Jennifer Cacciapaglia
As Manager of the Mayor’s Office of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Prevention for the City of Rockford, Jennifer Cacciapaglia serves as a key collaborator in coordinating advocacy service organizations, law enforcement, and civic groups. Cacciapaglia has spent her entire career focusing on community work and engagement. In 2013, she co-founded the Rockford Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (RAASE) to work to end the demand for sexually exploited individuals through preventative measures, survivor protection, accountability of violators and community engagement. She also serves as the education coordinator and a trained facilitator for The Amanda Reed Memorial Fund, created to educate young people about the dangers of unhealthy behaviors in relationships which can escalate into lethal violence. Cacciapaglia was previously an Assistant State’s Attorney with Winnebago County and City Attorney for Rockford, and she received her J.D. from Northern Illinois University School of Law in 1998.
Rosemary Collins
Judge Rosemary Collins served as Presiding Judge of the Family Division and the Domestic Violence Division of the 17th Circuit Court, State of Il., before recently retiring after almost 30 years on the bench. During her tenure, she established one of the first courthouse located domestic violence assistance offices and founded Children’s Safe Harbor, a safe visitation and exchange facility that also provides free supervised visitation for domestic violence victims and their families. She implemented a Dedicated Coordinated Domestic Violence Court, combining both civil and criminal courts, that was recognized by the Dept. of Justice for its innovative practices and designated as a national Mentor Court. She also established a Small Claims Mediation Project that provides free trained mediators to self-represented litigants. She is part of a team that provides immigration law training to state court judges across the country, is working on establishing a Family Justice Center in her community, and is Chair of the 17th Circuit Court Coordinating Council.
Tom McNamara
Mayor Tom McNamara was sworn-in as the 41st mayor of Rockford on May 1, 2017. Prior to becoming Mayor, Tom served the community as 3rd Ward Alderman, representing constituents on Rockford’s east and west sides, as well as downtown. As Alderman, Tom introduced and sponsored key legislation to invest in neighborhoods, make our community safer, and protect taxpayer dollars. As Mayor, Tom focuses on developing and implementing plans to reduce crime, increase police technology and training, strengthen neighborhoods and schools, and encourage economic development. He advocates for lower tax rates and appoints members to taxing bodies who are fiscally responsible and share a likeminded responsibility to use taxpayer funding efficiently and effectively. Tom serves on many boards across the community, including the Alignment Rockford Governing Board, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Illinois Community Revitalization Task Force, Illinois Municipal League Board of Directors, JB Pritzker’s Budget and Innovation Team, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, Rockford Area Economic Development Council Board of Directors, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Workforce Connection Board.
Kurt Whisenand
Assistant Deputy Chief Kurt Whisenand is a 25-year veteran of the Rockford Police Department. During his career, he has served as a Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor, SWAT Team member, Detective, Sergeant, and was a charter member of the Winnebago/Boone County Integrity task force. Kurt received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Aurora University, a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University, is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, and a recipient of the department’s Exceptional Service Medal.
Nancy Kaney
Nancy Kaney is a community advocate and organizer who is one of the co-founding members of Club Blue Rockford, an organization formed in 2012 to promote the safety, health and well-being of children in need in Winnebago County. She helped raise over 2 million dollars, all used locally to serve the region’s most vulnerable children. She has worked closely with local child advocacy organizations to raise awareness of critical issues facing our community and secure supplies and funds since 2012. Nancy has been a professional airline pilot for 25 years and currently flies internationally for a major US airline. She earned her BS in Aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1990.
