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“Director
Dowling has worked diligently to transform the Department of
Insurance to better protect the rights of Illinois’ residents, while
championing a growth environment for businesses,” Governor Rauner
said. “Director Dowling’s commitment to protecting taxpayers showed
throughout her tenure. On behalf of the people of Illinois, I thank
Director Dowling for her service.”
“During
the past 18 months, we have debated and defined some of the most
pressing issues confronting the industry like the use of automated
vehicles, Blockchain, cyber security and the coverage of mental
health care,” Director Dowling said. “I’m proud to have served as
Director of Insurance under Governor Rauner and leading the
Department in reclaiming Illinois’ preeminence on the national
policy stage.”
Governor
Rauner will appoint Jennifer Hammer the Director of the Department
of Insurance. Hammer has extensive experience in healthcare law and
policy.
Currently, Hammer is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy in the
Office of the Governor. She oversees all policy-making decisions in
the Governor’s Office and state agencies. She analyzes and advises
the governor on proposed policy, legislation, and rules and
regulations. Previously, she was the Policy Adviser for Healthcare
and Human Services and Special Counsel to the Governor. In this
role, she coordinated all healthcare-related agencies, including the
Department of Insurance. She oversaw migration of Get Covered
Illinois as an independent commission into the Department of
Insurance.
Previously, Hammer worked at the Illinois Chamber of Commerce as the
Executive Director of the Healthcare Council and Vice President and
Legal Counsel of Government Affairs. She also worked for Giffin,
Winning, Cohen & Bodewes, P.C. as an attorney where she practiced
insurance defense law, healthcare law, business law, and advised
clients on legislation like the Affordable Care Act.
Hammer
earned her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and her
law degree from Southern Illinois University. She lives in
Springfield.
Staff
Announcements
The
governor today also made a number of staff announcements. Tim
Nuding, Director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget
(GOMB) will be transitioning out of state government after a 27 year
career in public service to pursue other opportunities. Current GOMB
Chief of Staff Scott Harry has been named the new Director of GOMB.
Harry has
served as GOMB’s Chief of Staff since January 2015. He has 27-years
of public service experience working for the State of Illinois with
responsibilities in budgeting, financial management and grant
accountability.
For 20 of
those years, Harry worked at the Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity (DCEO). He became the agency’s first Chief
Accountability Officer in 2008 and led the implementation of a
progressive and standardized approach to grants management and
performance monitoring. Harry started at DCEO in 1994 as the
agency’s Budget Director and was later promoted to Chief Financial
Officer where he was responsible for managing the agency’s finances
for a period of 10 years.
Harry received his MBA from the University of Illinois-Springfield
and his bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University. He lives
in Springfield.
In
addition, Governor Rauner announced today he has named Michael
Mahoney the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Legislative
Affairs. Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs Mitch
Holzrichter is joining the law firm Mayer Brown LLP as a partner in
the Chicago office at the end of January. He will continue to
oversee legislative affairs through the end of the 99th
General Assembly.
Additionally, Jim Kaitschuk has been named to the enhanced role of
Senior Adviser for Legislative Affairs and Administrative Policy
Initiatives and Bob Stefanski has been named Director of House and
Senate Operations. Current Policy Adviser for Transportation and
Infrastructure Brian Oszakiewski has been named Director of Policy.
In
addition, Governor Rauner has also hired Phillip Rodriguez as the
Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Engagement and Brad Hahn as the
Director of Communications. Catherine Kelly has been named Deputy
Director of Communications and Allie Bovis has been named Press
Secretary.
[to top of second column] |
Name:
Michael Mahoney
Position: Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Legislative Affairs
Governor
Rauner has named Michael Mahoney Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy
and Legislative Affairs. Mahoney currently serves as the Senior
Policy Adviser to the governor focusing on pensions, revenue, gaming
and economic policy.
Prior to
joining the Governor’s Office, Mahoney worked for the Illinois House
Republican Caucus as the Deputy Director of Research and
Appropriations.
Mahoney
attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he
received his degree in economics. He grew up in Joliet and now
resides in Wicker Park.
Name:
Phillip Rodriguez
Position: Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Engagement
Governor
Rauner has named Phillip Rodriguez Deputy Chief of Staff for Public
Engagement. He brings more than 10 years of external affairs
experience in municipal and state government to the Administration.
Most
recently, Rodriguez served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to
Comptroller Leslie Munger. He oversaw the external affairs divisions
of her office including public affairs, small business development,
legislation, and local government and constituent communications.
Within this role, he identified new avenues to increasing
constituent interaction and other opportunities for the public to
interact with the Comptroller’s Office on a day-to-day basis.
Prior to
his work with Comptroller Munger, Rodriguez was the Director of
Public Affairs for the late Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka.
Rodriguez
earned his bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and his
master’s degree from DePaul University. He and his family reside in
Glen Ellyn.
Name:
Brad Hahn
Position: Director of Communications
Governor
Rauner has named Brad Hahn Director of Communications. He brings
more than two decades of communication and journalism experience to
the role.
Most
recently, Hahn served as Chief of Staff to Comptroller Leslie Munger
where he oversaw all aspects of the comptroller’s office. Previously
he served as Communications Director to Comptroller Judy Baar
Topinka. In addition, he has experience in the private sector
working for Burnham Strategies where he worked with the Illinois
Chamber of Commerce, Congressman Adam Kinzinger, Mitt Romney’s
presidential campaign, and Judy Baar Topinka’s campaign for
comptroller.
Hahn also
was a reporter and columnist for a number of newspapers including
the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Elgin Courier-News, the Daily Herald, and
the South Florida Sun-Sentinel where he covered the historic 36-day
recount of the 2000 presidential campaign.
Hahn
earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa. He was
raised in Deerfield and is now raising his family there, as well.
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[Catherine
Kelly] |
