Future-Ready Transit in Illinois

Bria Scudder currently serves as Deputy Governor for Infrastructure, Public Safety, Environment, and Energy in Illinois, where she manages several state agencies and implements top policy initiatives. 

In this role, Bria led several successful legislative negotiations in addition to NITA, including the SAFE CCS Act, which provides environmental protections for carbon capture while bringing jobs and investment to Illinois; and the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, which invested in new, clean energy resources to address rising electricity bills and maintain Illinois status as a climate leader. She is also spearheading efforts with the Illinois Department of Corrections to modernize and rebuild facilities. 

In her previous role as 1st Assistant Deputy Governor (2019-2022), Bria directed several COVID-19 response efforts. She also played a critical role in the passage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which made Illinois a leader in climate change efforts, the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, and Rebuild Illinois, a historic $45 billion capital plan. 

Immediately before her appointment as Deputy Governor, Bria was the Director of State Government Affairs for the Midwest region at AbbVie. She previously served as the Senior Government and Community Liaison at the Illinois Attorney General's Office. There, she worked on critical issues, including the Chicago consent decree for police reform, and the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act. Prior to her time at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, she served as staff member for the Illinois House of Representatives

Tom Kotarac is the Senior Vice President of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and leads the Civic Committee’s transportation and infrastructure work. He is also a Board Member of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) representing the City of Chicago. 

Before joining the Civic Committee, Tom was Deputy Executive Director of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), the comprehensive planning agency for Northeastern Illinois. Earlier in his career, Tom spent more than 12 years working on Capitol, as senior policy advisor and projects director for U.S. Senator Richard Durbin and senior legislative assistant to U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez. Tom grew up in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, graduated from the University of Illinois, and has a wonderful family.

Eva-Dina Delgado serves as Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois House of Representatives, proudly representing the 3rd District, which encompasses vibrant and diverse neighborhoods including Wicker Park, Bucktown, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Hermosa, Belmont Cragin, Montclare, and Dunning.

Since taking office in November 2019, she has championed policies that strengthen
communities, expand access to opportunity, and foster collaboration across diverse
constituencies. With a career that bridges public service, community advocacy, and the private sector, she brings a people-centered approach to her leadership. Her work has earned her a reputation for collaboration and has led to her roles leading working groups and negotiating the state budget on behalf of the House Democrats.

Before her election to the Illinois General Assembly, Eva-Dina built a successful career in the
transportation and energy sectors, developing partnerships that advanced infrastructure
investment, environmental sustainability, and equitable economic growth. In the legislature, she has been a strong advocate for transit equity, energy sustainability, public safety, and initiatives that empower working families.

Eva-Dina earned her degree in International Relations with a focus on Latin America from
Wellesley College and came to Chicago over two decades ago to attend DePaul College of Law. Her love for the city has kept her here ever since. She resides with her family in Logan Square.

State Senator Ram Villivalam was raised on the northwest side of Chicago. He is the son of Indian Immigrants. His parents came here in the 1970s. Though his father and mother were a civil engineer and a teacher in India respectively, they had to work minimum wage jobs, go back to school, and work their way to more than 25 years each of public service.

Senator Villivalam will always remember their struggles and the middle class values he grew up with.

Prior to being sworn into the Illinois General Assembly, Senator Villivalam spent four years advocating on behalf of home care for seniors and people with disabilities, child care for working families, Medicaid for those in need.

Senator Villivalam also worked at the federal level of government for U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider as his Outreach Director. In this role, he was responsible for outreach on a variety of policy issues and had duties that ranged from signing people up for the Affordable Care Act to organizing Job Fairs.

Senator Villivalam is honored to be an effective, proactive, and progressive voice for the people of the 8th District. He has and will continue to be focused on issues such as income equality, reducing gun violence, providing a quality education to children regardless of the zip code they reside in, and advancing immigrant, LGBTQ, and women's rights.

Additionally, he is incredibly proud to be the first Asian American elected to the Illinois State Senate and the first Indian American elected to the Illinois General Assembly. He is currently the Chair of the Transportation Committee and also sits on the Energy and Public Utilities, Health Care Access and Availability, Human Rights, Licensed Activities and Pensions Committees.

Senator Villivalam serves his community in other roles that include being a past President of the Indo-American Democratic Organization (IADO) and previous Director on the Board of Gun Violence Prevention PAC.

Senator Villivalam lives with his wife, Elizabeth, and his sons, Rohan and Lokesh, in the North Mayfair neighborhood in the City of Chicago.