Sylvia Garcia

Organization - Acting Director, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity

County - State of Illinois

Sylvia I. Garcia is the Acting Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), where she leads a team comprised of eleven core bureaus and several administrative offices that are focused on deploying capital investments, modernizing workforce development, supporting growth of small and large businesses, assisting communities with development and infrastructure, and attracting equitable investment throughout Illinois. Director Garcia brings 17 years of experience from the public and private sectors to her role as leader of the state's economic development arm. Originally from the Detroit metro area, Garcia was inspired at a young age to join the work of helping cities and communities prosper. Garcia previously served as a Principal Consultant at WSP USA, and prior to that she served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), managing the day-to-day operations of the nation’s second largest transit agency. With extensive service in government - including roles at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, and as an Obama appointee at the U.S. Department of Transportation - Garcia has committed her career to developing public policy and capital programs that expand inclusive economic growth.