Kayla Graven has a new job with the state of Illinois, working for the Department of Agriculture as the domestic marketing manager.
skills that I’m passionate about,” Graven said. “I wasn’t looking for a new job, but it’s just been my dream job to be able to work there.”
For the past year, Graven has served as the operations coordinator for the city of Springfield’s Office of Planning and Economic Development. She oversaw TIF projects throughout the city, among other duties.
Prior to that she spent nearly six years with Downtown Springfield Inc., first as the program and events manager, then the farmers market manager, and later as assistant director and executive director.
In her new role, Graven will be overseeing the Illinois Products, Illinois Grown and Hero Grown programs.
“I’ll be helping growers get into grocery stores or into the hands of consumers, so that’s something that really excited me,” she said. Graven said she’ll also still get to be involved in supporting the downtown area, another of her passions. “One of the projects I’ll be working on will be the holiday market downtown.”
