About Us

Robyn Laur Russell has been appointed as CEO of Man-Tra-Con Corporation, headquartered in Marion, Illinois. Man-Tra-Con supports the economic health of Southern Illinois by providing solutions designed to build a quality workforce, serving both job seekers and businesses seeking employees.

Since 1979, Man-Tra-Con Corporation has been providing “no cost” employment assistance, recruitment services, employee training programs, youth programs, and dislocated worker assistance to job seekers and businesses located in Local Workforce Area 25, which is comprised of Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Perry and Williamson counties. With guidance from the Chief Local Elected Officials and the Southern Illinois Workforce Development Board, Man-Tra-Con collaborates with workforce partners in economic development, healthcare, community social services, and education to create solutions to build a quality workforce in Southern Illinois.

About Our Chief Executive Officer

Robyn Russell, a southern Illinois native, comes to Man-Tra-Con from Champion Community Investments (CCI) where she served 4 years as Executive Director. CCI offers business loans and technical assistance to advance business and job growth in the Southern Illinois region. Prior to CCI, Russell worked 17 years at Southern Illinois University in the Office of Economic & Regional Development, finishing as the Director of Business Development & International Trade. She has consulted and trained thousands of business owners/entrepreneurs through the Illinois Small Business Development Center, the Entrepreneurship Center, and the Incubator programs at SIU. Russell is also a Certified Business Advisor and an International Trade Specialist from the Illinois Entrepreneurship & Small Business Growth Association, as well as a Certified Business Incubator Manager by the National Business Incubation Association. She is a graduate of the Delta Regional Authority Leadership Institute. Russell is a proud Saluki, a dual-degree graduate of Southern Illinois University both in Journalism and Workforce Education & Development, and is Past President of the Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce. She also serves in other volunteer capacities for regional advancement such as the SI Now Business Growth & Development Committee and the Marshall Browning Hospital Rural Community Advisory Committee.

In 2018, Russell launched her own entrepreneurial consulting endeavor, Russell Business & Financial LLC, helping clients to buy and sell businesses. Additionally, Robyn has owned and operated a professional writing and resume-building service company, My Resume Café, and a small, product-based business, Made in Southern Illinois, which focused on compiling and promoting regional, agriculture-based and artisan-crafted, Southern Illinois products. Russell resides in Du Quoin with her husband, Leo, and has three daughters, Molly, Maya, and Malayna.