Delio Calzolari is an agile and collaborative professional with decades of leadership, management, and legal experience across the public, private, and military sectors.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Calzolari spent over seven years as the Director of Legislative and Governmental Affairs for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. In this capacity, he managed the legislative portfolio for one of the largest public open space entities in the United States, successfully navigating significant changes to the state’s procurement, property tax, and pension codes. His extensive public policy background also includes serving as the Associate Director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University and as a Senior Advisor to Illinois Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon. During his tenure with the Lieutenant Governor, he managed a diverse portfolio including the state budget, economic development, and veterans’ affairs, and was instrumental in developing the Illinois Educational Opportunity for Military Children Act.

Mr. Calzolari’s private sector experience includes over six years with Caterpillar, Inc., where he served as an international logistics operations, client, and project manager. He led global logistics projects and managed distribution operations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, supporting major clients such as Mazda and Emerson, Inc.. Additionally, he served as the veterans and military family vote director in North Carolina for President Obama’s 2008 general election campaign.

A commissioned officer in the United States Navy, Mr. Calzolari served as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard the USS O’Brien in Yokosuka, Japan. As a reservist, he was the Officer-in-Charge of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Area Search Detachment in San Diego. His military service earned him the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

Mr. Calzolari holds a J.D. cum laude from Southern Illinois University School of Law and a B.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is a licensed member of the Illinois Bar. A fellow of the Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy, he remains active in professional affiliations including the Chicago Bar Association.