Speakers

Maria Perez serves as the Senior Apprenticeship Initiative Program Manager for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Based in Chicago, she leads statewide compliance efforts for the Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative. In this role, she oversees compliance for qualifying capital public works projects, ensuring apprenticeship requirements are met and workforce development investments align with state law and the Illinois Works Program's mission and objectives. She collaborates with state agencies that administer capital contracts, grants, and loans to strengthen compliance and expand apprenticeship opportunities. With more than a decade of experience in compliance, workforce development, and public-sector program administration. Perez's expertise includes regulatory compliance, program monitoring, process improvement, stakeholder engagement, and the development of operational guidance and accountability initiatives that strengthen program operations. Her leadership has strengthened compliance practices, improved program operations, and expanded career pathways for veterans, women, and people of color across Illinois. She is passionate about building strong leveraged partnerships, advancing workforce development, and ensuring public investments produce measurable, lasting results that benefit communities across Illinois.