Gilbert Villegas Jr.
Chief of Staff
Gilbert Villegas Jr. was appointed by Governor Pat Quinn to the Chief of Staff position at the Illinois Capital Development Board. As the construction management agency for Illinois state government since 1972, the Capital Development Board (CDB) oversees the construction of new state facilities, such as prisons, colleges and university classroom buildings, mental health hospitals and state parks. In addition, CDB is responsible for renovation and rehabilitation projects at the State’s 8,441 state-owned buildings containing more than 96 million square-feet of floor space. Mr. Villegas oversees a staff of 124 State personnel and a $25 million dollar operating budget.
As the former Associate Director of the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA) Mr. Villegas oversaw Government Affairs for the organization and spearheaded the development and lobbying efforts behind passage of two instrumental Illinois Senate Bills (SB 351 and SB3249), ensuring minority and women owned businesses have a principal opportunity to participate on state funded projects.
Prior to joining HACIA in May of 2008, Mr. Villegas served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Business and Workforce Diversity at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). As the Deputy Director he oversaw two departments: the Bureaus of Small Business Enterprises and the statewide District Equal Employment Opportunity Contract Compliance Officers. Mr. Villegas is a U.S. Marine and served during Operations Desert Shield/ Desert Storm. Mr. Villegas was assigned to the 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Missile (LAAM) Battalion in Yuma, AZ prior to his deployment to Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Mr. Villegas attended Northeastern Illinois University pursuing a BS in Political Science immediately after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps.
Michael A. Wilson II
Deputy Director of Operations
Michael A. Wilson II is responsible for overseeing the Capital Development Board’s fiscal and personnel services, contractual services, Quality Based Selection of architects and engineers, capital planning and programming with other state agencies, and information technology. He joined the agency in 2011.
Wilson previously served in the Illinois Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from 2005 to 2011, and was manager of the $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program for the office during that time. He was a budget analyst for OMB from 2005 to 2008.
Wilson is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University and received a Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield.
Josh Weger
Deputy Director of Construction
Josh Weger is Deputy Director for Construction at the Illinois Capital Development Board. In his position he oversees the agency’s Construction Management and Professional Services divisions and is responsible for ensuring an efficient, effective and accountable State government construction program.
Prior to joining CDB, Weger spent eight years with the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO), where he held positions including Managing Director for Policy Development, Planning & Research and Southeast Region Manager. Prior to joining DCEO, Weger spent two years with the Office of the Illinois Auditor General and two years with the Illinois House of Representatives.
Weger has a master’s degree in Political Science and a bachelor’s degree in Economics, both from the University of Illinois at Springfield, and an associate’s degree from Lincoln Trail College in Robinson. He grew up in Lawrenceville.
Thomas Klein
General Counsel and the Ethics Officer
Thomas Klein is the General Counsel and the Ethics Officer for the Capital Development Board. He oversees all major legal matters for the agency and provides guidance and direction to CDB staff on legal issues. Prior to joining CDB, Tom was a Deputy Inspector General for the Office of Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor. Prior to that, Tom spent approximately seven years with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General in the General Law Bureau, providing legal representation to various State agencies. He began his legal career as an associate attorney in the Chicago office of Jenner & Block. In 1999, he graduated with honors from the University of Michigan Law School.