Baylee J Gambetti | Pekin, Illinois

An advocate for her hometown of Pekin, Baylee Gambetti spent high school dreaming up businesses she could open “that would bring head of household jobs to town.” Now she works as the Designated Managing Broker at RE/MAX Traders Unlimited, helping people feel at home in central Illinois. “Baylee’s positive energy makes Pekin and the central Illinois region a great place to live, work and play,” writes Amy McCoy from the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce. “She’s commonly known as Pekin’s Biggest Cheerleader! Baylee thrives on improving the community, the schools, and the real estate profession.”

Through the difficulties she’s faced and seeing “too many times” the short and unpredictable nature of life, Gambetti concludes, “It is always worth going out of your way to be a friend, as relationships are the only thing that can truly make you rich.”

Gambetti is most passionate about small town festival weekends and their boost to the local economy. The Pekin Marigold Festival allows only nonprofit organizations to be food vendors and raises nearly $50,000 annually to go right back into those causes in her community. Mom and Pop shops make up the vendors for Art in the Park whose earnings feed right back into the area’s economy. The event brings 40,000 visitors to enjoy the park - the crowning jewel of the town - and impacts local business in many other ways (sales/tourism tax, etc.). Gambetti also loves Kiwanis Club of Pekin “whose mission is to serve the children for a better future,” and a Pekin Main Street purposed to revitalize the downtown.