Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker named Sylvia I. Garcia to serve as Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate. Garcia replaces Erin Guthrie, who is stepping down from her role of director later this month to pursue an opportunity in the private sector, after serving as DCEO Director since the beginning of the Governor’s administration.

Garcia is a mission-driven leader with over 15 years of professional experience across different sectors. Garcia was previously a Principal Consultant at WSP, USA where she led a national practice area and advised on the creation of a partnership which identified federal policy opportunities to maximize local benefits and investment in underserved communities. Prior to that, she served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), where she managed the day-to-day operations of the nation’s second largest transit agency with 11,000 employees, $1.5 billion annual operating budget, and $5 billion five-year capital plan.