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Staff bios

Jeanette Anderson

Jeanette has been with the Illinois Chamber since November, 1983. She began her career with the Illinois Chamber as receptionist. In this role she became known to members throughout the state as that friendly voice who answered phones in the Chicago headquarters. She later worked in Membership Marketing as the Secretary and provided assistance to the Vice President and the membership sales staff. In 1999, Jeanette was promoted to the Finance Department serving as Supervisor of Financial Transactions. In 2001, Jeanette assumed the duties of Office Manager, and continues to assist the Membership Department in its efforts.

Michael Ayers

Michael joined the Illinois Chamber as Executive Vice President and COO in mid-February, 2000. He is responsible for overseeing all internal operations of the Chamber, including budgeting and financial management, all aspects of human resources/personnel, contractual agreements, legal services, and other matters pertinent to internal operations of the Chamber.

Prior to joining the Chamber, Michael was with the University of Illinois at Springfield beginning in 1971 and served in senior management roles for many years in positions including Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Organization and Management Studies, Director of the Office of Business and Management Development, and most recently, Associate Chancellor.

He has specialized in leadership development and consulting for not-for-profit organizations including local chambers of commerce and economic development organizations, working with their boards of directors and executive and support staff on strategic planning and organizational goal setting; meeting facilitation and conflict negotiations; and overall organizational development. He has worked with government entities, national and statewide professional associations, and organizations at the community level. Ayers holds a BBA degree from Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, Texas and an MA and PhD in economics from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma.

Jim Bajt

Jim Bajt has served with the Illinois Chamber for over 8 years as a Member Services Manager with the responsibility for membership growth and retention. He has also worked in the same capacity with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for 4 years and he held similar positions with the Florida State Chamber of Commerce and the Chicagoland Chamber for two years with each organization.

Connie Beard

Connie Beard is an attorney with more than 30 years experience in the state and local tax field. Her areas of expertise include a wide range of state and local taxes, including income, sales, excise and property taxes. Connie is former Managing Counsel of the Illinois Department of Revenue where she was instrumental in developing Illinois tax policy. During her tenure with the Department, she advised the Director of Revenue and other key agency officials on Illinois tax issues, acted as legal liaison to the Department’s audit bureau, and supervised the litigation staff of the administrative hearings bureau. Connie worked closely with the Department’s legislative staff in drafting tax legislation and in monitoring and reviewing proposed legislation. She advised top government officials on critical state tax issues before the Illinois General Assembly and frequently represented the Department of Revenue at state and national tax conferences.

Prior to joining the Illinois Chamber she was a Manager in the state and local tax division of an international accounting and management consulting firm, where she served as a tax consultant to Fortune 500 businesses, advising them on tax strategies to reduce their state and local tax burden and assisting them in resolving Illinois audit issues. Connie is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law and joined the Illinois Chamber of Commerce in October of 1997 as General Counsel and Director of State Taxes. In this capacity, she serves as Executive Director of the Illinois Chamber Tax Institute.

Jack Bernhardt

As Vice President, Membership & Marketing, Jack leads our membership sales team. In addition, Jack serves as Executive Director for the Chamber's Infrastructure and Healthcare Councils. His Infrastructure Council focus is to build an alliance that aggressively promotes and represents Illinois’ interests for all aspects of public works including roads, bridges, public transportation, utilities, airports, rail (both passenger and freight), waterway shipping (locks and dams) and public facilities (schools, convention centers and other public spaces). The Healthcare Council brings together key stakeholders with a vested interest in healthcare to work together to undertake and advance issues, develop action plans, provide programs and influence policies to achieve affordable, accessible healthcare for the employers and residents of Illinois.

Jack holds a bachelor's degree in business from Northern Illinois University. His career has included various executive positions that have taken him to New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Florida. These many experiences provided him with an extensive business background with a primary focus on sales, sales management and marketing.

Julie Brennan

Julie joined the Illinois chamber staff in June of 1989. As Executive Administrative Assistant her current duties include assisting the Business Services division in preparing materials and logistics plans for its compliance seminars and publications. She also assists in the day-to-day operational functions of the Springfield office as well as assisting with the preparation of materials for regular meetings of the Chamber's Board and Executive Committee. She provides support and assistance to the government affairs staff and the executive staff.

Julie assists with the Drug Free Illinois Workplace program as Grant Administrator. Prior to joining the Chamber, Julie worked for thirteen years as office manager for an independent insurance and real estate agent in Springfield.

Jim Farrell

Jim Farrell rejoined the Chamber staff as Executive Director of the Infrastructure Council in October 2007. Jim previously served as a Business Development Manager with the Chamber, and returned after two years as Business Development Manager for Faithful+Gould in Chicago.

Before joining the Chamber staff, Jim was the Founder and Principal of New Business Development (NBD). NBD gave Jim opportunities to work with a variety of industries, including marine hardware, web development, natural foods, and investment banking.

Prior to starting NBD Jim was the principal of the James P. Farrell Co. (JPFCO). JPFCO represented manufacturing and distribution firms in the building material industry. Jim began his career with Armstrong World Industries and is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Sarah Frye

Upon graduating from Southern Illinois University in May 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Sarah joined the Chamber full time as Manager of Legislative Relations.  Her main duties under Government Affairs include the day-to-day lobbying of legislators for pro-business legislation.  She is also the editor of the weekly Government Affairs Report and videographer editor of the weekly interviews with legislators throughout the legislative session that appear in the Government Affairs Reports.  Sarah also assists with the Communications department and website development.

Sarah participated in an internship program through Southern Illinois University Carbondale which placed her at the Chamber in January of 2007.  Working with the Government Affairs department, Sarah gained first-hand experience of the workings within the legislature. She helped to coordinate major events such as the Chamber’s Gross Receipts Tax Lobby Day with more than 600 businesses.  Part of her duties also included researching various topics such as different healthcare initiatives throughout the nation and election data configuration. 

Prior to working at The Chamber, Sarah worked as an Office Coordinator for the Case Management/Social Service department at Memorial Hospital. 

Candace Gerritsen

Candace serves as Associate Vice President of Operations for the Chamber. She joined the Chamber staff as Executive Assistant to the President in November 2001. Candace manages Doug Whitley's schedule and represents Doug in meetings when required. She also assists the member sales representatives in an administrative capacity, and performs various administrative duties in the human resources function for the Chicago office.

Candace previously served with a computer consulting company as Office Manager for eight years where she facilitated day-to-day activities of the office, worked with the President and Regional Director, and was the Human Resources Coordinator.

Candace earned her bachelor's degree in international studies with a minor in business administration from Millikin University and a certificate under the Society of Human Resource Management from DePaul University in Chicago.

Don Gray

Don joined the Illinois Chamber in February 2010 as Advocacy Director with Government Affairs. Don will be responsible for the Chamber’s grassroots outreach, candidate liaison and special issue coordination. He will also work on member communications and research projects.

Don has a deep breadth of experience as a small business owner in Springfield, a political event strategist, a political analyst and has been employed by numerous state and local political campaigns—most recently in the gubernatorial primary campaign.

Don’s areas of expertise are in political event planning and advance work, managing political operations, managing press tours, conflict resolution and problem solving, as well as in developing of press releases, research and advertising.

Don received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University and his Masters from the University of Illinois – Springfield. He is a member of numerous associations and community organizations

Gloria Guy

Gloria Guy, IOM is the Vice President of Business Services and the Executive Director of the Drug-Free Illinois Workplace Program (DFIWP) offered through the Illinois Chamber and funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services. She serves as the lead staff member responsible for oversight and operation of the programs, products, and services offered through the Chamber’s Business Services Division.

Under Guy’s leadership as Executive Director of the DFIWP, program participation grew by 300%. The DFIWP has become one of the most innovative cutting-edge programs of its kind in the country, and it has received national recognition and visibility in Washington, DC.

Gloria has been a key member of the management team of the Illinois Chamber and has held various positions including Project Manager/Government Affairs, Director of Communications and Marketing, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Illinois Chamber Political Action Committee.

She is a speaker at community events throughout the state as well as in Washington D.C. She has also worked as an Outreach Consultant for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Washington, D.C.

Guy is a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management, a four-year professional development program offered by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Management from the University of Illinois at Springfield. Prior to joining the Chamber, Gloria was co-owner of Midwest Materials Management, Inc., a systems integration/management company.

Peggy Hardy

Peggy joined the Illinois Chamber staff in February of 1983. During her tenure she was the Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Membership Sales and Services, assisting with the day-to-day operations of the department along with working with the Executive Staff and Board of Directors. Peggy was promoted to Membership Retention Executive in June of 1996. As membership executive she is responsible for $2.5 million in renewal revenues.

Her duties include contacting member companies for membership renewal and obtaining feed-back from members on issues that impact their operations in Illinois. Other responsibilities include: assisting members with export documentation information on Certificates of Origin, Affidavits, Chamber of Commerce Declarations and supplying general information to members and non-members.

Mary Ellen Jensen

Mary Ellen Jensen joined the Illinois Chamber in March 2010 as Membership as Director, Corporate Partnerships. Mary Ellen has an extensive sales background. Her history has been working in multistate territories most recently with a company that licensed music, footage and photography for usage and distribution in advertising and marketing programs. Her clients were some large well-known companies.

Elizabeth Kerns

Liz joined the Chamber in January 2004. As Director of Local Chamber Relations and Event Management, her responsibilities include developing, coordinating, and implementing the initiatives of the Illinois Chamber for presentation to local chambers of commerce, creating partnerships and ensuring two-way communication with local chambers of commerce, and serving as IACCE President coordinating communications, events and opportunities.

Prior to joining the Illinois Chamber, Liz worked as the assistant to the President & CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. Additional previous work experiences include time with Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce in Jonesboro, AR, Arkansas State University’s University Communications department and Walt Disney World Resorts in Orlando, FL.

Liz serves as President of the Central Illinois chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Liz holds a bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University in Journalism/Public Relations and a minor in business, and recently completed her Master’s degree in Communications at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Todd Maisch

As Vice President of Government Affairs, Todd is responsible for the overall development and implementation of the Chamber’s government affairs program and serves as the Chamber’s primary contact for legislators, legislative staff members and the Executive Branch. Todd also serves as Executive Director of the Illinois Chamber Political Action Committee where he is responsible for designing and implementing political and fund-raising strategies. He oversees development of policy positions and advocacy actions by the Chamber’s business issue councils.

Todd holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana, and an MBA from Illinois State University. Prior to joining the Chamber in 1994, Todd worked for the General Assembly as a research analyst for the House Republican staff. While working for the General Assembly, he staffed the House Revenue and State Government Committees. He also served as a policy analyst for the House Republican Campaign Committee where he managed political campaigns.

Laura Minzer

Laura joined the Chamber as Director of Policy in August 2007, coming from the House Republican legislative staff where she served seven years as a legislative analyst handling healthcare, education, biotechnology and other issues for the House Republican leader and caucus members. Prior to that she served internships with voter.com as an editorial assistant and with Illinois State Rep Rich Myers as a legislative assistant. She earned her bachelors degree in Political Science and International Relations, Magna Cum Laude, from Boston University.

In addition to lobbying duties, Laura serves as Executive Director of the Healthcare Council.

Ken Mitchell

Ken Mitchell joined the Chamber as Director of Publication Sales in September 2009. Ken’s 20+ years in sales, most recently as a long-term care insurance broker/owner, will be a great asset as Business Services launches its in-house administration, marketing and sales of compliance handbooks and posters.  Ken’s background reflects continuous achievement in recognition for top-tier sales results with his prior organizations and experience in speaking and presentations. He is an accomplished speaker with a Certified Toastmaster designation and is a past member of the National Speakers Association.

Ken earned his bachelors degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield, and holds an Illinois Teacher’s Certificate for grades 6 – 12.

Paul D. Mesirow

Paul joined the Chamber in November 2006. In his role as Director of Corporate Partnerships, Paul is responsible for maintaining existing Chamber members and facilitating their relationships with the Chamber. He is also responsible for attracting new members to the Chamber through the Chamber’s advocacy and council programs.

He comes to the Chamber from AT&T and brings over thirty years experience in sales, account management, project management and customer service.

Paul also has a large interest in Community Theater and produces shows as well as performs in them. He also spends a large part of his time volunteering in his community.

Alexander Perry

A Chicagoland native, Alex joined the Chamber sales staff in June 2006, bringing a seven year background in sales/marketing and client relations. He enjoys working with small businesses throughout Illinois on ways to collectively work together on issues that are important to their success.

He served most recently as managing partner at a 70 year old graphics company in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Alex is active in many business and civic organizations including the Lookinglass Theatre Junior Board, Young Professionals of Chicago, Evanston Chamber of Commerce Board and Young Professionals of Evanston Board.

Jeff Schulman

Jeff Schulman joined the membership sales team as Director of Business Development in February 2007.

Jeff brings more than ten years' experience in sales to the Chamber, primarily in home and resort property development and sales. He served most recently with Bluegreen Resorts of Bolingbrook, where he assisted in opening two new locations and hired and trained new sales representatives.

Jay Dee Shattuck

Jay joined the Chamber in January of 2002 with the merger of the Employment Law Council and the Illinois Chamber. He serves as Executive Director of the Council, an organization that he founded in 1997. The Council brings together employers to improve and protect Illinois employment law and regulations to create a political climate conducive to the creation and retention of jobs in Illinois. Jay has held high-profile, senior level lobbying positions with the Associated Employers of Illinois (1987-1996), Central Illinois Public Service Co. (1983-1987) and the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois (1978-1983). Shattuck is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and is a Certified Association Executive (CAE).

Mary Taylor

Mary came to the Chamber with 28 years experience working in administrative capacities with a Fortune 500 manufacturing company. She joined the Chamber in December 2002 as Receptionist at the Springfield headquarters. Her current duties include a variety of administrative assignments including working with the Director of Local Chamber Relations and maintaining IACCE information. She provides support in all aspects of the daily operation of the Chamber.

Bethani Whiting

Bethani Whiting, Director of Corporate Partnerships, joined the Illinois Chamber staff in September 2009. Bethani brings more than 15 years of experience in internal and external sales, marketing, collections and customer service in a number of Chicagoland industries. She served most recently as Sales/Collections Manager with Aaron Sales and Lease in Melrose Park for about a year, after a strong background in real estate lending and title businesses. Her performance has typically exceeded market norms, a skill that brings timely value to the Illinois Chamber Membership Sales team.

Bethani attended Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and completed a number of sales and licensing courses and continuing education.

Doug Whitley

Tom Wolf

Tom is in his first year as Executive Director of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s Energy Council. Tom is responsible for leading the Council’s charge to encourage the development and availability of all kinds of energy and conservation measures in an environmentally responsible and cost effective way.

Tom joined the Chamber after more than 20 years as a public affairs executive, most recently as vice president with the Chicago-based Jasculca/Terman and Associates. As senior strategist and project manager for corporate, not-for-profit and government clients -- as well as notable business and political leaders -- Tom's accomplishments and relationships position him well to build the Chamber’s new Energy Council.