CARBONDALE, IL – The Board of Directors of Southern Illinois Now (SI Now) is pleased to congratulate Dr. Deborah "Deb" Barnett on her appointment as Vice President of Community Affairs and Chief Development Officer at Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH). As she assumes this important regional leadership role, Barnett will continue serving SI Now in an advisory and staff support capacity, helping ensure continuity for the organization's strategic initiatives and partnerships.

"On behalf of the SI Now Board of Directors, I want to congratulate Deb on this well-deserved opportunity," said SI Now Board Chair Woody Thorne. "Deb's leadership has been instrumental in building SI Now into a respected organization regionally, statewide and beyond, and we are excited to see her continue making an impact for Southern Illinois through her new role with SIH while remaining engaged with economic development in partnership with SI Now."

As SI Now's founding Executive Director, Barnett has led regional economic development efforts across the 17 southernmost counties of Illinois, bringing together business, education, healthcare, workforce, government, and community leaders around a shared vision for regional growth and prosperity.

Under her leadership, SI Now has advanced initiatives focused on business attraction, workforce development, regional collaboration, site readiness, and strengthening Southern Illinois' competitive position for future investment opportunities.

"One of Deb's greatest strengths has been her ability to bring people together around common goals," Thorne said. "The partnerships she has helped build throughout the region will continue to benefit Southern Illinois for years to come."

Prior to joining SI Now, Barnett served in leadership roles at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, including Associate Director of the SIU Research Park and Director of Business Incubator Programs within the Office of Innovation and Economic Development. Her career also includes experience in workforce development, entrepreneurship, small business ownership, and community engagement.

In collaboration with SIH, the SI Now Board has established a transition plan that will enable Barnett to remain engaged in an advisory and staff support capacity while assuming her new responsibilities at SIH. As a visionary partner whose early investment and leadership helped catalyze SI Now from its inception, SIH understands that a strong regional economy and healthy communities are mutually reinforcing. This unique arrangement reflects a shared commitment to advancing Southern Illinois through continued collaboration, innovation, and service to the region's residents, employers, and healthcare patients.

“We are fortunate that this is not a goodbye,” Thorne added. “While Deb’s primary focus will be serving Southern Illinois through her new leadership role at SIH, she will continue to provide advisory support to SI Now and its mission. Her ongoing involvement provides stability, preserves important relationships, and ensures that the work underway across the region continues moving forward."

Thorne noted that Barnett's appointment reflects the caliber of leadership found throughout Southern Illinois and further strengthens the connection between economic development, community advancement, and healthcare. He also emphasized that SI Now's success has always been the result of a strong team effort. "While Deb will continue providing strategic guidance and support, Nick Holdinghausen and Tricia Edwards remain at the forefront of our work every day,” Thorne said, highlighting the team’s leadership, dedication, and deep relationships across the region that have been integral to SI Now's growth.

"SI Now remains focused on creating opportunities, fostering collaboration, and building a stronger future for the 17 counties we serve," Thorne said. "We are grateful for Deb's continued commitment to that mission and look forward to working alongside her as she begins this exciting new chapter."

About Southern Illinois Now (SI Now)

Southern Illinois Now (SI Now) is a regional economic development organization serving the 17 southernmost counties of Illinois. SI Now works collaboratively with communities, businesses, educational institutions, workforce partners, healthcare organizations, and economic development stakeholders to advance economic growth, workforce development, investment attraction, entrepreneurship, and regional prosperity.