Shifts at the top

In preparing for Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s annual budget address this week, it might help to have a list of new names in state government. You can keep track of personnel changes as well as other newsy “People” items in the print version of our magazine every month. Note that the following information is attributed to the administration.

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
• Kelley Quinn, spokeswoman for the Office of Management and Budget since January, previously worked in Cook County Clerk David Orr’s office. Before that, she was a reporter for a newspaper in upstate New York and a court reporter for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. She replaces Justin DeJong, who is now spokesman for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.

GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE
• David Rudduck became a press secretary for the governor after working 17 years in communications, most recently as regional director of communication and government relations for the American Red Cross.

CENTRAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES
• Cybil Rose is spokeswoman for Central Management Services. She has a decade of experience working behind the scenes in local news, including as executive news producer for CLTV News. She relieves Susan Hofer, who was serving double duty as spokeswoman for CMS and for the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
• Bob Arya became deputy director of the Office of Communication and Information. He previously was a senior adviser to the governor. Before joining the state, he spent 11 years as a news anchor and reporter for Chicagoland’s Television.
• Rikeesha Cannon was spokeswoman of the Department of Human Services and now is senior communications manager of the Office of Communication and Information. She used to be a spokeswoman for the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law in Chicago. She replaces Chris Herbert.

HEALTHCARE AND FAMILY SERVICES
• Ruth Igoe replaces Amy Rosenband as spokeswoman for the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Igoe is the former communications director for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
• Annie Thompson is the new Springfield spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. She most recently was a press assistant with the governor’s press office. She replaces Teresa Kurtenbach, who now works in the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

HUMAN SERVICES
• Marielle Sainvilus switched from a press officer with the governor’s office to a spokeswoman of Department of Human Services and director of the governor’s Multicultural Media Affairs. She replaces Rikeesha Cannon, who moved to the governor’s Office of Information and Communication.

COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
• Ashley Cross, former spokeswoman for Allstate Insurance Co., joined the state as a spokeswoman of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in Chicago. She replaces Andrew Ross, who returned to the private sector.
• Marcelyn Love switched from the spokeswoman for the departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. She replaces Mark Harris, who left to work for the University of Chicago.
• Kim Luckey is policy director. She previously served as director of government affairs for Tew Cardenas LLP and, before that, as a legislative assistant for a member of Congress.
• Teresa Kurtenbach is the northwest regional manager for Opportunity Returns. She previously served as communications manager for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
• Jeff Polsean is the Opportunity Returns regional manager for northern Illinois. He previously served as regional administrator for human capital development for the Illinois Department of Human Services.
• Sam Sandoval is now deputy general counsel. He previously served in the state procurement office for the Department of Revenue.

AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
• Paris Ervin, former reporter for WICS News Channel 20 in Springfield, is a spokeswoman for the departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She replaces Marcelyn Love, who joined the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY
• Illinois Natural History Survey chief David Thomas will retire February 29.

TREASURER’S OFFICE
• Sara Wojcicki is based in the treasurer’s Statehouse office as deputy communications director for downstate and central Illinois, vacant since Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias took office. Wojcicki was a reporter and anchor for WICS News Channel 20 and most recently covered the Statehouse.