Vinicky focuses on new career
Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Last week…
* This week…
Intersect Illinois Announces Strategic Leadership Hires, Adds Depth in Key Areas
Amanda Vinicky, Elizabeth Gichana, Kyla Karten, Kate Lindgren, and Ramya Koritala to support Intersect Illinois’ business attraction strategies
CHICAGO, IL – Today, Intersect Illinois announced the addition of five key leaders to its team, reinforcing its commitment to driving investment, job creation, and economic growth across Illinois. These strategic hires further strengthen the organization’s expertise in life sciences, site readiness, business development, data-driven research, and communications strategy.
“Expanding our team to encompass more expertise is a top priority for our organization as Team Illinois seeks to build on its competitive business advantages,” said Christy George, President and CEO of Intersect Illinois. “Amanda, Elizabeth, Kyla, Kate, and Ramya are tremendous assets to the team, and each of these accomplished professionals brings specialized expertise that will help advance our mission. With the addition of Robin Ficke and Dr. Preeti Chalsani last year, our team is stronger than ever, and we look forward to the impact these leaders will make in driving growth across the state.”
Amanda Vinicky has been named Vice President of Communications. She will lead Intersect Illinois’ communications strategy, amplifying the organization’s mission, success stories, and economic impact to key stakeholders, media, and the public. A talented journalist with over 20 years of experience, Vinicky previously served as a correspondent and host on WTTW-TV’s “Chicago Tonight” and was Statehouse Bureau Chief for NPR Illinois and the Illinois Public Radio network—work that garnered Emmys, Lisagors from the Chicago Headline Club, and other reporting awards. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Illinois Springfield’s celebrated Public Affairs Reporting program and has degrees in political science and journalism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
“Most anyone who has met me knows I have an unbridled love of Illinois, which is why as a journalist I pushed its leaders to be their best on behalf of its residents,” Vinicky said. “As a lifelong Illinoisan, I know all that the state has to offer and I’m dedicated to being part of Intersect Illinois’ work in sharing that story and advancing the state’s growth.”
I’ve known Ms. Vinicky since she was a PAR intern way back in the day. I never thought she’d leave journalism, but this is a great move for her, and a bad omen for WTTW.
* To this day, I still utter the line “Focus, Amanda. Focus”…
Classic.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 12:48 pm:
Huge congrats to my absolute favorite journalist.
- Not again - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 1:00 pm:
Perfect hire for the job. No one knows or loves Illinois, and not just Chicago, better. Give her a long leash and a camera and enjoy the marketing magic.
- ADF - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 1:06 pm:
Great sign that this organization is getting serious about the future. Amanda is on a different level.
- Redscarecrow - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 1:24 pm:
One of my early career jobs was at a big conglomerate PR firm. My immediate supervisor was a former regional newspaper editor who was laid off and went to the “dark side” (this was back in the mid 2000s before decimating local news was cool).
He told me that to understand journalists, you need to understand that it’s not a job for them - it’s a calling. The hours are long and for most, the pay isn’t great. But they are in it for bigger reasons than just cashing a paycheck. It’s been a tough new world for traditional journalism but throughout all of this Amanda was the pro’s pro. And may I add, one of the kindest representatives of her profession without sacrificing her commitment to the public.
This new gig seems like the perfect transition for a person who has been no less a public servant than those she is about to join. We have been and will continue to be lucky to have her advocating for the people of our state. Congrats, Amanda!
- Dirty Red - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 1:38 pm:
= …as a journalist I pushed its leaders to be their best on behalf of its residents =
She did, which makes writing about her journalism career in past tense a real drag.
Amanda covered the theater, but she also showed up in places many did not know exist. It gave her interviews and reporting that much more bite. If Amanda was reporting it, she had it. I especially enjoyed you, Jak, and Amanda every budget day on PBS and NPR.
Amanda was also a journalist you wanted to interview with because she wanted more than a sound bite and had the platform to provide it. Getting your officer a Vinicky interview about their banner initiative or after someone else did a hatchet job meant credibility and setting the record straight.
Why? Because Amanda never pulled her punches. You didn’t just get that air time - you had to earn it. She never stopped chasing the story, and she took seriously her role in the Press Room while celebrating the journalists around her. We are better because of her talents. Intersect is today bringing in someone with immense integrity and institutional knowledge. Congratulations to their Crew, and to Amanda for finding a new way to apply herself to our collective betterment.
###
First Paris and now Amanda. Something up at WTTW? Do we need a force field around Brandis?
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 1:50 pm:
“a bad omen for WTTW”
A catastrophe for WTTW.
– MrJM
- Jim Durkin - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 1:58 pm:
What a great run Amanda . Your work in the capitol and Chicagoland area was 2nd to none . You will be sorely missed but I am excited for next chapter . The GA’a loss is Intersect Illinois gain !
Godspeed my friend !
- Big Dipper - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 1:58 pm:
==Something up at WTTW?==
They cut CT from an hour to 30 minutes and cut the number of days it airs. There isn’t much time for serious journalism there anymore.
- It's Just a Pill - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 2:05 pm:
Amanda has been a rare gem in Springfield, a tough, serious professional who is genuinely a good, decent and nice person. I’m proud to call her a friend.
- Name Withheld - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 2:11 pm:
Amanda Vinicky is good people and a class act. Her association with an organization automatically gives it credibility, and credibility is in short supply these days.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 2:12 pm:
The Rauner interview was great, another reporter might have let it go but Vinicky kept pressing. Good luck to her in the new career. PBS is under attack red scare style now by Trump, Musk and Republicans.
- Tina Sfondeles - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 2:23 pm:
I am 100 percent biased, but I am so proud of my bestie for her entire reporting career and for taking on this new chapter in her life. I know that Intersect Illinois will benefit from having a smart, curious, loyal and talented person like Amanda advocate for them. Good luck, Amanda. We’re all rooting for you. (Also can you please do a podcast?)
- Amalia - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 2:26 pm:
good luck to her. great choice by them (banned punctuation)
- Jeb - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 2:35 pm:
How does Intersect Illinois get its funding? That top-tier talent can’t come cheap.
- Peanut Gallery - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 2:36 pm:
To echo comments above, I’d be an immediate subscriber to any work, including a podcast, of Amanda.
- Monique Garcia - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 2:50 pm:
We are so lucky to have a public servant like Amanda. Her role may be evolving, but her dedication to our state only grows. I’m proud to call her a colleague and a friend and can’t wait to see what her future holds.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 2:50 pm:
Congrats to Amanda and I love that video
- Dirty Red - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 2:51 pm:
= There isn’t much time for serious journalism there anymore. =
ick
- Jeremy Rosen - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 3:10 pm:
Sad that the press is losing Amanda. Happy for her and for the new opportunity.
- thisjustinagain - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 3:16 pm:
Congratulations, Amanda!
You survived everything so far, including the now-infamous “Focus, Amanda, Focus”.
- Ryan Spain - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 3:32 pm:
This is my first ever Cap Fax comment for one of my all time favorites -Amanda Vinicky. She will be missed in journalism and state politics, but I am absolutely thrilled about her new assignment with Intersect Illinois. Intersect is an important public private partnership and Amanda will be an incredible asset to help sell the State of Illinois and bring economic prosperity forward. What a great hire!
- JR - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 4:41 pm:
Everyone needs an industry gal pal like Amanda. She lights up the room. If you don’t know her by the end of the night, you missed out. She’s a champion of the underdog and incredibly kind about all of her knowledge. You will be missed, big time.
- Leslie K - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 5:37 pm:
I’m happy for Vinicky, and she and George together will be unstoppable, but what a loss for Illinois journalism. Wishing Amanda all the best
- Sun Times Buyout Brigade - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 9:26 pm:
There are some members of the recent Sun Times Buyout Brigade who might have liked a look at this gig.