The Rockford Area Economic Development Council (RAEDC) announces its 2017 Board of Directors, following approval of recommendations by the RAEDC Nominating Committee.
The RAEDC welcomes the following Officers, serving in the following positions effective January 1, 2017:
- Chairman of the Board, Michele Petrie of BMO Harris Bank N.A.
- Vice Chairman/Treasurer, Mike Paterson of Mid-West Family Broadcasting
- Immediate Past Chair, Sagar Patel of Woodward, Inc.
By working directly with investors, partners, and staff, board members provide leadership and broaden considerations about how the RAEDC will achieve its missions and goals. The complete list of the 2017 Board of Directors is as follows:
Executive Committee
Chairman of the Board: Michele Petrie, BMO Harris Bank N.A.
Vice Chair/Treasurer: Mike Paterson, Mid-West Family Broadcasting
Immediate Past Chair: Sagar Patel, Woodward, Inc.
Director at Large: Dr. William Gorski, SwedishAmerican Health System
Director at Large: Sunil Puri, First Midwest Group
Director at Large: David Schertz, OSF HealthCare
Leadership Council Chair: Mick Gronewold, Fehr Graham
Business Retention & Expansion Solutions Team Chair: John Saunders, Larson & Darby Group
Business & Community Relations Solutions Team Chair: Paul Gaier, Rockford Register Star
Mayor Lawrence J. Morrissey, City of Rockford
Chairman Frank Haney, Winnebago County
Michael Nicholas, Rockford Area Economic Development Council
Directors
David Anspaugh, Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association
R. Richard Bastian, III, Blackhawk Bank
Teresa Beach-Shelow, Superior Joining Technologies, Inc.
Edward C. Berg, First Northern Credit Union
Steve Bois, Rockford Area REALTORS
Jerry Busse, Rockford Toolcraft, Inc.
John Chadwick, WREX-TV
Dr. Rena Cotsones, Northern Illinois University
Eric Cunningham, UTC Aerospace Systems
George Gaulrapp, ComEd
Linda Gerber, Rock River Valley Blood Center
Thomas Green, Barrick, Switzer, Long, Balsley & Van Evera
Matthew Hevrin, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Jeffrey Hultman, Illinois Bank & Trust
Dr. Ehren Jarrett, Rockford Public Schools
Jeffrey J. Kaney, Kaney Group LLC
Tom Kress, Associated Bank
Jeff Layng, JP Morgan Chase
Penelope Lechtenberg, Lechtenberg & Associates LLC
Dr. W. Stephen Minore, Rockford Anesthesiologists Associated, LLC
Fran Morrissey, The Morrissey Family Businesses
Ed Munguia, Stillman Bank
Tim Myers, WIFR-TV
Mercyhealth System
Mark Peterson, CherryVale Mall / CBL & Associates Properties
Bill Roop, Alpine Bank
Joel Sjostrom, Sjostrom & Sons, Inc.
Glen Turpoff, Northwestern Illinois Contractors Association
Ex-Officio Voting
Mayor Dale Adams, Village of Rockton
Jon Bates, Community Foundation of Northern IL
Mayor Jerry Bolin, Village of Machesney Park
Einar Forsman, Rockford Chamber of Commerce
John Groh, Rockford Area Conv. & Visitors Bureau|
Tim Hanson, Rock River Water Reclamation
Dr. Douglas Jensen, Rock Valley College
Mayor Darryl Lindberg, City of Loves Park
Paul Logli, United Way of Rock River Valley
Jeff Polsean, Greater Rockford Airport Authority
Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green, U of I College of Medicine
Senator Dave Syverson
Ex-Officio Nonvoting
Darcy Bucholz, Northern Illinois Workforce Alliance
Todd Cagnoni, City of Rockford
Ron Clewer, Rockford Housing Authority
John Phelps, Rockford Local Development Corp.
David Pietryla, Nicor as Business Attraction Solutions Team Chair
Senator Steve Stadelman
Craig Steege, Rasmussen College as Education for Workforce Development Committee Chair
John Tysver, Woodward, Inc. as RAAN Chair
Fred Wescott, Winnebago County Economic Development
David Young, Northwest Illinois Development Alliance
Carrie Zethmayr, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
Growth Dimensions of Belvidere/Boone County
In addition, the RAEDC recognizing the following 2017 Solutions Teams and Committee Chairs:
- Paul Gaier of The Rockford Register Star as the Business and Community Relations Solutions Team Chair
- Mick Gronewold of Fehr Graham to serve as the Leadership Council Chair
- Michele Petrie of BMO Harris Bank N.A. as Rockforward! President’s Circle Chair
- David Pietryla of Nicor Gas to serve as the Business Attraction Solutions Team Chair
- John Saunders of Larson & Darby Group as the Business Retention and Expansion Solutions Team Chair
- Craig Steege of Rasmussen College as the Education Committee Chair
- John Tysver of Woodward, Inc. as the Rockford Area Aerospace Network Chair
The RAEDC Board of Directors created the Solutions Teams to engage its Investors in the work of economic development and to help achieve the organization’s mission and goals. Committee volunteerism and its subsequent contributions are extremely helpful, as these stakeholders counsel from their unique perspectives, and aid in aligning the implementation of Rockforward20/20 strategies and tactics.
“I am looking forward to working with the outstanding individuals that have been nominated to the board, as well as the solutions teams and committees,” states Mike Nicholas, president for the RAEDC. “Working together we will to continue to build upon the current momentum the Rockford region is experiencing in job growth and capital investment.”
