Illinois e-News Release

Daniel Robles will serve as a Member of the Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund.* Robles joined the Illinois Environmental Council in 2023 as the Climate Policy Director, previously working at IEC as the Chicago Energy Policy Coordinator. In his new role, he coordinates with IEC affiliates to successfully implement the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, explicitly supporting the implementation of workforce hubs and equitable transportation policies and transit goals. Additionally, he is developing a changing narrative around the need for climate migration solutions to address the looming effects of climate change and its displacement of people worldwide. Prior to joining IEC, Robles spent several years working in Corporate Security and Investigation before getting involved in political organizing. He worked as Regional Field Director for Congresswomen Marie Newman (IL-3) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and as the Latine/Bilingual Trainings Coordinator for the Sunrise Movement. Robles also worked with the IL Green New Deal Coalition as their State Coordinator. An alum of the Chicago City Council Latino Caucus Foundation Fellowship, Robles earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Criminology, Law, and Justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Monique Green will serve as a Member of the Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund.* Pastor Green brings over 25 years of domestic and international business experience to the Board. Green is Board Member of Landsdowne UP and Southwest Illinois Leadership Council. Both organizations provide equitable housing in the East St. Louis area and fostering economic growth in Southwestern Illinois. Green currently serves as the Executive Pastor at Living the Word Church. Green received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Business Administration from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Yiran Zhang will serve as a Member of the Climate Jobs Advisory Council.* Zhang currently serves as a Strategic Researcher at SEIU Local 1 and is a member of the Environmental Justice Committee.. On the Environmental Justice Committee, Zhang led SEIU Local 1’s pilot Green Janitor Education Program. This program graduated over 130 certified green janitors in Chicago and Cleveland who are trained janitorial members on green cleaning and building decarbonization strategies. Prior to joining SEIU Zhang was an organizer with the Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers and was an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant at Loyola University in Chicago and Vanderbilt University. Zhang received two Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University in Molecular and Cellar Biology and Mathematics and Philosophy, and they received a Doctor of Philosophy from Loyola University Chicago.

Karen Nunn will serve as a Member of the Governors State University Board of Trustees.* Nunn is a versatile, accomplished Finance Executive with more than 30 years of accounting and financial operations experience. Nunn obtained an accounting assistant position with a small public accounting firm to support her family and college journey. She worked at the firm for 13 years through her undergraduate studies and obtained her CPA license. Nunn started her career at Health Care Service Corporation in a senior accountant position while pursuing and completing her master’s degree. She was quickly recognized for her leadership skills and was promoted to a manager within 15 months. In her 20-year career with HCSC, Nunn has proven results aligning finance strategies with overall business objectives. She’s skilled in uncovering opportunities to improve operational effectiveness and now serves in her current role as Vice President of Financial Operations. Nunn is also the founder of the Financial Service Division Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Forum. The forum engages a cross functional team to deliver meaningful content with an objective to create a sense of belonging and cultivate understanding and growth in divisional employees and the communities served. Nunn received her Bachelor of Business Administrator in Accounting from Roosevelt University and a Master of Accounting from Governors State University.

Robert Sprague will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Court of Claims.* Sprague has over forty years of experience practicing law. Over the course of his legal career, he has represented numerous municipalities and tried numerous kinds of cases including class actions, tort cases and business cases. Sprague was appointed by the Governor to the Illinois Court of Claims in 2003 and served from 2003 until 2015 as Chief Judge. He was then as reappointed to the Court of Claims in 2019 and have served on the Illinois Court of Claims since that time. Sprague received his Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Juris Doctor from St. Louis University.

King Harris will continue to serve as Chair of the Illinois Housing Development Authority.* Harris is Chairman of Harris Holdings, an investment company, and President of the Harris Family Foundation. He currently serves as Board Chair of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, Co-Chair of the Illinois Justice Project’s Advisory Board and is an active Board member of the Museum of Contemporary Art. Previously, Harris was a Board member and Board Chair of the Francis W. Parker School, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and the Metropolitan Planning Council. He served as a Trustee of the University of Chicago for 31 years and chaired its Visiting Committee on Public Policy for 16 years. Between 1971 and 2000 he worked for the Pittway Corporation (NYSE), ending his tenure as President and CEO. He also served as Board Chair of AptarGroup (NYSE)and Penton Media (NYSE). Harris received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration from Harvard University.

Sonia Berg will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Housing Development Authority.* Berg is currently a Realtor with Ruhl & Ruhl Realtors. Previously, she worked as the Director of Community and Member Relations with the Economic Growth Corporation of Rock Island, as a Consultant for Bridge Investment Community Development Corp., Vice President of Operations for Total Solutions and as Special Events Coordinator for Trinity Health Foundation.

Illinois Sports Facilities Authority

Roderick Hawkins will serve as a Member on the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority.* Hawkins is the Associate Dean of External Affairs and Chief of Staff at Northwestern University’s School of Communication. He supports the strategic vision of the Dean of the school and leads teams that manage communications, events, high school programs, and performing arts venues in Evanston and Chicago. Before joining Northwestern, he was the Communications Director at Advance Illinois and served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Engagement in the Chicago Mayor’s Office. He also served as the Vice President of External Affairs at the Chicago Urban League. Hawkins has experience working for The Chicago Community Trust where he led the launch of the Trust’s philanthropic initiatives in the African American and Latino communities. Hawkins is a 2023 Center on Halsted Human First Award recipient. In 2018, he was named one of Chicago’s notable LGBTQ+ executives in Crain’s Chicago Business. Hawkins is on the board of directors of the Auditorium Theatre, the alumni board of the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University, and the iHeartMedia Chicago Local Advisory Board. Hawkins is a graduate of Louisiana State University.

Roger Poole will continue to serve as a Member of the Illinois Finance Authority.* Poole was originally appointed to the Illinois Finance Authority in 2009. Poole, who 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.

State Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees

Mona Naser will serve as a Member of the State Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees.* Naser currently serves as the Attorney to Partner and Director of Personnel at Carlson Dash, LLC where she specializes in corporate and transactional work and civil litigation. Naser assists in drafting Shareholder and Operating resolutions, and other documents necessary for cooperate governance. Prior to joining Carlson Dash, Naser practiced with Davis McGrath, LLC and Blatt, Hasenmiller, Leibsker, and Moore, LLC. Naser is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and previously served as the Co-Chair of the Alliance for Women. Naser also serves on the Arab American Bar Association and the Illinois Creditors Bar Association. Naser received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science from the University of Illinois Chicago and a Juris Doctor from DePaul University.