b'CAREER: Executive director of the Economic and Community DevelopmentAgency for the City of Kankakee since April 2019. She previously served aspresident and CEO of the Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce andexecutive director of the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra. EDUCATION: A 1998 graduate of Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School and 2014 graduate of Western Illinois University, she received her mastersdegree in organizational leadership from Olivet Nazarene University in May 2019.COMMUNITY SERVICE: Previous board president of the Community Arts Council of Kankakee County, current board member of the United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties and vice president of Kankakee County Drug Free program.Her advice to women The most impactful lessons in my career have come from For women, we dont mentor each other, the women who have gone before me, she said.Barbi Brewer-Watson says. We dont take the She encourages local women leaders to be that person time to really, truly support each other.to someone else, to look around their circle and actively Thats not to say, though, that men cant mentor seek out someone to mentor. women, she said. But for Brewer-Watson, its the Its important, she says, because our community needs connections shes made with other female leaders more women leaders.that have been the most profound.Theres plenty of room at the table, she says to women who desire a leadership role.If you want to be a leader, heres her advice: Get plugged into whatever youre passionate about.Get informed, get involved and then speak up when you feel really feel strongly about something.If youre willing to step up and do whats needed, leadership opportunities will come to you.MARCH/APRIL 2020 | 15'