Dean Martinez, Secretary of IDFPR
Dean Martinez has distinguished himself as a true public servant and an accomplished leader. Throughout his career, Mr. Martinez has performed with duty, honor and leadership, gaining the respect of his superiors and colleagues.
Professional Success
Secretary Martinez has implemented policies and procedures to streamline the licensing and testing of licensees in Illinois and has spearheaded the initiative to make IDFPR function as an e-government agency. Under Secretary Martinez’s leadership IDFPR has played the lead role in Governor Blagojevich’s Regulatory Reform Initiative making Illinois a more business friendly state. |
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Additionally, Secretary Martinez has played a key role in the creation and implementation of Payday Loan Reform Act, and HB 4050, also known as the Predatory Lending Reform Act, both of which are focused on protecting consumers from predatory lenders. Under Secretary Martinez’s leadership the agency has taken on the responsibility to provide service to the entities that it regulates and at the same time protect consumers and to that end he ordered the revamping of licensing areas within the department and as a result eliminated application backlogs. Secretary Martinez directs and oversees all policy decisions and investigations in the area of the Medical Malpractice Reform, Workers Compensation Legislation, and the insurance broker commissions.
On February 28, 2004 Governor Rod R. Blagojevich signed an Executive Order consolidating the Departments of Financial Institutions, Professional Regulation, Insurance and the Office of Banks and Real Estate into the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Shortly thereafter, Dean was appointed as the Chief of Staff of this newly created Department. In this role, Dean was responsible for implementing the effective consolidation and ongoing management of approximately 900 employees.
When Rod Blagojevich became Governor of the State of Illinois, Dean was made the Chief of Legislative Affairs and Legal Counsel to the Department of Financial Institutions. While in that capacity, he was detailed to the Governor’s Office of Legislative Affairs, where he was responsible for financial and law enforcement related legislation. In this role he conducted successful legal analyses of over 80 pieces of legislation that were pending the Governor’s signature. Such legislation included Senate Bill 1784 designed to regulate predatory lending practices. Additionally during this period, Dean co-authored the Governor’s anti-dropout initiative known as the GRADS Initiative (Getting Results Achieving Dreams and Success). The program’s focus is on lowering the rising high school dropout rate in Illinois.
Shortly after graduating from law school Dean began working in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office as an Assistant State’s Attorney. Dean started his career as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Appellate Division where he argued before the Illinois Appellate Court. He was later transferred to the Traffic Division where he successfully prosecuted persons for Class “A” misdemeanor offenses. He was then, promoted to the Felony Narcotics Division where he served the citizens of Illinois by prosecuting persons accused of narcotics violations.
Personal Accomplishments
Dean Martinez was appointed Acting Secretary of IDFPR in July 2005. Growing up as the son of Cuban immigrants, Dean was instilled with the concepts of hard work and commitment from an early age. Even during his early years, Dean immersed himself in serving the citizens of Illinois by getting involved in his school and the community. Dean’s sense of dedication and diligence led him to graduate from DePaul University with a Bachelor’s Degree. Inspired by his family’s journey to America from Communist Cuba, Dean was eager to pursue a dream of working in public service and started off on that path by attending law school at Loyola University Chicago earning a Juris Doctorate.
Today Dean, his wife and daughter reside in the city of Chicago.
