Brad Tietz
Director, State Policy
Data Center Coalition
Brad Tietz is a director of state policy for the Data Center Coalition. Brad brings over 16 years of experience in state and local government affairs, public policy, politics, and economic development. He began his career in the Illinois House of Representatives where he served as a Senior Legislative Analyst for the Illinois House Revenue & Finance, Labor & Commerce, and Telecommunications committees. Brad then served as the Legislative Director for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in both Republican and Democratic administrations where he oversaw all legislative and regulatory operations and communications for Illinois’ economic development agency. Brad successfully led the legislative passage of new economic development and tax incentive programs, such as Illinois Data Center Tax Incentive and several workforce development initiatives.
Brad then joined the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce as the Vice President of Government Relations and Strategy. In this role, Brad advocated and lobbied on behalf of the over 1,000 members of the Chamber ranging from Fortune 500 companies to startups and neighborhood businesses at the State of Illinois, City of Chicago, and Cook County levels. Brad led the passage of many economic and workforce development initiatives, negotiated many policies, and successfully stopped countless anti-business proposals while elevating the Chamber reputation and name across the political and stakeholder spectrum. Brad also managed the Chamber’s PAC, spearheaded events and projects with elected and government officials, and Chamber members, among many other initiatives on behalf of Illinois’ business community. In this role, Brad worked intimately with Illinois’ data center industry on a wide array legislative and advocacy efforts.
Most recently, Brad was a Director for the Illinois Government and Regulatory Affairs Practice at Faegre Drinker Biddle and Reath LLP where he advocated and represented clients in the data center, energy generation, carbon capture, retail, manufacturing industries among other sectors at the State of Illinois and City of Chicago levels.
Brad received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Illinois Wesleyan University. He lives in Chicago with his wife and three children.