Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

In his first term, Ribley prioritized the state's economic development efforts which resulted in Illinois creating more jobs than any other Midwestern state coming out of the global recession.

Highlights of Ribley's first two years as Director include:

• Building the state's green economy - DCEO leveraged state and federal dollars to retrofit existing manufacturers for green production, strengthened the market for renewable energy, and funded energy efficiency projects statewide. More than 12,000 green sector jobs are being created through the State's Energy Plan.

• Training in high-growth sectors - DCEO is developing the state's workforce to meet the challenges of the 21st century economy, taking advantage of opportunities in health care and health care technology, manufacturing, transportation-logistics, and the green sector.

• Increased investments in entrepreneurs and innovation - From offering new programs that give small businesses financing options, to going halfway across the globe to build a Smart Grid partnership with South Korea, Ribley has led the charge to market and support Illinois as an innovation hotspot.

• Building up disadvantaged communities - If quality of life is poor, businesses will not be attracted to a community. Ribley has worked to raise the standard of living in some of the state's most impoverished areas, through economic development and infrastructure programs such as Disaster Recovery, Affordable Housing, Urban Weatherization jobs training, and others.

Ribley began working in state government in 1979, serving for twelve years in the Office of the Illinois Senate President. He joined the Office of the State Treasurer in 1991 and became the Director of Banking in 1993 under now-Governor Quinn, managing relationships between the State of Illinois and over 500 financial institutions. Before being named Director of DCEO, Ribley served as DCEO’s Director of Operations, where he led the day-to-day operations of the agency for six years.

Ribley has 23 years of professional experience in state government and eight years in the private sector, focusing on financial services. Throughout his career, Ribley has worked to develop successful programs to strengthen the Illinois economy.

A native of Olney, Illinois, Ribley has lived in Springfield with his family for over 30 years.

Springfield Business Journal Personality Profile on Warren Ribley