Shawnna L Silvius

Results-driven, certified community & economic development professional with 25 years expertise in the field including marketing, talent development & grant writing/administration (CGA); experienced in executive level positions focused on inspiring, equipping & connecting individuals to build community and leadership capacity to advance rural, regional areas.

• Elected Official; set vision for city; supervise police/first responders, city administrator & depts; IA Mayors Assoc. Exec. Cmte & IA League of Cities Exec. Board 
• Entrepreneur with 8+ years diverse experience in all areas of business operations 
• Experienced facilitator, trainer & speaker with the ability to organize, influence & work cooperatively with individuals, business, community and government leaders

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• National, State and Regional Conference Speaker
• Asset-based Community & Economic Development
• Certified Grant Writing/Admin & Fundraising Campaigns 
• Brownfields Redevelopment
• Talent Pipeline Development, Retention and Engagement
• Place-based Marketing Strategy for Tech/Talent & Business Attraction
• Comprehensive & Strategic Planning, Visioning, SWOT Analysis
• Regional & Rural Development
• Organizational Development
• Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Leadership Development
• Business Development, Planning & Succession/Transition Strategy
• Target Industry Lead Generation Strategy (BRE program)
• Public Relations, Marketing & Branding
• Social Media Strategy & Execution
• Event Planning & Management

AFFILIATIONS 

• Iowa Mayors Association, Executive Cmte
• Iowa League of Cities, Board Director
• National Rural Economic Developers Association (NREDA), Board Director
• Professional Developers of Iowa (PDI)
• IA Child Abuse Prevention Prgm Advisory Cmte (CAPPAC)
• Business Retention & Expansion International (BREI)                

MOST PROUD OF

• Elected Mayor of Red Oak, IA, 2023 & 2021 
• Selected “Best of Iowa” Award, 2020
• Founded & directed two highly impactful award-winning community leadership development programs
• Founded Mayors Youth Advisory Council
• Founded iGnite young professionals group
• Founded & directed a regional animal rescue organization

CONSULTING CLIENT PROJECTS
eVentures Marketing transitioned to iShine Productions® LLC in July 2013. Relaunched 2024 (IA/NE)

ANNUAL CONFERENCE CLIENTS

• National Energy Codes Conference, Nebraska Energy Office & United States Department of Energy (400 attendees/50 exhibitors) 
• Annual Management Conference, Nebraska Trucking Association (300 attendees)
• Nebraska MarketPlace Conferences, Center for Rural Affairs (500 attendees/50 exhibitors)
• South Dakota MarketPlace Conferences, Center for Rural Affairs (500 attendees/50 exhibitors)
• Nebraska Wind Conference, NE Wind Working Group (500 attendees/50 exhibitors)
• MarkeTECH Conference, Grow Nebraska (200 attendees/30 exhibitors)
• State Association Conferences (biannual), Nebraska Economic Developers Association
• BRE Coordinator Training Workshop, Nebraska Economic Developers Association

TRAINING & FACILITATION

• Presenter at National Brownfields Conference, 2023 in Detroit & Community Development Society Annual Conference, 2024 in Omaha
• Certified Elected Municipal Official (CEMO)
• Panel Presenter-Housing Crisis in Rural Iowa,  Rural Development Summit, 2018 in Grinnell
• Future Ready Iowa proponent for talent pipeline development
• Created and facilitated City Council, City Boards & Community Leadership Training Series in partnership with four other agencies
• Created virtual reality videos to showcase types of innovative/tech-driven jobs by industry to entice/promote local jobs/careers 
• Created & facilitate Youth BIZ KIDS Camps
• Created & facilitated Youth BIZ Video Competition
• Created & facilitated two Leadership Development Programs (one award-winning) 

MARKETING & DESIGN SERVICES

• Created company websites for 5 economic development organizations, 5 non-profit & for-profit businesses
• Electronic newsletter (quarterly) Montgomery Co. Development Corp.
• Electronic Newsletter Editor (bi-monthly): National Rural Economic Developers Association (2009-2017)
• Graphic Designer & Marketing Consulting: VanderVeen & Goracke, CPAs 
• Graphic Designer & Consultant: Rural Enterprise Assistance Project
• Graphic Design & Communications: BREI Workshop
• Sales & Marketing Consulting: Heartland Center for Leadership Development

GRANT WRITING & Administration 

• Co-created Heartland AgTech Robotics Coalition with Invest Nebraska - won  a $25M U.S.E.D.A. Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant
• Two $100K Community Catalyst Grants for $1.5M in Historic Adaptive Rehab Projects
• Multiple USEDA COVID Recovery & Resiliency Grants
• Grant Researcher & Marketing Consultant
• Lewis & Clark Foundation

EXPERIENCE

Mayor (volunteered 5-mo as Interim City Administrator)~1/2022-Current
City of Red Oak, Iowa

• Assisted securing $1M Workforce Housing Tax Credit and $3.7M GO Bond for expansion of 11-acre subdivision with 59-unit townhome project; Helped secure historic designation & $9M in LIHTC & HTC for a 25-unit, adaptive reuse housing project-1917 Lofts; Secured $100,000 Catalyst Grant for Historic Downtown Bldg.
• Ensured 10-gig Residential Fiber Project; Community Heart & Soul; Studies for Comp Plan, Wastewater, Water, Flood Mitigation & Utility Rates; $1M Street Recon Project.

Community & Economic Development Planner III~ 9/2020-6/2024

Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency

• Assembled the Heartland Robotics Coalition partners with Invest NE winning 1-of-21 national $25M U.S. EDA Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant Awards
• Administrated $400K U.S. EDA CARES Act COVID Recovery & Resiliency Grant-led NE state & regional broadband mapping; 6-county EDO partnership; IA Business Resiliency Toolkit; and $50K Digital Equity regional planning initiative 
• Coordinated, administrated & managed $1.5M U.S. EDA Revolving Loan Fund for Micro/Small Businesses; Convened strategic partnerships for project funding

Executive Director, Community & Economic Development ~ 8/2017- 9/2020

Montgomery County Development Corporation (pop 10,400)

• Re-established 501c4 dedicated to county-wide community, economic, workforce, housing, business & leadership development initiatives to revitalize a severely depressed, declining rural county in SW Iowa; Identified & led county-wide projects across four communities specific to housing, workforce/talent pipeline development, childcare, fiber optic broadband, leadership capacity, marketing, innovation, retail & industrial retention & targeted attraction; Cultivated initial $5.4M LIHTC/Historic Tax Credit 25-unit housing reuse project; Facilitated $6.4M USDA Reconnect award; County-wide fiber initiative; Grant/admin for 1st completed Community Catalyst Project

Economic/Workforce Development Consultant/Site Selector ~ 3/2017- 7/2017

Webster Global Site Selectors, Independent Contractor Midwest Regional Office

• Prepared proposals for site selection, economic & workforce development consulting services for EDO’s, regional groups & municipalities including SWOT analysis, strategic plans, workforce/pipeline analysis, retail & industrial development analysis. Built long-term relationship with EDO’s, development professionals, educators, corporations, national/international site selectors, government, local leaders 

Director of Economic Development ~ 9/2016–3/2017

City of Crete, Nebraska   (pop 7,200)

• Coordinated, implemented & administrated economic development & business retention expansion (BRE) activities for economic growth, to preserve quality of life; Administrated local economic development program fund ($750K) and Downtown Revitalization program ($350K); Performed grant research & administration; Financial packaging (TIF, CDBG, etc.); Assisted in creation & execution of place-based marketing strategy, community brand & website redesign; social media administration

Director of Talent Solutions ~ 10/2015–9/2016

Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, Lincoln, NE (pop 272,000)

• Created, implemented & executed initiatives focused on talent attraction, retention, development, engagement & marketing to increase & improve workforce through social media strategy; creation of relocation/recruitment website; Conducted (BRE) visits; Facilitated HR Recruiter Roundtables; Created Talent Advisory Committee, hosted employer forums; Convened a State Talent Team; Supervised several interns

Chief Development Strategist/Elite Leadership Coach/Speaker ~ 10/2009–Current

iShine Productions® LLC (formerly eVentures Marketing)       

Keynote speaker, leadership and entrepreneurial coach and workshop trainer; Build community capacity through leadership and talent development, youth engagement, strategic planning, visioning, organizational development programs for businesses, non-profits & municipalities; Provide comprehensive conference planning & project management services.

Marketing & Program Coordinator ~10/2005–10/2009

River Country Economic Development Corporation, Nebraska City, NE (pop 7,200)

• Coordinated a five-county grant-funded regional partnership initiative focused on workforce & population recruitment, entrepreneurship & regional development projects including creation of a regional brand & website, developed entrepreneurs club & conducted business development trainings & networking activities; Directed regional conferences, summits, & special events; Created new brand, designed new website & all publicity materials; Developed successful political campaign that led to citizen support of a local option funded by half-cent increased sales tax; Met requirements to ensure 7th certified economic development community recognition

Community Development Specialist (Executive Director) ~ 2001-2002
American Cancer Society, Longmont, CO 

• Cultivated income development opportunities: coordinating three Relay-For-Life events netting $215,000; led a $1.75 million capital campaign for new office & conference center; Nurtured business/donor/investor relationships; Recruited, trained & managed 50+ office & special projects volunteers; Developed media strategies & sponsorship/programming partnerships; Supervised all office management activities, including administrative assistant, budgeting, contracts, grant writing, billing & payments, maintenance, & hiring; Led the Boulder County CO Council

Special Events Director & Marketing Coordinator ~ 1998–2000
Kearney Hub Publishing, Kearney, NE       

• Developed, managed & directed five large annual signature community/regional events; Generated over $65,000 new revenue in 2000; Managed all aspects of coordinating, managing & marketing events; Established annual strategic department operating plan & budget; Scheduled, developed, & managed in-house advertising & secured annual local media coop advertising agreements; Developed promotional campaigns using billboard, broadcast, Internet & multimedia sources; Assisted departments in creating integrated packages for sales team; Supervised an assistant & intern; Maintained software system creating customized client presentations for the sales team; Developed marketing analysis, customer satisfaction surveys & prepared reporting documents for internal & external communications

Sales Division Manager ~ 1997-1998
Curtis & Associates, Inc., Kearney, NE

• Developed initial marketing & strategic plan for a new company sales division; established internal sales department, hiring procedures, & supervised three sales account executives; Coordinated design of sales & marketing literature; Scheduled & managed media campaign & advertising; Researched competitor profiles & prepared comparison reports; Developed market analysis surveys & customer satisfaction evaluation; Prepared internal & external communication reports

Advertising Director & Marketing Coordinator ~ 1996-1997
Morris Publishing Company, Kearney, NE 

• Developed advertising strategies for four company divisions managing an advertising budget in excess of $1M; Designed & scheduled print, broadcast, billboard & television advertising; Developed marketing surveys for current & past customers & prepared internal reports; Performed research to improve new & existing products & analyzed competitor profiles; Represented company’s four divisions at national & regional tradeshows & conferences.

AWARDS & CERTIFICATIONS - Additional Available Upon Request

• Certified Grant Administrator (CDBG- CGA in Iowa & Nebraska)            2021/22
• Best of Iowa” Award, Iowa Economic Development Authority                2020
• Certified Professional Community & Economic Developer (PCED)        2016
• President’s Award, National Rural Economic Developers Association   2015 
• Graduated Midwest Community Development Institute (3 years)            2014
• Certified 8 to Great Trainer/Facilitator Program                                   2013
• Accredited Business Planning Advisor (ABPA) – Apogee Center           2012
• Certified REAL Colors® Trainer/Facilitator                                  2010/24
• Certified Business Retention Expansion Coordinator – BREI            2010
• Graduated Heartland Basic Economic Development Course (IEDC)     2009
• Completed Energizing Entrepreneurs in Rural America Institute            2007
• Completed Grant Writing USA Workshop                                    2006
• Marketer of the Year Award, American Marketing Association               2000

Certified Professional Community & Economic Developer (PCED) ~ 2016
Midwest Community Development – IL Institute: Community Development Council

Master of Science ~ 2012
Organizational Management-Economic Development & Entrepreneurship Emphasis, Peru State College – NE 
Summa Cum Laude - Alpha Chi National Collegiate Honor Society

Bachelor of Science ~ 1996
Comprehensive Business Administration-Marketing Emphasis: University of Nebraska-Kearney – NE 
Magna Cum Laude - Sigma Beta Delta Business Honor Society

Associates of Science ~ 1990
Fine Arts & Science: McCook Community College, McCook, NE 
Cum Laude - Phi Theta Kappa