RURAL PARTNERS

Rural Partners Board of Directors

Robert Baren
Legislative Liaison
Illinois Dept. of Agriculture
State Fairgrounds
PO Box 19281
Springfield, IL 62794
Telephone: (217) 785-5485
Email Robert

Susan Wynn Bence
RP Chair
Community Liaison
Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services
806 E. Walnut St. Suite A
Watseka, IL 60970
Telephone: (815) 432-1078
Fax (815) 432-1079
Email Susan

Dick Breckenridge
1560 N. 1100 East Road
Taylorville, IL 62568
(217) 414-4188
Email Dick

Dan Fisher
Treasurer, City of Gillespie
906 N. Clinton St.
Gillespie, IL 62033
Telephone: (217) 825-8189
Email Dan

Carol Jo Fritts
Chair, First Neighbor Bancshares, Inc.
Director, First Neighbor Bank
913 W. Lincoln Drive
Greenup, IL 62428
(217)549-5188
Email Carol Jo

Molly Hammond
Associate Director
Rural Development Business Center
USDA
2118 West Park Court, Suite A
Champaign, IL 61821
Telephone: (217) 403-6203
Email Molly

Liz Hunter
RP Assistant Secretary
Jackson County Treasurer
1507 W Walnut St
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 521-3152
Email Liz

Matt Johnson
RP Treasurer

Vice-President, Govt. Policy
Shawnee Communications
P.O. Box 69
120 W. Lane
Equality, IL 62934
Telephone: (618) 276-3335
Email Matt

Kari Jones
Executive Director
East Bluff Community Center
512 E Kansas
Peoria, IL 61603
(309) 839-0781
Email Kari

Laura Hepp Kessel
RP Past Chair
Director
Telehealth Services
SIU School of Medicine
175 S Main Street
Canton IL 61520
Telephone: (309) 543-2199
Email Laura

Callie Jo McFarland
Community Development Director
City of Monticello
210 N. Hamilton St.
Monticello, IL 61856
(217) 762-2583
Email Callie Jo

Chris Merrett
Director and Professor
Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs,
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL 61455
Telephone: (309) 298-2281
Fax: (309)298-2142
Email Chris

Brian Moody
RP Vice Chair
Director
Tuscola Chamber & Economic Development, Inc.
214 N. Main St.
Tuscola, IL 61953
Telephone: (217) 253-2552
Fax: (217) 369-0940
Email Brian

Mark Rothert, ICMA-CM, CEcD
City Manager, City of Pekin
111 S. Capitol Street
Pekin, IL 61554
(309) 478-5371
Email Mark

Blanche Shoup
Director
Workforce Investment Office of Western IL
P.O. Box 231
Galesburg, IL 61402
Telephone: (309) 344-1575
Fax: (309) 344-2446
Email Blanche

Anne Heinze Silvis
RP Secretary
Asst. Dean, Community & Econ Development
University of Illinois Extension
555 Bevier Hall; 905 S. Goodwin Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801
Telephone: (217) 333-5126
Email Anne

Ryan M. Tate
Associate Director of Local Government
Illinois Farm Bureau ®
1701 Towanda Avenue
Bloomington, IL 61702-2050
(P) 309-557-3274
(C) 630-247-1407
Email Ryan

Jerry Townsend
6707 N. West Arrowhead Dr.
Urbana, IL 61802
Telephone (217) 369-1010
Email Jerry

Norman Walzer
Professor and Director Emeritus
Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
DeKalb, IL 60115
Telephone: (309) 333-3131
Email Norman

Kim Watson
Senior Account Manager
IL Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
2309 West Main Street, Suite 124
Marion, IL 62959
Telephone: (618) 993-7630
Fax: (618) 993-764
Email Kim

Charlie White
Lender Relations Specialist,
Springfield Branch Office
U.S. Small Business Administration
3330 Ginger Creek Drive, Suite B-East
Springfield, IL 62711
(217) 793-5020 x105
Email Charlie