Katie VandenBerg is owner and manager of Eli’s Coffee Shop, with locations in Morton and Tremont. For nearly a decade, she has been serving up baked goods, deli food, espressos and more, as well as hosting and catering private parties. She is also a mortgage loan officer for Princeville State Bank.
With no prior business experience—but the energy and passion to take an entrepreneurial leap—VandenBerg opened Eli’s Coffee Shop in Morton at the age of 24. She coaches her young staff to offer consistently polite, knowledgeable and efficient service, strengthening employee relationships and teamwork by welcoming them into her home for “Eli’s Family Dinners.” Each month, Eli’s sponsors a different charity, donating a portion of proceeds to a range of deserving organizations. Having found great success in Morton, VandenBerg opened a second location in Tremont earlier this year.
VandenBerg leads through her actions and freely shares her time, talent and treasure in order to make her community a better place to live. In conjunction with the Morton Chamber of Commerce, VandenBerg has led and presented numerous marketing sessions for businesses. A Chamber ambassador for four years, she served on the Strategic Planning Committee that implemented the Morton Economic Development Council. A member of the Chamber’s board of directors, she served as president in 2012, spearheading numerous successful initiatives, and was appointed by the mayor to serve on the Business District Commission for three years.
Aside from her active Chamber involvement, VandenBerg has served on the Morton Community Foundation board since 2013 and currently serves on the board of Crittenton Centers in Peoria. In 2009, she received the Morton Venture Award for her entrepreneurial efforts, and in 2012, she was awarded the Lucy Pettengill Nonprofit and Business Innovation Award from the YWCA Peoria.
When she’s not running her business, she is running races, including one marathon and several 5ks and half-marathons. She and her husband, Ben, have an active four-year-old at home. iBi
