Austin Baidas

Austin Baidas is a Chicago-based finance and operations consultant with experience in both public, non-profit and private sectors. In addition to having run for public office, Austin was appointed to leadership roles at the US Department of Transportation during the Obama Administration and in Illinois State Government during Governor Quinn’s Administration. Prior to his government service, Austin served as a Chief Executive in the environmental testing laboratory and manufactured housing businesses. Austin earned a Bachelor of Arts from Albion College in Economics and Management.

Austin is active in his community.  He currently serves as a Trustee of Albion College where he Chairs the Mission and Student Success Committee and raises scholarships for talented Chicago students from disadvantaged neighborhoods. He also serves on the Howard Brown Health Board of Directors where during a three year term as Treasurer, he helped lead the organization through the pandemic and implemented a significant capital expansion. Additionally, Austin and his family lead a Scholarship Fund created in 2006 in honor of his late father which has awarded more than a million dollars in scholarships for college tuition . Austin previously served 8 years on the board of the Center on Halsted playing a key role in developing the nation’s first LGBT senior housing apartments.