FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, Mar. 19, 2019
CONTACT: GovernorsOffice@illinois.gov
Springfield, Ill. — Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker made the following personnel announcement:
Gustavo Giraldo will serve as Director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).* Since 2011, Giraldo has served as the chief of diversity and strategic development at the Illinois Tollway. The first to hold that position, Giraldo worked to increase participation of Disadvantaged, Minority and Women Business Enterprises (D/M/WBEs) employed by the agency’s $14 billion, 15-year capital development program. He previously served various roles within the City of Chicago government — as deputy procurement officer, where he oversaw the contract services; managing deputy commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, where he managed a department budget of $38 million; and director of contract administration. Previously, he worked as a technical manager at the Illinois Department of Transportation and as the executive director of the non-profit Accion Latinoamericana de Aurora. Giraldo began his career as a bilingual teacher at West Aurora School District 129 and later served as a training and employment counselor at Prologue High School. He received his executive scholars certificate from the Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and his bachelor of arts in bilingual and multicultural education from National Louis University.
*Appointment pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.
Click here to view previous appointments to the Pritzker administration.