Jeff Ladd
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Mr. Ladd is an attorney and partner in the law firm of K&L Gates LLP.  He received his J.D. degree, with honors, in 1973 from IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he was an editor of the Law Review.  He received a B.A. degree, with honors, from Loras College in 1963.

As an attorney, businessman and civic leader, Jeff Ladd has shown a consistent dedication to public service for over 30 years.  In 1970, he took a leave from his family construction business to serve as a member of the Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention.  His service earned him the recognition of the Chicago Daily News as one of the Convention's Twenty Outstanding Delegates.  More recently, Mr. Ladd served as the Chair of METRA, the commuter rail division of the Regional Transportation Authority, from 1984 until August 1, 2006.  Under his leadership METRA was continually cited as the finest commuter rail system in the country. 

On several occasions, Mr. Ladd has been called upon by the Governor of Illinois to serve on administrative boards and commissions in state government.  After the 1970 Constitutional Convention, he was appointed by Governor Richard Ogilvie to serve on the Constitutional Implementation Committee, which was created to ascertain and draft any legislation necessary to the implementation of the new State Constitution.  Subsequently, Mr. Ladd served as Chair of the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities in Illinois and as a member of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.  In 1983, he was appointed as an interim Director of the Regional Transportation Authority prior to assuming the chairship of METRA.  In 1991, he was appointed Chair of the Redistricting Process Review Commission for the State of Illinois.  He was the recipient of the 1995 W. Graham Claytor, Jr.,  Award for Distinguished Service to Passenger Transportation.

Mr. Ladd has been active in his community, having served as President of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Crystal Lake United Fund, and was the recipient of the Jaycee's Distinguished Service Award.  He has been a resident of McHenry County, Ill., since 1946.