IMET Staff

Laura F. Allen - Executive Director

Laura serves as Executive Director of the Illinois Metropolitan Investment Fund (IMET). As Executive Director, Laura provides management oversight and development of this triple-A rated, 1-3 year local government investment pool that currently has 206 members and $688,879,253 of municipal assets under management with $332,924,133 in the IMET Convenience Fund and with $355,955,120 in the IMET 1-3 Year Fund.

Laura previously served as Vice President in the government banking group of Charter One Bank (COB) which recently acquired First National Bank (FNB) where Laura has served for the last 10 years. At FNB, Laura was Executive Vice President in charge of retail sales and service and also has extensive experience serving as relationship manager for the bank's public funds customers.

Laura brings a strong background of technical banking skills, marketing, public presentations and experience with managing public funds customers. Laura has also served in numerous professional organizations including the IGFOA, Rotary Club, Professional Women's Network, National Association for Female Executives and as a Board member for both the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce and Chicago Southland Alliance. Laura is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin banking program and possesses an MBA from Fairfield University.

Debra A. Zimmerman - Associate Director

Deb Zimmerman is the Associate Director for the Illinois Metropolitan Investment Fund (IMET). As Associate Director, Deb provides marketing and business development of this thriple-A rated 1-3 year local government investment pool, with a regional focus on communities in Central and Southern Illinois. IMET currently serves more than 200 municipal participants and has more than $675,000,000 in municipal assets under management, with $350,000,000 in the 1-3 Year Fund and $328,000,000 in the Convenience Fund.

Deb came to IMET with over 15 years in government finance and other managerial experience. For more than 11 years she served as Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the City of Flora. While serving as Treasurer/CFO at the City of Flora Deb maintined her certification as a Certified Municipal  Treasurer and served on the Executive Board of Directors for the Illinois Municipal Treasurers Association (IMTA). In addition to serving on the IMTA board, she was also editor of the IMTA newsletter, The Prime Times. After her tenure as Treasurer/CFO, Deb was elected to the Flora City Council and served fours years as the Finance Commissioner.  Prior to her government service, she owned and operated a local retail business and was a part-time business instructor at Lakeland College.

Deb has a Bachelor's Degree in Finance and a Mater's Degree in Business Administration from Eastern Illinois University. Her contirbutions to the community include serving as Chairman of the Tourism  Council, member of the TIF review board, Chariman of the Disaster Relief Board, President of the Parents for Enrichment Program,  President of the Parent Teacher Organization, member of the Community Health and Human Services Board, and coach of a girls softball team. Professional memberships include the Illinois Government Finance Officers Association (IGFOA), where she serves as a regional traing co-ordinator, the Illinois Municipal Treasurers Association (IMTA),  the Southwestern Illinois City Management Association (SWICMA), the Illinois City/County Management Association (ILCMA), and the Illinois Professional Firefighters Association (IPFA).  

In 2006, Deb was honored with the 'Outstanding Citizen' Award.

Deb can be contacted at the downstate IMET office at (618) 662-6655 or (618) 843-IMET(4638).