Posts by cmeredith_courtney@kankakeecountychamber.com

October 2025 Board of Directors Spotlight: Phillip Meli With 16 years of experience at Nicor Gas, Phil Meli has cultivated strong leadership skills and built lasting relationships with local residents, businesses, and community partners. He takes great pride in the company’s mission and the trust customers place in Nicor Gas to deliver safe, reliable energy…

October 2025 Ambassador Spotlight: Chelsea Stanhibel Chelsea Stanhibel was born and raised in Kankakee and has a deep passion for all things Kankakee County. She has been part of the Gardant team for five years, serving in the Marketing Department and recently stepping into the role of Director of Social Media and Graphic Design. Outside…

September Ambassador Spotlight: Angelina Gear Angelina Gear is the Sales & Marketing Manager for Visit Kankakee County, where she helps showcase the area’s unique attractions, events, and local businesses to visitors near and far. Passionate about storytelling and community building, Angelina thrives on connecting people with the places and experiences that make Kankakee County special.…

August Ambassador Spotlight: Reagan Cooper Reagan Cooper was born and raised in Kankakee. She has been married to her husband for a year and a half, and together they have a little boy. She is also a proud stepmom to a wonderful daughter. For the past eight years, Reagan has worked at Riverside Senior Life…

August Board of Directors Spotlight: Erika Moeschke Erika Moeschke serves as the Senior Director of Alumni Relations and University Advancement at Olivet Nazarene University, where she works to strengthen connections between alumni and their alma mater while encouraging philanthropic support at the leadership level. She has been part of the Olivet community for nearly seven…

July Board of Directors Spotlight: Tammy Sowder Tammy is a proud Kankakee County native whose deep roots in the community have shaped both her personal and professional journey. A graduate of Kankakee High School, she ventured beyond her hometown to pursue higher education but was ultimately drawn back by her strong family ties and a…

July Ambassador Spotlight: Sara Jameison Sara started her career as a CNA and worked in a nursing home before turning to Home Care. She first worked as a CNA for Home Helpers starting in 2015. Sara became the Office Manager in 2018. She now works as the Director of Operations. Sara is responsible for marketing,…

June Ambassador Spotlight: Andrea Eldert Andrea Eldert brings over 25 years of experience in the mortgage industry. She began her career as a mortgage processor and eventually became a loan officer—a role she’s excelled in since joining Federated Bank in 2013. Andrea lives in Gilman with her two adorable Shih Tzu/Yorkie twins, Chewie and Tank,…

June Board of Directors Spotlight: Mark Kaner Mark Kaner serves as a Commercial Loan Officer and Assistant Vice President at Peoples Bank, based in the Bourbonnais office. In his role, Mark works closely with local business owners to provide customized lending solutions that help drive growth and stability within the community. He began his career…

DEI Panel Recap: “Belonging, Bravery, and Breaking Barriers” This month, we had the incredible opportunity to gather for a powerful DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion – and Accessibility) panel featuring local changemakers committed to building spaces where everyone can feel seen, heard, and valued. Our panelists included: Matt Hedding-Hess from Rise & Thrive Wellness, Jolene Booth from Sweet Darren’t Bakery…