ABOUT
We believe philanthropy can be a powerful tool for helping individuals, companies, and organizations invest in the community. That's why we connect donors to causes they care about and help nonprofits find needed tools and resources.
The Community Foundation of Jo Daviess County fosters giving and invests in communities in Northwest Illinois. At the Community Foundation of Jo Daviess County, we strengthen the communities in our county by inspiring community members to give, making grants to strengthen nonprofits, and investing in long-term community initiatives.
OUR MISSION
WE FOSTER GIVING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE
IN NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS.
OUR VISION
A GROWING AND SUSTAINABLE COUNTY WITH RESOURCES
AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL.
OUR VALUES
Our work will ensure CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT in communities and in
the lives of people in our region.
We embrace DIVERSITY, EQUITY, and INCLUSION.
We value INFORMED AND COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP.
We pursuee more EFFECTIVE CHANGE through EXCELLENCE and INNOVATION
OUR BOARD
Bridgette Stocks
Board Chairperson
Bridgette Stocks, a Jo Daviess County native from Apple River, has a passion for celebrating the abundance and uniqueness of our region. Bridgette works for Fehr Graham, a top Engineering & Environmental firm headquartered in Freeport, Illinois. Her work focuses on assessing the needs of communities and working with them to match funding sources with those identified needs. She is an accomplished community development professional with a unique combination of technical funding expertise, program administration, public administration, and project management experience. Bridgette is also the Owner/Editor of SCOUT, a regional digital magazine and multi-media showcase for all things local.
Tom Heidenreich
Vice Chairperson
Tom Heidenreich is a native of Stockton, where he has raised a family, farmed, and volunteered. He has two children, grand and great grandchildren. He resides on a generational farm. Tom’s community service spans fifty plus years and includes recreational, fraternal, religious, historical, farm, and mutual insurance commitments. After county zoning was approved he was appointed to the newly formed planning commission. There he participated in formulating the mission statement, land evaluation site assessment and comprehensive plans for Jo Daviess county. He has served in leadership and board member roles in many of these organizations.
Joel Holland
Treasurer
Joel is the CEO and Director of Apple River State Bank and First Community Bank of Galena. He has been in banking for 30 years in Jo Daviess County and also operates a small family farming operation in Scales Mound. Joel is President of Thompson and Guilford Mutual Ins. Co., Vice President of Community Development Fund of Galena, and a Board member of Midwest Medical Center. Community involvement activities include Galena Elks, Galena Rotary, Galena FFA Alumni and Supporters, Highland College Foundation, Community Foundation of Jo Daviess County. Joel's family consists of his wife Joellen, 3 children attending Galena School District. Joel attended Scales Mound High School, Highland Community College, Western Illinois University.
Jennifer Montgomery
Director
Jennifer grew up in the Milwaukee area and came to Dubuque to attend Loras College. She was drawn to this quaint area of the country and decided to stay and pursue my love of Marketing in the Tri-States. Jennifer and her husband Josh operate Galena Goat Yoga as well as Josh’s construction company, along with raising 5 children.
Jennifer is active in the community, having served on the Galena Education Foundation Board, and as the marketing coordinator for the Community Foundation, prior to joining the Board.
Dr. Michael Wells
Director
Mike is a board certified family practice physician. He and his wife Sheila grew up in Freeport, IL. They started dating in Colorado and moved back to Galena in 2004 to raise their family. They have three children attending Galena School District and are active in the community. Dr. Wells was hired in 2007 by the Midwest Medical Center to help start a medical practice for the new hospital and has worked there since that time. He is appointed to the faculty of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine. Mike previously served on the ARC Board and has coached many young sports teams as his children have grown.
Kathy Gable
Secretary
Kathy is the Director of Transportation for Jo Daviess County Transit. Jo Daviess County Transit is operated by The Workshop and provides over 4,000 rides a month to the citizens of Jo Daviess County. Kathy is also the Owner and Operator of Sullivan’s Antiques and Sullivan’s Laundromat on Hanover’s Main Street in Hanover, IL. After graduating from Illinois State University, Kathy worked for both the Chicago White Sox and the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Kathy and her husband, professional comedian, Steve Moris, both agree that the best decision they ever made was moving back to Hanover to raise their son, Stevie.
Erin Murphy
Director
Erin Murphy is a life-long resident of Hanover, IL. Illinois graduating from Hanover High School and attending Loras College. Erin got her start as a server at Chestnut Mountain Resort as a server and rose to the position of General Manager. Erin is active in the Jo Daviess County community; a member of the St John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hanover and member of the finance committee. Erin is a member of Hanover’s Village Board, a director on the Hanover Chamber of Commerce Board, and a member of the Mallardfest committee. Erin has also served on the Board of the JoDaviess County CVB and Hanover Ambulance Board of Directors.
Nathan Greiner
Director
An engineer with a creative streak, Nathan Greiner serves as Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at DMI and Design Mill Inc., both located in Dubuque IA. Nathan has an apple orchard, Orchard Landing, near Hanover, IL, and is passionate about locally sourced foods. Winner of three “Intel Software Innovator of the Year” awards, he has problem-solving expertise with the latest emerging technologies that he applies to the foundation. Nathan holds a mechanical engineering degree from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Texas. Nathan is looking forward to making a philanthropic impact in the region as a board member of the Community Development Foundation.
OUR STAFF
Eric Dregne
President
Eric is a social entrepreneur who believes great things happen when good people work together in communities. Eric has started 4 companies, 2 nonprofits, and launched numerous community initiatives. After 20 years in executive retail management and 10 years in philanthropy, Eric launched his project management company called Next Level. Eric serves in a part-time role as the Community Foundation's President.
Eric and his wife Carolyn are proud to have raised two amazing sons, Jack and Jake, here in Jo Daviess County.