Speaker Welch Hosts Retreat for House Leadership Team

WESTCHESTER, Ill. – House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch brought together his new House leadership team for a wide-ranging discussion on the work of the new legislative session at his third annual leadership retreat Wednesday.

“Collaborative leadership is something I believe is not only a goal but a necessity. As we begin a new term, facing new opportunities and challenges, I want to continue to bring veteran lawmakers and new leaders together to discuss our shared commitments and the continual need to improve, strengthen, and streamline our systems in order to best deliver for the people we serve,” Welch said. “I have the privilege of serving with a very talented group of lawmakers and this retreat was a great opportunity for us to learn from one another and discuss priorities for our Democratic Caucus.”

Focusing on the theme of “Atomic Habits,” Welch’s leadership retreat featured discussion on small improvements that help leaders work collaboratively and deliver for people in Illinois. The retreat featured presentations from the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan organization providing training and development for lawmakers across the country.

Welch’s leadership team consists of:

Robyn Gabel - Majority Leader
Kam Buckner - Speaker Pro-Tempore and Co-Budgeteer
Robert ‘Bob’ Rita - Deputy Majority Leader
Elizabeth ‘Lisa’ Hernandez - Deputy Majority Leader
Jay C. Hoffman - Assistant Majority Leader
Jehan Gordon-Booth - Assistant Majority Leader
Camille Lilly - Assistant Majority Leader
Eva-Dina Delgado - Assistant Majority Leader and Co-Budgeteer
Dagmara ‘Dee’ Avelar - Assistant Majority Leader
Theresa Mah - Majority Conference Chair
Nicholas Smith - Majority Officer/Sergeant at Arms
Ann Williams - Assistant Majority Leader*
Marcus C. Evans, Jr. - Assistant Majority Leader*
Will Guzzardi - Assistant Majority Leader and Co-Budgeteer*
Curtis J. Tarver II - Assistant Majority Leader*
Maurice West II - Assistant Majority Leader*
Katie Stuart - Assistant Majority Leader and Floor Whip*
Bob Morgan - Assistant Majority Leader and Floor Whip*
Edgar Gonzalez, Jr. - Assistant Majority Leader and Floor Whip*

*Denotes non-stipend leadership positions. 

Additionally, the members of the various subcaucuses that comprise the House Democratic Caucus have chosen a dynamic group of emerging leaders who will play a role in Welch’s leadership team:

Janet Yang Rohr - Asian Caucus Chair
Justin Slaughter - Black Caucus Chair
Norma Hernandez - Latinx Caucus Chair
Terra Costa Howard - Moderate Caucus Chair
Anna Moeller - Progressive Caucus Chair
Mary Beth Canty - Women’s Caucus