counsel
(2010-Present)
- Director, Health Care Contracting & Regulatory Law
(2009-2010)
- Directory, Health Care Regulatory Law (2008-2009)
- Director, Government Relations, Walgreens Health
Services (2005-2008)
- Senior Attorney (2000-2005)
- Harris Kessler & Goldstein (1997-2000)
- Office of the Illinois House Republican Leader
(1997-2000)
- Office of the Speaker, Illinois House of Representatives
(1995-1997)
- Sidley Austin LLP (1993-1997)
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, Law Clerk - Hon.
Richard D. Cudahy (1992-1993)
Leadership positions:
- Illinois Board of Elections (2004-Present)
- Board Chairman (2009-2011)
- Vice Chairman (2007-2009)
- LEARN Charter Schools, Board of Directors
(2003-Present)
Education:
- University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D.
(1992)
- DePaul University, MBA (2001)
- Trine University, B.S. Accounting (1989)
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Jan/24/images/ads/current/graue_preowned_122114.png)
Personal Information:
Age: 47
Hometown: Chicago
Name: Tom Tyrrell
Position: Director – Illinois Department of
Central Management Services
Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Tom Tyrrell,
61, to become the Director of the Department of
Central Management Services. Tyrrell has nearly
40 years of combined experience in the military,
public and private sectors.
Currently, Tyrrell is the Chief Operating
Officer (COO) of Chicago Public Schools (CPS).
As the COO, Tyrrell oversees the day-to-day
operations of the nation’s third largest school
district, which educates 400,000 students;
employs 42,000 teachers and support staff; and
operates with a budget of more than $5 billion.
Prior to his work with CPS, he was the Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of Steele Partners,
which is a strategic advisory and management
firm. It connects innovating businesses with
projects to improve the country’s well-being.
Tyrrell also spent three years as the Executive
Director and CEO of the Intrepid Sea, Air &
Space Museum. He oversaw the transformation of
the well-respected, but underutilized museum,
into a state-of-the art educational facility.
Under his management, the museum saw an 80
percent annual revenue increase within three
years.
Tyrrell is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps,
having served our country for 26 years, retiring
as a Colonel. As the Commanding Officer for the
First Marine Corps District, he oversaw
recruitment in 14 states and managed 1,100
service personnel, which operated with an annual
budget of $14 million. He also served as the
Director of Strategic Planning & Coordination
for the United Nations Interim Mission in
Kosovo. Prior to that, he was the Special
Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff.
Tyrrell is a graduate of Texas A&M
University-Kingsville, earning a bachelor’s
degree in business administration. He also
earned post-graduate degrees from the National
Defense University - Industrial College of the
Armed Forces and the Naval Postgraduate School.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Jan/24/images/ads/current/best_friends_sda_010515.png)
Experience:
- Chicago Public Schools, Chief Operating
Officer (2012-Present)
- Steele Partners, Chief Executive Officer
(2009-2011)
- Cantor Fitzgerald, LLP/BGC, Senior
Managing Director (2006-2008)
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum,
Executive Director & CEO (2002-2005)
- U.S. Marine Corps
- First Marine Corps District,
Commanding Officer (2001-2002)
- UN Interim Mission in Kosovo,
Director of Strategic Planning &
Coordination (2000-2001)
- Special Assistant to the Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1998-2000)
Recognitions & Honors:
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Legion of Merit Medal
- Veterans Advantage Person of the
Year
- Ellis Island Medal of Honor
- National Police Foundation
Person of the Year
Education:
- National Defense University
– Industrial College of the
Armed Forces, M.S. Strategic
Resource Management (1998)
- Naval Postgraduate School,
M.S. Management - Acquisition &
Contracts (1992)
- Texas A&M University –
Kingsville, B.A. Business
Administration (1976)
Personal Information:
Age: 61
Hometown: Chicago
Name: Rodger Heaton
Position: Public Safety Director
Governor Bruce Rauner has hired
Rodger Heaton, 55, as his
administration’s Public Safety
Director. Heaton has 30 years of
legal experience, including
spending more than four years as
the U.S. Attorney for the
Central District of Illinois.
His experience also spans years
in private practice, as well.
As the U.S. Attorney for the
Central District of Illinois,
Heaton was the chief federal law
enforcement official for 46
counties from 2005-2009. Under
his tenure, productivity in his
division rose to record levels,
which resulted in the filing of
federal charges in approximately
1,300 cases. Heaton was
appointed to the position by
President George W. Bush.
Heaton understands the other
side of the legal system as
well, because of his work as a
defense attorney. Most recently,
he was a partner at Hinshaw &
Culbertson. He also spent two
years as a partner at Kirkland &
Ellis.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Jan/24/images/ads/current/edward_jones_sda_pollice.png)
Until joining the
administration, Heaton was an
Administrative Law Judge with
the U.S. Office of Disability
Adjudication and Review. He
presided over federal
administrative hearings of
disability claims under the
Social Security Act.
Heaton earned his law degree
from Indiana University and
holds a bachelor’s degree in
agricultural economics from the
University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign.
Experience
- U.S. Office of
Disability Adjudication &
Review, Administrative Law
Judge (2014-Present)
- Hinshaw & Culbertson,
Partner (2009-2014)
- United States Attorney -
Central District of Illinois
(2005-2009)
- Supervisory Assistant
United States Attorney -
Central District of Illinois
(2003-2005)
- Kirkland & Ellis,
Partner (2001-2003)
- Supervisory Assistant
United States Attorney -
Central District of Illinois
(1990-2000)
- Appellate Section
Chief (1990-2000)
- Springfield Branch
Chief (2000)
- Computer Crime
Specialist (1995-2000)
- Assistant U.S.
Attorney - Southern
District of Indiana
(1989-1990)
- Sullivan & Cromwell,
Associate (1987-1989)
- U.S. District Court,
Southern District, Law
Clerk – Hon. Sarah Evans
Barker (1987-1987)
Education
- Indiana
University, J.D.
(1985)
- University of
Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign,
B.S. Agricultural
Economics (1981)
Personal Life
Age: 55
Hometown:
Rochester
[Lance Trover, Office of the Governor
Bruce Rauner]
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