Marcel Wagner – President
wagnerm@gredf.org
As President of the Great River Economic Development Foundation, Marcel Wagner is furthering GREDF’s mission by maintaining and improving the economic vitality of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois through aggressive retention and attraction efforts.
Marcel Wagner has spent the past 21 years with the Allen Economic Development Group in Lima, Ohio, the last 19 of those years as its President and CEO before retiring from that position in January. Marcel is a Certified Economic Developer and former Chair of the International Economic Development Council Certification and Education Committee. He was an Executive Committee Member of Team Ohio through the Ohio Economic Development Council as well as former chair of the Allen County Workforce Investment Act Board and Allen County Revolving Loan Fund.
During his tenure with the AEDG, Marcel developed and implemented a regional marketing plan and targeted industries marketing program, established a Foreign Trade Zone, oversaw the development and sale of 5 spec buildings, participated in the start up of two entrepreneurship centers and administrated a private loan fund, among many other activities. Marcel also served as chair of the Lima, Ohio, Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
Marcel is married and has two children and two grandchildren.
Angela Caldwell – Director of Workforce Development
caldwella@gredf.org
As Director of Workforce Development, Angela facilitates the workforce initiatives in the region, focusing on career guidance, work readiness and transition planning.
Angela brings with her a background in various roles in manufacturing, including positions as a Machining and Tooling Specialist, Production Supervisor, Training Specialist and Account Manager. She was most recently an Office Manager/Training Specialist in the construction industry. It was in this role that she designed and implemented a pre-employment apprenticeship for economically disadvantaged persons in Adams County. She has been Co-Chairperson of the Adams County Work Readiness Team since its inception in 2013.
Angela earned her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Continuing Education and Training Management from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL, in 2001.
Joi Cuartero Austin – Marketing & Communications Director
joia@gredf.org
As Marketing & Communications director for GREDF, Joi is primarily responsible for delivering the community and GREDF branded message, leading workforce solution efforts, managing local and regional events, as well as economic development initiatives.
Her background includes non-profit management. As a former Illinois Main Street executive director, her work included leveraging local assets to enhance and redevelop Batavia, Illinois’ downtown district with dedicated volunteer efforts.
In 2008, she started work on bringing an art center to the Fox Valley region, which resulted in co-founding Water Street Studios, a 16,000 sq-ft art center with 28 artist studios, classes and galleries. Prior to her work with Main Street, Joi worked in music television production, primarily to produce the show Soundstage.
Joi has a degree in Arts and Entertainment Media Management from Columbia College in Chicago and brings with her a passion and enthusiasm for community. She is co-founder of 100 Women Who Care Adams County chapter and collaborator for TEDx Quincy. She sits on the Quincy Chamber of Commerce D&I committee, on The District board executive committee, and is on the board of the Quincy Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and Quincy Art Center as the development chair.
Nikki Albright – Office Administrator
nikkia@gredf.org
As GREDF’s Office Administrator, Nikki is responsible for 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 and a grandchild.
GREDF Board of Directors
| Melanie | Allen | Shortridge Construction Company |
| Katie | Awerkamp | Blessing Health System | City of Quincy 6th Ward Alderman |
| Eric | Barnes | Klingner & Associates, P.C. |
| Chuck | Bevelheimer | City of Quincy |
| Latonya | Brock | Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce |
| Ricci | Dula | Mississippi Valley Boy Scouts of America |
| Mike | Elbe | John Wood Community College |
| Carlos | Fernandez | WGEM AM-FM-TV-CGEM |
| Bruce | Guthrie | The District |
| Mark | Hayes | HOMEBANK |
| Maureen | Kahn | Blessing Health Systems |
| Harry | Marcionetti | Knapheide Manufacturing Company |
| John | Mast | All Phase Properties | City of Quincy 5th Ward Alderman |
| Ryan | Niekamp | Adams County Clerk | Adams County Board |
| Taylor | Rakers | Junior Achievement | Adams County Board |
| Mike | Ridder | Adams Fiber, Adams Telephone Co-Operative |
| Katie | Schelp | Quincy Medical Group |
| Payne | Schoen | O’Connor Wealth Management |
| Allen | Shafer | First Bankers Trust Company |
| Bill | Stalder | Adams Electric Cooperative |
| Eric | Terwelp | Dot Foods |
| Shawn | Valter | Illinois Farm Bureau | Adams County Farm Bureau |
| Jeff | VanCamp | Chaddock |
| Kyle | Venvertloh | Quincy Recycle |
| Brenton | Wadsworth | ADM Quincy Refinery |
Executive Committee
Mike Elbe, Board Chair
Payne Schoen, Vice Chair
Eric Barnes, Treasurer
Marcel Wagner, Secretary
City of Quincy Appointee
Chuck Bevelhiemer, Planning & Development Director
Katie Awerkamp, Alderman
John Mast, Alderman
Adams County Appointee
Dick Klusmeyer, Adams County Board
Ryan Niekamp, Adams County Board + Clerk
Taylor Rakers, , Adams County Board
Ex-Officio Member – Non Voting
Latonya Brock, Executive Director of the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce
Bruce Guthrie, Executive Director of The District