Brandon Damm 37 Occupation: Public information officer, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Email: damm.brandon@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of arts in communication from University of Illinois Springfield
Family: Wife, Jill; son, Braydan
Affiliations/community activities: Volunteer director for Rock & Run for Mental Health, member of Springfield Road Runners Club
What is your greatest hope for Springfield? I hope we can develop a positive mindset for the city that is also focused on growth. Focusing on what's lacking generates negative headlines, which can be detrimental to our mental health. Contributing solutions creates a better community for everyone.
What would you like your life to look like in five or 10 years? My son will have graduated from high school by that time. I hope he can look back and see that I did everything I could to be a good father.
What would you like to give back to your community? I've been giving back through Rock & Run for Mental Health for the last three years. It raises funds for mental health and suicide prevention nonprofit organizations, an area I recognized was lacking in central Illinois.
What obstacles have you been able to overcome on your career path? I didn't attend college right after high school. It took me 19 years to complete my bachelor's degree.
What do you wish your younger self had known when you started on this path? Life is a series of chapters. We are never at the end of the story. This is just a segment of a story. It's never too late to write a new chapter.
What's the best purchase under $100 that you've made in the last six months? A gym membership.
