People on the Move

Elmada Meek has rejoined the management team for Conn’s Hospitality Group, Inc., as the new brand ambassador and marketing manager, effective Dec. 1. Meek has worked with global brands such as Holiday Inn, Renaissance and Crowne Plaza hotels, and has extensive experience in the hospitality industry. Meek will help bridge the gap between the individual ventures […]

Jasen Best has joined Heartland Bank and Trust Company as a treasury management officer for the Springfield market. Best, who has 19 years of experience in the banking industry, has worked as a banker and branch manager, business development officer and chief financial officer. He will be located at the 3601 Wabash Ave. branch. Best […]

Jean Bruner-Jachino has taken on a short-term leadership role with Downtown Springfield, Inc. Bruner-Jachino will step in part-time to assist the organization while DSI conducts a comprehensive search for its next executive director. Kayla Graven’s last day with DSI was Nov. 24 and she is now working for the city of Springfield’s Office of Planning […]

Jasmine Dickerson will become the Young Professionals Program Manager for the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, effective Jan. 1, a newly created position intended to expand the Chamber’s outreach to young professionals. The Chamber launched RISE Springfield in February 2023 as a way to foster professional development, resources and networking opportunities for emerging leaders. “RISE […]

Matt Rutledge has joined Hanson Professional Services Inc.’s Springfield headquarters as a project manager. His initial focus will involve state college building updates, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects, state of Illinois facility projects and K–12 educational facility updates. Rutledge brings to Hanson over 12 years of experience as a project manager, most recently working […]

Sara Linn has joined Central Illinois Security, Inc. (CIS) as an account executive for new and existing business development. Linn has two decades of customer service experience and most recently worked for AmeriCall Communications. She will focus on the eastern service area for CIS, including Champaign, Decatur and surrounding communities. Linn serves as a board […]

Jason Gibson has joined Heartland Bank and Trust Company as an assistant vice president – commercial lender. He will be based out of the Springfield branch at 3601 Wabash Ave. Gibson, who has 16 years of experience in the banking and lending industry, has worked in collections, special assets, consumer lending, mortgage banking and more. […]

Sangamon County’s State’s Attorney Dan Wright will become the 7th Judicial Circuit’s newest associate judge. And it appears likely that former state’s attorney John Milhiser will return to his old job in mid-November. Dan Wright, state’s attorney since 2018, has been selected to fill the vacancy created by the July 23 death of Matthew Mauer, […]

Eric Klinner has been selected as the new executive vice president of AIA Illinois, the state component of the national American Institute of Architects. Klinner, who previously served as managing director of AIA Illinois since 2006 and executive director of the Prairie Chapter for the past six years, brings extensive experience and knowledge of the […]

Val Yazell says she decided to return to Springfield city government as director of the Office of Planning and Economic Development because she saw “so many things that still needed to be done.” Yazell was terminated by former mayor Jim Langfelder in March 2021, though Langfelder never said why. Misty Buscher, who defeated Langfelder and […]

Sangamon County State’s Attorney Dan Wright is among seven candidates vying to be appointed to an associate circuit judge vacancy created by the July 23 death of Matthew Mauer. And former State’s Attorney John Milhiser, Wright’s former boss when Wright was an assistant state’s attorney, is now working for Wright as an assistant state’s attorney […]