The American Red Cross of Illinois announced the appointment of Ryan McVey as Executive Director of the Illinois River Valley Chapter.
McVey brings more than a decade of humanitarian, disaster response, and operational leadership experience to the role, including extensive work in disaster risk reduction, emergency management, and community resilience initiatives both domestically and internationally.

“I’m honored to step into this role and continue building on the incredible work already happening across the Illinois River Valley Chapter,” said McVey in a press release.

“The Red Cross mission is rooted in people helping people during some of life’s most difficult moments, and I look forward to working alongside our dedicated volunteers, employees, partners, and communities to continue growing our impact and bringing help and hope to those who need it most.”

Prior to joining the Red Cross, McVey served in multiple leadership roles with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), where he managed large-scale disaster risk reduction and recovery programs. Throughout his career, he has led complex humanitarian operations, managed multimillion-dollar projects, secured critical funding, and supported emergency response and recovery efforts serving thousands of people impacted by disasters.

“I am excited about the future of the Illinois River Valley Chapter and the opportunities ahead to continue growing our mission impact, strengthening community partnerships, expanding volunteer engagement, and building on the strong foundation already in place,” said Kellie O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Illinois, in the release.

McVey’s leadership experience also includes overseeing large operational teams, emergency logistics, disaster recovery initiatives, and stakeholder collaboration efforts in some of the world’s most challenging environments. His background reflects a strong commitment to humanitarian service, collaboration, and building resilient communities.

The Illinois River Valley Chapter serves 1.1 million people in 5 counties including Grundy, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle, and Will by providing disaster relief, supporting blood collection efforts, teaching lifesaving skills, assisting military members and their families, and helping communities prepare for emergencies.