Jane Converse graduated summa cum laude from the University of Illinois with a degree in journalism. She began her career in Chicago at J. Walter Thompson as a writer and moved into marketing at American Hospital Supply. When her husband, Ralph Converse, was transferred to Peoria, she kept her job in Chicago with a research and marketing consulting firm for almost two years – commuting from Peoria. When the Converse family decided to remain in Peoria long-term, Jane accepted the position of vice president of products and services with Multi-Ad Services, Inc., in 1981. She became vice president of marketing at L.R. Nelson in 1983 and worked at Nelson until she started Converse Marketing in 1990.
