John Barr
Technology Specialist, Bureau of Technology & Industrial Competitiveness
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

John Barr is a Technology Specialist with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Technology and Industrial Competitiveness. The Bureau’s mission is to help position Illinois' businesses, entrepreneurs and citizens to succeed in a changing economy by: developing the skills of their workers; promoting safe and healthy workplaces; creating a cooperative labor-management environment; assisting in the commercialization of new technologies; and providing access to modernizing technologies and practices.

John has earned his Masters of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University. Since joining the Department, he has jointly administered several technology initiatives and is currently the Program Manager for the Digital Divide Grant Program and the High Technology School to Work Program.