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.”
Elizabeth Gichana, Ph.D. joins as Vice President of Life Sciences, bringing extensive experience in the biotechnology and healthcare sectors. She will play a critical role in expanding Illinois’ leadership in life sciences by working with industry stakeholders, investors, and academic institutions to drive new opportunities and strengthen the state’s innovation ecosystem. A trained biophysicist with a strong background in molecular biophysics, Gichana previously served as a project leader and consultant at Boston Consulting Group collaborating with C-suite clients from multi-billion-dollar companies, leading cross-functional teams to meet client deliverables, and conducting in-depth market analyses and organizational assessments in key sectors including biotech and medical technology. A native of East Africa, Gichana earned her Ph.D. in Biological Physics from the University of Michigan and Bachelor of Science in Physics from Radford University.
“Illinois is brimming with opportunity and has incredible potential to be a leader in the life sciences industry. I’m excited to leverage my expertise to help accelerate its growth,” Gichana said. I look forward to collaborating with the team and our partners to help foster innovation, attract investment, and strengthen the life sciences ecosystem in Illinois to drive meaningful economic development across the state.”
Kyla Karten has been appointed Vice President of Site Readiness, where she will oversee efforts to identify, develop, and market prime industrial and commercial sites across Illinois. Her expertise will help accelerate business attraction by ensuring companies have access to well-prepared locations that support rapid development and operational success. A trained civil engineer, Karten previously served as a civil designer and project manager, working land development projects of varying scope and a proven track record in managing large-scale projects. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
“I am beyond excited to join Intersect Illinois as the Vice President of Site Readiness,” Karten said. “I look forward to collaborating with the incredible Intersect team to build on their hard work driving economic development across the state. I’m ready to draw on my engineering background to strengthen Illinois’ competitive edge and contribute to the state’s long-term advancement.”
Kate Lindgren has been named Director of Research and Regional Analysis, a role that leverages data analytics and economic research to provide critical insights that inform business decisions and economic development strategies. Her work supports Intersect Illinois’ mission of showcasing the state’s advantages to prospective investors. Prior to joining Intersect Illinois, Lindgren served in the Office of Governor J.B. Pritzker where she assisted with the oversight of several state agencies and led the successful development and implementation of key research and policy initiatives including the Illinois Grocery Initiative. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in economics and public policy from the University of Chicago.
“I am excited to join Intersect Illinois and showcase the state’s economic strengths,” said Lindgren. “By leveraging data-driven insights and regional analysis, we can attract investment, support business expansion, and ensure that Illinois continues to be the premier destination for companies looking to grow and thrive.”
Lastly, Ramya Koritala will join Intersect Illinois as Director of Quantum, AI, and Microelectronics. She previously served as Director of Business Development at Louisiana Economic Development, where she played an instrumental role in attracting over $15 billion in capital investments and creating thousands of well-paying jobs, while working with businesses and community leaders to identify opportunities for growth. Koritala was also responsible for successfully managing site selection processes and spearheading initiatives across diverse sectors, including energy transition, software, chemical manufacturing, and health biosciences. Prior to her role as an economic developer, Koritala had several years of cross-functional software project management experience in the private sector. Originally from DuPage County, Koritala looks forward to merging her work in technology and business development as she returns to promote growth in her home state.
“I am honored to be joining the Intersect Illinois team as director of quantum, AI, and microelectronics business development,” Koritala said. The groundwork laid by Preeti, the state, and partnering universities in the quantum technology space has been nothing short of incredible, and I look forward to supporting the team in encouraging businesses to choose to thrive in the innovative landscape that Illinois has to offer, particularly in the groundbreaking investment that is the IQMP.”
These new hires add to Intersect Illinois’ deep bench of talent, further positioning the organization as a leading force in economic development. They join the team alongside Michelle Diaz, who joined as advisor to the CEO earlier this month, Robin Ficke, who was appointed Senior Vice President of Research in November 2024, and Dr. Preeti Chalsani who was named Senior Vice President and Chief Quantum Officer in August 2024. With a wealth of experience in economic analysis and market intelligence, Ficke has been instrumental in enhancing Intersect Illinois’ research capabilities to better support business expansion and attraction efforts. In her short tenure, Dr. Chalsani has been crucial in landmark deals, including the recent announcement of IBM’s System Two locating at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park and the development of the National Quantum Algorithm Center.
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INTERSECT ILLINOIS is the statewide economic development organization focused on bringing new jobs and investment to the state. As the state’s business attraction organization, Intersect Illinois collaborates with partners in the public and private sectors to attract new jobs and investment. The organization showcases the state’s advantages including its central location with access to the country and world, its unmatched infrastructure, and its robust workforce fueled by its dynamic higher education system. Intersect Illinois makes it easier for companies to expand in Illinois by providing a range of services to help navigate the site selection process.
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