New vice executive director joins Wine and Spirits Distributors of Illinois
From Illinois Business Journal news services
After spending several years working on legislative issues in Springfield, Jeremy Kruidenier has been hired as vice executive director for the Wine and Spirits Distributors of Illinois.
Kruidenier, of Chicago, has worked as a senior advisor to the governor, a senior staffer for a state agency and most recently served as a lobbyist on regulatory matters.
“Jeremy brings strong experience that will help our association advance issues important to our members,” said Karin Lijana Matura, executive director of WSDI. “He will play an instrumental role in the work we do with state agencies and legislators to strengthen the three-tier system, while adding to our advocacy and educational efforts.”
WSDI is a not-for-profit trade association promoting the general welfare of the beverage alcohol industry in Illinois and encouraging a high standard of ethics and moral responsibility among all persons engaged in the industry. The organization represents one tier on what is known as the three-tier system, a system established after Prohibition, which ensures fair business practices among manufacturers, distributors and retailers of alcohol, protecting public safety and the fair collection of taxes.
Kruidenier (left), a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law, served as director of Legislative Affairs for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, before being appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff, then Deputy Legislative Director, for Gov. Pat Quinn. In those positions, he was responsible for managing staff and overseeing hundreds of pieces of legislation, while also advising the Governor as a member of his senior staff. Kruidenier was instrumental in advocating for several of the Governor’s policy agendas, including the passage of marriage equality and pension reform. Kruidenier (30) resides in Chicago with his wife Jill.
Earlier this year, Kruidenier began his work as a government relations consultant, serving clients ranging from the Health Care Council of Illinois to McGuireWoods. He was responsible for monitoring and analyzing more than 6,000 bills that impacted his various clients.
Kruidenier began work with WSDI on Aug. 3.
