CHICAGO– Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson on Thursday announced key appointments of senior staff positions for his incoming administration, including S. Mayumi “Umi” Grigsby, Esq. as Chief of Policy, Annette C.M. Guzman as Budget Director, Jill Jaworski as Chief Financial Officer, and Jennifer “Jen” Johnson as Deputy Mayor of Education, Youth, and Human Services.
“I’m proud to announce the appointments of these accomplished candidates to key roles in my administration as we work together to usher in a new era for the people of Chicago,” said Mayor-elect Johnson. “These appointments reflect our policy priorities and strategic goals as we set a bold agenda for the next four years. Together we can achieve our vision for sustainable, thriving communities, responsive services for our children and most vulnerable, and a budget that illustrates our values as a city.”
S. Mayumi “Umi” Grigsby has been named Chief of Policy. Grigsby is an author, advocate and attorney. Bilingual in French and English, Umi is a graduate of Georgetown University and Northeastern University School of Law. She is the Chair and a Commissioner on the Cook County Human Rights Commission. She also serves on the Board of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. In Chicago, she has served as the Chief of Staff at the Chicago Foundation for Women; the Chief of Policy and Advocacy for the Office of the City Clerk of Chicago, under City Clerk Anna Valencia; and also as an Assistant State’s Attorney under the administration of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. She is the author of EmpowHERed Health: Reforming a Dismissive Health Care System, published in December of 2020. She was a member of the first cohort of PolicyLink’s first Cities & Counties for Fine and Fee Justice Fellowship. She is a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Emerging Leaders Class of 2021, a member of the inaugural cohort of Bonfire, a talent accelerator for women and a Chicago United for Equity 2022 Fellow.
Annette C.M. Guzman has been named Budget Director. comes to this role after serving as Budget Director for Cook County, where she oversaw Cook County’s budget during the COVID-19 pandemic and the distribution of COVID-related financial aid, including $428M in CARES funding, over $200M in FEMA aid, and $1B in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. She previously served as Deputy Assessor in the Office of the Cook County Assessor and Deputy Chief Administrator and Chief of Staff for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Prior to her time in government, Annette served as legal counsel to banking institutions and corporations at Sidley Austin LLP. She holds a JD from the University of Chicago Law School and a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Economics from Emory University.
Jill Jaworski has been named Chief Financial Officer. Jaworski is a municipal Financial Advisor and Public Finance professional with 25 years of experience, serving a range of clients, including high profile issuers in Chicago and the Midwest and transit and transportation clients nationally. She comes to the role after serving as Managing Director and Partner at PFM Financial Advisors since 2010. At PFM Financial Advisors, she was responsible for starting their financial advisory practice in Chicago and Illinois, including hiring a practice team and leading the acquisition in 2011 of Scott Balice Strategies. She is also a member of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board as a regulated Municipal Advisor representative. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Chicago.
Jennifer “Jen” Johnson has been named Deputy Mayor of Education, Youth, and Human Services. Johnson brings to the role of Deputy Mayor nearly two decades of experience as an educator, manager, and organizer. Johnson most recently served as Chief of Staff for the Chicago Teachers Union, where she supported the alignment of staff, program, and budget to the union’s nearly 30,000 members and elected leadership. Growing up in a family of educators, she spent 10 years in the classroom as a history teacher at Lincoln Park High School. She has held a number of board memberships including Illinois Federation of Teachers Executive Board, Grow Your Own Illinois, and the Illinois State Board of Education State Educator Licensure and Preparation Board. Johnson holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northwestern University, a Master’s Degree of Community and Teacher Leaders from Northeastern Illinois University, and an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL).
Mayor-elect Johnson will be sworn as the 57th Mayor of Chicago on Monday, May 15.