Amy is director of Carthage Community Development, an organization commited to the economic vitality and quality of life in Carthage, IL.  Amy has been a member of the Board of Directors for Hancock County CEO since its inception in 2015.  She was instrumental with bringing the CEO Program to the county after meeting Craig Lindvahl at an economic development conference. Amy's passion for education and working with youth has defined her career as a teacher, a school administrator, and as a volunteer.

"Who will be better today because of me?" ~Craig Lindvahl

PHOTO: Christine Murphy, Craig Lindvahl, Amy Graham

Matt was born and raised in the Carthage area, but left the county for about 20 years beginning with college and then his early work life.  With a young family, he moved back to Hancock County from "the City" in 1994.  He is a member of the board of CEO because he knows there is a need to keep our youth interested in working and living in Hancock County, either directly out of high school or after they have graduated college (and in some cases, after a few years of work experience away from here).

"CEO does a great job of introducing our high school students to the vast array of opportunities that are here in our local area" says Matt, and "we are beginning to see the pay-back from our efforts."

Melinda grew up in the LaHarpe and Blandinsville areas and later moved to Carthage while attending college at Western Illinois University.  Melinda holds a Bachelor's Degree in Information Management. 

Melinda has always worked locally, first working for Roquette in Keokuk, IA for 17 years and then joining First Bankers Trust Company in the fall of 2019. Today, Melinda is the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at First Bankers Trust Company.

Melinda is passionate about competitive sports. She shares her expertise as both an assistant coach for the Illini West Women's Softball Team and as head coach for the Carthage Jr. High Softball Team, nurturing young talent and fostering a love for the game.

In addition to her work in HR and sports coaching, Melinda is a certified DiSC practitioner, leveraging her expertise to enhance team dynamics and communication within organizations. She is also actively involved in her community, serving on two different boards where she contributes her insights and leadership to various initiatives.

Jamie is a Lender at Unity Community Bank in Keokuk, IA. He currently resides in Hamilton, IL with his wife, Lexi Cousins, who is a teacher and coach at Illini West High School. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, golfing, hunting, and is also an avid sports fan. He enjoys watching Iowa Hawkeyes Basketball and Football and he attends many games throughout the year. Jamie is excited to be involved in CEO and understands the interests of young professionals and the need for the program. 

"Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion"- Michael Jordan

Collin grew up in Hancock County, graduating from Warsaw High School in 2012. He attended Illinois College for undergrad and the University of Illinois Springfield to obtain his MBA. After recently moving back to the county, he learned about CEO and wanted to get involved. He works for Western Illinois Mutual Insurance Company in Carthage, IL as the accountant.

Joseph was born and raised in Hancock County and attended Western Illinois University earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy. He currently serves as Controller of Carthage System and is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant.

Samantha Harnack is the new Executive Director of Hancock County Economic Development (HCED). HCED has been a supporter of Hancock County CEO from the beginning and as such, Samantha is delighted to be a board member to support this amazing organization. Helping students become entrepreneurs is a passion of Sam's and she loves acting as an ambassador, speaker, and fill-in whenever possible for these amazing young men and women. 

Tim is President at Marine Bank & Trust in Carthage. He earned his B.B.A. from Culver Stockton College. Tim has been with Hancock County CEO Program since 2016.