New CEO for the Belleville Chamber of Commerce

By Lindsey Harren

BELLEVILLE– Jill Raycroft is taking over  as the new CEO of the Belleville Chamber of Commerce  beginning in March.

She takes over the position from Bill Saunders who is retiring after six years in the role. The announcement was made this week.

“I think Jill brings a great skill set with her that will work well and combine well with the excellent staff we have. So … 2017 and beyond is looking very promising,” said Saunders.

Raycroft said that she hopes to continue the great work being done at the chamber.

But Raycroft also hopes to bring new priorities to the job.

“People leave this area because they don’t think we have places for them to work or places for them to go and there are some really unique things happening. So those are things I would love to have talked about more. Where the spotlight is on those kinds of businesses,” she said.

Raycroft says she’d like to see local businesses and the chamber working even more closely together.

“So that is kind of the thing is to kind of make, to raise the profile of all of those organizations that help business,” Raycroft said.

Raycroft said that her past experience with business and education makes the position “a good fit.”Raycroft is currently the executive director of the Belleville Children’s Safety Village . She also has experience in local politics, having run for mayor in 2014.

She will officially begin training at the beginning of February.