Prairie State Wire

Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration 

Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Board

Joseph Kagann will serve as a Member of the Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Board.* Kagann is a U.S. Army veteran whose extensive background includes information technology, intergovernmental relations, and vendor and inventory control. He currently works as the General Manager for Sky Zone Aurora where oversees daily sales, maintenance projects, and other tasks. In addition to his work at Sky Zone, Kagann was elected as Woodridge Village Clerk and has been serving since 2017. Prior to this, he was an elected Village Trustee for ten years. Kagann has been recognized for his military achievements and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and Army Commendation Award.

Illinois Workforce Innovation Board

Sheryl Morris will serve as a Member of the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board.* Morris has a fifteen-year career developing skills in data management, partnership, and infrastructure development. She currently serves as the Executive Director of UNITE HERE Chicago Hospitality Institute (UHCHI). In this role, she leads a 501 (c)(3) workforce development organization designed to upskill individuals in the hospitality sector from the UNION HERE Local 1 Labor Union and the broader public. Prior to joining UHCHI, she was the Philanthropy Manager and Business Operations Analyst for the North Central Region at the American Cancer Society. Morris received a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master of Business Administration from Walden University.

Jayne Vellinga will serve as a Member of the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board.* Vellinga has over twenty-five years of job workforce training experience. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Chicago Women in Trades, where she is responsible for all aspects of the organization including fundraising, fiscal management, partnership building, advocacy, and program development. Prior to this role, Vellinga was the Director of Programs, overseeing outreach, recruitment, case management support, and retention services. She received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Calvin College.

Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Advisory Board

Amy Bilton will continue to serve as a Member of the Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Advisory Board.* Bilton currently serves as Co-Managing Shareholder at Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie, and Lowry, P.C. and is a nationally recognized Workers' Compensation Defense and Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) attorney. She was honored in 2022 as a Fellow of the College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers, where she gained valuable knowledge related to workers' compensation defense, managed service provider (MSP), and MSP compliance. Bilton is active in her community, currently serving on the Board for Habitat for Humanity Chicago. She also serves as the Women Build Committee Co-Chair and Team Leader. She received a Bachelor of Arts from University of Michigan and her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law.

* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.

Original source can be found here.