September 5, 2013

Important Announcement from Ray Drake,

Chairman of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce

In the coming months, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce will embark upon a change in leadership. Doug Whitley, our talented and energetic President and CEO, has informed the Chamber Board of Directors that he plans to retire next June. We thank Doug for the long advance notice, which will allow the Board to work with him through a well-planned transition period that will launch the Chamber's next chapter of strong advocacy for Illinois employers.

Doug has served the Illinois Chamber since September 2001, guiding the organization through one of the most turbulent periods for business in the Chamber's more than 90-year history, meanwhile restoring the leadership status of the Illinois Chamber as the unifying statewide voice of business in Illinois.  

In addition, he has proven to be a highly credible spokesperson on behalf of numerous public policy campaigns and coalitions, and a dedicated and valuable partner to local chambers of commerce and other regional, trade and professional organizations. He has been a trusted advisor to many elected officials and candidates for public office and a respected source for reporters and editors throughout the state.

Doug's 12 years at the helm began just before the 9-11 terrorist attacks and subsequent economic downturn. He has led the Chamber through a decade of political dysfunction in Illinois, which included an impeachment and the conviction of two Governors. Doug and his team continue to navigate through one-party political rule in the Illinois General Assembly, and have sustained the Chamber's vitality through the worst economic recession in U.S. history since the Great Depression.

Today, I am pleased to say, the Illinois Chamber is a robust organization built around seven policy councils, a litigation committee, a highly effective government affairs operation, an extensive business services program with a top-notch advisory committee, a strong network of alliances with other advocacy organizations, and a very capable staff - all the result of Doug's initiative, leadership and management. Additionally, Doug and the Chamber founded the Transportation for Illinois Coalition in 2002 and Doug continues to co-chair that coalition. Your Illinois Chamber is well prepared to embrace the challenges of the future.

Those who work with Doug know him as the passionate voice of Illinois' business community. I can tell you that he is a pragmatist and straight-shooter, and is well known as a tax expert and an engaging advocate for transportation interests in Springfield and Washington, D.C. Beyond that, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of Illinois informed by the many employers and citizens he meets while driving more than 30,000 miles across Illinois every year. And, as members know, Doug's President's Messages and columns in Illinois newspapers and online news outlets have offered valuable commentary and insights about government and business issues for more than a decade. We will miss Doug's leadership, expertise, enthusiasm and drive.

Doug's efforts and focus were also not limited to the welfare of the business community alone, for he often articulated concerns for the well-being of the state and its citizens. Doug realized that fixing Illinois is all about improving the business climate and creating employment opportunities, as was documented by the Chamber's Jobs Agenda: A Blueprint for Growth and Prosperity that he authored in 2011.

Looking ahead, the timing of Doug's retirement offers the Illinois Chamber an opportunity to establish new leadership and set its agenda prior to the 2014 gubernatorial election. Additionally, my term as board chairman ends next June, which means the incoming Illinois Chamber Board Chair and the new CEO will be able to begin their terms together.

The Illinois Chamber Board of Directors will conduct a nationwide search for a new CEO whose assignment will be to lead Illinois' largest, broad-based business association into its second century. We will seek someone with the vision, experience and energy to anticipate and address the continually evolving spectrum of challenges and opportunities that face Illinois employers. We will share details of our search process with you as the Board confirms them.

The next nine months will be busy and exciting for the Illinois Chamber. Doug's work here is not finished yet, as we look ahead to the fall and spring sessions of the Illinois General Assembly, prepare for an important election cycle and make plans for new Chamber leadership. I invite you to reach out to me with any ideas or questions you may have. I can be reached at [email protected].  

Please join me in acknowledging and applauding Doug for all of his outstanding contributions during the past 12 years, and thank him in advance for the important transition work he will carry out in the coming months. You can contact Doug directly at [email protected].