[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 27, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E360]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING VICKI HAUGEN'S 37 YEARS AT VERMILION ADVANTAGE

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                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 27, 2019

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Vicki Haugen, 
who took over leadership of Vermilion Advantage 37 years ago.
  Vermilion Advantage is the lead economic development office for 
Vermilion County, Illinois. Vicki began her tenure at Vermilion 
Advantage during a time when the business environment in Danville and 
Vermilion County was in turmoil. Major businesses, which had 
contributed for many years to the financial and economic health of the 
community, were leaving or considering doing so. Rather than be 
defeated by these setbacks, Vicki enlisted other community leaders to 
pull together and develop a coordinated plan to keep the losses to a 
minimum and attract replacements for those business that left.
  Vicki saw early on that if the community was to survive and prosper, 
the political, business, education, and community leaders would need to 
work together. This became the focus of Vermilion Advantage. More than 
simply an advocate for the community, Vicki had a comprehensive vision 
focused on creating the next generation of community leaders and a 
skilled and educated workforce, diversifying the economic base of the 
county, and developing a cooperative environment between labor and 
management, to name just a few of her initiatives.
  A major component of what Vicki has done is sell outside companies to 
the advantages of locating their operations in Vermilion County. Doing 
this for several decades has likely made Vicki the most informed and 
effective champion of Vermilion County. Her steady efforts over the 
past 37 years has had an inestimable impact on the community that she 
cares so much for.
  Indeed, Vicki's efforts are a labor of love. She grew up in Vermilion 
County, graduated from Danville High School, and lives in the community 
she helped remake. Her tireless efforts, mental toughness, 
professionalism, and unshakable faith that Vermilion County was worth 
trying to save has made a difference worthy of recognition.
  Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure and honor to rise today to recognize 
Vicki Haugen and to thank her for her leadership of Vermilion Advantage 
for these past 37 years. That leadership, by the way, has led to the 
creation of well over four thousand full-time jobs and counting. I wish 
Vicki all the best and Vermilion Advantage continued success.

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