Josh Weger

Josh Weger is the Executive Director of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute. Prior to joining ILEPI, he spent eight years as Policy Director with the Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting, where he led the Foundation’s policy development, strategic planning, and research and analysis. Prior to that, he spent four years as Deputy Director of the Illinois Capital Development Board, where he oversaw a $3.9 billion construction program and directed a staff of 60 architects, engineers, project managers, and support staff. Before that, he spent eight years with the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, where he held several positions including Managing Director of the Office of Policy Development, Planning & Research. Before joining DCEO, he was employed by the Office of the Illinois Auditor General and the Illinois House of Representatives. He has a master’s degree in Political Science and bachelor’s degree in Economics, both from the University of Illinois Springfield.

Frank Manzo IV, MPP

Frank Manzo IV, MPP is an Economist at the Illinois Economic Policy Institute. Prior to working at ILEPI, he worked at the University of Illinois Labor Education Program and in the Federal Reserve system. He earned a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and an Advanced Certificate of Labor Studies from the University of Illinois Labor Education Program. His research interests include labor market analysis, economic development, infrastructure investment, the low-wage labor force, and public finance.

Frank Manzo IV can be contacted via email at fmanzo@illinoisepi.org.

Mary Tyler, AICP

Mary Tyler, AICP is the Transportation Director at the Illinois Economic Policy Institute. Prior to joining ILEPI, she served as the Coordinator for the Victoria, TX Metropolitan Planning Organization and Senior Transportation Planner for the City of Victoria, TX. She earned a Master of Urban Planning and Graduate Certificate in Transportation Planning from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Evansville. Her research interests include transportation planning and policy, community development, energy policy, infrastructure investment, and environmental policy.

Mary Tyler can be contacted via email at mtyler@illinoisepi.org.

Grace Dunn

Grace Dunn is a Research Associate at the Illinois Economic Policy Institute. Prior to joining ILEPI, she worked as a Jury Research Analyst at Donoghue & Associates and as an Intern for Senator Dick Durbin. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy and a Minor in Writing. Her research interests include social and environmental policy, community development, and labor market analysis.

Grace Dunn can be contacted via email at gdunn@illinoisepi.org.