Rena Rogers to replace Rowan Watkins as Interim Administrator

Rena Rogers will return to her previous role as interim Cook County administrator.

During the March 25 Board of Commissioners meeting the board discussed only briefly who might replace Interim Administrator Rowan Watkins. He has been in the role for nearly six months and is returning to his permanent role as Management Information Systems Director. Rogers was selected with unanimous support from the commissioners.

Commissioner Ann Sullivan spoke about Rogers’ service previously as Interim Administrator, expressing her support for tapping Rogers to once again fill the role. Commissioner Garry Gamble also stated his support and then motioned to select Rogers for the position.

Other commissioners expressed their appreciation for all of the community members who showed interest in serving as the interim administrator. Because of the many county projects underway, the board opted to choose Rogers, who already has experience in the position.

Commissioner Dave Mills said with all of the local interest that was expressed in the interim role, he hopes that as the commissioners move forward with hiring a permanent administrator, there may be more local applicants.

“I’d like to say how humbled I am,” Rogers told the board after the vote. “I feel very strongly about this community.”

While she said she’d started to get used to her life in retirement, she was also happy to come back to the county. She said, “If there’s some way I can help, then yes, I’ll always be glad to help.”

As she takes on the interim position, Rogers also addressed a potential conflict of interest. She has assisted with the transfer station project on behalf of North Shore Waste, in an independent contractor role. She told the board that as she considered returning to the interim administrator role, she let Dustin Hanson, co-owner of NSW, know that she would no longer be working for NSW. As she returns to the interim administrator position, she will be working on the project only from the side of the county.

Rogers will officially take the position over from Watkins beginning next week.

Watkins was acknowledged at the meeting, with the commissioners speaking highly of his leadership during this time. Watkins also addressed the board, thanking them for their support and speaking about his choice not to remain in the interim job, citing personal obligations and the need to return to his department.

Kirsten Wisniewski March 25, 2025