Our History
In 2002, the Economic Development Corporation and the Danville Chamber of Commerce merged into the organization we now know as Vermilion Advantage.
Combining what was then 125 years of experience and dedication to Vermilion County, Vermilion Advantage is working for businesses, large and small, to enhance all aspects of community living – quality of life, successful business and retail climate and the general welfare of Vermilion County’s residents.
Investing in our future is important to everyone for the overall goal, success and vision for Vermilion County.
Vision:
To build community and create opportunity
Mission:
We lead, develop, and connect people, businesses, and resources to foster economic success in Vermilion County.
Value Statement:
The Vermilion “Advantage” fosters connections, develops workforce, retains business and attracts new investment, provides information, and advocates for the local economy.
Core Values:
- Integrity
- Passion
- Innovation
- Collaborative
- Impactful
Meet the Vermilion Advantage Team
Tracy Wahlfeldt
Interim CEO
ceo@vermilionadvantge.com
Jodie Ingram
Workforce Education Director
jingram@vermilionadvantage.com
Dana Rowland
Chamber of Commerce Director
drowland@vermilionadvantage.com
Mike Levin
Vermilion County Trustee Director
mlevin@vermilionadvantage.com
Lisa Thompson
Data & Finance Administrator
lthompson@vermilionadvantage.com
Sarah Haase
Operations Assistant
sarah@vermilionadvantage.com
Board & Executives
Vermilion Advantage Board members give generously of their time, expertise and financial resources to support our efforts to grow and improve Vermilion County. Collectively, they establish the directives for implementing and attaining our goals.
Executive Directors
- Chair: Gary Tucker, Thyssenkrupp Dynamic Components
- CEO/President:
- 1st Vice Chair: Dr. Seth Miller, Westville High School
- Vice Chair: Phil Muehl, Retired Executive
- Imm. Past Chair: Jeff Fauver, Fisher Bank
- Secretary: Jackie Vinson, Vermilion Housing Authority
- Treasurer: Matt Smiley, Old National Bank
- Director: Deanna Witzel, DND Witzel Enterprises
- Director: Gardner Peck, Danville Metal Stamping
- Director: John Hart, Danville District #118
- Director: Heather Tucker, Carle – Hoopeston
- Director: David Schnelle, Danville Sanitary District
- Director: Shanon McMasters, First Financial Bank
- Director: T.J. Morris, Iroquois Federal
- Director: Jon Stalcup, Owens-Corning
- Director: JT Barnhart, OSF Healthcare Sacred Heart
- Director: Dr. Randy Fletcher, DACC
- Director: Rick Elkin, Heartland Properties Group
- At Large: Rickey Williams, City of Danville
- At Large: Steve Miller, Vermilion County Board Chairman
- Ex-Officio: Paul Faraci, State Senator
- Ex-Officio: Brandun Schweizer, State Representative
Directors
- Sandy Blunier, Viscofan
- Tracy Carter, Village of Hoopeston
- Tom Coursey, Thyssenkrupp Crankshaft
- Ross Darby, Trigard
- Rev. Dale DeNeal, Second Church of Christ
- Tim Donahoe, McLane Midwest
- Darren Duncan, Duncan Farms
- J.R. Fregia, Courtesy Ford
- Aaron Goodrum, IBEW 538
- Matt Grandone, Mervis Industries
- John Griebat, Grain Craft
- Tara Hafner, Christie Clinic
- Tom Hashimoto, Hyster-Yale
- Tonya Hill, DACC Foundation
- Larry Kuchefski, Coldwell Banker
- Angie Lazzell, United Way
- Todd Lee, Retired Executive
- Travy McClellan, IBEW Local 538
- Amanda McCoy, Golden Nugget Danville
- Michael Mervis, Vermilion Development
- Abby Muehl, Danville Country Club
- Andy Price, Aqua Illinois
- Casey Reece, Chevron Renewable Energy Group
- Hayley Siefert, Keller Williams Realty
- Auston Surprenant, Danville Area Board of Realtors
- Bill Wear, Village of Tilton Mayor
- Allison Winter, Comm. Foundation of E. Central IL, Development Director
- Julie Zimmerman, Genpact
- Tyler Zindars, Westwood Equity Partners
Vermilion Advantage is the recipient of the IACCE Outstanding Chamber of the Year 2025.
Vicki Haugen (1957-2020), visionary economic development leader and President & CEO of Vermilion Advantage, served Vermilion County for 38 years. Her leadership created jobs, strengthened business and workforce development, and shaped the community's growth and resilience.
Vicki Haugen left an extraordinary 38-year legacy as
Vermilion County’s economic development leader. The community lost her in February of 2020. She served as President and CEO of Vermilion Advantage, the area’s economic development and chamber of commerce organization.
About Vicki
Vicki joined the Economic Development Corporation in Danville, IL, at its inception in 1982. She first served as Vice President of Marketing and, in 1986, became President & CEO. In 2002, she became the founding President & CEO of Vermilion Advantage, the newly formed organization that encompassed the former Economic Development Corporation and the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce. With Vermilion Advantage, Vicki was responsible for implementing and overseeing economic development, business services and workforce development for Vermilion County, Illinois. She was a graduate of Danville High School and the University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Business Administration – Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. She was a faculty member for the Illinois Basic Economic Development program.
Vicki was a lifelong resident of Vermilion County.
Visionary
Leadership
Vicki also guided
the 2013 retail explosion in the Danville area. She created marketing
opportunities and campaigns to encourage people to shop locally. Her leadership
was critical to the success of an 18-month retail expansion in the community
that created over 500,000 square feet of new retail space and significantly
repurposed existing spaces, including: Meijer, Kohl’s, Ross, Ruler, TJ Maxx,
Joann Fabrics, Burlington Coat Factory and Slumberland.
Workforce
Development
Partial list of Awards, Accomplishments and Community Service Leadership:
- Named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary
- Foundation of Rotary International
- Named Business & Professional Women’s
- Club Woman of the Year
- Named to the Danville High School Wall of Fame
- Awarded United Way of Danville Area Women United Leadership Award
- Named a national TPM (Talent Pipeline Management) Fellow with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for her workforce development initiatives beginning in 1998
- John Shimkus of Illinois recognized Vicki Haugen’s 37 years in economic development on the Congressional record in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 27, 2019
- Selected by Gov. Jim Edgar, State of Illinois, as a member of the Economic Development Board, 1993 and 1997
- Named Woman of Achievement by American Association of University Women
- Selected as the Danville Branch of the American Association of University Women’s Annual Woman of the Year
- Mayor Robert E. Jones proclaimed March 6, 1995, as Vicki L. Stewart Day in Danville
- Named the Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction – Green Meadows Girl Scout Council
- Awarded Distinguished Economic Development winner by the Illinois Development Council
- Served as United Way Campaign Chair
- Named Woman of the Year (Business) by the Commercial-News
- Past or current member: Danville Rotary, Executive Club