JADA MEMBERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Authority's Board of Directors has been appointed and the Authority has prepared and ratified a preliminary development plan to assist it in its efforts to acquire, prepare and market the site to developers. The Authority is identifying specific work activities that need to be undertaken to help it accomplish its goals and objectives of private development of the arsenal property.

Walter Strawn, Chairman

Walt Strawn is the Chairman of the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority and has been on the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority Board from its inception. He is a village Trustee in the Village of Elwood and served as the Chairman of the Jackson Township Planning Commission.

Wayne McMillan, Vice Chairman

Wayne McMillan was appointed to the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority Board in January 2001.  He is currently the Majority Leader of the Will County Board, Chairman of the Will County Forest Preserve’s Land Acquisition Committee, former Trustee/Deputy Mayor in Bolingbrook for 18 years and former member of the Landfill Selection Committee for the Joliet Arsenal project.

Mattie Becker, Secretary/Treasurer

Mattie Becker is the Secretary/Treasurer of the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority and has been on the JADA Board since its inception in 1995. She served as JADA Chairperson in 1997. She has been the Manhattan Village Clerk for the since 1993. She also works as the Administrative Assistant within the Village office.

Mayor Alan Darr, Director

Mayor Darr has been a member of the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority Board since 1999. He has been the Mayor of the Village of Symerton since 1998. He was a village trustee prior to that for 4 years.

Warren Dorris, Director

Warren Dorris has been a member of the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority Board since 1997. He has been a member of the Joliet City Council since 1987, having been re-elected for 3 consecutive terms.  He is currently serving on the Board for the Warren/Sharpe Community Center and is the Chairman of the Eldest Council for the Churches of God in Christ of Northern Illinois.

Jerry Gatties, Director

Jerry Gatties has been a member of the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority Board since 1997. He was reappointed to the JADA Board in January 2001.  He was an alderman for the City of Wilmington for 12 years. He is currently serving on the Wilmington Planning Commission and is an active member of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.

William Koehler, Director

Bill Koehler has been on the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority Board since 2006. He is currently the President of IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) Local 176, Joliet, IL since 1989, and Assistant Business Manager.  He is a trustee on the NECA-IBEW Local 176 Health & Welfare Fund, Pension Fund, Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Fund, Joint Apprenticeship Committee Chairman, Residential Training Committee, NECA-IBEW Labor Management Committee and a delegate on the Will/Grundy Counties Building & Construction Trades Council.

Jay Plese, Director

Jay Plese was appointed to the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority Board in January 2003.  He is the Superintendent of Wilmington Community Unit School District No. 209-U.  He is currently serving his second term as a Wilmington City Council Member, serving on a number of committees and boards at the local, county and state levels.

Mayor Arthur Schultz, Director

Mayor Schultz has been a member of the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority Board since 1995.  He currently is serving as the Mayor of  the City of Joliet. He was on the Joliet Police Department for almost 29 years, serving the last 16 years as a lieutenant. He retired from the police department upon being elected Mayor of the City of Joliet in 1991.

The Joliet Arsenal Development Authority (JADA) is a quasi-public organization. Pursuant to the Illinois Land Conservation Act of 1995, 16 USCAs 1609 (PL104-106, 1996 S 1124 Sec. 2897 (c)), the Illinois General Assembly authorized the creation of JADA which is governed by P.A. 89-333.