Illinois Manufacturers’ Association Welcomes New Board Members
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) announced two new members have joined the Board of Directors as the organization continues its work to strengthen the state’s dynamic manufacturing sector.
“These leaders bring impressive credentials and decades of experience as we continue to build on our strong record of leadership on behalf of manufacturers across the state,” said Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the IMA. “Manufacturing drives the Illinois economy, and the contributions of these new board members will be invaluable as we work together to advance the manufacturing sector and move makers forward.”
The new board members for the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association are:
Chris Guy (Illinois American Water): Guy serves as Senior Director of Business Development for Illinois American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater company in the state. He leads the company’s business development functions, driving strategic growth initiatives and strengthening partnerships with communities across Illinois. Prior to joining Illinois American Water, he spent more than two decades working in public policy and government affairs, representing several Fortune 500 companies in government relations and later holding senior management positions within the Illinois General Assembly.
Guy has dedicated more than a decade to public service throughout the Metro East region. Since 2013, he has served as a member of the Madison County Board and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Madison County Transit District Board. He also serves on the board of the Illinois Energy Association and the advisory board of the Illinois Economic Development Corporation (Illinois EDC). His previous elected roles included trustee for the Village of Maryville and trustee for Collinsville Township. Guy holds a degree in political science and business management from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Michele K. Petrie (Wintrust Financial Corporation): Petrie is Executive Vice President at Wintrust Financial Corporation. She previously served as Executive Vice President, Market Head of Old Plank, St. Charles and Wheaton charters. Throughout her roles, Petrie has focused on people and culture at Wintrust. She rolled out the culture process to all three charters in the fall of 2024 and in the larger Wintrust footprint, participated in the development of the Wintrust Credit Cohort, served as a steering committee member and mentor for Wintrust’s Paired to Win Mentoring program, and was an advocate and protegee for Wintrust’s Paired to Win Advocacy program. Among other responsibilities, she led the entry of Wintrust into the Rockford market, developing the loan production, middle market and residential mortgage teams to bring in new business and grow the brand.
Her career began as a credit analyst at American National Bank in Chicago. Petrie subsequently served in various roles at American National Bank in Elgin, Citibank in Naperville, Arlington Heights, and Chicago, and at BMO Harris Bank in Rockford. She is the past president of the Crusader Community Health Foundation board and currently serves as a board member for the Rockford Local Development Corporation. She is a former board member of the Illinois Bankers Association, Laurent House Foundation, North West Compass, and the Arlington Economic Alliance, and past chairperson of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the Rockford Area Economic Development Council. Petrie graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in finance.
