Lake County Board Committee Meeting - February 24, 2026

This meeting of the Lake County Board Committee was called to order at 1:00 PM on February 24, 2026, under the chairmanship of Chair Cunningham. The committee received two key presentations: an update on the employee Belonging at Work survey by Dr. Adrian Carter of Fountain CEO Carter Development Group, and an update on supplier diversity data by Purchasing Manager Eva Alberon. Several routine actions and discussions took place.

Consent Calendar

• The committee approved the consent agenda (item 8.1), including meeting minutes, on a motion by Member Campus and second by Chair Hart. All members voted in favor.

Discussion Items

• Belonging at Work Survey (Item 8.2): Dr. Adrian Carter presented an update on the employee engagement survey, which closed on February 20, 2025, with a 55% participation rate. The survey covered inclusion, training, communication, community engagement, psychological safety, workplace well-being, opportunities for advancement, readiness for change, and organizational culture. Dr. Carter highlighted initial data: 24% strongly agreed that Lake County values them as an employee, 35% somewhat agreed, 18% somewhat disagreed, 18% strongly disagreed, and 4% were unsure. He noted that treating unsure responses as negatives yields about 40% who do not feel valued. Similarly, 23% strongly agreed and 41% somewhat agreed that Lake County’s stated values are reflected in daily workplace culture, leaving 36% who partially or fully disagree. The next steps include deeper analysis, focus groups, and a training session on psychological safety for government leaders scheduled for April 14, 2025. Committee members discussed the ability to disaggregate data by department, work location, hybrid/remote status, and the importance of understanding why employees feel undervalued. Dr. Carter explained that cross-tabulation and analysis of open-ended comments will provide further insights.
• Supplier Diversity Data (Item 8.3): Eva Alberon reviewed the supplier diversity program, including compliance with the 2022 public act mandating collection and publication of vendor demographic information. The county uses the B2G Now system to track classifications: woman-owned, veteran-owned, minority-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises. Over three fiscal years, the largest spend category was woman-owned businesses. The county has increased its percentage of spending with diverse vendors year over year. Notable vendors include major construction firms, temporary services (Salem Group), and IT vendors. The system also helps source new vendors; registration increased by 815 vendors this year, totaling 9,772. Committee members inquired about hosting a separate business opportunity meeting, and Ms. Alberon noted that Lake County partners with the College of DuPage for a reverse vendor fair on March 17, 2025, with over 200 diverse vendors registered. The purchasing division issues 60–80 procurements annually.

Key Outcomes

• The committee received both presentations for information and discussion. No formal votes were taken on the presentations.
• The next meeting is scheduled for May 26, 2025.
• The meeting was adjourned without further business.