Mayor Elect Rahm Emanuel Thursday announced his mayoral transition team during an event at The Union League Club of Chicago.
According to the biographies the team released, Emanuel is looking to build a diverse coalition of voices with experience in education, community organizing, finance and governmental transparency.
The team, which is made up of four women and three men will focus on Economic Development, Education, Budget, Government Reinvention, Public Safety, Transportation. Environment and Arts and Culture.
The transition team is not paid, and each member will be required to sign a conflict of interest statement. Emanuel wants people "with fresh level of energy" as well as blend with "experienced hands."
Emanuel said one of the first orders of business is to redefine Chicago as a "gateway to transportation" focusing on OHare's importance. He says he spoke to Ford CEO yesterday.
The following is a press release from the Emanuel campaign. It contains bio information for each individual on the team:
Reverend Dr. Byron Brazier is the Pastor of the Apostolic Church of God. Prior to becoming pastor in June 2008, he served as Assistant Pastor and a member of the church's official board; he is now the Chairman of the official board. Brazier's public service spans his career: he facilitated a committee on Disproportionate Minority Confinement, led a task force investigating re-entry success and was the Director of Management Information Systems at the Chicago Housing Authority. Dr. Brazier also served as a Business Unit Executive at IBM Corporation. Dr. Brazier received his BA in Management from Roosevelt University, later earning a MA in Theological Studies and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from McCormick Theological Seminary.
Felicia Davis is currently the Vice-President of Administration at Kendall College, where she oversees operational planning and leadership and supervises career services, student housing, student life and student counseling. Davis is a former Chicago police officer and has over 18 years of professional experience in the public service, culinary and hospitality fields. She holds a degree in culinary arts and a BA in hospitality management, both from Kendall College. She also holds an MPA from Illinois Institute of Technology.
Judy Erwin represented the 11th District in Chicago from 1992 to 2003 in the Illinois General Assembly. She chaired the House Higher Education Committee and was vice chair of committees on children and youth, tourism, and higher education appropriations. Most recently she served as the Executive Director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Community Trust, Metropolis 2020 and the Civic Federation. Erwin holds a BA in education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and an MA in education from the National College of Education in Evanston.
Rebecca Gonzalez currently serves as the Vice President of Programs and Operations for Casa Central, one of the leading social service network in the nation. She brings more than 20 years of experience in communications, management, strategy and logistics in the nonprofit and business community, at the local and national level. Rebecca holds a Master in Nonprofit Administration from North Park University.
Steve Koch is a Vice Chairman at Credit Suisse and a Presidential appointee to the Independent Advisory Panel of the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board. He serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the Green Ribbon Committee of the Chicago Climate Action Plan and the Board of Trustees of Francis W. Parker School. Koch is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Sinai Health System in Chicago. He received his BA from Hampshire College and both his MBA and JD from the University of Chicago.
David Mosena is President and CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry. During his career, Mosena has served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor, Commissioner of the Chicago Aviation Department, and President of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). He currently active on the boards of several civic organizations, such as the executive committee of Chicago’s “After School Matters,” and he is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and the Economic Club of Chicago. Mosena holds both an MA in city planning and a BA in business administration from the University of Tennessee.
Sarah Pang is the Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at CNA. She also serves on the company's Operating Committee. Pang joined CNA after a long career in public service – for 9 years she provided oversight and coordination for the city’s departments and agencies as deputy chief of staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley, and served for a decade as the executive assistant to U.S. Senator Alan J Dixon, where she managed statewide constituent services and assisted the senator with legislative initiatives. Pang served as the co-chair of the 21st Century Commission on City government. She also serves on the boards of the Chinese American Service League, the Civic Federation, the Chicago Loop Alliance and the Lincoln Park Zoo.
