Adrian Madunic

Building a Foundation in Education and International Relations

Adrian Madunic attended Black Hawk College from 1983 to 1985 and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the official honor society for community colleges.

He later transferred to Augustana College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1987 before completing a master’s degree in international relations and affairs at Marquette University in 1990.

Supporting Croatia’s Independence Movement

Following graduate school, Adrian worked for the Croatian government in Washington, D.C., and throughout Europe during Croatia’s War of Independence.

During this critical period in Croatia’s history, Adrian served in multiple diplomatic and operational roles supporting the newly established nation. In Washington, he oversaw diplomatic protocols, embassy renovation efforts, and security coordination for Croatian officials visiting the United States.

He also served as an official translator for Croatian diplomats meeting with U.S. leaders and escorted members of Congress into Croatian war zones during the conflict.

Adrian played an important role in Croatia’s independence movement and helped support efforts leading to the United States recognizing Croatia as an independent nation.

Leadership in Economic and Community Development

Adrian later returned to the Quad Cities and spent more than a decade working at Black Hawk College. He first served as director of the International Trade Center before becoming director of Community and Economic Development.

In that role, he managed several programs supporting regional businesses and economic growth, including the Small Business Development Center, International Trade Center, Procurement Technical Assistance Center, and Business Training Center.

After his time at Black Hawk College, Adrian served as district director for Bobby Schilling, focusing on military, agriculture, and small business issues. He also worked as public affairs administrator for Judy Baar Topinka.

Since 2016, Adrian has worked for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, where he currently serves as senior region manager overseeing agency programs across 10 counties in northwest Illinois.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Adrian played a key role in helping small businesses secure grants, relief funding, and critical assistance, continuing his longstanding commitment to supporting economic growth and community resilience.