Business, Labor and Civic Leaders Join 2026 Edgar Fellows Class

URBANA — While elected officials are part of the 2026 Edgar Fellows class, the majority of this year's participants represent another defining feature of the program: bringing together influential leaders from business, labor, healthcare, education, nonprofit organizations and government administration to strengthen Illinois through collaboration.

The 2026 class includes executives from Caterpillar, Comcast, T-Mobile, AbbVie, Advocate Health and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, as well as leaders from organized labor, state agencies, county government, higher education, transportation and community organizations. Together, they will participate in the Edgar Fellows Executive Leadership Training Program Aug. 2-6 at the University of Illinois.

The Edgar Fellows Program was established in 2012 by the late Gov. Jim Edgar with the belief that Illinois' future depends not only on strong elected leadership, but also on relationships among people working throughout every sector of public life. Each class intentionally reflects the state's political, racial, ethnic and geographic diversity while bringing together leaders whose professional paths rarely intersect in everyday life.

Former Congressman and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that vision remains at the heart of the program.

"It was Jim Edgar's goal to bring together up-and-coming leaders with different backgrounds and politics from across Illinois. Governor Edgar's vision continues to provide unique leadership training for Illinois' future leaders."

During the weeklong program, Fellows will examine major issues facing Illinois, including artificial intelligence, electric capacity, workforce development, criminal justice, Medicaid, data centers and the state budget. Organizers emphasize that the formal presentations are only one part of the experience. The lasting value comes from creating trusted relationships among leaders who may someday work together on issues affecting communities throughout Illinois.

That commitment to relationship-building was frequently emphasized by Governor Edgar himself.

"With each class, it has been gratifying to watch people who were strangers on Sunday become good friends by Thursday. It's what the Edgar Fellows program is all about, finding common ground and respect, so that our Fellows can work together to help shape a better Illinois."

The addition of the 2026 class will bring the Edgar Fellows alumni network to nearly 550 leaders who continue participating in educational programs and networking opportunities long after completing the initial leadership seminar.

2026 Edgar Fellows Class

• Mary Alexander-Basta, Mayor of Bolingbrook
• Diana Alfaro, Elgin Council Member and Latinx Business Development Manager, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development
• Jennifer Allison, Peoria County Board Member
• Oswaldo Alvarez, Executive Director, Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation
• Cohen Barnes, Mayor of DeKalb
• Gia Biagi, Secretary, Illinois Department of Transportation
• Kari Bush, Chair, Stark County Board of Supervisors
• Rob Carney, Manager of State Government Affairs-Midwest Region, Caterpillar
• Peter Chico, Chicago Alderman, 10th Ward
• Tameeka Christian, Director, Pritzker Community Health Initiative
• James Clayton, President and CEO, Illinois Chamber of Commerce
• Cindy Cronin Cahill, DuPage County Board Member
• Rep. Lisa Davis
• Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa
• Rep. Kimberly du Buclet
• Andrew Erbes, Vice Chairman, Jackson County Board
• Jonathan Feipel, Executive Director, Illinois Commerce Commission
• Ald. Jessica L. Fuentes
• Emily Goldman, First Assistant Deputy Governor for Education
• Earl Grandberry, Director of National Bridgebuilding Initiatives, Interfaith America
• Robyn Heffern, Vermilion County Clerk
• Dan Hohl, Illinois State Medical Society
• Grace Hong Duffin, Comcast
• Clint Hull, Mayor of St. Charles
• Gregg Jeffords, Mayor of Metropolis
• Rep. Gregg Johnson
• Marcus Jordan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting
• Sen. Patrick Joyce
• Michael Mahoney, Chief of Staff to the Will County Executive
• Samantha McClain, Chief of Staff, Illinois AFL-CIO
• Linda K. Moore, Mayor of Quincy
• Lauren Neill, T-Mobile
• Crystal Olsen, Advocate Health
• Sen. Willie Preston
• Sean Rapelyea, Office of Gov. JB Pritzker
• Carlos Rivas Jr., Civilian Office of Police Accountability/Chicago Board of Education
• Tim Ruestman, Candidate for State Representative, District 105
• Judith Soto, AbbVie
• Sen. Rachel Ventura
• Jason Warfel, Chair, Jasper County Board
• Tiffany White, Executive Director, The Dirksen Congressional Center.