William Hobert, Chair
Will Hobert is managing member of WH Trading, a global proprietary derivatives trading firm he founded in 1994 in Chicago. WH Trading provides liquidity to a wide range of futures and options markets including: Interest Rate, Foreign Exchange, Agricultural Commodity, and Energy products. He is also on the Board of Directors of the CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace. Mr. Hobert Chairs the Board of My Block My Hood My City, serves on the President's Board of UCAN, and is involved with AUSL. He lives in North Center with his wife Julie, is an avid Cubs fan and enjoys tennis, sailing, and walking their dog to the many different micro-breweries in their neighborhood.
Michael W. Goetz, Vice Chair
Mr. Goetz currently serves as the Executive Director of the Laborers' Home Development Corporation (1997-Present). Mr. Goetz' previous experience includes: Director of the Midwest Region Foundation for Fair Contracting; Vice President of the Chicago Corporation; and Executive Director of the Illinois Public Treasurer's Investment Pool. He currently resides in Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Goetz has served continuously as a Member of the Authority since 2004. He serves on the Authority’s Governance Plus and Conduit Committees.
Peter Amaro
Drew L. Beres
Mr. Beres is a Founding Partner of Croke Fairchild Morgan & Beres LLC, a corporate boutique law firm with offices in Chicago, Milwaukee and Lake Forest. Mr. Beres’ practice focuses primarily on the formation and operation of private investment funds and related securities matters, and general corporate and transactional representation for businesses operating in a variety of industries. Prior to Croke Fairchild, Mr. Beres practiced at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and served as General Counsel and Deputy Chief Operating Officer to former City of Chicago Treasurer Kurt A. Summers, Jr. where he provided counsel on matters related to public finance, public fund investment and various legislative priorities. Mr. Beres also maintains an active pro bono practice and served on the Steering Committee of the Americans with Disabilities Act 25th Anniversary Commemoration. A born and raised Chicagoan, Mr. Beres holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan, a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and a Juris Doctor from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law where he was an editor of the Law Review.
James J. Fuentes
Mr. Fuentes is an entrepreneur currently serving as a Trustee for the Museum of Science and Industry. He is the former CEO of Clarity Communication Systems, Inc. and a former board member and chairman of ISCO International. Mr. Fuentes received the Hispanic Engineer of the Year Award for Technical Innovation and received six patents during his service at Bell Laboratories. Re-appointed as a Member of the Authority in August 2015 by Governor Bruce Rauner, Mr. Fuentes serves on the Authority’s Conduit and Direct/Alternative Committees.
Arlene A. Juracek
Mrs. Juracek is the Mayor of the Village of Mount Prospect, Illinois. She is a highly regarded executive and civic leader with broad-based experience in the electric utility industry, local government, and social service delivery and governance. Mrs. Juracek served as the Acting Director of the Illinois Power Agency after a 34 year career at Commonwealth Edison and its parent Exelon Corporation, where she retired as Vice President, Energy Acquisition. She was elected chair of the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission in March, 2015 and also plays an active role in the Northwest Municipal Conference and the Northwest Suburban Municipal Joint Action Water Agency. A Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, Mrs. Juracek has served on a number of not-for-profit boards and as the co-chair of the Board of Overseers, Armour College of Engineering, at Illinois Institute of Technology. She holds a Masters of Management from Northwestern University and a BS in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology. Mrs. Juracek and her husband, Edward, have three adult children and reside in Mount Prospect, Illinois. They also own and manage Five Feathers Farm in rural Carroll County, Illinois, a certified Illinois hardwood tree farm and prairie restoration project. Appointed as a Member of the Authority in September 2015 by Governor Bruce Rauner, Mrs. Juracek serves on the Authority’s Governance Plus and Direct/Alternative Committees.
Roxanne Nava
Roxanne Nava is the Executive Director of Metropolitan Family Services North Center and Evanston/Skokie Valley Center. Ms. Nava is based at Metropolitan’s North Center, located on Chicago’s Northwest Side.
“As the human services funding landscape has dramatically changed, the need for Metropolitan Family Services to build integrated services with businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions is more essential than ever,” says Theresa Nihill, Metropolitan’s COO. “Roxanne’s expertise in fostering business and government relationships will complement Metropolitan’s leadership team, and position our agency to keep advancing to meet the needs of Chicago-area families.”
Ms. Nava brings more than 25 years of business expertise. Prior to joining Metropolitan, Ms. Nava was Chief Small Business Officer for the City of Chicago, where she helped to support and grow more than 70,000 small businesses. In that role she also helped create the city’s Neighborhood Small Business Strategy, which worked with 90 chambers of commerce to provide services to small businesses and launch programs that helped businesses access more than $8 million of affordable capital. Ms. Nava’s prior roles include serving as Director of the State of Illinois Division of Financial Institutions, Assistant Director for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and Vice President with The Northern Trust Company.
Her board memberships include Leadership Greater Chicago, the Cook County State’s Attorney Latino Advisory Council, the Illinois Latino Family Commission, and the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation. Civic recognitions include the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award and the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation Leadership Award. Ms. Nava also is a 2010 Fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago.
Ms. Nava earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from DePaul University and an MBA from National Louis University.
Terrence M. O'Brien
Mr. O'Brien is owner and President of Terrence O'Brien & Co., a real estate appraisal, brokerage and consulting services firm. His expertise includes appraisal of fee, leasehold and partial interest as well as equity investment analysis, feasibility, market and highest and best use studies. Mr. O'Brien previously served on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Development Finance Authority, the Board of Banks and Trust Companies for the State of Illinois, and the Board of Directors of a Chicago bank. He resides in the Chicagoland area. Re-appointed as a Member of the Authority in August 2015 by Governor Bruce Rauner, Mr. O'Brien serves on the Authority’s Governance Plus Committees.
George Obernagel
On July 1, 2016, Governor Rauner appointed George Obernagel to the Illinois Finance Authority. Mr. Obernagel’s years of experience as an executive in local banking will bring an important perspective to the board. For more than 25 years, Mr. Obernagel worked for two community banks in Belleville. He was the Vice President, Trust Officer and Farm Manager for Union Planters Bank until 2001 and then became the Vice President, Trust Officer and Farm Manager for West Pointe Bank and Trust until 2004. Currently, Mr. Obernagel is the owner of his family farm, with locations in Illinois, Arkansas and Nebraska. He also owns the Waterloo Republic Times Newspaper and is a part owner of seven John Deere Dealerships. Mr. Obernagel earned his bachelor’s degree from McKendree College. He lives in Waterloo.
Roger E. Poole
Mr. Poole, who recently 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. Mr. Poole has served continuously as a Member of the Authority since 2009. Mr. Poole serves on the Authority’s Audit Plus and Direct/Alternative Committees.
José Restituyo
Eduardo Tobon
Randal Wexler
Jeffrey Wright
Jeffrey Wright is the Managing Partner of Gold Leaf Capital Partners, a leading financial services firm focused on providing access to capital and advisory services for business owners and commercial real estate investors. Mr. Wright, a Chicago native, has 12+ years of experience in financial services. Throughout his career he has originated, underwritten, managed and closed over 200 debt transactions. Mr. Wright analyzed operational, financial and management risks associated with new and existing lending relationships as a commercial credit analyst early in his career. He has advised clients across diverse sectors including; manufacturing, food services, business services, security management, environmental remediation, child care, health care, and commercial real estate development/investment. Mr. Wright is passionate about civic engagement: He serves on the Board of Directors of Chicago Jesuit Academy and the Chairman’s Advisory Council of Big Shoulders Fund. In 2014, Mr. Wright was appointed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to the Chicago Community Land Trust. Mr. Wright is a member of the Chicago Club and the Economic Club of Chicago, in which he is vice chair of the finance membership committee. Mr. Wright graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business at Georgetown University, and earned a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Entrepreneurship at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Bradley A. Zeller
Mr. Zeller is chair of the Morgan County Board of Commissioners and serves on the Emergency 911 Board and the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation Board. He is a member of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce and formerly Vice President of the Alexander Businessmen's Association. Brad’s background is in agricultural economics including farming 1,300 acres among which are his family's 700-acre Centennial Farm. He resides in Alexander. Mr. Zeller has served continuously as a Member of the Authority since 2005. Brad serves on the Authority’s Conduit and Direct/Alternative Committees.