Appointment complements Kruidenier’s current role as WSDI Vice Executive Director
Source: Res Publica
January 3, 2019
Wine and Spirits Distributors of Illinois announced today it has appointed Jeremy Kruidenier, Vice Executive Director of WSDI, to also serve as General Counsel to the executive leadership team. In this expanded role, Kruidenier will continue to lobby and advocate for the regulatory and legislative issues of WSDI members and provide legal expertise.
“Jeremy has worked on a number of legislative victories for WSDI and has proven time and again that he is a savvy and tireless advocate for the wholesale industry,” said WSDI Executive Director Karin Lijana Matura. “By expanding Jeremy’s role within the organization, we are better able to utilize his deep understanding of the legislative process and issues impacting our membership.”
Since entering the position as Vice Executive Director in August 2015, Kruidenier has represented WSDI in front of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, the Illinois General Assembly and various units of local government. Kruidenier and WSDI will continue to maintain their close working relationship with long-standing counsel Jim Webster of Webster Powell. “I’ve enjoyed working with Jeremy at WSDI and look forward to the same in his new role,” said Webster.
“It is an honor to work with the incredible team at WSDI and I’m excited to expand my role advocating for the state’s leading wine and spirits distributors and promoting the safe distribution of alcoholic beverages in Illinois,” said Kruidenier.
Prior to his role at WSDI, Kruidenier held several deputy level positions under the administration of Governor Pat Quinn where he managed staff, oversaw a portfolio of hundreds of pieces of legislation and advised the Governor as a member of his senior staff.
Kruidenier graduated Cum Laude from the University of Illinois College of Law and received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is a practicing attorney in the State of Illinois and in the United States District Court – Northern District of Illinois.
Kruidenier is the Chair of the Trade and Professional Associations Committee at the Chicago Bar Association and serves on the Alzheimer’s Association of Illinois Junior Board, the Equality Illinois PAC Board, and is a member of the 100 Club of Chicago and the Varsity “I” Association. He lives in Oak Park with his wife and daughter.