Age: 23
Occupation: Founder and director of ILSportsWire
Email: jhart@hartmg.com
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Illinois State University
Family: Parents, Julie and Matthew; sisters, Jane and Kate.
Affiliations/community activities: I work full time in the small-town communities around central Illinois covering high school sports throughout the year.
What is your guiding principle in life?
Compassion. ILSportsWire is a platform to share stories of talented athletes from often overlooked communities. Every small town has unique people with inspiring stories.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career path?
The biggest obstacle was convincing others to believe in my vision — building credibility with sponsors, athletes, parents and schools to see the benefits sports coverage can have to a community.
What would you like to give back to your community?
I give my gratitude to those who believe in me and to those who thank me for highlighting their communities.
Has any one event of the past year affected you and how?
Covering the Mount Pulaski girls basketball team’s run to the state tournament and watching the community rally around them. Coach Ryan McVickers expresses often the ability ILSportsWire has to bring a community together.
What led you to your career?
My mentor and sports marketing professor, Mark Gibson, is passionate for the industry. He inspired me, the former college soccer player. I discovered a love for sports media and storytelling.
What app on your phone are you embarrassed to say you use?
I use the Weather Channel app way too many times a day. I even check the weather in other parts of the country.
This article appears in July SBJ 2026.