CHICAGO (STMW) – Gov. Pat Quinn on Friday announced the appointment of Ann L. Schneider as acting Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation. Schneider’s appointment follows the retirement of Gary Hannig, who served as Illinois’ Transportation Secretary since 2009, a release from Quinn’s office said. Schneider currently serves as the agency’s Chief of Operations.

“As we head into this busy construction season, the Department of Transportation needs an energetic and capable leader, and Ann L. Schneider has shown herself time and again to be just that,” Quinn said. “Gary Hannig’s experience and deep knowledge of state government proved invaluable to my administration. Our state is a better place thanks to his leadership.”

As Acting Secretary, Schneider will oversee more than $2.5 billion in capital projects scheduled for 2011. Schneider has served as IDOT’s Chief of Operations since 2010, responsible for managing and overseeing the department’s six offices and four divisions, the release said. Prior to that role, she served five years as Director and Chief Financial Officer for IDOT’s Office of Finance and Administration. Schneider has a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Sangamon State University (now University of Illinois Springfield). She resides in downstate Petersburg, which is near Springfield.

Hannig was appointed Transportation Secretary by Governor Quinn after serving in the Illinois House of Representatives since 1979.

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