Genoa City Officials

Led by 10 elected officials, the Genoa City Government has been an integral partner to the Chamber of Commerce, making it a priority to help recruit and support businesses in Genoa while aiming to improve the quality of life of its residents. Local government includes Mayor Jonathon Brust who is the chief executive officer and assists in the management and coordination of the administration through department heads. A nine-member City Council includes eight aldermen (two from each ward). The council votes on legislation proposed during City Council meetings, ordinances involving building codes, zoning regulations, traffic controls, legal fines, liquor license categories and fees and such like. City Clerk Kendra Braheny calls roll at the aforementioned meetings, handles the minutes and adheres to the ordinances and certain other documents.

JONATHON BRUST MAYOR

Jonathon grew up in Genoa and graduated from GenoaKingston High School where he met his wife Kristin. He received an Engineering degree from Northern Illinois University. Jonathon served on the City’s Economic Development Commission for two years before becoming Alderman in 2015. He served as Ward 4 Alderman for six years before being elected as the 24th Mayor of the City of Genoa in 2021. Professionally, Jonathon leads high performing business development teams targeting financial services organizations. Jonathon and his wife Kristin have been blessed with 3 children, and he enjoys woodworking, hiking, and all things family. As Mayor, Jonathon has pledged his commitment to improve Genoa’s infrastructure, strengthen the city’s developer and County relationships, expand Genoa’s new and existing business footprint through his professional experience, and beautify Genoa’s downtown. He strongly believes Genoa has an incredible community, tremendous value, and has plans to lead Genoa into a thriving future.

KENDRA BRAHENY CITY CLERK

Kendra Braheny has been a life long resident of Genoa, she comes from a family that has always been involved within the community, from helping her parents start the local Teen Nights to helping with Genoa Days and Booster Club events. Genoa has changed since she was little but still has that same small town feel that she loves. She says it’s always great to walk into a business in town and have a conversation with someone that you know. She wanted to get more involved with the community and decided to run for City Clerk in 2021.

ALYSSA SEGUSS CITY ADMINISTRATOR

Alyssa Seguss grew up in Genoa and graduated from Genoa-Kingston High School. After high school, with an interest in government and public service, she studied political science and ultimately graduated from Northern Illinois University with a masters in public administration. Seguss has served in several different roles for the City of Genoa since 2014 with most recently being appointed City Administrator in May 2021. She lives in Genoa with her husband and two young children.

JANICE MELTON PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR

Growing up in Naperville, Janice Melton often visited Genoa in her youth and spent some summers here enjoying the farm life at the home of her grandparents, Bill and Marion Thorne. She moved to Genoa in 1982, got married and had children, Jonathon Melton and Samantha Melton (Dedina) who grew up in Genoa. She started working for the City of Genoa while still in college in 1994 and has enjoyed the opportunities of professional growth the city has provided. She started as a part-time employee then became fulltime and was promoted into a supervisory roll and most recently was named Public Works Director.

JAN TURES

FINANCE DIRECTOR Jan Tures began working with the City of Genoa in January 2007 as a temp and was hired as a full-time employee five months later. Over the past 15 years she has held all office positions at City Hall working her way to finance director and treasurer. While she grew up in Huntley, she now lives in Marengo with her husband. Having raised four children, she is now enjoying time with her growing family which includes five grandchildren with a sixth grandchild due in January 2022.

ROBERT SMITH POLICE CHIEF Robert Smith grew up in Genoa and enlisted in the Army after high school. Upon returning in 1994, he worked for the Boone County Sheriff’s Department before coming to the Genoa Police Department in 1995. Smith was promoted to sergeant in 2000 and then chief of police in 2015. In addition to his chief duties, he serves as the school resource officer for the school district. He has a master’s degree from Judson University in organizational leadership.

CHRISTOPHER PULLEY

WARD ONE ALDERMAN Christopher Pulley moved to Genoa in 1994 where he attended the GK school district and graduated in 2003. After living in Burlington for a few years he moved back to Genoa, purchasing a home in 2011. In 2020 he married Kerri Pulley, although the wedding had to be moved to the backyard due to the pandemic. Pulley has worked for local businesses including Gene’s Market and Genoa Public Works. Having grown up with parents that owned businesses in town and believed in public service, he decided to run for Ward One Alderman in 2021 to help represent his community and hometown.

PAM WESNER

WARD ONE ALDERMAN As a lifelong Genoa resident, Pam Wesner has also been a fixture on City Council as she was elected to her seventh term in 2019. She works as a beautician and is a graduate of Genoa-Kingston High School.

MELISSA FREUND

WARD TWO ALDERMAN Melissa Freund has called Genoa home since moving to the area from the Quad Cities in 2012. “I really do love Genoa,” she said. “It’s a close, supportive and caring community that steps up in the times of need. And it’s growing, which is exciting!” Freund worked as a secretary at CrossWind Community Church for about six years, before pursuing her baking through her Sweet-DeLights business full-time in 2022. CHUCK CRAVATTA

WARD THREE ALDERMAN Chuck Cravatta has called Genoa home since moving here when he was just three years old in 1974. Cravatta graduated from GenoaKingston High School in 1990 and joined the Army where he served as a scout for nine years. He additionally served as an aerial observer in the 82nd Airborne, combat observation laser team leader for 2nd ID in Korea and was part of jump master team in Italy. He returned to Genoa in 1998 where he started a career on the railroad. He currently works as a Metra conductor on the Milwaukee West line. He additionally serves as the vice-general chairman of the union representing all of the conductors at Metra. He was elected as Ward Three Alderman in 2015. He and his wife Barbara have three children and two grandchildren and enjoy spending time with them and traveling all over the world.

COURTNEY WINTER

WARD THREE ALDERMAN Courtney Winter has lived in the Genoa area most of her life, attended many local events and graduated from Genoa-Kingson High School in 2014. From Kids Crusade to starting the Impact Club at the high school, Winter has always been involved in community events and is passionate about the uniqueness and warmth of Genoa. She married Russell Winter in 2016 and they bought a home near the school they both attended in Genoa. She has a wedding photography business and her desire to see Genoa attract more businesses and families led her to run for alderman. She was elected to Ward Three Alderman and is currently serving her second term.

BRENT HOLCOMB

WARD FOUR ALDERMAN Brent Holcomb has never truly left Genoa other than when he’s been away at college. A 2004 GenoaKingston High School graduate, Holcomb attended the University of Illinois and then graduate school at St. Ambrose University to pursue a career in physical therapy. Holcomb has served Genoa in a number of volunteer opportunities over the years and is honored to now serve as Ward Four Alderman. He enjoys creating memories with his wife and three children and considers Genoa a great community to live and raise a family.