EDC Board

Kristen Barnlund - Business Development Specialist, OSF HealthCare

BNEDC Board Chairperson Kristen Barnlund has worked in the healthcare industry for over ten years. She started working in the marketing field, then moved on to an Admissions Director, to now working as a Business Development Specialist. She is an Illinois State University graduate where she earned her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and Teaching.

Elizabeth Johnston - District 5, McLean County Board Member

Elizabeth Johnston is a McLean County Board member for District 5. She holds a Bachelor's degree from Centenary College of Louisiana and a Master's in Social Work from Louisiana State University. Elizabeth is also a small business owner of the Center for Healing and Wellness PLLC.

Pam Reece - City Manager, Town of Normal

Pamela Reece has served as City Manager for the Town of Normal since 2018. As City Manager, Reece is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town, responsible for daily operations, capital projects and personnel for the municipality’s 16 departments. Prior to being named city manager, Reece was Deputy City Manager from 2010 to 2018. Currently, she is a member of the International City/County Management Association, Illinois City/County Management Association (ILCMA) and League of Women in Government. She has previously served as president of the Downstate City Managers Association under ILCMA and currently serves on the Illinois Municipal League Managers Committee and the ILCMA Committee on Professional Conduct. Reece serves on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal. She is a past member of boards of directors for the United Way of McLean County, McLean County Chamber of Commerce, The Baby Fold and the Heartland Healthcare Coalition. Reece holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a Master of Public Administration, both from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Keith Cornille, President, Heartland Community College

Dr. Keith Cornille (Ed.D. Educational Leadership, Edgewood College) has held various positions in higher education over the past 30 plus years, before becoming the fourth President at Heartland Community College in July 2018. Dr. Cornille is responsible for the administration, operation and development of the College.

Sheahon Zenger, President Elect, Illinois Wesleyan University

Sheahon Zenger, Ph.D., became the 21st president of Illinois Wesleyan University on July 1, 2024. Dr. Zenger has more than 30 years of experience as an educator, coach, fundraiser, and higher education leader. A visionary fundraiser, he has raised nearly $400 million throughout this career to support capital projects and signature initiatives.

Prior to joining Illinois Wesleyan, Dr. Zenger was Interim President of the University of New Haven. He previously served as Director of Athletics at UNH, Executive in Residence at Texas Christian University, and Director of Athletics at the University of Kansas. He was Athletic Director at Illinois State University in Normal from 2005-2011.

Dr. Zenger received his bachelor's degree in English/Secondary Education and his master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Kansas State University. He received his doctoral degree in Educational Policy & Leadership from the University of Kansas.

Dr. Zenger and his wife, Pam, have three adult children.

Erika Miller- Corporate Counsel, State Farm

Erika Miller is an attorney in State Farm’s corporate law department, where she works on employment and insurance operations matters. She was previously federal affairs counsel for State Farm in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining State Farm, Erika was a federal affairs director and a state government relations director for the American Academy of Physician Assistants in Alexandria, Virginia. She also spent ten years on Capitol Hill, doing policy work for several members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Erika is a graduate of Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota and Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. She currently lives in Bloomington with her husband, Dave, and their dog, Jack.

Dan Brady - Mayor, City of Bloomington

Dan Brady was elected as the Mayor of Bloomington, Illinois, in the 2025 municipal election. Dan previously served as a State Representative and McLean County Coroner. Dan holds a bachelor's degree from St. Ambrose University and an associate's degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Dan has served on boards for Advocate BroMenn, the McLean County Center for Human Services, United Way, and the American Red Cross.

Cassy Taylor - County Administrator, McLean County

Cassy Taylor has worked in McLean County government for six years and has worked in county government for more than 20 years. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati.

Meghan O'Neal-Rogozinski - Owner and Commercial Real Estate Broker, Axis 360

BNEDC Board Vice Chair Meghan is an Owner and Commercial Real Estate Broker at AXIS 360. In 2018, after years of financial analysis classes and submission of a portfolio, Meghan was honored with the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation. She is the only commercial broker in McLean County to hold this prestigious designation.

Rodney Francis, Director of the People, Rivian Automotive

Rodney Francis is a seasoned HR Professional with a distinguished twenty-three-year career in the automotive manufacturing industry. He has held progressively significant roles at renowned companies, including Baxter, Textron, Faurecia, BorgWarner, Nissan, and now Rivian.

John Penn - Trustee, Great Plains Laborers District Council

In addition to his many union roles, Penn is also Co-Chair for the Children’s Christmas Party for Unemployed Families. He has re-established the Bloomington Labor Day Parade after a forty-year absence and founded the McLean County Union News. Penn volunteers for the Illinois Special Olympics and is currently on the statewide board. In 1986 Penn was honored by Governor Thompson and presented the Illinois Partner in Building Better Communities award for taking a leading role in his community and “bringing jobs to the jobless.” In 2003, Penn received the Presidential Points of Light Award from President Clinton. Penn is a 1979 graduate of the Harvard University Trade Union Program and a Bloomington High School graduate. He served in the United States Air Force, with assignments in South Korea and Vietnam. John and his wife, Mary, reside in Bloomington, Illinois and have one daughter, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Diane Cote - Chief Executive Officer, Mid-Illinois Realtors Association

Diane Cote has been the CEO of the Mid-Illinois Realtors Association for over eight years. Diane attended Notre Dame College, where she studied Graphic Design.

Colin Logue, Vice President - Bloomington/Normal Operations, PJ Hoerr

Colin Logue leads the Bloomington-Normal office of PJ Hoerr, bringing over 35 years of experience in commercial construction management. He joined the company in 2015 as a Senior Project Manager, quickly advancing to Project Executive and later Vice President due to his proven expertise and leadership.

Colin holds a degree from Purdue University, graduating in 1987. He is actively involved in the local community, serving with the Bloomington-Normal Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Council.

Puneet Leekha - Chief Executive Officer, Chestnut Health Systems

BNEDC Board Treasurer Puneet Leekha is the Chief Executive Officer of Chestnut Health Systems, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to behavioral health and human services. He assumed the role of CEO on October 6, 2025, after serving as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel since 2015. Puneet served on the board of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce for five years. He holds a Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis.

Jeff Jurgens, City Manager, City of Bloomington

Jeff Jurgens currently serves as the City Manager for the City of Bloomington, Illinois. He previously served as a Deputy City Manager for the City of Bloomington, IL, and previously, for nearly 10 years, as the Corporation Counsel for the City. Jeff was a partner with the law firm Sorling Northrup in Springfield and prior to that worked as an associate with the Chicago-based law firm Ancel Glink. Over the span of nearly 23-year long legal career, Jeff primarily practiced in the area of local government law. While attending law school, he worked in the White House Counsel’s Office and with numerous other federal agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service. Prior to attending law school, he interned on former Governor Jim Edgar’s policy staff and worked in the Illinois General Assembly for legislators in both the State House of Representatives and the State Senate. Jeff is a frequent presenter at seminars, including for the Illinois Municipal League and the Township Officials of Illinois.

Chris Koos - Mayor, Town of Normal

Chris Koos has been the mayor of Normal, Illinois since 2003. He is the owner of Vitesse Cycle Shop and Often Running, retail specialty stores located in Uptown Normal. Koos is active in the local community and has served on many boards and committees, including serving as Chairman of the Town of Normal Historic Preservation Commission for eight years. He is a member of the Uptown Normal Business Association and served four years as President. During the restoration of the Normal Theater, Mr. Koos served as Chair of the Restoration Advisory Committee and went on to serve on the Normal Theater Advisory Board. Mr. Koos has been very involved with the Bloomington-Normal Japanese Sister Cities Committee, Town of Normal 2025 Committee: Physical Environment Sub-Committee and McLean County Comprehensive Plan 2000 Committee, where he chaired the Urban Revitalization/Historic Preservation Sub-Committee. Mr. Koos has served as Vice Chair of the Selective Service Board of Appeals since 1983. Koos is a Bloomington-Normal native and attended Central Catholic High School and Illinois State University.

J. Phillips - President, Bloomington-Normal Commerce Bank

BNEDC Past Board Chairperson. J. Phillips, a native of the Bloomington-Normal area, leads the Bloomington-Normal market in growing and retaining clients for Commerce Bank. His over 15-year career spans all areas of the bank including retail banking, wealth management, private banking and commercial banking. Phillips has a history of recognition for exceptional work and has been awarded several Commerce Bank and community awards including 40 Leaders Under 40 by InterBusiness Issues (iBi). Recently, J. served on the board of directors for Illinois State University College of Business, Illinois Wesleyan Associates Board of Directors, Bloomington-Normal College of Business Board of Directors, Carle Cancer Institute of Normal Board of Directors, Unit 5 Foundation Board of Directors, and is a member of The CEO Council of Bloomington-Normal. J. graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a Bachelor of Science in aviation management, with a specialty in airport management and planning. J. also is a certified commercial pilot and part-time flight instructor. J. and his wife Crystal live in Bloomington-Normal and have 2 children, Liam and Piper.

Casey Peterson - Senior Business Development Executive, Ameren

Casey Peterson is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD). Previously, Casey held the position of Director of Business Attraction at the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council (BNEDC). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History Teacher Education from San Francisco State University and a Master of Science in Community and Economic Development from Illinois State University, where he was a Paul D. Coverdell Fellow and a Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development Fellow.

EDC Board

The EDC board of directors is comprised of professionals from the Bloomington-Normal business community, educational institutions, municipalities, organized labor, and the non-profit sector. Board members meet on a bi-monthly basis to guide and govern the Economic Development Council.

Economic Development Council