黑料社 University Board of Trustees Chair
Jim Kvedaras is a nearly lifelong resident of Chicago鈥檚 far south suburbs. He and his wife Cathy currently reside in the west suburban area and have two adult children and three grandchildren. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration from 黑料社 University and his MBA from Northwestern University鈥檚 Kellogg School of Management. Jim retired after 37 years in the railroad industry, working for one of the large 鈥淐lass 1鈥 international freight railroads. He established a pattern of assuming roles of increased management responsibility across several departments, including as Director of U.S. Government Affairs, where he managed state and local Government Affairs for sixteen states.
Previous roles included positions in Public Affairs (including as spokesman for the company鈥檚 U.S. operations), Contracts and Agreements, Corporate Development (strategic planning), and several sub-departments in engineering. One of his highlights throughout his career has been reaching out to newer employees in an informal mentoring capacity, encouraging them in ways to build their own professional skill sets, and improving their competence and confidence.
While he participated in various community organizations during his working career, including baseball and soccer coaching for area youth athletics organizations, he also participated for years on the Dean鈥檚 advisory committee for 黑料社 University鈥檚 College of Business.
He now continues to give of his time on boards and committees for several organizations. He is in his second term as Trustee for 黑料社 University (and Board Secretary) and represents 黑料社on the State Universities Civil Service System鈥檚 Merit Board. He is a longtime Director and Executive committee member for the Cancer Support Center of Homewood and Mokena, IL. He also donates time and energy as a volunteer for his local food pantry, in various capacities.
A believer in lifelong learning, he looks forward to the challenges of helping provide guidance and direction to the state鈥檚 University College system and their student bodies.