Intersect Illinois, the statewide economic development organization focused on bringing businesses to Illinois, has named Dan Seals as its new CEO. Seals will guide the organization in its mission to bring jobs and investment to Illinois by collaborating with the State of Illinois, industry, academic, civic, and government partners to enhance Illinois’ profile as a top destination for global business and to attract investment throughout the state.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker recommended Seals’ appointment, which will be voted on by Intersect Illinois’ board of directors at its September 23 board meeting. He succeeds Alya Adamany Woods, who has led the organization as the Acting CEO and COO since August of 2019 and is pursuing a new opportunity in the private sector.
Seals, a native Illinoisan, comes to Intersect from his position as a director at the American Medical Association, where he led both domestic and international marketing for a large portfolio of business services. He has also led teams at GE Capital and T-Mobile and served as the Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Seals holds an MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago and a MIPP in International Economics from the School of Advanced International Studies at the Johns Hopkins University.
As Seals focuses on the state’s diverse industries and communities as a whole, Intersect is pleased to announce the addition of Robert Stephan as the newly-created Vice President of Downstate Relations, based in Alton, Illinois. Stephan, who is also a native Illinoisan, will draw on his business background and extensive network downstate to expand Intersect’s reach and enhance business attraction efforts throughout Southern Illinois.
Seals begins his new position September 9 and Stephan begins the following week. Working closely with DCEO and partners from throughout the state, Intersect Illinois is an independent, not-for-profit economic development organization that serves as resource for doing business in Illinois and markets the state’s position as a premier global business destination.
Intersect Illinois helps companies and communities navigate the site selection process, providing data for informed location and expansion decisions and connections to a robust network of partners. In partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Intersect Illinois generated nearly 60 business attraction and expansion projects in 2020. Overall, statewide business development efforts have helped usher in 331 company expansions and relocations throughout last year, generating over $4.2 billion in investment and more than 15,000 jobs for the state.
