$ 80,000 TOLLWAY HIRE’S LAST JOB WAS SELLING OFFICE FURNITURE IN 2001
A politically connected Illinois tollway employee hired last year for an important $ 80,016 engineering department job last worked in 2001 as an account executive selling office furniture.
Laura Durkin is the agency’s general manager of engineering and sister- in- law to Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs. Tollway officials recently released Laura Durkin’s resume to the Daily Herald after withholding it for weeks.
She was hired in spring 2017 for the job overseeing multiple engineering, architectural and construction contracts. The position requires a minimum of five years’ management experience administering construction contracts, according to the Tollway’s job description.
Laura Durkin has a degree in interior design. Her most recent position was from 1996 to 2001 working as an account executive for Workspace, an office furniture dealership in Oakbrook Terrace. She previously handled sales accounts for two other office furniture companies.
“She was clearly qualified for her earlier jobs ... but very little of that experience seems to transfer to the new position at the Tollway as ‘ general manager of engineering,’” said Bill Morris of Grayslake, a former state senator and former Tollway director. “It doesn’t pass the smell test.”
Tollway authorities defended Durkin’s hiring, saying she is qualified and that Jim Durkin was not involved. Durkin and his staff did not respond to requests for comment, nor did Laura Durkin.
Laura Durkin has “extensive experience in contract management, including activities related to all aspects of project phasing from planning, architectural design and construction through punch list activities. This position is not required to be filled by a professional engineer,” spokeswoman Joelle McGinnis said.
Durkin and nine other candidates were interviewed for the job. “She had the best skill set of the candidates considered for the job including management experience, organizational skills and detail focus,” McGinnis said.
Tollway Chief Engineer Paul Kovacs said he recommended Durkin “because I felt she was the best fit for the position and the compensation we were able to offer.”
The previous general manager of engineering earned more than $ 120,000 annually.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Bruce Rauner said any questions were “best posed to the Tollway. They do their own hiring and know their employees’ credentials.”