College on the Prairie to Prairie Communications: Vanessa Wetterling

Malik Boxley, Patrick Curry, Julia Dixon, Eli Newton

“I loved every second of it. Wish I could do it all over again,” said Vanessa Wetterling, who graduated from Monmouth College in 1996 and is now the co-owner of Prairie Communications and Clear Profits in Monmouth, IL. She also works with the radio in Warren county, WREM.

While attending Monmouth College, Wetterling was a part of the soccer and basketball teams.

Wetterling works with the radio on 97.7 WMOI at Monmouth. “We’re here to serve the community, which includes, police, county and city, the local businesses, civic organizations, nonprofit organizations, fire, and our local high school, our local school districts and the College,” said Wetterling.

Wetterling chose to come to Monmouth because she has family in Illinois, and she stayed because she wanted to give back to the community that gave so much to her.

Victor Dantas, a co-owner and marketing strategist for Clear Profits, has worked with Wetterling for many years. “Vanessa has provided a lot of value locally through the radio, through the local events she does, several different fundraising events, and, of course, she works hard to be able to provide the latest news and updates from the community,” said Dantas.

Shawn Temple is another one of Wetterling’s co-workers who has worked side-by-side with her for many years at WREM. Temple points out how important local news is and how that is a huge priority for Wetterling. He also notes how sports is such an important topic for this community and how Vanessa has helped foster a great community of athletes in Warren County. “We got some great local athletes, we got some great local coaches that I get to deal with on a day to day basis, and it is literally all thanks to Vanessa Wetterling and Brian Robbins,” said Temple.

WRAM/WMOI also hosts the Freezing for Foods fundraiser every year, which Wetterling has been a part of since its inception. “We have 150 to 200 people in the community stand in the brutal cold for an hour at a time,” said Wetterling, “That's important. Knowing that people will have enough food is very important.”