Pam Schallhorn is an Extension community and economic development specialist serving west-central Illinois. She assists community leaders, economic development professionals and other stakeholders with the development and training in several areas of community and economic development.  

She received a master's degree in Political Studies from University of Illinois Springfield and a bachelor's degree in Finance from Northern Illinois University, Dekalb.  From 1986 to 2004, she was a commercial lender and vice president of several mid-western regional banks. Previously she was the Rockford Small Business Development Center Director and founder of New Urban Futures where she consulted on both community and economic development projects on a contractual basis.