Manny Rodriguez, Executive Director
Manny Rodriguez has spent 15 years in both economic development and workforce development. He served as the Vice President of Economic Development for the Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing for over 7 years, where he managed a team that assisted several hundred manufacturing businesses in Illinois retain and grow their businesses. He served as a founding member of the Chicago Metro Metals Manufacturing Consortium and was responsible for creating Illinois’ first small business energy cooperative.
After his time at the Alliance, Manny was the Senior Director of Replication for the Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC), an organization dedicated to assisting disadvantaged individuals obtain careers in manufacturing. At JARC, Manny was responsible for the successful completion of their first out-of-state expansion to Baltimore, MD. Manny Rodriguez went on to become the Education & Safety Director for the Associated Builders and Contractors, Illinois Chapter, Inc where he was responsible for overseeing a state-wide United States Department of Labor registered program that trains over 300 individuals a year in the construction trades. Manny created their Community Builders program to assist unemployed individuals enter the construction sector. Manny has also served on the Illinois State Workforce Innovation Board and currently sits on Illinois Apprenticeship Committee and serves as the team lead for the Systems and Supports subcommittee.
Manny also has a passion for education and is the co-founder of the University of Illinois Latina/Latino Alumni Association an organization dedicated to providing scholarships for Latino students and mentorship opportunities for Latino alum of the University of Illinois. Manny holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a minor in Latina/o Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Manny Rodriguez has spent 15 years in both economic development and workforce development. He served as the Vice President of Economic Development for the Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing for over 7 years, where he managed a team that assisted several hundred manufacturing businesses in Illinois retain and grow their businesses. He served as a founding member of the Chicago Metro Metals Manufacturing Consortium and was responsible for creating Illinois’ first small business energy cooperative.
After his time at the Alliance, Manny was the Senior Director of Replication for the Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC), an organization dedicated to assisting disadvantaged individuals obtain careers in manufacturing. At JARC, Manny was responsible for the successful completion of their first out-of-state expansion to Baltimore, MD. Manny Rodriguez went on to become the Education & Safety Director for the Associated Builders and Contractors, Illinois Chapter, Inc where he was responsible for overseeing a state-wide United States Department of Labor registered program that trains over 300 individuals a year in the construction trades. Manny created their Community Builders program to assist unemployed individuals enter the construction sector. Manny has also served on the Illinois State Workforce Innovation Board and currently sits on Illinois Apprenticeship Committee and serves as the team lead for the Systems and Supports subcommittee.
Manny also has a passion for education and is the co-founder of the University of Illinois Latina/Latino Alumni Association an organization dedicated to providing scholarships for Latino students and mentorship opportunities for Latino alum of the University of Illinois. Manny holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a minor in Latina/o Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.