Economic Development

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Cesar Suarez, Director of Economic Development

Phone: 309/345-3680
55 W. Tomkins Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
 
 
Cesar Suarez began his duties as Economic Development Director for the City of Galesburg on August 20, 2007.  His key goal is to work with development partners throughout the City to prepare and position Galesburg for future growth.  Specific areas of responsibilities include: a) entrepreneurial development, b) downtown revitalization, c) retail development, d) industrial recruitment, and e) business development throughout the City.

Cesar has worked in the field of community/economic development for the past 20 years in urban, suburban, and rural settings.  Previously, Cesar served as Economic Development Director for the City of Centralia. He’s held positions as a Chamber Director for West Bend, WI, Executive Director of an Economic Development Corporation in Brookfield, IL, and started his career as a community organizer in Milwaukee, WI in 1991.

Cesar has earned an M.B.A at SIU-Carbondale along with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology.
 

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Eric Dilts, Incubator Director

Phone: 309/371-0472
2900 W. Main Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
 

Eric Dilts has over a decade of experience in senior executive management, and brings his skills to the Sustainable Business Center as Incubator Director. 

Prior to joining the City of Galesburg's EBI Network, Eric was the President of an international media company, where he was responsible for the management of the North American sales and service operations for a Sweedish technology firm.  Eric was a leader behind many successful partnerships in the growing field of alternative energy. 

Eric moved to the area from Southern California and holds a BA from Southern Illinois University.  He holds a certificate in Serial Innovation from the University of Illinois BIS program. In 2004, Eric was awarded the College of Liberal Arts Distinguished Alumni Award from SIU.

The Sustainable Business Center (SBC) is a 88,000 sf business incubator that supports the development of start-ups and/or the advancement of existing companies that are focused on green and clean technologies.
 
Visit www.sustainablebusinesscenter.com for more information.
 
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Gary Camarano, Global Strategies Director

Phone: 309/371-0474
2900 W. Main Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
 

The goal of the Global Strategies Director is to encourage collaboration, innovation, and globalization among existing businesses and industries in West Central Illinois by addressing common challenges and pursuing common opportunities. This would include identifying growth opportunities, expanding markets, removing obstacles to growth, increasing investment, and facilitating the retention and creation of jobs.

Gary has over 30 years of experience in Investment and Commercial Banking and has founded and sold two financial service companies. He holds a B.A. in Political Science & Metropolitan Studies from Valparaiso University and an M.P.A. from Kent State University. Gary received IEDC certification from Southern Illinois University.  He also holds certificates in Emergency and Disaster Management (Harper College), Innovation (Northwestern University), and Serial Innovation (University of Illinois BIS).

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Ryan Lilly, Entrepreneurship Center Manager

Phone: 309/371-0473
2900 W. Main Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
 

Ryan Lilly manages the Entrepreneurship Center of West Central Illinois. The mission of the Entrepreneurship Center (EC) is to regionally educate, engage and empower entrepreneurs by providing confidential, one-on-one business counseling and technical assistance to current small business owners and startups. Services provided include: business planning, feasibility analysis, retail site selection, marketing research, financing, and guidance on e-commerce and social networking.

Ryan is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) with a B.S. in Management and a concentration in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology Management.  He has also earned a certifiate in Serial Innovation from the University of Illinois BIS program. Ryan interned at Virginia Tech's Knowledge Works Business Accelerator and has a passion for assisting new companies. He plans on soon pursuing a part-time MBA program in Entrepreneurship.

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News & Announcements

Fusion_Tech_welder_instructing_student
6/17/2013 4:47:00 PM
Galesburg to host business matchmaking event
est Central Illinois metal fabricators and OEM manufacturers will have an opportunity to meet with National Railway Equipment’s (NRE) Director of Global...
 
global
5/31/2013 9:12:00 AM
State reaches out to local economic development stakeholders
The city of Galesburg’s Global Strategies Director, Gary Camarano, attended the Illinois Office of Trade and Investment’s (OTI) Illinois Export Advisory...
 
workshop
5/2/2013 12:29:00 PM
City, NAACP to host present programs to help businesses
Entrepreneurs, small businesses, and minority-owned enterprises seeking assistance to start or grow their business should attend an informational meeting...
 
USTaiwanFlag
4/10/2013 4:05:00 PM
Galesburg to host “Doing Business with Taiwan” forum in May
Galesburg’s Global Strategies Director, Gary Camarano, is continuing efforts to open the Galesburg/West Central Illinois Region up to more international...
 
hotmarketwatch
4/9/2013 9:02:00 AM
Overseas opportunities for Galesburg businesses explored at conference
The Seventh Annual “Hot Market Conference” held by the U.S. Commercial Service last week in Cincinnati, Ohio was attended by Gary Camarano, Galesburg’s...
 
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CITY OF GALESBURG KNOX COUNTY ILLINOIS
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