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Meet the 2026 G.O.A.L. Cohort

The Governor's Office Academy of Leadership (G.O.A.L.) program was created with the mission of advancing excellence in public service leadership. It is designed to increase leadership skillsets, facilitate social learning, broaden and expand perspectives, and build long-term networks across agencies.

Throughout the program, participants engage in a collaborative learning environment centered on improving leadership effectiveness to become better stewards of the public trust and to discover ways to better support customer centered government services. The 2026 G.O.A.L. fellows are listed below.

34 people are part of the 2026 cohort. This group was selected from hundreds of applicants by a multi-agency evaluator panel and represents a diverse pool of leaders committed to advancing public service in State Government.

  • Lauren Aceves, Department of Innovation and Technology
  • Adrian Atwater, Illinois Human Rights Commission
  • Heath Barone, Department of Transportation
  • Kevin Beck, Office of the Lieutenant Governor
  • Angelo Bommarito, Department of Agriculture
  • Melissa Brandenburg, Illinois Prisoner Review Board
  • Diane Casas, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
  • Brittney Chitwood, Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Darnell Cloud, Department of Employment Security
  • Marla Courts, Department of Children and Family Services
  • Karen Dudek-Brannan, Department of Children and Family Services
  • Jashay Fisher-Fowler, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
  • Lindsey Freeman, Department of Healthcare and Family Service
  • Scott Gauvin, Illinois Emergency Management Agency – Office of Homeland Security
  • Mariel Hamer-Sinclair, Illinois Council on Development Disabilities
  • Dr. Tanisha Hankerson, Department of Human Services
  • Briana Jacobs, Department of Employment Security
  • Jeffrey Parga, Department of Central Management Services
  • Kristen Kennedy, Department of Healthcare and Family Services
  • Nicholas Klein, Illinois Capital Development Board
  • James Kowalsky, Department of Human Services
  • Shannon Leake, Department of Central Management Services
  • Sophia Manuel, Department of Corrections
  • Sean Martschinke, Department of Transportation
  • Sheila Nelson, Department of Human Services
  • Logan Pappenfort, Department of Natural Resources
  • Chad Phillips, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
  • Oscar Piña, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
  • Greg Richards, Department of Insurance
  • Amanda Shanbaum, Illinois State Police
  • Michael Sullivan, Department of Innovation and Technology
  • Jaclyn Thompson, Department of Corrections
  • Tangy Williams, Department of Human Services
  • Brandon Woudenberg, Department of Early Childhood

For questions, please email cms.goal@illinois.gov.