Chris J. Davis
Title: Director of State Legislation
Hometown – Born and raised in Springfield
College – Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN
Favorite Sports Team – Season ticket holder to St. Louis City, MLS team. Cardinals and Blues
Favorite Hobby/Pastime – Running, working out, staying active.
Current Favorite Television Show & Podcast – Shrinking. Landman. Yellowstone.
“Death, Sex, and Money”. I feel like it’s been around forever, but it is still good.
Celebrity Encounter – I met half the U.S. Women’s National Team, in addition to Chelsea Clinton, at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Most interesting travel story – Also, at the ’96 Olympics. I left Centennial Olympic Park just in time to get home to see the news that a bomb had been detonated at the Park.
Family & Pets – Single, Never married. No pets. I’m allergic to cats and most dogs. My Mom, Brother, and family all live in Springfield/Chatham.
Mark Raney
Title: Associate Director of State Legislation
Hometown – Edwardsville, IL
College – University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana
Favorite Sports Team – Fighting Illini
Favorite Hobby/Pastime – Gym
Current Favorite Television Show & Podcast – from 2024 either House of the Dragon or Yellowstone
Celebrity Encounter – Friends and I went to Ballpark Village during the 2017 Winter Classic in St. Louis. Stopped by the stadium to get Winter Classic swag and asked a random guy on the street to take a photo of us…turned out he was the owner of the St. Louis Blues.
Most interesting travel story – I’ve actually never traveled outside of the US.
Family & Pets – Parents: Mary and Ray Raney; Sister: Mary Jo; Dogs: Jackson and Kace
Anna McKinley
Title: Assistant Director of State Legislation
Hometown – Okawville, IL
College – University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland
Favorite Sports Team – St. Louis Cardinals
Favorite Hobby/Pastime – Riding horses, sailboat racing, and camping at IL State Parks
Current Favorite Television Show & Podcast – Gilmore Girls & The Rest Is Politics
Celebrity Encounter – I met the casts of Project X and The Hangover on a beach in Antigua. My Grandma made friends with all of them.
Most interesting travel story – While living in Scotland, my niece was born on a US Army Base in Germany. It was the height of COVID, and it took planes, trains, automobiles, and many German language documents to meet her.
Family & Pets – Dad: Jason; Brother: Jacob; Pets: Bobby and Cou (cats), Obie (dog), and 2 horses
Christina Nourie
Title: Northeast Legislative Coordinator
Home Town – Utica, Illinois
College – Bachelor’s in Politics, Lake Forest College
Favorite Sports Team – Trinity Catholic Academy’s 7th grade basketball team (my son plays shooting guard)
Favorite Hobby/Pastime – heading to Union Pier, MI, for peace, quiet and family time along the beach.
Current Favorite Television Show & Podcast – Not much time for television these days, but my son and I like to watch our favorite college basketball teams (Illini, Marquette and Northwestern). March Madness is one of our favorite times of year.
Celebrity Encounter – As a young staffer, I coordinated a legislative task force that included then Illinois State Senator Barack Obama. One morning he waved me over, handed me a five-dollar bill and graciously asked if I would run out to get him a green tea, a drink I’d never heard of at the time. Years later, I saw a tv interview of him, and he talked about how much he loved green tea. Now, anytime I order a green tea myself, I think of our 44th President!
Most interesting travel story – Drove the Road to Hana in Maui, Hawaii years ago. It’s a must-see. Absolutely beautiful views of waterfalls and beaches… but so many winding curves, so bring your Dramamine.
Family & Pets – My son, Colin (13), my parents Monty and Mary and my sister Ginny. No dog yet, but my son continues to lobby me for one. Someday!