The city of Aurora has hired a former DePaul University professor to serve as the city’s first-ever chief innovation officer.

Nearly 100 business, government, civic and education leaders from Aurora gathered Wednesday (June 14, 2017) at the Illinois Math and Science Academy’s IN2 Center for Innovation and Inquiry for the announcement that Dr. Adrienne Merced-Holloway had accepted the new role and former Morgan Stanley ice President of Information Technology Michael R. Pegues would become the city’s new chief information officer.

“Developing innovative ideas and policies for Aurora will require strong data analysis coupled with best practices and creative and strategic thinking,” Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin said. “Successful innovation is greater than just technology alone. It requires the ability to generate ideas from across the board and the proven capacity to implement them.”

Holloway

Holloway was most recently an assistant professor at the DePaul University Graduate School of Public Service, where she taught government, community development and research methods courses across four degree programs. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science from Northern Illinois University, a master’s degree in Public Administration from Baruch College, City University of New York and a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Fordham University.

A small-business owner and community volunteer, Holloway is the president of her own consulting firm and serves as director of Irvin’s Transition Team, vice-chair of the Northern Lights Development Corporation and board member of the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry. She recently completed two terms as chair for the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board.

Holloway’s team includes the Community Services Department led by Chief Community Services Officer Dan Barreiro and the Information Technology Department.

Pegues

Pegues brings more than 20 years of experience in IT delivery and management across diverse sectors, including financial services, technology/telecommunications and government.

Pegues will be responsible for the management, oversight and direction of the IT Department, including the Management Information Systems Division and the Police Technical Services Division, which is comprised of public safety and the 911 center. Former Chief Technology Officer Ted Beck will collaborate with Pegues as the city’s new Chief Information Security Officer, focusing on cybersecurity and citywide IT projects.

A veteran of the United States Army, Pegues most recently served as vice president of Enterprise Security Solutions at Morgan Stanley’s Chicago office and vice president of Enterprise Infrastructure of the company’s office in Budapest, Hungary.

Pegues holds a bachelor’s of computer science from DeVry University and an Executive MBA from Central European University. He is an alum of West Aurora High School.

SOURCE: city of Aurora news release

About the City of Aurora

Located 35 miles west of Chicago, Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois with a population of 200,456. Aurora is known as the “City of Lights” because it was one of the first in the nation to illuminate its streets with electric lights.  Situated along the Fox River and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (Interstate 88), the city extends 46 square miles encompassing Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will counties. Aurora also is home to six public school districts and seven townships.

For the latest news, access to an archive of past news releases or to follow the city on Facebook or Twitter, visit the city’s website at www.aurora-il.org.