Illinois Department of Central Management Services Receives Top National Honors for Innovation, Leadership, and Government Operations

SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) has been honored with three awards from the National Association of State Chief Administrators (NASCA), recognizing the department's transformational work in modernizing hiring, elevating public service leadership, and improving government operations for Illinoisans.

The awards were presented on October 23 at NASCA's annual Leadership Summit, underscoring Illinois' growing reputation as a national model for government modernization.

Illinois Wins in Three Award Categories:

• Innovation in State Government Award - Transformation Category

Project: Hiring Process Reform

CMS received top honors for overhauling Illinois' decades-old, paper-based hiring system. The reform cut hiring timelines by 58%, reduced vacancy rates nearly in half, and doubled the number of applications received, positioning Illinois as a leader in equitable, modern workforce development.

• Government Operations Champion Award - CoreyAnne Gulkewicz, CMS Chief Strategy Officer

CoreyAnne Gulkewicz was recognized for her visionary leadership in transforming Illinois' personnel systems and guiding the implementation of the state's first enterprise-wide Human Capital Management system, impacting more than 50,000 employees across 60+ agencies.

• Distinguished Deputy Award - Aundra Williams, CMS Assistant Director

Recognized for a 24-year career spanning leadership in procurement, fleet modernization, and supplier diversity, Aundra Williams was honored for his enduring contributions to Illinois operations, including spearheading a statewide telematics rollout to improve fleet efficiency and safety.

"These awards are a powerful endorsement of what we've long believed: that good government can also be great government," said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. "I'm proud of CMS for modernizing how we hire, manage, and serve the people of Illinois. Thanks to dedicated public servants like Aundra Williams and CoreyAnne Gulkewicz, under the leadership of Director Raven DeVaughn, we are creating a more inclusive, efficient, and future-ready government."

"This historic recognition by NASCA is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of our team," said Raven A. DeVaughn, CMS Director. "Whether it's overhauling the hiring process, bringing innovation to state operations, or elevating long-serving leaders who embody the very best in public service, CMS is honored to set the pace nationally for what's possible in state government."

Illinois: A NASCA Award Legacy

This year's recognition continues a strong track record of excellence for CMS at NASCA. In recent years, CMS has been recognized for:

With these most recent awards, Illinois is home to one of the most decorated central service agencies in NASCA history, reinforcing its leadership in creating smarter, more equitable government services.