Mark Henderson takes on new role overseeing development, recruiting business in Rockton

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKTON — Mark Henderson spent years monitoring developing storm systems. In his next role, he’ll watch over development in the village of Rockton.

Henderson, who spent 22 years as a meteorologist with WIFR before being let go in May, has been named the village’s new community development director. He begins the job on Dec. 1.

It’s a new role for Henderson and the village, which split the duties of the planning and development administrator into two jobs after Tricia Diduch departed to become Byron’s city administrator in August. A part-time community promotions coordinator will handle events and marketing for the village while Henderson takes on the full-time responsibility of overseeing planning, zoning and other technical aspects of development in the village.

Village Administrator Happy Welch said Henderson will also help recruit new businesses to town.

“With his personality — he’s an outgoing kind of guy, easy to talk to, fun to be around — he’ll be able to reach out and do some economic development and reach out to different businesses if we’re looking for retail or if we’re looking for commercial,” Welch said.

Henderson said he’s grateful for the opportunity and ready to hit the ground running.

“We moved up to Rockton in 2016 and my wife, my family and I — we just fell in love with the village right away,” he said. “To be able to pour myself professionally into this town that I’ve grown to love so deeply over the last decade is really exciting.”

Welch said Henderson will be challenged to lure in the type of unique businesses that make Rockton a destination. He’ll also oversee items as small as a permit for a new fence to large-scale development and long-term planning.

“We all want to see the village continue to grow, but I think there’s also a challenge to make sure it’s done intelligently, it’s done intentionally,” Henderson said. “It’s a challenge and it’s one that I’m willing to take on and excited to take on.”

Welch said there will be a learning curve for Henderson, but he’s confident in the longtime meteorologist’s ability to adapt.

“He’ll be learning it from the ground up, but once you understand the mechanics of it then he should be able to work through it,” Welch said. He’ll “work with the different businesses and agencies, and be able to bring in some new businesses, new restaurants or new retail stores.”

After his abrupt departure from WIFR in May, Henderson launched Mark Henderson’s Weather Hub, amassing more than 26,000 followers in just a few months. He’ll continue posting to the Weather Hub, although his duties at the village will come first.

“I’ve really enjoyed being able to still serve the community through the Weather Hub and still scratch that itch of the weather, which I don’t think will ever go away,” Henderson said. “It may look a little different, but I”m committed to continue to serve the community in the way that I have for the past six months.”

At Village Hall, he’s eager to join a team that he says has moved Rockton in the right direction.

“What the leadership in Rockton has done over the past several years is remarkable. They’ve really made Rockton a destination,” he said. “There are so many exciting things going on here. I really just want to keep all of the positive momentum going.”

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas