IMA - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Administrative Assistant
• Illinois Manufacturers' Association As an Administrative Assistant

Cheyanne Geller joined the Illinois Manufacturers' Association as an Administrative Assistant in November of 2019. Her duties include assisting the Membership & Accounting teams. Cheyanne helps organize and manage member communications, invoicing, and operations. Previous to joining the IMA, Cheyanne attended Lincoln Land Community College and the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Job Titles:

• Director of Operations
• Executive Assistant
• Illinois Manufacturers' Association As an Executive Assistant

Christine Sisk joined the Illinois Manufacturers' Association as an Executive Assistant in November 2007 and was promoted in 2024 to Director of Operations / Executive Assistant. Her duties include assisting the President & CEO as well as the Government Affairs and Membership teams. Christine helps to organize and manage IMA events, member communications, invoicing, scheduling, and operations. Previous to joining the IMA, Christine attended Robert Morris College (now Robert Morris University) and worked for the House Republication Staff for 10 years. Christine is from Mason City, Illinois.

Job Titles:

• Illinois Manufacturers' Association As the Director of Government Affairs
• Vice President of Government Affairs

Donovan Griffith joined the Illinois Manufacturers' Association as the Director of Government Affairs in early 2018 and was promoted to Vice President of Government Affairs in 2023. In this position, Donovan serves as the chief lobbyist for the IMA and manages the Association's legislative agenda. In addition, he oversees various committees including the Government Affairs Group and Manufacturers Environmental Group. He runs the legislative outreach program connecting manufacturers with lawmakers and helps administer the Manufacturers Political Action Committee. Donovan has more than 15 years of experience working in and around state government for both the private and public sector. Previous to joining the IMA, Donovan served as the Deputy Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, held the position of Senior House Liaison under Governor Rauner and has advocated for state and national membership-driven organizations. Donovan is from Galesburg, Illinois, and went to Knox College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Donovan is married with two children.

Job Titles:

• Director of Government Affairs
• Illinois Manufacturers' Association As Director of Government Affairs

Gabriela Garza joined the Illinois Manufacturers' Association as Director of Government Affairs in 2022. Before joining the IMA, Gabriela was a Policy & Budget Analyst for the Illinois Senate and a representative of Illinois for the Military and Veterans' Affairs Task Force for the National Conference of State Legislators. Gabriela served six years in the Illinois Army National Guard as a Heavy Equipment Operator and a logistics specialist in two overseas missions as a Noncommissioned Officer. She is from Mattoon, Illinois, and studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Studies with a minor in French. She is also fluent in Spanish.

Job Titles:

• Chief Operating Officer

Gordy Hulten joined the Illinois Manufacturers' Association in 2019. Gordy oversees government affairs, publications, communications, and business development, to help advance policy objectives and grow the Illinois Manufacturers' Association. Hulten served as Champaign County Clerk from 2011-2018, and on the Champaign City Council from 2010-2011. He served as President of the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders and was named County Clerk of the Year in 2016. Hulten was a Combat Engineer in the United States Army Reserve for eight years. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and is married to Pam with two children.

Job Titles:

• Director of Finance & Administration

Jannette Allotey joined the Illinois Manufacturers' Association in February 2023. Prior to joining the IMA Jannette worked as a bookkeeper for five years and worked in retail banking for over 15 years. She is married with two children.

Job Titles:

• Director of Content Production
• Illinois Manufacturers' Association in 2023 As the Director

Krista Lisser joined the Illinois Manufacturers' Association in 2023 as the Director of Content Production. Krista creates video content and assist with communications content to move boldly move makers forward in Illinois. Prior to joining the IMA, she served as the Public Information Officer for the Illinois Department of Agriculture from 2019-2023. Before entering the public relations field in 2014 with the Central Illinois Foodbank, Krista spent 10 years as a sports anchor in the television industry. Krista received a Bachelor of Arts with a focus in mass media from the University of Central Oklahoma, and is married to Dane with two children.

Job Titles:

• Member Engagement

Maria Moran joined the IMA in 2022 with over 20 years of manufacturing partnerships. She has been a trusted advisor to small and medium business, mid-level and enterprise organizations throughout Illinois, connecting business leaders to the experts and solutions needed to grow. Always curious and eager to learn, Maria enjoys building long lasting relationships that provide value to all stakeholders. Maria is based in Oak Brook and works primarily in Chicago, its suburbs, and the Rockford area.

Job Titles:

• CEO
• President
• President & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers

Mark Denzler is president & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association and Secretary/Treasurer of the IMA Education Foundation. Founded in 1893, the IMA is the oldest and one of the largest state manufacturing trade associations in the United States. Mark is the leading advocate for the state's manufacturing companies and the 650,000 women and men who make things in Illinois. He is an effective and bipartisan advocate with a strong record of success. Under Mark's leadership, the IMA was named as "One of 100 Associations Saving the World" by the American Society of Association Executives in 2021 and received the inaugural ad prestigious "Manufacturing Leadership Award" in 2022 from the Coalition of State Manufacturing Association as the best state manufacturing association in the United States. Prior to his appointment as IMA president & CEO, Mark served as the Vice President & COO of the organization where he oversaw government affairs, membership, and human resources. Mark's previous experience including leading government affairs efforts in Illinois for State Farm Insurance, a Fortune 50 company headquartered in Bloomington. For more than six years, Mark worked as a legislative analyst for the House Republican Leader including serving as a caucus liaison to Governor Edgar's Ikenberry Commission on education funding. In addition, Mark managed several campaigns across Illinois and also spent a brief time on the Washington D.C. staff of Congressman Tom Ewing. He's been appointed to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Advisory Board by three Governors, is also an appointee to the Illinois Department of Employment Security Advisory Board, and was an initial appointee to Secretary of State Jesse White's Ethics Board. Mark is very active in the community serving on a number of boards including the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois, Illinois Wesleyan University Board of Trustees, Midwest affiliate of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Lincoln Public Library Board & Foundation. He was an inaugural member of the Crain's Chicago Business Leadership Class and was named an Edgar Fellow at the University of Illinois in 2016. In 2018, Mark was inducted into the Gove Hall of Fame at the University of Illinois-Springfield. The Illinois Wesleyan University alum lives in Springfield with his wife Debbi. Manufacturing matters in Illinois! For more than two hundred years, innovative and ingenious Illinois manufacturers have made the world a better place to live by creating life-saving products, building our infrastructure, transporting people and products around the globe and into space, feeding the world, powering our homes and businesses, developing pioneering technology and communication, and providing for our nation's defense. Today's modern manufacturing sector is high-tech, diverse, innovative, sustainable, and moving at the speed of light. Our members employ 592,000 women and men on shop floors, producing $304 billion in economic output - the single largest share of the Illinois economy. Manufacturers are the innovators and entrepreneurs, dreamers and leaders of America. The Illinois Manufacturers' Association is marching forward, side-by-side with industry to address challenges and shape the future. A powerful and respected leader from the White House to the Governor's Office, Congress to the General Assembly, and City Halls across the state, the IMA is the unifying voice and champion of manufacturing in Illinois. We are solving problems and getting results by using cutting-edge tools and technology. In 2019 the IMA saved manufacturers more than $300 million by extending the Research & Development credit, eliminating the franchise tax, and enacting a new Manufacturers Purchase Credit. Our Education Foundation is a world-renowned organization working to implement best-in-class solutions to develop the next generation manufacturing workforce. The IMA is delivering a real dollar return for manufacturers who invest in our mission.

Job Titles:

• Grant Administrator

Job Titles:

• CFO & Vice President of Financ
• CFO & VP of Finance

Job Titles:

• Senior Business Development Manager

Job Titles:

• Vice President Education & Workforce Policy

Sarah Hartwick is Vice President Education & Workforce Policy and Executive Director, IMA Education Foundation for the Illinois Manufacturers' Association. Prior to joining the IMA in 2021, Sarah was previously the Executive Director of ED-RED, a suburban public school district advocacy organization. Sarah has also served as the Co-Director for Legislative Affairs at the Illinois State Board of Education and has worked with education advocacy organizations including Advance Illinois and the Illinois Head Start Association. Sarah has a Master's Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor's degree in political studies with minors in both communications and economics. Sarah has four children.

Job Titles:

• Editor & Manager of Publications
• New Editor & Manager

Sydney Jarrard joined the IMA team in 2021 as our new Editor & Manager of Publications. She joined us from Capitol Blue Print and has great experience in graphic design, editing, and creative writing. Sydney is a graduate of the University of St. Francis where she received degrees in Art and Design along with Psychology.

Job Titles:

• Program Director

Terri Graham was hired in 2019 as part of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association's decision to bring fresh vitality to its monthly programs by centralizing a dedicated person to plan these events. With a strong background in leadership with the Glenview Chamber of Commerce, Northfield Township and Cook County government, Terri is passionate about creating opportunities for members to learn and thrive - helping participants connect to the benefits and value of belonging to the IMA. Terri has a certificate from DePaul University's Center for Enterprise Development in Non-Profit Management and a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from Western Illinois University, and is inspired by the creativity and vision of the staff and members.

Job Titles:

• Director of Special Events
• New Director of Special Events