Tarkington is new chamber director

By Editor | April 3, 2019 |

The Greater Fayette County Chamber of Commerce has a new director with more than 20 years of business experience.

Jill Tarkington officially started at her new position on Monday.
A 1990 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business and a minor in marketing, Tarkington has an extensive background in business ownership and management.
Tarkington grew up on a livestock and grain farm in McLeansboro, prompting her interest in agriculture.
Tarkington is enthusiastic about becoming the chamber’s executive director.
“After 18 years being a resident of Vandalia, and being involved in school and community organizations,” Tarkington said, “I am excited to be joining a valuable team of individuals that make up the Greater Fayette County Chamber of Commerce.
“With this, I look forward to a new venture in building relationships with our local and surrounding Fayette County communities and their businesses,” she said.
Pat Click, president of the Greater Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, believes Tarkington can lead the organization into its next chapter.
“Jill’s education and business background is a plus for the chamber as she serves our membership as a whole and works with them on a one-to-one basis.
“We’re confident she can implement a plan to grow our membership as we continue our expansion into a countywide chamber,” Click said.
A resident of Vandalia, she and her husband of 25 years, Shannon, have two children – Katie, a freshman at Lake Land College, and Cole, a sophomore at Vandalia High School.
Many will remember Shannon Tarkington as the store manager for the Vandalia Walmart Super Center. He is currently the Shelbyville store manager.
Since moving to Vandalia in 2001, Jill Tarkington has been active in the school system as a substitute teacher, volunteer and PTO member.
The Tarkingtons are members of First United Methodist Church in Vandalia.
Tarkington was introduced as the new executive director at the chamber’s Cardinals Baseball Lunch last Wednesday.