Senator Chris Balkema was sworn into office in January 2025.

Before joining the Senate, he served on the Grundy County Board, where he chaired the body since 2016. Senator Balkema spent 31 years at Caterpillar, where he held leadership roles in Human Resources, Operations, Logistics, and Purchasing. Beyond his professional career, he has contributed to local and educational initiatives, serving on the Grundy County Economic Development Council and advising Taylor University’s Business Advisory Council.

Senator Balkema earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Systems from Taylor University and an MBA from Bradley University.

He and his wife reside in Channahon and are the parents of two sons.