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GREDF Staff
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Jim Mentesti
President
As President of the Great River Economic Development Foundation, Jim Mentesti has been helping businesses grow in Quincy and Adams County since 1986.Prior to joining GREDF, Jim served as director of development for eleven years at Quincy College and was later administrative manager of Quintron Corporation in Quincy.
Jim graduated from Quincy College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management.
Jim serves as a director of the Rural Adams Development Corporation and member of the 35-county Tri-State Development Summit Steering Committee. He is a past board member of the Workforce Investment Board of Western Illinois and a past president of the Illinois Development Council.
Jim’s community leadership roles include; Charter Director of the Community Foundation of the Quincy Area; Quincy University Trustee Emeritus; President of the Quincy University Foundation; Past President of the Quincy Parks Foundation; Board Member of the Jackson Lincoln Swimming Complex; Past President of the First Tee of Great River; Past President of the Kiwanis Club of Quincy; Past President of Spring Lake Country Club; Board Member of the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce; and Steering Committee Member of the Salvation Army Kroc Center.
Charles Bell
Director – Quincy Entrepreneurship Center
As Director of the Quincy Entrepreneurship Center, Charles provides expertise in the areas of business planning and loans, incentives and financial assistance. He also administers several revolving loan funds.Charles joined GREDF as a business consultant in 2002 and became Director of the Entrepreneurship Center which is located at GREDF in 2005 when it was created by the State of Illinois.
Prior to joining GREDF, Charles worked for the Small Business Development Center and Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials. He also owned commercial printing and publishing businesses.
Charles serves as a GREDF liaison to the Rural Adams Development Corporation and Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials. He is a member of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, a Board Member of the Quincy Business and Technology Center, past legislative committee member for the Illinois Manufacturing Association and Past Club President and Lt. Governor of Kiwanis.
Charles is married and has six children and six grandchildren.
Pete Pohlman
Energy Specialist
As GREDF’s Energy Specialist, Pete assists in the attraction and development of renewable energy projects. He has worked with developers of ethanol, biodiesel, hydropower, wind power and biomass for electric production projects. He also assists on projects with large or unique energy requirements.Prior to joining GREDF, Pete worked as an area manager with AmerenCIPS. He has over 45 years of experience in the energy business. Pete is a past GREDF Board Member and coordinated the Quincy Community Energy program.
Pete has degrees in Management from Quincy College and Western Illinois University. He is also a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.
Pete is married and has three children and eleven grandchildren.
Megan Backs
Project Manager – Business Development Services
As a Project Manager specializing in business development, Megan is involved with business retention and expansion, workforce development issues and maintaining our database of available sites and buildings.Prior to joining GREDF full time in 2011, Megan worked as a student intern and then part-time project manager for GREDF. She also held an internship at the Quincy YWCA and coordinated the 2010 Midsummer Arts Faire.
Megan graduated summa cum laude from Quincy University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication and Minor in Graphic Design. She received the Bonaventure Award for graduating with the highest distinction.
Maggie Strong
Project Manager – Marketing & Public Relations
As a Project Manager specializing in marketing and public relations, Maggie is charged with developing and promoting the Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, brand.Prior to joining GREDF in 2007, Maggie worked as Director of Client Relations at a marketing communications firm.
Maggie graduated summa cum laude from Quincy University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Arts Management. She received the Bonaventure Award for graduating with the highest distinction.
Maggie serves on the boards of the Midsummer Arts Faire and Quincy Preserves and is a past board member of the Gardner Museum of Architecture and Design. She founded the Quincy Parks Foundation Pauline Wessels Memorial Fund and is a member of YP Quincy. Maggie was named to the 2010 Quincy Herald-Whig’s 20 Under 40 list.
Maggie is married and has three children.
Nikki Albright
Office Administrator
As GREDF’s Office Administrator, Nikki is responsible for keeping everyone on track. Her responsibilities include scheduling, bookkeeping and office management.Prior to joining GREDF in 2005, Nikki worked as an administrative assistant and bookkeeper for the Area Agency on Aging and Adams County Homemaker Health Services.
Nikki is a Quincy native. She is married and has three children; two daughters and a son.
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.Connie Hoyt
Office Assistant & Special Projects
As Office Assistant, Connie is responsible for a variety of special projects as they present themselves and occasionally serves as backup office administrator.Prior to joining GREDF in 1999, Connie worked for Walter Louis Technologies. She also was previously employed at Iowa State University, Northern Illinois University and John Wood Community College.
Connie and her husband, Dennis, and family moved to Quincy 26 years ago and feel Quincy is exactly where they were meant to be. They have three children and eight grandchildren.
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