Member Spotlight

Joanne serves as Chief of Staff for Commissioner and Chairman of Finance, Marcelino Garcia, of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD). She provides policy guidance, directs research, and takes great pride in her conservation work. She had an unusual start in the conservation field, focusing on the education and outreach aspect as Museum Director for the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum. While functioning as an active bridgetower lifting the iconic Michigan Avenue Bridge for boat traffic, this museum was a successful partnership with the City of Chicago to build out a new type of public space that tells the story of Chicago’s unique history with its waterways. Joanne and her team received an award from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) in Excellence in Exhibition Label Writing Competition for “River and Its City”.

Joanne has led many critical water protection campaigns. Currently, at the MWRD she has supports Commissioner Garcia on various projects to increase participation opportunities through policies and programs. She has worked with staff to host the MWRD’s first virtual business roundtable; first LatinX stewardship event; support the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan Planning process; and engage partners to identify financial and innovative solutions. Joanne was selected to the Water Environment Federation’s Leadership Institute (2021) and serves on the Great Lakes Protection Fund Board to represent the State of Illinois. Joanne received her undergraduate degree in Economics from Boston University. She loves baseball, hiking, and driving with the windows down.