The Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation recently welcomed Janeen Emory-Kolb to the administrative staff of the regional philanthropic organization. “The community foundation’s steady growth over the past five years has allowed us to expand our staff and increase our capacity to serve communities, organizations and donors in the region. We are pleased to have Janeen aboard,” said Joedy Hightower, President and CEO of the community foundation.
Janeen grew up on a farm near Prairie City, Illinois, where she was active in sports, band and McDonough County 4-H. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. She was a member of the Marching Illini and held leadership roles in several agriculture clubs. She later received her Masters of Science degree in Educational Leadership from Western Illinois University, Macomb.
She has a total of 16 years experience in leadership and development working with agriculture producer groups, educational partners and 4-H youth leaders at University of Illinois Extension in Fulton, Henry and Stark Counties. She was a Henry County Fair Board member for 12 years and president for two years. Prior to relocating with her family to Effingham in July of 2013, she was employed by Lavender Crest Winery near Colona IL, where she coordinated special events. Janeen and her husband, Brandon Kolb, have a nine year old daughter, Kinzie.
Janeen’s role at the community foundation will include administrative support of donor services, program, marketing and accounting functions. The community foundation manages approximately $15.5 million in charitable assets for its member community foundations and affiliated funds in Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland and Shelby counties and has reinvested more than $2.5 million in Southeastern Illinois since 2009.
