WHO SHE IS: As director of the Illinois Film Office since Jan. 29, her primary focus is “getting the word out and helping people understand how wonderful our film tax incentive is.”
She manages seven staffers and coordinates advertising, location scouts and events to draw producers to Illinois.
HOW SHE VIEWS HER JOB: “I’m the ambassador to our office?out on the front lines representing everything Illinois has to offer.”
She travels to L.A. several times a year to cultivate relationships and build new ones.
PROS: “I’m doing something I really believe in; the IFO mission is about keeping people employed who’ve been dedicated to this industry.”
CONS: “I’m stumped. This really is a dream job.”
KEY TO SUCCESS: “Take every obstacle and make sure it’s something you learn from.”
BACKSTORY: A native of St. Louis, Steinberg earned a B.A. in English literature from the University of Colorado/Bolder. She spent eight years with a Washington D.C.-based political consultant and producer of PBS programming, where she assisted in her first film shoot, a PBS special about Ernest Hemingway that filmed in Oak Park.
Moving to Chicago in 1998, she was hired as a producer at Towers Productions, becoming its VP/development in 2004.
BIG BREAKS: “I lucked into my very first job in Washington. Meeting Jonathan Towers was another big break. The IFO appointment has been the biggest break of all.”
WORDS OF WISDOM: “Do your homework and make sure you work hard. Know the background information of anything you’re working on.”
A framed card from a friend hanging on her office wall reads: “Vision is seeing opportunity inside challenge.”
“When you run into a road block, don’t just throw your arms up in the air; look at things in a new way!”
HER ULTIMATE GOAL: “The bottom line is JOBS. I’d like to work to bring as much revenue into the state as possible over the next few years.”
A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “The dedicated, creative people I’ve watched through the process of what I do every day.”
Betsy Steinberg’s phone is 312/814-3600. See www.commerce.state.il.us/dceo/Bureaus/Film/.
