Posts by cmeredith_courtney@kankakeecountychamber.com

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…

May Ambassador Spotlight: Jessica Kinnersley Jessica Kinnersley was born and raised in Kankakee and is the District Director for State Representative Jackie Haas. She just celebrated 7 years working for the Illinois House of Representatives! One of Jessica’s main duties is  assisting constituents resolve any issues that they may have with any state department and…

April 2025 Ambassador Spotlight: Angie Serafini Angie Serafini Chamber Ambassador Trustee, Village of Bourbonnais Area Manager with Aqua Illinois Angie Serafini is a proud Bourbonnais native and community leader who brings experience in both the public and private sectors. She currently serves as Area Manager for Aqua Illinois. Prior to joining Aqua, Angie spent over…

Annie Mitchell is a local real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Speckman Realty in Bourbonnais. With a deep passion for real estate, Annie loves helping her clients find the perfect homes and takes pride in guiding them through one of the most important decisions of their lives. Annie actively serves on the board of…

With just about 18 months under her belt at the YMCA, Brittaney Beck has a deep passion for making a difference in the lives of members. Leading her teams to deliver high-value customer service to families has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her role. The Y’s commitment to strengthening the community aligns…

Born and raised in Bourbonnais, Matthew Schore has deep roots in Kankakee County. His commitment to leadership and service was evident early on when he earned the rank of Eagle Scout in high school. He is a graduate of Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School and Kankakee Community College before earning his bachelor’s degree in Business from…