Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse Honored with Mark of Excellence Award
2025-10-15
The Chicago Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators has recognized Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse with a 2025 Mark of Excellence Award for her leadership and commitment to service.
“Cassaundra Rouse is a results-driven public leader whose career reflects the highest ideals of service,” said LaKeshia Buckner-Smith, president of the NFBPA Chicago Chapter. “As the leader of one of Illinois’ most vital transportation networks, she oversees an agency that delivers more than just safe and efficient travel. Under her leadership, the Illinois Tollway has redefined its role as a catalyst for leveraging investments in public infrastructure to drive equity and economic opportunity.”
The annual Marks of Excellence Awards honor those shaping the future of public administration through visionary work in government, education, health, infrastructure and community service.
In addition to Rouse, other recipients of the 2025 Marks of Excellence Awards presented during the NFBPA’s annual gala in October include the Illinois Department of Central Management Services Director Raven DeVaughn and City of Chicago Chief Procurement Officer Sharla Roberts.
“I am honored to be recognized by the NFBPA for the essential work we do to serve our customers, business we work with and communities throughout Northern Illinois,” said Rouse. “The Illinois Tollway delivers more than just safe and efficient travel. We work to deliver on the promise to create pathways to opportunity, equity and stronger communities. Going forward, we will continue that mission with the support of the NFBPA and its members.”
To make government contracts more accessible, Rouse’s leadership has emphasized direct community engagement, expanding outreach to businesses to provide resources and develop partnerships to help firms thrive and grow.
The agency’s successful Technical Assistance program offering business training and professional development services to construction and professional engineering firms, is now expanding to support goods and services firms as well.
The Illinois Tollway also hosts biannual Contracting with Government events in partnership with other state and local agencies connecting small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses to goods and services procurement opportunities across multiple state and local agencies and connecting vendors with each other.
The Tollway currently has more than 400 goods and services contracts valued at about $1 billion. Contracts can be as small as one-time purchases to some larger contracts that last up to 10 years.
In addition, the Illinois Tollway’s $15 billion Move Illinois capital program launched in 2012 continues to provide opportunities for construction and professional engineering firms. So far, more than $13.5 billion has been awarded in contracts – including more than $3.1 billion to small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses.