With offices in both Springfield and Chicago Illinois, AARP Illinois team members specialize in issue areas that span across all regions of Illinois in order to cover the varied needs and locations of our 1.7 million members and all older adults in the state.
AARP Illinois team members advocate on behalf of our 1.7 million members and all people 50+ in Illinois on critical issues, such as longterm care, healthcare, caregiving, financial security, consumer protections, affordable utility services, and livable communities.
AARP Illinois could not do the hard work of advocating on behalf of older adults without our volunteers. Our state office has a growing team of volunteers who lend their time, expertise and service in a variety of ways.
With 16 staff members and a volunteer pool of hundreds, we host programs, workshops and community events geared at improving the lives of older adults and their families.
AARP Illinois Staff
Philippe Largent
State Director
plargent@aarp.org
Mary Anderson
Director of Advocacy & Outreach – Northern Illinois
MAnderson@aarp.org
Oversee all of AARP Chicago advocacy, volunteer, and community engagement work for northern Illinois, at the federal, state, and local level.
Ryan Gruenenfelder
Director, Advocacy & Outreach – Southern Illinois
RGruenenfelder@aarp.org
Ryan manages state and federal advocacy for AARP Illinois as well as AARP’s outreach, education and targeted local community presence advocacy throughout downstate Illinois.
Sonja Gibbons-Reed
Senior Program Assistant
SOreed@aarp.org
My focus is to support the Springfield Legislative Staff and Volunteers.
Ellen Acevedo
Associate State Director – Volunteer Engagement & Mobilization
EAcevedo@aarp.org
Working with volunteers to train and engage them for where they want to spend their time and passion.
Joshua Harris
Associate State Director, Advocacy & Outreach
JOharris@aarp.org
I focus on advocacy and outreach to the AA/B community – specifically on the south side of Chicago and south suburbs of Cook County. My policy portfolio includes financial security and voter engagement – including the Graduated Income Tax & Vote by Mail.
Lori B. Hendren
Associate State Director, Advocacy & Outreach
LHendren@aarp.org
I am an Associate State Director for the Peoria region and my focus areas are Caregiving, Nursing Homes, Telehealth and Prescription Drugs.
Teresa C. Jones
Associate State Director, Advocacy & Outreach
TCJones@aarp.org
My focus area is Livable Communities, Caregiving and Consumer Protection.
Janice Love
Communications Program Associate
JAlove@aarp.org
Provides support for all aspects of state work including communications, advocacy, community outreach, member and volunteer engagement.
Vikki Ortiz
Director of Communications
VOrtiz@aarp.org
Vikki manages communications for all AARP Illinois work through advertising, media relations, a local web page, social media platforms, e-blasts and unique community partnerships.
Jeff Scott
Associate State Director for the Metro East region
JScott@aarp.org
My focus areas are Energy and Financial Security.
Courtney Hedderman
Associate State Director, Advocacy & Outreach
CHedderman@aarp.org
Advocacy and outreach in Southwest Cook, DuPage, Grundy, LaSalle, and Will counties. Her policy expertise is in Medicare and Medicaid.
Yelena Konkina
Business Operations Analyst
YKonkina@aarp.org
Focus on building a stronger and more efficient AARP IL Team by providing guidance and support.
Álvaro R. Obregón
Associate State Director, Advocacy & Outreach
AObregon@aarp.org
Monika Wnuk
Associate State Director of Communications
mwnuk@aarp.org
Responsible for the strategic development and implementation of AARP’s integrated marketing and communications strategies, including earned media, paid media, owned media and social media presence in communities across Illinois.
Executive Council:
Paula Bull
Volunteer Advocate and Board Member
Theresa Collins
Executive Council Member for the Metro East Region
My focus areas are Caregiving and Livable Communities.
Alan Hollenbeck
Executive Council
My focus as an Illinois AARP volunteer is assisting AARP staff in advocacy with elected officials in support of programs that improve the lives of seniors.
Susan Caplan
Executive Council
Diversity, minority and immigrant services, social isolation, health and wellbeing.