Prairie State Wire

Kari Wolfe, the Statewide Chief Benefits Officer for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS), has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the State and Local Government Benefits Association (SALGBA). This organization focuses on knowledge exchange, professional networking, advocacy on public employee benefit issues, education through events and certification, and partnerships with benefits-related organizations.

Raven A. DeVaughn, CMS Director, expressed support for Wolfe's appointment: "Kari's dedication to improving benefits for State employees, retirees, and dependents has been invaluable to CMS and the State of Illinois. Her appointment to the SALGBA Board is a reflection of her expertise and her commitment to advancing government benefits administration."

Illinois joined SALGBA in 2022 and was recognized as Entity of the Year by the association that same year. In 2024, Wolfe received SALGBA's Benefits Manager of the Year award and achieved a Certified Government Benefits Administrator designation. As a board member, Wolfe will be responsible for overseeing events, educational opportunities for members, and governance within SALGBA.

Wolfe commented on her new role: "I am excited to be on SALGA's Board of Directors. At CMS, we have learned a lot from the information SALGBA has provided during their events, and we have implemented many of those strategies in our procurement process and in our wellness platform."

For more information about the CMS Bureau of Benefits, visit their website.