“I have learned that if you want something to change, it is best to be part of that change instead of sitting on the sidelines hoping it will happen. I love my home and I want to see it continue to thrive,” says Samantha Rocknowski, who is celebrating one year as a Chamber Ambassador this month. Samantha says she would describe herself as passionate, collaborative, and honest. She lives in Kankakee with four cats who have decided she’s an acceptable roommate. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, volunteering at the Kankakee County Humane Foundation, and traveling.
Samantha graduated from Western Illinois University in 2011 with her Bachelor of Arts in History, along with a professional educator license for middle school and high school Social Studies. After working in
education, Samantha decided she wanted to leave the classroom and serve a wider audience. Upon leaving the classroom, Samantha found the City of Kankakee Economic and Community Development
Agency (ECDA) and has been there since September 2021. One of Sam’s biggest responsibilities is to find opportunities to connect with Kankakee residents to share information about the programs and
services the ECDA offers. This means that she is regularly scheduling, planning, and hosting workshops, neighborhood meetings, and preparing to table at various events. She also goes on weekly walks through a different Kankakee neighborhood as part of the ECDA’s Neighborhood Walks Initiative.
Samantha also creates much of the content that is shared on their social media platforms and is tasked with the ECDA bi- monthly newsletter. Within her position at the ECDA, Samantha found the Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce. We are thankful to have Samantha as a Chamber Ambassador. Without her, our Young Professionals Networking group and our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee would not be the same. We have
big things coming up with both of these groups and Samantha is a vital contributor to what’s next.
