Welch Builds on Creating New Path Forward, Hires New Senior Staff

CHICAGO – Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch built on his commitment to a fresh start for the Office of the Speaker by announcing Tuesday the hiring of two new members to his senior staff in Sean Anderson serving as Communications Director and Jaclyn Driscoll as Press Spokesperson. Anderson previously served as a principal at Kivvit, where he led the design and development of communications and public affairs strategies. Driscoll is a former statehouse reporter in Jefferson City for St. Louis Public Radio and before that worked in Springfield as a statehouse reporter for NPR Illinois. Below is a statement from Speaker Welch:

“Today, I am proud to announce Sean Anderson as the Office’s new Communications Director and Jaclyn Driscoll as our new Press Spokesperson. Both Sean and Jaclyn have impressive backgrounds that made them true standouts for these positions. Both are longtime Illinois residents and know how to effectively and honestly communicate. With strong relationships in the press corps, I know both Sean and Jaclyn will raise the standards of excellence in this office and help communicate the excellent work the Office and our caucus is doing in Springfield. I am personally honored to have Sean serving as our next Communications Director and representing the diversity of our great state of Illinois. It is so important to have a team that reflects our caucus’ values and I am excited to have strong individuals join our team. I am thrilled to work together with Sean and Jaclyn to continue the progress our caucus is making in standing up for working families, providing COVID-19 relief and ensuring we restore transparency and accountability in the Office of the Speaker.”

Background

Sean Anderson previously served as a principal at Kivvit, where he led the design and development of communications and public affairs strategies. He specialized in organizational strategy, messaging, political analysis, stakeholder engagement, and digital media. Sean previously served as communications director for Amara Enyia's campaign for mayor, and managed marketing, digital media, and executive communications for World Business Chicago. 

Jaclyn Driscoll is a former Jefferson City statehouse reporter for St. Louis Public Radio. She joined the politics team in 2019 after spending two years as a statehouse reporter in Springfield for NPR Illinois. Jaclyn covered a variety of issues at the statehouse for all of Illinois' public radio stations, but focused primarily on public health and agriculture related policy. Before joining public radio, Jaclyn reported for a couple television stations in Illinois and Iowa as a general assignment reporter.