Informed by nearly three decades of national government relations experience at Fortune 100 company Walgreens, and other corporations and trade associations—Donovan spearheads Public Strategies’ national strategic partnerships, strengthening the firm’s relationships with key state and local organizations. At Walgreens, Donovan most recently served as senior director of government relations, public affairs, and civic engagement, overseeing local and state advocacy in various markets and managing the company’s relationships with major national municipal and state trade associations. Previously as national director of local government relations, he led legislative and regulatory strategy across municipal, county, and local governments in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Earlier in his career, he held roles with the Illinois Restaurant Association, SBC (now AT&T), the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and Amtrak, and began his public service as a legislative staffer in the Illinois House of Representatives, where he focused on consumer protection, higher education, transportation, and public safety.
A respected civic leader, Donovan has chaired the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce’s Political Action Committee, the Civic Federation, the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Business Council, and the Oak Park Citizens’ Police Oversight Commission. He has also served on the boards of several state and local retail trade associations in Chicago, New Mexico, New York City, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Donovan has been recognized by President Barack Obama and the Corporation for National Community Service, and other organizations including the University of Illinois Alumni Association, the Cosmopolitan Chamber of Commerce, and the Boys and Girls Club.
He holds a master’s in political studies from the University of Illinois Springfield and a bachelor’s in political science from Sangamon State University.