The University of Illinois Extension has recently been under new management, and the new executive director is quite hopeful about the future of the office serving Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties.

William Catalano grew up in rural Edwardsville, living between Edwardsville and Hamel for most of his early life, though he’s been living in O’Fallon for the past few years.

For his higher education, he attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for degrees in economics and political science. He also has masters degrees in economics and finance.

As far as his career, Catalano said has served in a number of roles focused on community development, economic development and community municipal administration.

He also has work experience working with a private finance company as well as a local utility company.
Most recently, however, he said he’s been working as a stay-at-home parent for the past few years since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m actually going back to a workplace, which I’m incredibly excited about because of the mission and what it does for the community at large,” Catalano said.

He further explained his interest in his past jobs and his latest position with the extension, saying that he’s long been interested in how and why things happen when it comes to community development.

“I’ve always had a very personal interest in how communities change and develop as well as the integration and the connections between Wall Street and Main Street,” Catalano said. “That’s why economics always was a personal interest of mine.”

Catalano spoke generally about the extension’s place in the region, saying that communities in the area look to the office to fill a wide variety of needs.

He emphasized the extension’s service as a source of information for residents.

“What allows communities to thrive is the ability for information that improves people’s lives to be disseminated, to be made available,” Catalano said. “The mission of the extension – to develop educational programs, extend knowledge and build partnerships to support people, communities and the environment – is something that connected with me on a personal level.”

He further acknowledged the breadth of information the extension is expected to provide, as folks reach out or attend classes both out of general interest and as a vital contribution to their profession.

“When you’re inside the extension, you really get a sense of the magnitude of the value that it offers and the impact that it makes in people’s lives, whether it be an individual with regard to making nutritional choices or whether it be on the agricultural side of a farmer deciding best management practices for their farm,” Catalano said. “It can be anything from somebody’s hobby to something that’s somebody’s livelihood.”

He commended the staff at the extension office for their passion and awareness of how important their work can be for local residents, adding that he recognized the energy put into their work from his first day in the office back in January.

Catalano added that he hopes to expand the extension’s role in the community, meeting and surpassing expectations by, among other things, bettering individual connections between members of staff and the individuals they assist.

“I believe in 2024 and beyond, with the speed of life and how the world is changing, the extension has to be very dynamic and prepared and have the mindset of being able to change to meet the needs and priorities of our community,” Catalano said. “The collaboration and connection to the community occurs at a personal level.”

The local U of I Extension Office at 901 Illinois Avenue in Waterloo will hold an open house from 3-6 p.m. Thursday, March 21 for the public to welcome Catalano. For more information, call 618-939-3434.