Carolyn Adams

Biography: Carolyn Adams (Deceased) Illinois Lottery Superintendent

Governor Rod Blagojevich appointed Carolyn Adams as Lottery Superintendent on May 25, 2003. As Superintendent, Adams oversees the state's Department of Revenue - Lottery Division, which has annual sales of nearly $1.7 billion, more than 200 employees and an annual budget of $340 million.

After only a year as superintendent, the Lottery has seen record breaking sales of more than $112 million. The Lottery has also raised its contribution to the Illinois Common School Fund by $30 million, bringing its total 2004 education contribution to $570 million.

Adams has been frequently quoted and featured in numerous national media interviews on WGN-TV, FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. She has also been the subject of feature profiles and cover stories in N'Digo and American Executive magazine.

A Chicago native, Adams hails from a strong sales and marketing background. Prior to joining the Lottery, she spent eight years as Senior Account Manager for Clearchannel Communications. There, she successfully sold radio and outdoor advertising and oversaw event marketing for several multi-million dollar corporations and state agencies. She served in similar roles for WGN Radio and Chicago's WVON radio before working for Clearchannel.

Adams spent two years at Illinois State University and returned to the Chicago area to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree in communication at Columbia College. She is active in the Chicago Urban League, the Rainbow Push Coalition, the Principal for a Day program, is a board member of the Open Book Federation, and serves on the awards committee of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL). She currently resides in Chicago with her son, Tré.

Funeral Held For Lottery Chief CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (April 5, 2007) – Friends and family packed the Cosmopolitan Community Church on Chicago's South Side on Thursday for the funeral of Carolyn Adams, the superintendent of the Illinois State Lottery........................Subscribers

State Mourns Passing of Illinois Lottery Superintendent Carolyn Adams
Adams celebrated for leading agency to largest sales and profit figures in Lottery history
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (March 26, 2007) -- Carolyn Adams, 44, Superintendent of the Illinois Lottery since May 2003, passed away Monday morning in Chicago following a private struggle with breast cancer.
As head of the Illinois Lottery, Adams played a key role in increasing the Lottery’s contribution to education. During her tenure, Adams was instrumental in overhauling the Lottery’s product portfolio, introducing new games and drawings, improving retailer communications, and updating technology and sales systems. Adams also oversaw the successful launch of two specialty tickets called “Ticket-For-The-Cure” and “Veteran’s Cash.” Proceeds from these two tickets go to benefit breast cancer research, education and programs; as well as services and support programs for Veterans in Illinois.
Adams is credited with achieving three consecutive years of record sales growth for the agency. During her tenure, sales increased $403 million and profits rose $130 million. Total Lottery sales reached $1.99 billion in 2006.
A native of the Roseland community on Chicago’s South Side, Adams spent two years at Illinois State University in Bloomington before returning to Chicago to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree in communication at Columbia College. She enjoyed a successful sales and marketing career before joining state government. She was among the top sales executives for Clear Channel Communications; prior to that she served similar roles for Chicago’s WGN Radio 720 and WVON 1690 AM.
In addition to her Lottery duties, Adams was involved in a number of civic, business and educational groups. She was a member of the Chicago Urban League and the Rainbow Push Coalition, was active in Chicago’s Principal for a Day program and served as a board member of the Open Book Federation.
Adams is survived by her 10 year-old son Tre; her mother, Harriett VanPelt; her brother, Darryl Lewis; and her sisters, April Lewis-Carter and Tanya Tomlin. Funeral services are pending and the family has established a memorial fund in Adam’s son Tre’s name and asks that, in lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a contribution should forward donations in the form of check or money order to:
Tre’s Fund
Seaway National Bank
P.O. Box 19522
Chicago, IL  60619

Governor Appoints New Lottery Chief
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (May 25, 2003) -- According to an AP wire report Governor Rod Blagojevich has appointed a new Illinois Lottery Director....................Subscribers