Kirk Dillard
Kirk Dillard brings extensive experience in law, business, civic and governmental operations or relations
He is strategic advisor to Troutman Pepper Locke…one of America’s largest and oldest law firms. As the Chair of the Northeastern Illinois Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) he oversees the nation’s second largest mass transit system with assets of $200 billion and over a million daily riders. He has been recognized by the American Public Transportation Association for his outstanding leadership with its “Best of the Best” award and was selected by Crain’s Chicago Business to its coveted “Who’s Who in Chicago Business”. Kirk also is Chair of the privately operated iconic Chicago Skyway Toll Bridge connecting the Indiana Toll Road to the Dan Ryan Expressway on Chicago’s southside. Additionally, he is a Board member of the Illinois Economic Development Corporation and the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission.
Dillard served with distinction as former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar’s Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Governor James Thompson. Kirk served the western suburbs of Chicago for nearly 20 years as a State Senator and was a Judge on the Illinois Court of Claims. Senator Dillard served as a member of Governor Pritzker’s Restoring Illinois Infrastructure Transition Committee and Co-Chaired Chicago Mayor Johnson’s Transportation Transition Team.
Recently, Governor Pritzker appointed Mr. Dillard to his alma mater, Western Illinois University’s Board of Trustees and Kirk is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Committee at the DePaul University College of Law.
Kirk was born in the shadow of Wrigley Field at Illinois Masonic Hospital and raised in DuPage County. He is a graduate of Hinsdale Central High School where his father taught social studies for several decades and his mother was a surgical nurse for 40 years at Hines Veterans Hospital in Maywood. He graduated with honors from Western Illinois University and the DePaul University College of Law where he received an American Bar Association award for Urban, State & Local Government Law.
Senator Dillard resides in Hinsdale with his wife Stephanie and they have two adult daughters.
