Staff
Meet the Team
The expertise at the Greater Freeport Partnership spans decades of service to community excellence. You can contact us via our general email or call the office at 815-233-1350.
Andrea Schultz Winter is the executive director for the Greater Freeport Partnership. Andrea works on economic development efforts for the Partnership, including downtown Freeport beautification efforts, data analysis, business support regarding financial incentives and loan programs, and employer workforce development support. Andrea has a wide range of experience–from working on complex architecture and construction projects to urban and regional planning developments. Andrea started her professional career in the Pacific Northwest where she gained an understanding and appreciation for ‘green’ design and best practices. More recently, Andrea has worked with a local architecture, construction, and development firm where she led local urban planning efforts. Andrea attended the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign where she received her Bachelors of Architecture, Masters of Architecture and Masters of Urban and Regional Planning. Freeport has been Andrea’s adopted hometown for the past 10 years. She loves being back in the Midwest and closer to family. Andrea and her husband have three energetic children. She values the Freeport community and volunteers her time sitting on multiple non-profit boards.
Nicole Haas is the marketing & tourism director for the Greater Freeport Partnership. She is charged with telling the story of the beauty and innovation of Freeport and Stephenson County to attract visitors, employees and residents to the region. She also helps to curate visitor and community information in multiple media channels to draw visitors into the county and showcase all of its amenities.
Nicole grew up in Pearl City and received her degree in communications and public relations from Western Illinois University and master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from Adler University. She worked as general manager for Erickson Publishing in Madison, WI before returning to the area to work in non-profit development and fundraising for several local agencies. Before becoming part of the Partnership’s team, she was the executive director of the Illinois Association of Groundwater Association. Nicole serves on several boards in the area and volunteers her time regularly in a variety of professional capacities. She resides on a farm in rural Stockton with her husband and two sons.
Mercedes Joyner is the membership director at the Partnership. She is an award-winning communications and branding strategist, public speaker, and community builder known for blending compelling storytelling with results-driven strategy. With experience across government, business, and nonprofit environments, she develops and executes communication plans that strengthen relationships, expand visibility, and help organizations connect meaningfully with the audiences they serve.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership and Nonprofit Management, and a Master of Arts degree in Communications focused on Messaging, Rhetoric, and Public Policy. Mercedes’ expertise includes member-centered engagement, marketing and communications strategy, social media and digital outreach, public relations, crisis communication, and community storytelling.
Leslie Mastoianni is the economic development manager and has spent over 30 years working in the community and economic development field. Leslie started her career path in Freeport before working in eastern South Dakota and southern Colorado for the last ten years. Leslie brings her passion for strategic planning, stakeholder relations, and fostering partnerships back to the area armed with ideas and a desire to help lead economic growth. She enjoys bringing together people from different backgrounds to tackle challenging projects, always aiming to make things run smoother and spark fresh ideas among the team.
She graduated from Columbia College with a bachelor’s degree in business management and a Master of Business Administration. Leslie’s greatest lessons continue daily while interacting with peers from across the country searching for ways to make communities large and small reach their full potential.
Leslie is excited to be back in Freeport near family and friends. Leslie is married and has three grown sons and five granddaughters.
Becky Eberle is the operations manager for the Greater Freeport Partnership. She assists the executive director in management of the corporation’s board of directors, committee, membership, and strategic allies and establishes a smooth functioning office noted for its excellent customer service, operating efficiency, professional image, product quality and high-quality prospect responses and client research.
Prior to working for the Partnership, Becky’s work history reflects 23 years throughout various areas of the banking industry.
Becky is originally from the Sterling/Rock Falls area but has resided in Freeport with her husband, son and two dogs, for the past seven years. Becky enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Billy George is the administrative coordinator at the Greater Freeport Partnership. He holds an A.S. in Digital Media from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. From there he moved back to the Midwest because he missed the winters. Freeport is lucky to have him back in the area, first working for his family’s business, Bill George Plumbing and Heating, and now at the Partnership.
In his free time, Billy can be found checking out the awesome food that Stephenson County restaurants have to offer.
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