Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC) is proud to announce their award-winning Weatherization Department has promoted a current team member to a new position. Chase Gaumer was promoted recently to the supervisory position of Weatherization Assistant Coordinator at WIRC.
Home Weatherization is a social service program administered by nonprofit community action agencies, like WIRC, throughout Illinois and the United States. Gaumer said home weatherization, which makes homes more energy efficient, is sometimes misunderstood.
“It is more than just insulation and sealing up doors,” Gaumer said. “It is geared toward larger energy savings annually, and making the home more comfortable and safer for the occupants.”
Gaumer started his career at WIRC in 2021 as the Weatherization Assessor/Inspector. He frequently spent time inspecting the homes of clients, recommending repairs, and coordinating those repairs with contractors. Prior to that, he built homes for several years working for Habitat for Humanity, which gave him valuable knowledge about home inspection that he uses every day in the Weatherization Department.
“I like being able to help families, spend time with them, and make a positive impact on their lives within the comfort of their own homes,” said Gaumer.
As Assistant Coordinator, Gaumer supports the Weatherization Coordinator, Tim Manock, with daily operations, program administration, home inspections, and program development. Manock said Gaumer is a great addition to their team and is confident in his ability to advance his leadership role within the Agency.
“Chase has been a valuable asset to the program since he was hired two years ago,” said Manock. “He will do a great job of running the Weatherization Program when he takes over in a couple of years.”
Funding for the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program is provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the State of Illinois, Ameren Energy, and NICOR.
WIRC is a nonprofit that helps people and communities in multiple western Illinois counties. Their main office is located at 133 West Jackson Street in Macomb, Illinois. For more information, find them on social media, visit their website at wirpc.org, or call 309-837-2997. The Agency is an equal opportunity provider and employer.