Chairman William A. Brandt, Jr.
Mr. Brandt is President and CEO of Development Specialists, Inc. ("DSI"), a firm specializing in management, consulting and turnaround assistance to troubled or reorganizing enterprises. He is widely recognized as one of the foremost practitioners in the field of corporate restructuring, bankruptcy and related public policy issues. He currently resides in the Chicagoland area.
Vice Chairman Michael W. Goetz
Mr. Goetz is currently the Executive Director of the Laborers' Home Development Corporation (1997-Present). His experience includes: Director of the Midwest Region Foundation for Fair Contracting; Vice President of the Chicago Corporation; and Executive Director of the Illinois Public Treasurer's Investment Pool. He currently resides in Springfield, Illinois.
Dr. William Barclay
Dr. Barclay is an Adjunct Professor, Liautaud Graduate School of Business at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is retired from the Chicago Stock Exchange. Dr. Barclay resides in the Chicagoland area.
Gila J. Bronner
Ms. Bronner is President and CEO of Bronner Group, LLC, multi-disciplined professional services company that delivers comprehensive strategy, transformation and accountability consulting services to state and local governments and federal agencies. Ms. Bronner is a highly respected expert on auditor independence and related accountability and internal control issues and is a nationally recognized authority on governmental accounting, auditing, compliance and oversight. She also is a recognized thought leader on public sector implementation and compliance issues. Appointed to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s original governing board, Ms. Bronner has chaired its Audit and Finance Committees. She also served as an initial member of NASA’s Advisory Council Financial Audit Committee.
James J. Fuentes
Mr. Fuentes has served in management and engineering positions for Lucent Technologies, Northrop Defense Systems Division and Lockheed Aircraft Company. He holds several patents and has won numerous awards for technical innovation and achievement. Mr. Fuentes is active in the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce among other civic organizations. He resides in the Chicagoland area.
Norman M. Gold
Mr. Gold has a sophisticated corporate and real estate transactional practice that includes securities, tax, corporate governance and corporate finance issues, mergers & acquisitions and formation of partnerships and joint ventures. He has particular proficiency in general corporate counseling and advisory work representing boards of directors, special committees of boards, and bidders and investors in such transactions as IPOs, sales and going private transactions, strategic and financial acquisitions, mergers, financings, tender offers and related matters. He is routinely involved in the organization of venture capital and private equity funds for U.S. and foreign investors, as well as the implementation of their investment activity.
Lerry Knox
Mr. Knox has over 20 years of experience as an engineer, venture capitalist and investment banker leading national organizations that provide solutions at the complex intersection of business, technology, infrastructure, innovation and public policy.
As a senior executive of The Hilco Organization, Lerry leads two important business practice areas of the firm. First, as the CEO of Hilco Innovation Partners he brings his skills to this unique asset management company that is building an active market for invention, bringing together expertise, capital, and intellectual property (IP) for investment in the next generation of infrastructure assets; agriculture, water, energy and healthcare technologies. Lerry also leads Hilco's Governmental Solutions practice area which helps governments, governmental agencies and not-for-profit organizations assess their asset value and maximize value through various asset monetization solutions.
Edward H. Leonard, Sr.
Mr. Leonard is President of Leonard Farms, a fourth generation farm near the City of Decatur. Mr. Leonard has served on several boards and commissions in the last 40 years, including Macon County Regional Planning Commission (1977-Present) and Niantic Farmers Grain Company Board of Directors (1972-2003, President 1995-1993). He currently resides in Niantic, Illinois.
Terrence M. O'Brien
Mr. O'Brien is owner and President of Terrence O'Brien & Co., a real estate appraisal, brokerage and consulting services firm. His expertise includes appraisal of fee, leasehold and partial interest as well as equity investment analysis, feasibility, market and highest and best use studies. Mr. O'Brien previously served on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Development Finance Authority, the Board of Banks and Trust Companies for the State of Illinois, and the Board of Directors of a Chicago bank. He resides in the Chicagoland area.
Heather D. Parish
Ms. Parish is an independent consultant who specializes in developing strategies and capacity-building initiatives for non-profit organizations and foundations engaged in community economic development and finance, housing and entrepreneurial/business development. Previously, Ms. Parish worked as a fiscal and policy analyst for the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, as a senior consultant in KPMG Peat Marwick’s Government Services Practice, and as a public finance investment banking associate with Prudential Securities. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley, and a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where she specialized in housing, community development, and urban economic development. Ms. Parish currently holds memberships in the Association of Consultants to Non Profits (Chicago), Women in Planning and Development (Chicago), the Harvard Club of Chicago, and the California Alumni Association. Ms. Parish also serves as a board member of the Wieboldt Foundation, and recently served as a board member for the Illinois State Board of Investment during 2009-2010.
Barrett F. Pedersen
Mr. Pedersen is the Village President of Franklin Park. Mayor Pedersen is the host and producer of the long running cable public affairs program, “Illinois Issues in Review”. Mayor Pedersen is also an attorney specializing in real estate and estate planning. His passion for the preservation and improvement of our environment has made him a respected advocate for smart technology, plug-in vehicles, and chemical-free landscaping. Mayor Pedersen was appointed by Governor Quinn to the Elgin-O’Hare West Bypass Advisory Council. As Mayor, he is active in the Franklin Park / Schiller Park Chamber of Commerce and has successfully recruited new jobs and investment to Franklin Park, the 4th largest industrial employer in Illinois.
Roger E. Poole
Mr. Poole, who recently retired after 30 years of service, was the Directing Business Representative for Machinists District No. 9. He has received the Labor Man of the Year Award from the Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council, the Community Services Labor Man of the Year Award from the St. Louis Labor Council, and the Labor Man of the Year Award from the St. Louis Port Council.
Mordecai Tessler
Mr. Tessler is one of the founders of Chicago-based real estate firm Royal Imperial Group Inc., which has over 40 years of extensive experience in all asset classes of real estate including office, residential, senior housing, healthcare, historic renovation and mixed use. He resides in Chicago.
Bradley A. Zeller
Mr. Zeller is chairman of the Morgan County Board of Commissioners and serves on the Emergency 911 Board and the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation Board. He is a member of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce and formerly Vice President of the Alexander Businessmen's Association. Zeller's background is in agricultural economics including farming 1,300 acres among which are his family's 700-acre Centennial Farm. He resides in Alexander.