Janet Mathis Email & Phone Number

Springfield, Illinois, United States

Work along-side former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar to manage and implement all aspects of the Edgar Fellows initiative. Some of these responsibilities include day to day non-profit and contractor management and oversight. Empower and guide contractors who function in staff roles. Solicitation of nominees for each year's class and design and execution of selection process. Cultivation of donors, solicitation of funds, CRM management and donor program design and execution, including organizing and hosting two, in-person fundraisers annually. Content development for Executive Leadership Training week program and securing speakers for the week. Responsible for accounting; tax filings; attorney general and secretary of state filings; contract development; and evaluation of processes. Leads board and committee recruitment and development. Manages staff and contractors. Uses critical thinking skills to discover, evaluate and execute cross-cohort engagement opportunities as well as opportunities with other Illinois entities engages in public policy work. Maintains relationships with Fellows, supporters, former administration members, vendors, contractors and others engaged with the initiative.By the nature of the program, as Executive Director, I work daily with and lead an extremely diverse group of people from all corners of the state of Illinois; all ethnicities; and both political parties. These individuals are public policy leaders who are federal, state, and local elected officials and their key staff; and business, labor and nonprofit heads. The position includes regular interactions with legislators, mayors, government staff and others.

President and founding partner in The Development Consortium, an economic development, organizational management and real estate consulting firm.TDC principals have significant experience in not-for-profit corporation administration, audits of policies and procedures, human resources and personnel, public relations, marketing, legislative and government affairs and organizational management. TDC principals are licensed Illinois Real Estate Brokers in association with Enterprise Realty LLC in Effingham, Illinois, a subsidiary of Agracel, Inc.

Illinois, United States

Elevate Illinois highlights what's right in Illinois. We strive to educate Illinoisans and others about the many positive successes within our state. Elevate seeks to bring people together to recognize and appreciate all that Illinois has to offer!www.elevateillinois.org

Moline, Il

Leader of public-private economic development partnership focused on working with the city of Moline on the development and redevelopment of Moline’s downtown riverfront. Since 1989, this partnership has accomplished $300 million of investment and the creation and retention of thousands of jobs.In her position at Renew Moline, Mathis facilitated more than $150 million in additional investment including the continued construction of Western Illinois University’s (WIU) Quad Cities campus; development of property adjacent to WIU into sustainable neighborhood consisting of student and market rate housing and retail and commercial development; multi-modal facility that will house the first Quad Cities passenger rail station in the last 30 years; and multiple downtown historic rehabilitation projects converting spaces into apartments.Builds and maintain relationships with government elected and non-elected officials, developers; community organizations; educational institutions; labor; and others. Uses critical thinking skills to constantly evaluate and, as necessary, evolve capital projects. This might include financial stack restructuring; architechtural redesign; infrastructure construction and/or demolition; environmental reviews; engaging with others who need to be brought into the process.Along with city of Moline staff, secured $100,000 in IKE Disaster Recovery monies from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and $200,000 in planning monies from the Illinois Department of Transportation to update the Moline Centre comprehensive plan as well as create enhanced comprehensive plans for the rest of Moline's riverfront. Providing staff guidance to selected planning consultant.Responsible for all office operations including staff management and development; operations; capital improvements and board relations. Works daily with local officials, legislators, government employees, labor, business, education, nonprofits and other stakeholders.

Responsible for education about and coordination and implementation of the state's community and economic development programs, as well as the programs and activities of other state and federal agency staff and programs, for a 10-county region in Northwestern Illinois. State point of contact for all local government offices, including state legislators, Congressmen and U.S. Senators and their staffs and local economic development agencies in the region.Coordinated government programs and services involved in business retention, expansion and attraction projects – responsible for more than $1.2 billion in investment and more than 4,200 jobs created or retained. Liaison for all state and federal agencies which might be involved with these projects - Illinois Department of Commerce, Illinois EPA, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Finance Authority, Illinois Treasurer's Office, Illinois Department of Historic Preservation, US DOT, US EPA, and US Department of Defense, as well as other stakeholders.Led special regional projects including $3 million Deere & Company eDiesel testing program, Burlington Northern Santa Fe and IL Rt. 34 corridor communities cooperative marketing program, interstate coordination between Iowa New Ventures Center and Illinois Entrepreneurship Center and I-88 corridor marketing study and development.Planned, coordinated and executed statewide regional meetings, training sessions and trade show participation.

Provided technical assistance in the areas of workforce development and governmental affairs for 19 Education to Careers Partnerships in Northern Illinois.Developed educational materials and delivered speeches focused on gaining business and industry support and participation in the program.Represented business interests in local, regional and statewide workforce development meetings. Worked with a diverse stakeholder group which included business, labor, primary and secondary education, community colleges, post-secondary educationa institutions, state government staff, legislators and other elected officials.

Created and implemented fiscal year marketing plan of Illinois food and agricultural products for promotion and export to Canada, Iceland and Greenland. Interpreted import and export laws and other trade information.Consulted Governor’s office and foreign consulates on foreign trade statistics and general business climate in Canada. Canadian trade office manager for day-to-day operations and staff. Point of contact for all state agencies facilitating trade with Canada or having regulatory responsibilities with the same.

Assistant division head over 60 full-time staff and the programs and activities of the Bureau of County Fairs and Horse Racing, Illinois State Fair, Du Quoin State Fair and Bureau of Marketing and Promotions. Media spokesperson, speech writer and press office manager over 12 seasonal staff for Illinois State Fair. Liaison to agricultural commodity groups, Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs, Illinois Harness Horsemen and other agricultural groups involved with the Illinois State Fair and other Division activities. Worked with stakeholders ranging from federal, state and local elected officials to industry and business representative and the public at large.Initiated, designed and managed information for Illinois State Fair Internet home page. Wrote and produced fairgrounds promotional video used for attraction of the National High School Rodeo Finals.Administered $160,000 pari-mutuel contract for Illinois State Fair and Du Quoin State Fair, including overseeing execution and settlement with Chicago-based Maywood Racecourse management and staff.Staffed negotiations between Illinois racecourse management, horse owners, horsemen and legislators and drafted language resulting in the most comprehensive revision of the Illinois Horse Racing Act at that time. Interpreted and revised laws and administrative codes applicable to the Division of Fairs and Promotions. Developed and produced radio, television and print advertisements for Illinois State Fair and procured advertising slots with statewide media.

Researched press inquiries and provided suggested media responses to Governor’s Press Secretary Mike Lawrence.Briefed Governor and legislative leaders from both major political parties on key issues. Wrote Governor's Office press releases, Governor's speeches and event briefings.Lead liaison to more than 50 state agency Public Information Officers under the Governor’s authority as well as representatives of Illinois' businesses, associations and special interest groups -- wrote and edited press releases involving the Governor; coordinated Governor's events and provided advice on public relations strategies.Traveling press aide to Governor Jim Edgar.Arranged and coordinated television and radio satellite uplinks of daily news activities.Managed day-to-day operation of Governor’s Press Office and staff, including handling personnel issues.Spokesperson for Illinois State Fair and Du Quoin State Fair; Fair Press Office Manager.

Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Area

Responsible for all public relations, communications and education efforts for the association. Wrote, edited and published quarterly newsletter. Developed educational materials on soil and water conservation to be used in schools. Planned, managed and executed the association's annual conference with more than 500 attendees. Established and staffed the first state legislative advocacy day for the organization. Laid the groundwork for the state's first Envirothon - a competition to encourage high school students to learn more about soil health. Lead on hosting a statewide soil and water conservation media tour as well as two statewide education programs which had not been done before - urban soil erosion and preserving our watershed.

B.S., Agricultural Industries/Economics

Activities and Societies: Senior 100; Atius-Sachem; Ma-Wan-Da; Orientation Student Leader; 4-H House; Student Athletic Association; Illini.

Crisis Management

Basic Economic Development Course

Triad Approach To Brownfields Assessment

Leadership Training

Rutan Interviewer And Personnel Training