Kristin DiCenso

Kristin DiCenso was born and raised in the Capital City but spent 8 years in Southern
California and Chicago before returning to Springfield in 2000 to open a small business.
Ms. DiCenso has worked her way up state government, spending ten years at the
Department of Natural Resources and three years at the Illinois Department of
Transportation. Kristin supervised statewide staffs, and multi-million-dollar budgets and was responsible for crafting and implementing agency policy.

In 2017, Kristin was elected Ward 6 Alderwoman in the city of Springfield. She was re-
elected in 2019 and continues to serve her 11,000 constituents. Ms. DiCenso’s main
areas of focus are older neighborhoods, public safety, tourism, advocacy for
disadvantaged communities and people, and the well-being of animals.
Ms. DiCenso earned a Secretary’s Pin for her work on the 2012 NATO summit and was
named a “Future Conservation Leader of Tomorrow” by the Max McGraw Wildlife
Foundation. In 2019, Kristin returned to IDNR and currently serves at the Chief of Staff
to1,150 employees.

In 2018, Kristin was appointed to the Bi-Centennial Commission by Illinois Comptroller
Susana Mendoza. Also, in 2018, Ms. DiCenso received the Action Illinois One Year
Anniversary award for public service.

In 2018, Kristin was appointed to the Bi-Centennial Commission by Illinois Comptroller
Susana Mendoza. Also, in 2018, Ms. DiCenso received the Action Illinois One Year
Anniversary award for public service. In 2020, she received the Inner Cities Older
Neighborhood Coalition’s Public Servant of the Year award, and the Phoenix Center’s
OUTstanding Person of the Year award. In both 2020 and 2021, Ms. DiCenso was
Voted Best City Official and Best Up and Coming Leader in the Illinois Times. In 2021,
Ms. DiCenso was appointed to the Route 66 Bicentennial by Governor Pritzker.

Kristin is the proud mother of 14-year-old Stan, and 7-year-old Golden Retriever, Lovey.
She loves cooking (and eating), karaoke, traveling and spending time with her family
and friends.