Connie Brown, Deputy Director of Finance for the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, will retire on Oct. 31 after 37 years.
Brown started her first position as an accountant when the AOIC office was at 118 W. Edwards Street in Springfield when there were a few dozen people. She followed when the AOIC moved to 900 S. Spring Street and again to the current office on Old Jacksonville Road.
“It has been a wonderful experience. I have learned something new every day – that is the best part. You’re not an assembly line doing the same thing over and over again,” Brown said. “I’ve enjoyed the challenges and met so many wonderful people. Director Marcia Meis and Chief of Finance and Operations Kara McCaffrey have been wonderful mentors to me.”
Brown’s work focused on the annual Illinois Courts budget and tracking judicial and non-judicial positions that now number just over 2,000.
“It is hard to imagine the AOIC without Connie Brown, but we will be saying goodbye and wishing her well after 37 years of service to the Illinois Judicial Branch,” Director Meis said. “Connie brought to the AOIC, not only incredible institutional knowledge, but also a steady hand, thorough analysis, and strategic forecasting toward our constitutional budgetary responsibilities and so much more. To say she will be greatly missed is an understatement.”
While Brown is looking forward to retirement, she said she would miss the people and work after nearly four decades with the Illinois Courts.
“The commitment, dedication, and knowledge that Connie has provided to the AOIC for the past 37 years is truly an inspiration,” McCaffrey said. “Connie leaves an impact on everyone she interacts with and for me, it has been an absolute pleasure to work with her. I know I am not alone when I say that she will be missed!”