Gov. Pritzker Announces Four Appointments to Illinois Labor Boards

Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration:

ILLINOIS EMPLOYMENT SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD

Tim Drea will serve on the Illinois Employment Security Advisory Board.* Drea has served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO since April 2016. He was UFCW Local 881's Legislative and Political Director for over 11 years prior. Drea also worked a staff analyst for the Illinois Senate Democrats for six years and began his career as a miner for Peabody Coal. He earned his undergraduate degree in Political Studies from Sangamon State University after being honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps in 1979.
 
John Gedney will serve on the Illinois Employment Security Advisory Board.* Gedney currently serves as a Political and Legislative Representative for the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). He previously worked as a UAW Attendance Counselor and began his career working as an assembler for Chrysler Corp FCA for 25 years. In addition, Gedney has served on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Rock Valley and as an active delegate and trustee on the Rockford United Labor Delegation.
 
Joanna Webb-Gauvin will serve on the Illinois Employment Security Advisory Board.* Gauvin is the Legislative Director for AFSCME Council 31, the statewide public service union representing more than 75,000 active and 25,000 retired Illinois state, university and local government workers. Since December 2006, Gauvin has directed the legislative activities for the statewide council and its 285 local unions as well as supervised its retirees' program. She previously spent 7 years as the Director of Retiree Programs for AFSCME Retirees Chapter 31. Gauvin graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

ILLINOIS WORKERS' COMPENSATION MEDICAL FEE ADVISORY BOARD

Helena Lefkow will serve on the Illinois Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Advisory Board.* Lefkow is the Senior Director of Revenue Cycle and Managed Care at the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, which represents more than 200 hospitals and health systems. Additionally, she represents IHA on the Child Welfare Medicaid Managed Care Advisory Workgroup. Prior to joining IHA in 2009, Lefkow served as the Executive Director of the National Association of Women Lawyers. In addition, she worked as the Manager of Graduate Programs for the Princeton Review. Lefkow earned her Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and Master of Public Affairs from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 
 

* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.