CHICAGO, October 10, 2022 — Richard J. Monocchio has been inducted into Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Specializing in housing development and housing policy, Mr. Monocchio has served as the executive director of the Housing Authority of Cook County since 2011. In this capacity, he subsidizes rent for approximately 18,000 households in suburban Cook County, operates 30 developments, oversees 165 employees, maintains his involvement in job training and placement, and raises funds to develop initiatives such as school programs for children. Earlier in his career, Mr. Monocchio was the first deputy housing commissioner for the city of Chicago under the Daley administration, senior adviser to the late U.S. Rep. George E. Sangmeister and worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Clinton administration.

Prior to embarking upon his professional journey, Mr. Monocchio received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Illinois Chicago in 1984. He has been a member of several important organizations relevant to his field, including as the vice chairperson for the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, and a board member for both the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership and the Cook County Land Bank Authority.

Mr. Monocchio attributes his success to his mentors, including Henry Gabriel Cisneros, who served as the 10^th secretary for HUD in the administration of President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997, and Joseph Shuldiner, who served as an assistant HUD secretary under Mr. Cisneros. He also had the honor of working for former Mayor Richard M. Daley and is presently working for Toni Preckwinkle, the 35^th president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, an office she has held since 2010. Having mentors who believed in him has given Mr. Monocchio the opportunity to achieve considerable success throughout his career.

In a career filled with highlights, Mr. Monocchio is most proud of keeping residents housed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Emergency Rental Assistance program funded by the federal government, he was able to help more than 20,000 renters stay in their apartments, ultimately overcoming the crisis. He also assists families ordered to enter eviction court by helping them pay their rent to avoid being evicted. Looking toward the future, Mr. Monocchio aims to continue to develop additional housing, utilizing his agency as a beacon to show how people can benefit from an efficient and effective government. He plans to begin a campaign at the state level to raise awareness and increase the supply of affordable housing.