Board Of directors

Drew is the Economic Development Director for the City of Beloit and President/CEO of the Greater Beloit Economic Development Corporation. Drew previously worked in the City of Beloit Planning Department for 15 years, serving as Planner and Planning Director. He served six years on the Board of the American Planning Association – WI chapter and currently serves on the Boards of the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce and Visit Beloit. Drew holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), and lives in the City of Beloit.

Jackie is an alum of the UW-Madison School of Social Work and received a Masters of Science in Social Work in 1978 with a concentration in Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health. She has been a practicing social worker for 45 years. Her first job was at Catholic Charities working with clients with developmental disabilities. After that, Jackie was employed in the School District of Beloit as a school social worker for 32 years until her retirement in January, 2016. She has taught at the post secondary level for 25+ years. Initially at UW-Whitewater Social Work Department and currently at Blackhawk Technical College where she teaches Behavior Science courses. She currently serves on several boards in Beloit and also served on the board of the Wisconsin School Social Workers Association for over 20 years. Her favorite thing to do in Beloit is dine at Zen Sushi.

Jamie is Executive Assistant to the CEO of Hendricks Commercial Properties and Geronimo Hospitality Group. A Beloit native and graduate of UW–La Crosse, Jamie began her career in hospitality, rising from server at Merrill & Houston’s to opening general manager of Bessie’s Diner before transitioning into executive support. She has completed the Living as a Leader program, previously chaired the Professional Development Committee for Rising Professionals, and currently serves on the boards of the Leadership Development Academy of Rock County and the Beloit Public Library Foundation. Outside of work, Jamie enjoys book clubs, trying new foods, and spending time with her three children. She is excited to be part of Visit Beloit, giving back to the community that has given so much to her.

Kari was born and raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and moved to Rock County in 2018 after graduating with her Masters from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She was previously the Community Manager at Irontek where she immersed herself in the Beloit Community. She served in a variety of leadership and volunteer roles in the Chamber before joining the Chamber staff in June 2025. Kari now lives in Beloit with her husband Travis, her son Liam and her two pups, Bane and Hazel. When not chasing her toddler you can find her reading, spending time with friends and family or out in the Beloit community.

Jayme is a Beloit-based restaurateur with more than 27 years of hospitality experience and a strong commitment to community and workforce development. She is the Owner and Operator of Benedetti’s Supper Club, where she focuses on exceptional service while creating a safe, clean, and supportive environment for young workers to learn and grow. Having raised her three children in Beloit, Jayme is deeply invested in strengthening her community and building spaces where families, teams, and future leaders can thrive.

Jesse is senior vice president of sales & marketing for Geronimo Hospitality Group and Hendricks Commercial Properties. Jesse leads a team of more than 30 talented marketing and sales team members throughout the country focused on design, marketing coordination, public relations, and event sales. Jesse’s team carries the weight of all sales and marketing efforts for Geronimo’s 30+ hospitality brands located in Beloit, WI, Indianapolis, IN, Boise, ID. Some of Geronimo Hospitality’s notable businesses include Bottleworks Hotel, voted Yelp’s #1 Hotel in America, The Garage Food Hall (voted #2 Food Hall in America by USA Today) and ABC Supply Stadium (voted top 8 ballparks in all of High-A MiLB). Jesse is originally from the land of 10,000 lakes and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University where he graduated with a Masters in Sport Management and played third base for the NIU Huskies. He lives in South Beloit, IL with his wife of thirteen years, Jenny, his two children, Nolan (11) and Brooklyn (8), and their four-year old Goldendoodle, Lucy.

Maria Elena White has been teaching for over 28 years in areas such as Communication, Spanish, Translation, Chicano Studies, Sociology, Modern Dance, and Theater. She owns the company Spanish Communication and Translating Services, which is an international communication consulting and translating firm located in Beloit, Wisconsin. Maria is also the Director of the Spanish newspaper La Voz de Beloit. It is a non-profit organization that addresses a wide range of themes, focusing especially on the health, safety, and complete well-being of families within Latino communities.

Mark Henderson has called the Stateline region home for nearly a quarter century, the last ten years of which just down the road from Beloit in Rockton, IL, where he currently serves as the Village’s Community Development Director. Prior to that, he spent more than 20 years as a meteorologist for a Rockford television station. Passionate about developing and maintaining trusted relationships with business owners, local leaders, and residents alike, Mark is excited to take on his role on Visit Beloit’s board. Mark and the leadership team from the Village of Rockton are excited about working hand in hand with Visit Beloit in establishing a long-lasting, fruitful partnership that helps have positive local impacts for years to come. You’ll oftentimes catch Mark and his family dining at one of Beloit’s many amazing restaurants, spending time at the YMCA, or taking in a Beloit Sky Carp game at ABC Supply Stadium. Sometimes, you may actually hear his voice in the stadium as he occasionally serves at the team’s Public Address Announcer. 

A Beloit native and current Beloit City Council Member, Marty is a retired pharmacist and served previously for eight years on the Beloit City Council, as well as on the boards for Friends of Beckman Mill, Welty Environmental Center, and the Beloit International Film Festival. He was appointed as the city council representative to Visit Beloit, Inc.

Sonya is a South Beloit native and proud graduate of South Beloit High School. Sonya became the City’s first City Administrator in the Fall of 2021. She brings well rounded experiences from three municipalities, Beloit College Powerhouse and Stateline Area Boys & Girls Clubs. Sonya has served the stateline area in multiple capacities including the South Beloit City Council, South Beloit Parks Committee, South Beloit Centennial Committee, Nature at the Confluence Board of Directors, Visit Beloit Board of Directors, Greater Beloit Economic Development Corporation, Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce and Friends of the Riverfront. Sonya is most passionate about youth professional development, outdoor recreation and igniting excitement for a more beautiful, sustainable South Beloit for future generations.