Okay, let’s tackle this. So John Cobb has 10+ years of experience in IT consulting and project management, which is a solid foundation for estimating his rate. Considering the location is the Greater Chicago Area, which is a major hub for IT services, and his expertise in IT service management and ITIL, I would look at national averages for IT consultants and project managers in the US. According to various sources, including Glassdoor and Indeed, the average hourly rate for an IT consultant in the US is around $100-$150 per hour. However, with his strong background in IT service management and ITIL, he may be able to command a higher rate. Let’s consider the top-end of the range, which is around $150 per hour. But, considering he’s not a senior manager or architect, but rather a mid-level IT consultant and project manager, I would estimate his rate to be around $125 per hour, which is slightly below the national average but still competitive in the Greater Chicago Area.