2015 CHICAGO FILIPINO ASIAN AMERICAN HALL OF FAME AWARDEES

Proudly presenting the 2015 batch of well-accomplished and deserving recipients of the Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame who will be inducted at the annual gala event and celebration of its 21st anniversary celebration on Nov. 14, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. Twenty outstanding recipients from various categories will receive their most coveted crystal trophy awards, from engineering, home health to medicine, in this red-carpet Oscar-like awards night. These awardees are featured cover in this issue, and to know them more, please read their short bios on pages 40-41. The guest speaker of the evening is Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban, President of the Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

 

ADOLFO M. MAGLAYA, MD
Excellence in Medicine
Nominator: Dr. Jesse Corres, HOF Awardee 2014, Excellence in Medicine)

Dr. Adolfo Maglaya is an accomplished gastroenterologist (GI) who recently retired after 42 years of private practice in Chicago, Illinois. Filipino-born, he obtained an Associate of Arts degree from the University of the East, in Manila, Philippines, and in 1964 went on to finish his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERMMMC), in Quezon City, Philippines. While at UERMMMC, he served as President of the Student Philippine Medical Association (SPMA) and was instrumental in the founding of the Medical Aid to the Rural Indigent Areas (MARIA) project. The MARIA project provided volunteer doctors to rural areas in the Philippines – areas that previously had no access to medical care at all. Dr. Maglaya migrated to Chicago in 1966, completing a Rotating Internship at Resurrection Hospital in 1967, his residency in Internal Medicine at Louis Weiss Memorial Hospital from 1967 to 1970, and fellowship training in Gastroenterology at Hines VA Hospital from 1970 to 1972.

In 1970, there was an acute shortage of physicians in the state of Illinois. Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) who had finished their residency training were leaving Illinois because they were not allowed to take the licensing examination in Illinois. As President of the The Philippine Medical Association of Chicago & the Midwest (PMAC), Dr. Maglaya negotiated with the Illinois Medical Society to sponsor a bill in Springfield, Illinois, which allowed foreign medical graduates to take the licensing examination. As a result, thousands of FMGs took and passed the examination, thereby solving the shortage. This benefited not only FMGs from the Philippines but also from other countries all over the world. Soon after his fellowship training, Dr. Maglaya began his private practice in Chicago. He spent most of his long career with both Englewood Hospital and St. Bernard Hospital & Healthcare Center, but also served as a GI consultant at various south-side hospitals in Chicago. Talented and ambitious, Dr. Maglaya attained the position of Medical Staff President at Englewood Hospital in Chicago and subsequently became the first Filipino-American Chairman of the Board of Englewood Hospital, a position he held for many years. He was also Chair of the Department of Medicine at both Englewood Hospital and St. Bernard Hospital & Healthcare Center. He also served as the President of several associations – the aforementioned Philippine Medical Association of Chicago & the Midwest, UERM Medical Alumni Assn. of Chicago & the Midwest, and The Filipino Professionals of Chicago.

Dr. Maglaya’s contributions have been honored by numerous awards, including The Distinguished Physician Award by the PMAC, The Medical Staff Leadership Award for Excellence by the Illinois Philippine Medical Society, the Leadership Award by The Filipino Professionals of Chicago, Most Outstanding Filipino in the Midwest in Community Service by the Cavite Association of America, Physician Recognition Award by the American Medical Association, and America’s Top Physicians for 2007 by the Consumer Research Council of America, just to name a few.

Dr. Maglaya is the fourth child of seven siblings. He currently resides in Chicago with his loving and caring wife, Corazon Maglaya, and has four children: Chona Boland, Joy Maheras, Cora Maglaya & Mark Maglaya. He has five grandchildren: Olivia, William, and Maggie Maheras, Lily and Miles Boland, who light up his world. He is the son of the late Florencio and Juana Maglaya, both school teachers. He has three brothers & three sisters, all US residents. His favorite pastimes include reading, watching the NBA Chicago games, especially the Chicago Bulls, watching movies, gym workouts, and spending time with the grandkids.

DRS. RUPERT & AMELITA MAYUGA & FAMILY
Model Family 2015

Ruperto D. Mayuga, MD is a previous Hall of Fame Awardee for Medicine, Awardee of the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce, and Cardiologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Faculty at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine for 29 years
Amelita A. Mayuga, MD is a previous Awardee of the Circle of Empowered Women. She received recognition from Northwestern University as a “mother of distinction” after all four children graduated from NU. She is a co-founder and past President of the Acaylar Organization. She also served as Co-chairperson for the Sesquicentennial Celebration committee at her church.
Together Rupert and Amy founded the Mayuga Medical Practice, and by God’s grace were able to care for thousands of patients. Their careers in health care are notable for the dedication to God, family and patients, as well as for their compassion and generosity to those in need. They have helped to finance the education of many children in many countries and of seminary students in the Philippines. They also support the work of missionaries in the Philippines, Africa, the Middle East, Russia, Latin America, and New Guinea.
Myttle Mayuga Davis, MD is an Interventional Cardiologist specializing in coronary and peripheral vascular stents, percutaneous heart valves, and ventricular assist device placement. Her husband, Roger Davis, has an MBA and is a manager at a medical supplier. They have one daughter, Ainsley.
Kenneth Mayuga, MD, FACC, FACP is a Cardiologist Electrophysiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, a well-published author in medical journals and books, and an authority in syncope. He is also a medical school professor. His wife, Mirna Ayache Mayuga, MD, MPH, FACP is an Internist training further in Pulmonary Critical Care. She has an MPH from Johns Hopkins. They have a son, Alex, and a daughter, Anna.
Aimee Mayuga, MD graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northwestern University and proceeded to the medical specialty of Rheumatology at the University of Chicago. Her husband, Jason Farrer MD is an OB-GYN Anesthesiologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and has received a “Teacher-of-the-Year” award. They have one daughter, Aria.
Rachel Mayuga, MHS completed her Masters in Health Care Finance and Administration at Johns Hopkins and is presently a Senior Administrator at Northwestern Medicine in Women’s Health/Obstetrics-Gynecology. In addition to managing multiple clinics, she most recently planned/opened/oversees the most modern and advanced fertility clinic in the country. Her husband, Timothy Kim, has a degree in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University, and acquired expertise in Electronic Medical Records (EMR). He is presently a senior consultant with a firm that contracts out EMR expertise to hospitals around the country.

ERNIE ROSAS

Ernie Rosas, RN BSN, is a successful nursing professional, entrepreneur, and a community and business leader. Most recently, he served as President of the Philippine Nurses Association of America Foundation (2011-2015), which supports the development of Filipino American Nurses to their fullest potential and facilitates their contributions to health and well being for all, through nursing, education, management and research.

Ernie hails from Tayabas City, Quezon Province and graduated from St. John Bosco Academy. He received his Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Sto. Tomas, Manila in 1976. He immigrated to the States in 1978, and completed his work visa program at Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine Hospital in 1980. He continued to work as a clinical nurse in various specialties including Critical Care, OR, ER, Med Surgical, Psychiatry, Oncology, Geriatrics, Hospice Care Agency Nursing. He has over 18 years in clinical nursing and 22 years in nursing management and entrepreneurship.

 

REV. NANCY ABIERA, Life Coach

Nancy Abiera is an ordained minister of the Gospel and a Life Coach, teaching and mentoring people in understanding and discovering the true self, balancing and managing emotional challenges, as well as dealing with the deep issues of self (body and soul) and spirituality. She believes that we are created beings with spirit, soul and body and approaches them individually and together, as a whole. Her principles are true-to-life experiences based on hers and others; profound, yet easy and practical. She speaks nationally and internationally in churches, schools, live/telephone conferences, retreats, small groups and in one-on-one mentoring.
Nancy strongly believes that the joys, challenges, and difficulties in life can all be woven together, forming the greatest tapestry to share to others. She writes, speaks and lives on topics ranging from “Mess to Message”, “Impossible to I’m possible”, “Bitter to Better if not Best”, “Good to Great to Glory”, “Uniquely You. . . Discovering the Real You”, “Stressed Out to Desserts In”, “DISappointments to HISappointments”, “Brokenness to Wholeness”, “Rejection to Election”, “Whining” to “Winning”; “Fear to Faith”; “Where is God? ‘No-where’” or ‘Now-here’”. She is one of the contributors to Shulamite Women International Magazine, a cross-cultural magazine with a mission to rebuild the nations while empowering, equipping and restoring women on the solid foundations of Jesus Christ. Currently, she is one of the contributing writers of Via Times Magazine, “On A Bright Side,” challenging readers to look at life based on the truth and positive ways.

ATTY. AURORA N. ABELLA-AUSTRIACO, Excellence in Law & Public Service

Aurora Abella-Austriaco is President of Austriaco and Associates Ltd where she concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial and real estate litigation and transactions , defense of mortgage foreclosure, and other special chancery remedy cases. Her clients range from multinational corporations, small and start-up companies to individuals. Prior to owning her own firm, she worked as an associate at Harold I. Levine, Ltd; as in house counsel for Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund and subsequently worked Of Counsel at Clark Hill PLC
Aurora is past President of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) one of the oldest and largest metropolitan bar association in the country with over 22,000 member lawyers. She served on the board of the Chicago Bar Foundation , Center for Conflict Resolution, Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI), Asian American Bar Association (AABA) and was founding board member of the Filipino American Bar Association. She was elected as the first female and minority President of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers’ Association . Austriaco was appointed by Chief Judge Holderman to serve as Chair of the 2012 and 2013 Magistrate Merit Selection Panel.

 

Ron de los Santos, MA, MHRIR
Education Administration

Ron de los Santos’ career in academia spans almost 10 years, as he has successfully led local universities in consistently exceeding goals in the areas of student recruitment and retention. Ron is currently the Director of the Office of Enrollment Management for Resurrection University in Chicago where he oversees the Office of Admissions, the Office of the Registrar and manages the team that develops strategies for new student recruitment and retention.

Ron is the University’s youngest administrator as well as the youngest person to be named to the position of Director of the Office of Enrollment. After demonstrating his expertise in student recruitment by exceeding goals year after year, Ron was promoted to the position of Director in less than 3 years. Under his leadership, Ron’s team doubled enrollment at Resurrection University in just five years, surpassing the achievements of previous directors, and propelling the University to new heights in its unique upper-division category.

 

 

DR. A. GABRIEL ESTEBAN, PH.D,, Excellence in Education-National Award

A. Gabriel Esteban was appointed 20th president of Seton Hall University in January 2011, after serving as interim president for six months. He has charged the University’s more than 900 faculty and 1,800 employees and nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students to aspire to excellence in scholarship and service and is committed to the institution’s 159-year Catholic mission.
Esteban spearheaded the University’s strategic planning and campus master plan initiatives, collaborated with faculty and academic leaders on enhancing and adding undergraduate and graduate programs, establishing academic priorities and strengthening the centrality of academics at Seton Hall. He has also led the strategic changes in the enrollment management and financial aid strategies that have enhanced the University’s reputation through the current economic environment.
Esteban has increased student selectivity and profile. Since implementing the enrollment management plan in fall 2009, the SAT scores of the incoming freshmen will have increased by close to 100 points this fall. In addition the percentage of freshmen ranked in the top ten percent of their class has increased from 24% to 35%.
During Esteban’s tenure Seton Hall enrolled five of the largest classes in more than 32 years, in 2010 and 2012, 2013, 2014 and once again this year.

JOHANNA M. COOK
Culinary Art in Social Media-International Award
Nominator: Jovie Calma

National cooking personality and host and founder of Momma Cuisine, Johanna Cook has been captivating audiences with Momma Cuisine for many years. The brand’s mission is to simply get families across America making Great Everyday Meals with simple ingredients and basic cooking techniques. Momma Cuisine’s vision is to connect with their targeted consumer base of busy moms by providing exclusive access to the best of what brands can offer.
Johanna Cook’s warm and engaging personality has helped her become an internationally recognized cooking personality and host, as she regularly appears on live television. Momma Cuisine’s online cooking series In The Kitch , which features interviews in the kitchen with nationally recognized celebrities, has garnered the attention of mainstream media. Momma Cuisine’s audience has become increasingly loyal and knowledgeable about the brand.
Momma Cuisine’s cooking show, “In The Kitch” is syndicated on multiple platforms like iFoodTV, The Food Channel, Roku, Frequency and of YouTube and Facebook. And starting on November 7, 2015, In The Kitch is now being shown worldwide as a segment in a new TV show, FilAm NOW! on GMA PINOY TV.
Also launching in November is Momma Cuisine’s very first and highly anticipated cookbook, “From My Pantry To Yours” presented by Kenmore appliances and can be purchased on Cookmore.com.

IRENE CUALOPING, JD ENERI/Rieny)
Outstanding Asian American Leadership

Business executive, communications specialist, attorney, photographer and author Irene Cualoping (pen name Rieny G. Cualoping) is managing partner, principal and founder of Chicago-based ENERI Communications, “Energy Upon Impact,” a creative advertising, marketing, strategic communications and development services venture founded in the year 2000 (www.enericom.net). The agency specializes in business, entertainment and lifestyle applications. It also has a strong production, show and stage direction/logistics management practice, and one that focuses on artist representation and talent management.

Irene Cualoping’s diverse professional background includes 15 years in entrepreneurship as the owner of an advertising and communications firm; nine years as a freelance columnist and photojournalist for a national weekly paper; eight and a half years in government/business, including one and a half years in employment/labor law; seven years corporate/legal/real estate; three and a half years in a law firm setting; 11 years of private real estate law practice; and 31 years working in philanthropy and development fundraising with not-for-profits, arts, professional, civic and community organizations.

Jan Paul C. Ferrer, CFP®, CRPC®
VIA MAN OF THE YEAR 2015

Jan Paul has over 16 years of experience in the financial services industry. He transitioned to this industry after more than fourteen years in management. He held positions as an Investment Associate, and Operations Manager before becoming a Financial Advisor.

He has earned the highly regarded CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM designations. He is a Vice President, and Senior Portfolio Manager at Morgan Stanley.

Some of the organizations where he is currently active include the Tinley Park-Frankfort Rotary Club where he served as President of the club. The Philippine Engineers, Scientists Organization (PESO), International Society of Filipinos in Finance and Accounting (ISFFA). Philippine American Cultural Foundation, (PACF). He is also a Filipino Youth Leadership Program Awardee (FYLPro) in 2014. He was chosen by the Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Honorable Jose Cuisia.

Atty. Jasmine Villaflor-Hernandez, Excellennce in Law

Jasmine Villaflor Hernandez is as an Assistant State’s Attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. A dedicated public servant, she currently serves as a second chair in its Juvenile Justice Bureau, Delinquency Division. In that capacity, Jasmine screens, files, and prosecutes misdemeanor and felony crimes committed by anyone under the age of eighteen years old.
Prior to joining the Delinquency Division, Jasmine prosecuted civil cases in the Juvenile Justice Bureau’s Child Protection Division, as well as the Office’s First Municipal Division. As part of the Child Protection Division, she prosecuted civil cases in which minors under the age of 18 are alleged to be abused or neglected because of the action or inaction of adults who are their parents or caretakers, or are dependent because they are without a parent are caretaker. As part of the First Municipal Division, Jasmine prosecuted those accused of committing misdemeanor crimes. She has litigated hundreds of trials and motions.

DR. OMEED M. MEMAR, M.D., Ph.D., Friend of the Filipino

Dr. Omeed Memar is an active Clinical Assistant Professor at Northwestern University, and medical director of Academic Dermatology & Skin Cancer Institute.
Dr. Memar is certified by the American Board of Dermatology. He is a fellow of the American Society for Mohs Surgery, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. He is a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.
He graduated from the “M.D., PhD.” Program at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Throughout this extensive seven year training program, He gained in-depth training in the basic science and clinical elements of medicine. His PhD. was in the field of immunopathology of skin, giving him extensive hands-on experience in pathological preparation and examination of skin tissue.

 

 

REYNALDO PABELLANO, RN, MS, MHA
EXCELLENCE IN NURSING

Pabellano migrated to the United States of America in 1975 and started nursing in Cardiac Cath, in Michigan. He graduated Master of Science in Health Care Administration in 1999 at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois.
With his diligence, hardwork and love for nursing, his leadership has transcended above and beyond nursing difficulties and has made leaps from staff, to manager, to Nursing supervisor, and Director of Nursing in Cardiac Cath, Medical – Surgical, and Perioperative Service Departments like Recovery Room, Pre-Admission Services, Endo/GI, Out Patient and In Patient Holding Areas.
Currently the Manager of the above said clinical departments at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Pabellano holds true to his dedication in Nursing through his management skills of his unit, staff, patient satisfaction and customer service. He has reached out to different departments to collaborate with nursing patient flow and safety.

 

 

CHAZIEL PATRON, Excellence in Entertainment

A freelance singer, vocalist, and event coordinator, Chaz was born and raised in Manila on June 29. Singing has always been her passion. Blessed with a beautiful voice, her talent in music developed while singing in front of many people at a very early age of ten. She confidently joined competitions and had successfully won numerous prizes at a very young age.
Her professional singing career started as the lead vocalist with a band in Dubai and Abu-Dhabi Sheraton Hotel in 1992. Chaz’s versatility in singing made her to be the lead female singer of a quartet group band, a trio group and a duet at Hilton Shilla Hotel, Intercontinental Hotel, and Lotte World Hotels.
As a singer in five-star and famous hotels in Asian countries, Chaz had a chance to sing with famous American singers like George Benson, Diana Krall, Laura Fygi, and many more. Chaz also recorded songs for TV commercials. She garnered first place in Seoul International singing contest in 1999.
She was a cantor and a choir member from 1999 to 2001, until Cupid snatched her away from music, displacing her passion for music by her love for her family. She is a proud mother of four beautiful girls, Cece , Clarize , Crisza , Chazzy Angel, and a loving wife of Jhun Patron, a talented videographer/photographer.
She started to participate and volunteer in the Filipino community in the Chicago area in 2008 wherein she shares her skills and talent with non-profit organizations, such as Philippine Independence Week Committee (PIWC), JDC Rainbow Foundation, Dance Lovers Club (DLC) of Chicago, serving in the Board of Directors, and some other Filipino organizations. She contributes her energy when it is for a good cause. She was crowned as the DLC Queen 2015 last May, and likewise served as the Overall Chairperson of the DLC Coronation and Santacruzan event, a very successful evening that was truly enjoyed by the dancing community of Chicago.

Edith Mijares Ardiente, MS, PE, QEP
VIA WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Nominator: Mr. Gregory Vanderlaan, a 2013 Hall of Fame Awardee as Friend of the Filipino.

Edith Mijares Ardiente is a retired Vice President, Environmental and Energy Affairs at Navistar International Corporation, one of the world’s largest commercial and military truck, school bus and engine manufacturers. She was hired as Manager of Environmental Affairs in 1987, was promoted to Director in 1991 and was elected by the company’s Board to the Vice President position in May 2000 and served in this capacity with increasing responsibilities until her retirement in 2012.

Edith was the top environmental officer of the company and was responsible for creating the environmental department, establishing corporate environmental and energy policies and providing technical and regulatory assistance to all Navistar operations worldwide. During her tenure at Navistar, the company received over 125 awards for environmental and energy management excellence.

 

 

CHIP PAYOS, Performing Arts

His latest performance was in the Drury Lane Theatre’s blockbuster West Side Story. He has also performed in Paramount Theatre, Theatre at the Center, Drury Lane, Porchlight Music Theatre, Bailiwick Chicago, LightOperaWorks, and has likewise choreographed and acted in numerous Circa-Pintig productions. He has been a first company dancer of the Joel Hall Dancers of Chicago.
He has studied acting with the Filipino world-renowned director Anton Juan and with Chicago’s great Dennis Zacek at Victory Gardens Theatre. His favorite roles are Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal in “Sweet Stranger: the Untold Story of Josephine Bracken” alongside diva Lani Misalucha, Pol in Bayan-Bayanan with Philippine premier actress Cherie Gil and the Filipino American pioneer literary figure and labor leader Carlos Bulosan in “Allos: The Story of Carlos Bulosan.”
He is instrumental to the formation of a new multi-cultural theatre group Moon Crane Theatre Company and slated to perform Jean Genet’s The Maids this coming winter.

 

ERNIE ROSAS, Excellence in Nursing Leadership

Ernie Rosas, RN BSN, is a successful nursing professional, entrepreneur, and a community and business leader. Most recently, he served as President of the Philippine Nurses Association of America Foundation (2011-2015), which supports the development of Filipino American Nurses to their fullest potential and facilitates their contributions to health and well being for all, through nursing, education, management and research.
In 1994, Ernie recognized that health care organizations needed quality healthcare professionals to supplement their staffing needs. With his wife Beth, they founded Reliable Healthcare Services, Inc., a healthcare staffing and international recruitment Company. They provided temporary healthcare personnel including nurses to various hospital systems in Missouri, Kansas, Indiana and Ohio. In 1995, the Company was awarded a Federal Contract to serve VA Health Systems, Department of Defense, National Institute of Health and Indian Reservation Health System. He served as the Company’s CEO and President for over 20 years.
For the last 22 years, Ernie has been active in numerous nursing professional organizations.

 

MARIA. ISABEL TURTOGO-SACAY, Excellence in Home Healthcare Entrepreneurship

Mabel has over 20 years of experience in the Home Care industry. A nurse by profession, she is the President and Administrator of Healthcare Plus Corporation and HOPE Palliative & Hospice Care with offices in Palatine, Rockford and South Holland. Both agencies have recently been awarded “deemed status” accreditation by The Joint Commission.
She is a Board member and Treasurer of ACHHAI (Association of Certified Home Health Agencies in Illinois), a nonprofit organization. One of ACHHAI’s main missions is to foster education and understanding of regulatory compliance to its members. As an owner of agencies that participate in Medicare funded programs, she is an advocate of utilizing “best practices “in Home Health.
She recently co-founded KIANA (Kananga International Association of North America) and currently serves as Board member and Treasurer. KIANA is dedicated to assisting needy families in the Philippines by providing a portion of their needs like food, school supplies and clothing

 

Stella Marie B. Santos, CPA
Excellence in Finance/Accunting

Stella Marie B. Santos is the Managing Director and Founding Member of Adelfia LLC. Adelfia LLC is public accounting firm proud to be owned by Filipino women. Adelfia LLC provides assurance, advisory, accounting, tax, information technology review/audit services. Under Stella’s leadership, the firm has grown from 3 founders to a 5 partner firm with 24 full time employees in just 4 years.
Stella is a Certified Public Accountant. She started her career at SyCip, Gorres, Velayo & Co. (Manila, Philippines) (member firm of Ernst & Young) as a staff auditor and progressed as an audit executive. After SGV, she served as an assistant to the Vice President- Finance for Norgate Apparel Manufacturing, Inc. She also worked at E. C. Ortiz & Co., LLP since October 1993, and became a Partner in January 2003. She has over 25 years of experience in serving tax and audit clients in the fields of financial, compliance and operational audits, management and financial accounting.
Stella graduated Cum Laude from the University of the Philippines with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accountancy. She is a Certified Public Accountant both in the Philippines and in Illinois, USA. She ranked 12th place in the Philippine CPA examination. She is a licensed CPA in Illinois and Indiana.

Marilin D. Solomon, P.E.
Excellence in Engineering

Marilin D. Solomon is a Field Engineer/Head of West Division in the Bureau of Local Roads at Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), District One in Schaumburg, Illinois. She oversees the Local Agencies in DuPage, Kane, Central Cook and North Central Cook Counties. She is the point of contact for at least 100 Local Agencies including Townships and is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective relations between the State and Area Local Agencies while administering the State and Federal transportation funds. She is responsible for all Roadway and Bridge Engineering decisions and judgment in West Division, such as Environmental Studies, Public Involvement, Roadway Geometric and Bridge designs, and all Motor Fuel Tax funded projects let and constructed according to the Road, Bridge, and other related Laws in Illinois. Marilin has high-profile projects, such as City of St. Charles Red Gate Bridge over the Fox River with total cost of 28M, Village of Melrose Park 25th Avenue over the UPRR with total cost of $42M, and Kane County Longmeadow Parkway Toll road with a total cost of $120M. She’s been with the Department for 22 years.