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Deputy Director of Regional Economic Development, IL Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Jonathan McGee is an Economic Developer, Civic Leader, and Social Entrepreneur with over 8 years of non-profit, public sector, and civic engagement experience. He currently serves as Deputy Director of Regional Economic Development for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The Regional Economic Development (RED) bureau serves as the face of the DCEO in communities statewide. He manages a field team of 15 regional economic development managers who cover all geographies of Illinois. His bureau develops and executes the strategy for regional economic development statewide, coordinates workforce development efforts, business development/attraction/expansion, local investments, and partnerships.

Jonathan also founded The Global Organization for Applied Political Leadership, the first of its kind training incubator for advocacy, specifically focused on lower socioeconomic communities of color.

He has consulted for Get In Chicago and The Chicago Community Trust's Civic Engagement team where he led social capital initiatives, and facilitated programming in Chicago's neighborhoods most impacted by poverty and violence.

As former Senior Marketing Director at the Graduate School of Political Management, Jonathan oversaw the development and execution of the marketing/recruitment strategy for the first and foremost school of applied politics, legislative affairs, strategic public relations, and global advocacy.

Previously, he served as a Legislative Assistant for U.S Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX 30). My legislative portfolio included the following issue areas: Agriculture, Energy, Education, Telecommunications, Science, Space, and Technology.

Jonathan also worked for the Partnership for Public Service, a non-partisan, non profit organization that seeks to revitalize our federal government by transforming the way government works and inspiring a new generation to serve.

He has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Law Enforcement, and holds a Master of Professional Studies in Political Management degree.