July 13, 2023
JILL WOLOWITZ
VICE CHAIR, CIVIC FEDERATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Number of years with the Federation: 9
Committees: Executive Committee, Criminal Justice and Healthcare
Day job: Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Ethics, Compliance & Privacy Officer, HCSC
Jill Wolowitz oversees the teams responsible for federal government relations and health policy, corporate communications, human resources, corporate security and facilities.
Under Jill’s direction, HCSC relaunched a modernized annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) report in 2021 and redesigned the organization’s community investment programs by utilizing a framework that amplifies the impact of all five state plans. She also executed the launch of the successful Blue Door Neighborhood Centers, which offer no-cost programming to improve community health through wellness classes, connections to social services and customer engagement.
As the chief of staff to CEO and President Maurice Smith, Jill ensures the organization management team operates holistically and strategy decisions across HCSC are seamless, consistent with the organization’s mission and values, and positively impact employees, clients, members and consumers. She was responsible for creating and maintaining a myriad of ways to keep the organization’s 26,000 employees connected and engaged over the scope of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jill previously led state and local government relations and community affairs for HCSC’s Illinois Plan. In this role, she was the liaison to the Illinois Legislature and state regulatory agencies and advocated for policies to support a stable health insurance market and increase access to health care. She also oversaw grants and community outreach programs.
Before joining HCSC, Jill held positions in the law departments of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and the American Dental Association. She has a Juris Doctor and LLM from DePaul University College of Law and a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
What made you want to join the Civic Federation?
I joined the Civic Federation board a number of years ago with the encouragement of my leadership peers at HCSC, which is the largest customer-owned health insurer in the U.S. HCSC operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL), where I lead civic engagement and corporate social responsibility. The Civic Federation board felt like a natural fit given my role at HCSC.
The reason I continue to serve is the same reason I joined the organization in the first place: Because I believe we all have a civic duty to be involved in our community. The data-driven research conducted by the Civic Federation is important because it is independent and transparent, which means that people on both sides of the aisle, as well as the public and media, can use it as a tool to create solutions that will help our region thrive.
What do you enjoy most about being a part of the Civic Federation?
At HCSC, I help advocate for government policies to support a stable health insurance market and increase access to health care. That part of my job is a true passion. My colleagues at the Civic Federation share a similar drive to generate long-term solutions for Chicago, Cook County and the State of Illinois. The work of our board impresses me, not just because of the positive outcomes, but because it represents the coming together of representatives across all sectors of civic life, both public and private. The expertise and thoughtfulness of the staff and the guidance of the board are a great combination. This is an organization filled with big hearts and a deep commitment to our region.
What's your favorite Chicago hidden gem?
More often than not, you’ll find me dining at Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap, a terrific family-run Italian restaurant that features home cooking and an intimate and friendly atmosphere. Their chalk-board menu is filled with seriously delectable food.
I also love strolling the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures with family and friends, a museum located on the University of Chicago campus that features collections from West Asia and North Africa. The artwork and antiquities from Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, and other ancient cultures are incredible and there are always programs that shed new insights for me on the culture and art of early civilizations.
What's a project you're working on right now?
This month, HCSC is opening a new location in Mural Park, located in Pilsen. I’m excited about this project because it includes a customer service team that will strengthen our multilingual capabilities to better serve members who are not primarily English speakers. We are committed to this community and are showing it by working alongside the non-profit Skills for Chicagoland’s Future to hire up to 100 local employees, many on the tech side, who will focus on helping community members access their health care more effectively.
This project is a fitting example of how companies develop strong community relationships by directly partnering with community stakeholders. This way, we can better understand the nuances, and unique needs, of the people living there, which ultimately helps us serve them.
Blue Cross Blue Shield was a sponsor of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race. What did you most enjoy about the experience?
We know that the economic health and the vibrancy of our community corresponds with good medical health and wellness. So, it was natural for us to want to help play a role in showcasing our city to tourists and the outside world so they can see how vital Chicago is and that our welcoming city is open for business.
Our theme was “driving access” to health, which makes sense because central to our mission is making health care available to people, no matter who they are or where they live. I enjoyed helping make that connection with an event that is all about inclusivity and presenting Chicago in its best light.