Governor Quinn Announces Key Appointments

CHICAGO - October 5, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced the appointments of Arlene Juracek as director of the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) and Michael Jones as superintendent of the Illinois Lottery. Today's action is the latest in a series of appointments the Governor is making as he continues to fulfill his commitment to creating jobs, fostering economic development, and increasing efficiency and accountability in all areas of state government.

"Arlene Juracek's decades of experience in the energy sector will be critical to fulfilling the Illinois Power Agency's core mission of ensuring reliable and sustainable energy for Illinois families at the lowest cost," Governor Quinn said. "Michael Jones' past success in responsibly growing lotteries throughout the world will be invaluable as my administration works to ensure that the Illinois Lottery reaches its full potential."

As director of the IPA, Juracek will develop and submit annual competitive electricity procurement plans, including the use of conventional and renewable energy and clean coal resources, to the Illinois Commerce Commission. The plans will help ensure adequate, reliable, affordable, efficient and environmentally-sustainable electric service at a low cost to families throughout Illinois.

Juracek retired as vice president of energy acquisition from Commonwealth Edison in 2007 after a 34-year career in energy and transmission services acquisition, power station engineering, and strategic economic and policy analysis. She also worked on purchasing agreements for ComEd's renewable resource activities, including wind power and other green sources of energy.

In addition to her extensive legislative, policy and private sector experience, Juracek also brings a record of public service to the IPA. She is currently serving her second term on the Mount Prospect Village Board of Trustees and was formerly chair of the Mount Prospect Planning and Zoning Commission.

As superintendent of the Illinois Lottery, Michael Jones will be responsible for maximizing lottery profits and overseeing the private firm hired last year to manage Illinois' lottery operations for the next decade. Jones brings decades of experience to this critical position. He served as superintendent of the Illinois Lottery from 1981-1985 under former Governor James Thompson, overseeing a record billion-dollar increase in sales.

After leaving the position, he founded a marketing promotion firm that specialized in assisting all forms of gaming with maximizing sales and profits in an ethical and responsible manner. Jones has served as a consultant for lotteries in 13 states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Great Britain, Ukraine, British Columbia and Western Canada. Jones also served as a director of Independent Lottery Research that uses market and consumer analysis to evaluate growth potential in lotteries.

Jones is a graduate of the University of Florida and served as an officer in the United States Army.