Every community must ask itself if it nurtures and develops a leadership culture – in its companies, its government, its social service, its events. In Peoria, the answer is a resounding “YES!”
In 1994, when the challenge went out to find the next generation of potential leaders to guide Peoria into the future, InterBusiness Issues, News Radio 1470 WMBD, corporate sponsor Caterpillar, Inc., and other area companies led the tri-county area in identifying and honoring 40 Leaders Under Forty from throughout the Peoria area. Members of the business and professional community were so amazed at the number of successful young leaders, we repeated the challenge in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and again this year.
InterBusiness Issues and News Radio 1470 WMBD have again uncovered 40 outstanding young leaders who make our community a better place in which to live and work.
The 2002 Class of 40 Leaders Under Forty comprises a group of individuals who consistently demonstrate their ability to adapt to a changing workplace, take responsibility for their own professional development, take risks as entrepreneurs, and still volunteer for the betterment of their community.
Our future leaders will build on the skill and attitudes demonstrated by the talented individuals profiled on the following pages.
These 40 leaders were honored at a prestigious awards reception at the Hotel Pere Marquette’s Cotillion Ballroom November 6 (aired live on 1470 WMBA). Profiles of the winners are also available at www.PeoriaMagazines.com.
This issue of InterBusiness Issues is dedicated to the 40 winners.
Anthony Ardis
Anthony Ardis is a firefighter and president of Peoria Firefighters Local 50, responsible for representing firefighters and helping to improve the community.
Ardis is an active trustee of the Boys and Girls Club of Peoria and he was instrumental in and organizing the agency’s annual 4th of July fund raiser this year. As a firefighter, he’s heavily involved in the Peoria Fire Department’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors program, whereby firefighters participate in neighborhood clean-up activities, installing smoke detectors, and attending and speaking at neighborhood association meetings.
He’s a representative on the City of Peoria Health Care committee; chairman of the City Service Employees Campaign for the Heart of Illinois United Way; chairman of the American Red Cross Challenge of the Badges for Life Blood Drive; and chairman of the Firefighters Local #50 Muscular Dystrophy Association 2002 pledging, for which more than $17,000 was raised. He also chaired the Firefighters Christmas in April project and chairs the Firefighters Friends of Springdale Cemetery.
Ardis recently received a commendation from the fire chief for assisting the Peoria Police Department and qualified for the National Firefighters Combat Challenge in 1998.
Amy Ashley
Amy Ashley is a leadership development consultant for the Power Systems Marketing Division at Caterpillar Inc. She is responsible for performance management consulting, career counseling, leader selection and personnel planning, and learning management and employee development.
Ashley is a Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School graduate, a speaker for the National Career Development Association, and a former board member of the National Association for Employee Recognition.
She serves on many volunteer boards including Catholic Social Services Community Advisory Board; Illinois Central College Performing Arts Center; Community Now! Director of Membership; and Peoria Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School.
Active in the community, Ashley has been a Junior Achievement classroom volunteer for four years; a mentor for the Bradley University Center for Student Leadership and Public Service for five years; and on the Heart of Illinois United Way Fund Allocation Panel for three years.
Past board memberships included the Peoria Public Library, PACE, Christmas in April, Children’s Discovery Museum, and Central Illinois Bradley Alumni Board.
Toner Babovac
Toner Babovac is vice president of operations for PSC Group, LLC. He has oversight for all central Illinois operations and sales, and as part of the PSC executive team, is part of the vision/strategy team for the national firm. He was named regional director of Peoria operations and achieved his current position as vice president last year.
During the course of his career, Babovac has earned many awards, including #1 Office Distinction, Die Hard Award, Top Sales Representative, Branch Managers Awards, and 100% Clubs.
Active in the community, he’s served in various positions on the Junior Achievement Board of Directors, such as chairman and vice chairman. He was a classroom consultant for three years at Woodruff High School and Peoria Notre Dame, served on the Golf Outing Committee and as co-chairman, was part of the organization’s strategic planning, and served as master of ceremonies for the Junior Achievement 50th Anniversary Reception. He’s also been honored with the Top Fundraising Award and the Louis B. Neumiller Founder’s Award for longstanding service.
Other community activities include being a guest speaker at Bradley University, East Peoria Alternative High School, and the Peoria High School Business Academy.
Mari Lou Balmer-Millar
Mari Lou Balmer-Millar, Ph.D., is program manager of the Catalysts and High Temperature Materials section in the Caterpillar Technical Services Division. Her responsibilities include managing a group that develops catalysts for reduced emissions from diesel engines and advanced materials for high temperature engine applications.
Balmer received a Presidential Early Career Award and a Department of Energy Young Independent Scientist Award in 1998 for her contributions to the areas of ion sequestration and plasma catalysis. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers. Her leadership in the area of plasma-catalysis was also recognized by Vice President Al Gore at the Partnership for the Next Generation of Vehicles Symposium in 1997.
R&D magazine selected the plasma-catalysis developed by Balmer-Millar and her team for an R&D100 award last year. She was also recognized as one of Caterpillar’s top six scientists at the Peoria Regional BioCollaborative Discovery Forum last May.
Balmer-Millar also contributes to her community through her active involvement in the Chillicothe Bible Church and her membership in the Peoria Next Knowledge Community in the area of bio-engineering.
Julie Banta
Robert W. Baird & Co. Vice President of Investments Julie Banta provides professional investment services to individuals, corporations, trusts, and retirement plans.
Since joining Robert W. Baird in 1997, she’s been in a partnership with her father, Lynn Banta, and they have two registered sales assistants who help them with their responsibilities. Banta was promoted to vice president in 2000. She’s taking coursework in preparation for the Certified Financial Planning Certificate exam, which she plans to take next summer.
Women In Management presented Banta with the Women of Achievement Award for Licensed Professionals in 2001, and she received the Toast of Baird Award for Best Partnership in 1998.
Banta’s been a Women In Management board member for three years and currently serves as president. Additionally, she serves on the executive board of First Federated Church, Women’s Fund, and the Girl Scouts-Kickapoo Council. She’s a member of Peoria North Rotary and volunteers at Heartland Clinic and for the Kingman Grade School literacy project.
She’s also volunteered for Habitat For Humanity, the St. Jude telethon, ProPeoria Professional Development & Social Enrichment, and Bartonville’s Monroe Grade School.
Terry Baum
Terry Baum is controller for Otto Baum Company, Inc., responsible for accounting and financial operations of a contracting firm with $40 million in annual sales.
He’s an executive committee member of the Otto Baum Company and Diversified Buildings, Inc., chairman of the Policies and Procedures Committee, and chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee. He’s also a member of the Otto Baum Company Foundation.
Baum is a board member of the American Red Cross Peoria Chapter, has been a Sunday school teacher for the Apostolic Christian Church since 1997, is a board member and volunteer financial manager of the Camp of Champion USA, and volunteered as a Big Brother/mentor for Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Baum was a Morton Chamber of Commerce board member from 1996 to 2001, including serving as president in 2001, and volunteering for the Morton Pumpkin Festival.
He’s also taken on the responsibility to promote personal and social development for employees within the Otto Baum Company, including hosting appreciation dinners, golf outings, awards and acknowledgements, and coordinating training sessions and leadership development.
Brian Baylor
Brian Baylor, manager of Corporate Employment Services at Caterpillar Inc., provides leadership to a team responsible for the development of Caterpillar employment strategies, policies, and procedures. His team manages the implementation of recruiting, interviewing, testing, selecting, and on-boarding of all new employees; the team also manages the process of student pipeline development.
Baylor’s accomplishments include graduating from Bradley University’s Management for the 21st Century program; serving on the Caterpillar corporate Diversity Council, providing leadership to the recruiting subcommittee; and being a Caterpillar 6 Sigma Project sponsor.
Active at First United Methodist Church, he serves as youth counselor and senior high Sunday school teacher; a member of the Staff/Parish Relations committee; on the design/development coordinating committee as the annual prayer conference public relations chairperson; and provides free consulting services to three local churches in HR, leadership, and organizational change issues.
Baylor also serves on the YMCA Board of Directors, the Bradley University Employer Advisory Board of Directors, and is a Junior Achievement volunteer.
David Bjerke
David Bjerke is a job evaluator for Caterpillar, Inc., responsible for reviewing jobs, writing job descriptions, and recommending salary grades for Caterpillar positions around the world.
He’s the co-leader of a business unit-wide team charged with helping the division find new ways to embrace a shared beliefs philosophy in the workplace. Bjerke also represents the division on a team that will deliver recommendations for new learning processes to help employees in the division better apply Six Sigma methodology in their jobs and on projects.
Bjerke currently serves as chairman of the board for Community Now!, a volunteer organization at Caterpillar which works to provide the representation and resources necessary for employees to become actively involved in the Peoria area.
He is active in the Peoria Jaycees; as the Manpower co-chair for 2001, he gathered more than 160 volunteers from Community Now! to assist the Jaycees in their Annual Beerfest and was involved with the Haunted House, among other activities. He’s also a liaison for Lakeview’s New daVinci’s.
His past volunteer efforts included PACE, PACVB, Urban League, Crisis Nursery, MDA, Peoria Park District, Wildlife Prairie Park, Erin Feis, and Oktoberfest.
Paula Buscher
Paula Buscher is head women’s basketball coach at Bradley University, responsible for running all components of the Division I program.
Her accomplishments include helping to rebuild the Bradley women’s basketball team, leading the team to improved records in her first two seasons at Bradley, and culminating in a 16-12 record last season. The team set numerous records during the 2001-2002 season such as completing the non-conference slate with a perfect 9-0 record for the first time in school history, posting the longest winning streak in program history, and posting the third best start in Missouri Valley Conference history. The team also set school records for three-point field goal percentage and blocked shots.
Buscher is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, a 2001 Exemplary Service Award winner from the Bradley Parents’ Association, and was inducted into the Peoria Sports Hall of Fame in 1987 as part of the ICC 1982 national championship softball team.
She volunteers at Access Experience during the Boys Basketball High School State Tournament; at Junior Braves, Peoria girls sports league, and Carver Center clinics; the River City Health Club membership days, and for the WTVP Auction.
Amy Converse Schlicksup
Amy Converse Schlicksup is director of account services for Converse Marketing, Inc., responsible for project management, customer service, and overseeing the account management staff.
Converse Schlicksup received numerous awards from the American Advertising Federation at local, regional, and national levels for work completed on behalf of her clients. Among these awards are receiving Best of Show, the top honor, this year at the local and regional level for a project her team developed.
She was honored as Business Person of the Year by PARC for her ongoing support and graduated from the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School in 1997.
Active in the community, she was appointed to the Peoria Historic Preservation Commission in 1997. Converse Schlicksup joined the Children’s Home Board of Trustees in 1998 and has served on the Children’s Home Foundation Board since 2001, chairing their Autumn Gala fundraising event since 1999. She volunteers as the marketing advisor for the Peoria Area Leave a Legacy organization, is a charter member of the Walter and Mary Barker Society, and volunteers her time to assist organizations such as the Girl Scouts and the United Way.
Shelley Couri
Shelley Couri is a seventh grade language arts teacher at Trewyn Middle School in Peoria. She incorporates technology in the classroom, exposing students to the Internet, various word processing programs, and power point presentations.
Couri has been on various committees throughout the school district: Reading Improvement Committee, Language Arts Textbook Selection Committee, and the Language Arts Standards Committee. She belongs to the Peoria Federation of Teachers, the Illinois Reading Council, has been involved in after school programs co-wrote an article on motivation, and presented at the Association of Illinois Middle Schools conference in 1998.
She’s been very active in the Junior League of Peoria since 1998. Couri co-chaired and organized the Provisional Project for the Y-Village in fall 1998, co-chaired Christmas in April in spring 1999, handled logistics for Julep’s Closet for three years, and developed new member training for the Junior League of Peoria this year.
Couri also volunteered for the 1999 Race for the Cure, participated in the construction of Rolling River Playground last year, and assisted at Keepsacks for Kids in 2000 and 2001.
For her active participation in Junior League of Peoria, Couri was awarded the MVP Award in 1999.
David Crawford, M.D.
David Crawford, M.D., is assistant clinical instructor of Surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine at Peoria and section chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery. He’s also a partner in Peoria Surgical Group, Ltd. He supervises and instructs physicians in training in the fields of general and laparoscopic surgery. Crawford is the only fellowship-trained laparoscopic surgeon in north central Illinois.
He’s published four book chapters and several peer reviewed journal articles on topics in laparoscopic surgery, lectures widely in central Illinois, gave lectures at two national surgical meetings, and presented papers at four national meetings.
Crawford is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons; a member of the Peoria Medical Society, the Midwest Surgical Society, and the Illinois Surgical Society; and serves on committees in the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. He also serves on the OSF Ambulatory Surgical Executive Committee and has received more than 40 Physician Appreciation Awards at OSF St. Francis Medical Center.
An Eagle Scout recipient, he remains active in the Boy Scouts program, currently helping to create the W.D. Boyce Council Eagle Scout Alumni Association.
Gary Deiters
Gary Deiters, co-owner and funeral director at Deiters Funeral Home in Washington, facilitates and promotes the services offered by the company. In addition to co-founding Deiters Funeral Home with his wife, he co-founded and is a partner in Security Memorial Marketing Group and was nominated for an SBA Small Business Person of the Year 2002 with his wife.
Deiters has served on the executive board of the Washington Area Community Center for the past three years, on the board of directors and executive board of the Washington Chamber of Commerce, is chairman of community development and creator of the Business Mentoring Committee for the Chamber, served on the Washington Rotary for four years, and was the Sunnyland Businessmen Association Director for three years.
He is a past member of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association Education Committee and is a current Legislative Committee member. Active in the Knights of Columbus, Deiters is a K of C 3rd and 4th Degree Member and past officer; has chaired the Mentally Handicapped Drive for the past two years; and was honored with the Knight of the Month and Family of the Month for Washington, as well as the State of Illinois.
David Demmin
David Demmin is the associate director of the West Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council. He promotes the union construction industry, secures employment for the more than 15,000 Building Trades members, works closely with developers and contractors, fosters positive labor/management relations, and educates future workforce to benefits of Building Trades.
Demmin took part in the Peoria Medical Society Mini-Internship; volunteers for the American Red Cross, the United Way, and Peoria Youth Hockey as an assistant coach; and is chairperson of the Construction Industry Career Expo.
He’s a member of the following boards of directors: American Red Cross Blood Services, the United Way Labor Campaign, Neighborhood House, Carver Center, and Christmas in April. Demmin also serves on the Tricon Safety, Public Relations, and Business Development committees and the LaMoine Valley Education to Career Action Team Committee.
He received certificates of appreciation for several volunteer efforts, such as his work with the LaMoine Valley Educational System, Peoria Construction Career Expo, and achieving Gallon Blood Donor status for the American Red Cross.
Kelly Driscoll
Kelly Driscoll is assistant finance administrator for the U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, responsible for the financial procedures of four divisional offices: Peoria, Springfield, Urbana, and Rock Island. In the past two years, the finance department has been responsible for the preparation, conversion, and implementation of a new financial accounting system and database to track restitution payments.
She’s been a member of the Junior League of Peoria since 1994, serving as a board member for the past four years and currently serving as president of the organization. She attended the National Junior League ODI Leadership Conference in Chicago in 1997, attended the Foundation of Leadership course at the Leadership Development Center at Bradley University, and received the Junior League of Peoria’s Julep GEM Award in 1996.
Driscoll is a member of the Bradley University Alumni Association, and was appointed a three-year director of the National Alumni Board for the 2002-2005 term. She’s a BU Alumni Sharing Knowledge mentor and has been a District 150 mentor at Calvin Coolidge since 1994. She’s also a contributing member of St. Philomena Catholic Church.
Tara Flippin
Tara Flippin is manager of Medicare programs at OSF HealthPlans, Inc., responsible for implementing, operationalizing, and growing the OSF HealthPlans Medicare+Choice products. Among her duties is the design, development, direction, and supervision of the Medicare+Choice marketing, sales, and retention programs and managing a staff of 30 employees.
Flippin received the highest score by staff for management competency in an internal satisfaction survey, received the Silver Axiem Award for television advertising campaign, and achieved Professional Academy for a Healthcare Management certification from the American Association of Health Plans. Additionally, during her tenure, OSF HealthPlans Care Advantage was rated No. 1 in the State of Illinois.
Under Flippin’s leadership, the current OSF HealthPlans M+C Plan was one of 33 plans nationally awarded a M+C PPO demonstration by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in July.
Flippin was House Captain for Christmas in April for three consecutive years, coordinated the Holiday Adopt-A-Family program, is a Children’s Miracle Network volunteer, a Senior Olympic volunteer, an ADA volunteer, a Stroke Prevention Awareness program sponsor, an Arthritis Association volunteer, and an American Heart Association volunteer.
David Frankel
David Frankel is president and chief operating officer of The Bell Clothing & Shoe House, Inc., responsible for sales, buying, financials, technology advancement issues, facility maintenance, alterations, employee management, payroll, and general accounting issues.
He computerized the business in the mid-1980s—many years before most small businesses did so—streamlining inventory, bookkeeping, and ordering. Frankel is the fourth generation to run the firm during its 100-year history, working his way up from maintenance person to his current position.
Over the years, Frankel has taken an active interest in the community which supports his business. He’s a member of the South-West Kiwanis Club of Peoria, participating in the Kids Day Peanut Sales fundraiser and the Kiwanis Cheese Sales fundraiser—both annual events. For 10 years, he served as co-warehouseman of the Kiwanis Cheese Sales Fundraiser.
Frankel was recognized by the State of Illinois in 1991 and 1992 for his volunteer work at the George A. Zeller Mental Health Center. He’s also an active volunteer for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and participated in catch/harvest programs for the past two years.
Dr. Michael Gootee
Dr. Michael Gootee is a physician and partner at Midwest Ear, Nose and Throat Associates. He’s also been a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria since 1995.
He’s a member of the Children’s Hospital of Illinois Physicians Advisory Committee, as well as a member of the Pediatric Special Care Unit Committee. Gootee is also chairman of the Rules and Regulations Subcommittee for the OSF Center for Health Executive Committee. He presented at the Annual Trauma Nurse Specialists Conference and at the Pediatric Surgery Symposium.
Gootee has been a board member of the Pediatric Resource Center since 1999, was a member of its Blue Ribbon Society in 2001, and was a Spirit of Hope Fundraiser committee member in 2001. He’s been lector at St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church since 1999, has been a member of St. Vincent Men’s Club since 1999, and co-chaired the St. Vincent de Paul Pinewood Derby in 2001.
Gootee has voluteered for Cub Scouts since 2001, as an assistant basketball coach for Peoria Biddy Basketball since 2000, and he volunteered for Christmas in April in 1998.
Susan Grebner
Susan Grebner is public relations coordinator for Illinois Central College, responsible for publicity, media relations, and employee communication for the college.
Grebner co-authored an article published by the Council for Advancement & Support of Education in 2001 and presented at the National Council for Marketing & Public Relation District and National Conferences for three years. She implemented a system for tracking and measuring public relations efforts at ICC, re-introduced the ICC Speaker’s Bureau, and led the transition to an electronic employee newsletter.
Grebner received the 1999 National Council for Marketing & Public Relations District III Professional Development Newcomer Award. As a team member, she contributed to the efforts which results in the following awards: the 2000 Pat Landon Award presented by the Public Relations Association of Central Illinois, the 2000 Communicator Award of Distinction, the 2000 Gold Award from Admission Marketing Report for Viewbook, and the 1999 Silver Paragon Award from NCMPR.
She’s also on the Communicators Team for the Peoria Next initiative, and is a presenter for the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce Leadership School.
Patrice Hess
Patrice Hess is an instructional technology specialist at Illinois Central College, responsible for educating and training faculty in computer and multimedia technology; helping faculty design course content using technology; developing and conducting workshops and training for faculty; and managing the Teaching and Learning Center, a computer facility dedicated to faculty.
Hess’ accomplishments include expanding the appropriate role of technology in teaching and learning within the college environment. She presents at local and state-level conferences, participates as a speaker for the ICC Speaker’s Bureau on Technology, and serves as an instruction designer for the Medical Laboratory Technology ILCCO Grant and the National Science Foundation online educational materials grant.
Hess’ community involvement includes providing teacher in-service trainings throughout the state. In cooperation with Bradley University, she authored a National Science Foundation Faculty Presentation Grant, helping to bring national monies to our local community. She also participates in the American Association of Women in Community Colleges, which undertakes a number of community service projects throughout the year.
Darin Hoffmire
As director of the Children’s Home Academy Campus Residential Programs, Darin Hoffmire is responsible for managing three, 10-bed living units for 30 children with emotional and behavioral difficulties. He also oversees a staff of 50.
Hoffmire is chair of the Children’s Home Marketing and Customer Satisfaction Committee, chair of the Children’s Home Management Team, and a member of other critical Children’s Home committees including Medicaid and the Residential Council on Accreditation.
In addition to acting in an official capacity, Hoffmire volunteers for several Children’s Home activities including the organization’s major fundraiser, Maui Jim/Children’s Home Charity Golf Classic, and he chaired the staff phase of the Children’s Home annual fundraising campaign in 1995.
Hoffmire is a deacon, budget committee member, children’s program leader, Pathfinder college/career group, and teaches several programs at the New Castle Bible Church. He also participated in church mission trips to Trinidad and Tobago and volunteered for two years at Central Illinois Riding Therapy.
Additionally, he was honored twice as Children’s Home Employee of the Year in the Residential Division.
Laurence Hornibrook
Laurence Hornibrook is project manager for the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center (IMEC), acting as initial point of contact for companies in Stark, Peoria, and Fulton counties. He manages diverse projects for IMEC, from crafting a new plant layout to helping companies achieve ISO 9000 certification.
Since joining IMEC, Hornibrook has helped companies achieve more than $60 million in sales increases and cost savings from the projects he managed, and he’s helped create more than 700 new jobs from those projects. Hornibrook is a certified Senior Industrial Technologist, a certified Zenger-Miller Achieve Quality facilitator, and a certified Instructor of Technology through the U.S. Air Force. He’s currently pursuing a Ph.D. in technology management.
Hornibrook was named the Pearce Community Center Youth Volunteer of the Year in 2001; assisted in launching the Pearce Community Center Community Soccer program; and is head coach for boys’ soccer at Illinois Valley Central High School.
He participated on the Business Advisory Council for Goodwill Industries, was elected president of the Chillicothe Summer Theatre board, and was a judge for Illinois Central College’s Area High School Scholastic Bowl.
Terry Isbell, Ph.D.
Terry Isbell, Ph.D., is a research chemist, lead scientist, and acting research leader for New Crops Processing and Technology Research at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, leading a team of 30 researchers.
Isbell has co-authored numerous documents, is invited to present lectures at international conferences, served as technical program chair for an international conference in Mexico, as president of the Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops, as co-chair of an international meeting on industrial crops, and is co-founder of the Industrial Oil Products division within the American Oil Chemists’ Society.
In 1998, Isbell was recognized by an international society as outstanding researcher of the year. Other awards include multiple technology transfer awards from the Technology Transfer Consortium, Certificate of Merit Outstanding Performance Awards and Superior Performance Awards from the USDA, New Crops Team Award from the USDA, and Superior Graduate Achievement Award.
Isbell volunteers for District 150; Habitat for Humanity; the local University of Illinois Extension Council; mentors high school students; and develops science outreach programs for local grade schools.
Peter Jennetten
Peter Jennetten is an attorney and partner in the law firm of Quinn, Johnston, Henderson & Pretorius, Chtd, responsible for litigation and trial of cases in state and federal courts including defense of personal injury, civil rights, and municipal liability cases.
His accomplishments include acting as chairman of the Young Lawyers Committee of the Peoria County Bar Association, which conducts events such as an annual Law Day, presentations to local schools, an annual blood drive, and Project Angel Tree. Jennetten also served as vice chairman of the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Peoria County Bar Association and as co-chairman of the Young Lawyers Committee of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel.
Jennetten coordinates speakers for the Peoria County Bar Association Brown Bag Lunch series and co-authored a chapter published in the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education handbook.
His community involvement includes pro bono work for Peoria Wilds, N.F.P., a not-for-profit corporation that works to restore native prairies along the Illinois River bluffs; fundraising and pro bono services for Prairie State Legal Services; being a Cub Scout leader; and fundraising for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Lisa Koenig
Lisa Koenig is controller for Clark Engineers, Inc., responsible for managing the accounting, banking, budgeting, reporting, and control functions for Clark, including managing a staff of five.
Her accomplishments include restructuring Clark’s accounting department to achieve increased efficiency and tighter internal controls; leading the successful implementation of a new accounting software system; implementing improved financial reporting, budgeting, and financial analysis procedures; and helping to develop RMS McGladrey’s business valuation and temporary controllership services.
Koenig is a 1997 graduate of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School and served as a PACC Ambassador from 1997 to 2000. She’s currently on the board of the Greater Peoria Family YMCA and a member of the Finance Committee. She was treasurer for the YMCA for three years and was actively involved in the YMCA’s acquisition and redevelopment of the former Willow Knolls County Club. Through Clark Engineers, she supports the Y’s annual Angel Tree program.
She also volunteered for the Christmas in April program in 2001 and is a past participant in the Adopt-a-School program through Clark’s sponsorship of the Guardian Angel School.
Amy Longville
Amy Longville is a 6 Sigma Black Belt at Caterpillar Inc., responsible for leading project teams to improve critical business processes that drive financial results. She scopes projects; develops project plans and business cases; recruits, trains, and leads project team members; measures results; integrates improvement projects; ensures multi-channel communication; and provides quantitative data to all levels of the organization indicating the scope of the operation.
She was a Caterpillar Inc. Community Now! membership co-chair last year and is membership liaison for 2002, a Society of Women Engineers Director since 2000, a Central Illinois Rubber and Plastic Group secretary since 2001, and a C.H.O.I.C.E.S. Youth Outreach board member since 2001.
Longville coordinated science experiments at Lakeview Museum during Engineering Week and presented at an event which provides engineering contacts to graduating college seniors. She also emceed the 2002 Community Law Enforcement Incentive Award Program.
Since 1999, she’s been a special events volunteer for the Peoria Park District, and she participated in the Center for Prevention of Abuse duck race fund raiser.
Tim McCormack
Methodist Medical Group Service Line Director Tim McCormack directs the quality and performance of 72 physicians, 18 mid-level providers, more than 250 office staff members, and six corporate employees.
McCormack’s accomplishments at Methodist include improving the Medical Group’s financial performance by more than 60 percent and $8 million over the past four years. He reorganized Methodist Medical Group and created a governing structure that has streamlined operations and improved performance.
He also helped contribute to Methodist’s overall performance score of 98 from the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), putting Methodist in the top 4 percent of hospitals surveyed by JCAHO nationwide. The JCAHO surveyors reported no recommendations for improvement for the Medical Group—an exceptional evaluation.
McCormack is a former board member for Averyville-Kingman-Woodruff Alumni Association and the Epilepsy Foundation of Central Illinois. He’s been a Peoria Youth Basketball League coach for eight years and has volunteered with the Heart of Illinois Chapter of the American Diabetes Association for nine years. He’s also a member of St. Thomas Church.
Aditya "Eddie" Nath
Aditya (Eddie) Nath is CEO and managing partner for CGN & Associates. He leads a national, high technology, professional services firm and is responsible for financial management, HR strategy and processes, sales and marketing strategy, and new services introduction.
Accomplishments include founding CGN, serving as past chairman of the 50th annual SAE Earthmoving Industry conference in Peoria, serving as past chairman and founder of the Pro/E Users Group, receiving the 2002 Business Leadership Award from the Central Illinois Workforce Development Board, and being nominated for Business Leadership Award at the state level.
Nath has been a Peoria Area Workforce Development board member for more than three years, and as chair of the Workforce Network Committee, he was instrumental in the formation of the Peoria Area Workforce Network.
Nath is active on the Hindu Heritage Center Building Committee; adopted Washington Gifted School for the Business Partnership Drive; and sponsors events including Easter Seals, Jingle Bell Run, Steamboat Classic, and more. He’s also responsible for creating and supporting more than 250 professional job opportunities in the Peoria area in the last three years.
Katherine Neumiller-Schureman
Kate Neumiller Schureman is vice president of Planning and Development for Lakeview Museum, responsible for implementing the planning process for the new Lakeview Regional Museum facility, managing and monitoring fundraising for Lakeview Museum, directing and implementing the museum’s grants program, and overseeing the museum’s accreditation with the American Association of Museums.
She’s a member of the Illinois Association of Museums, the Association of Midwest Museums, and American Association of Museums. Neumiller Schureman was recognized in 2001 for arts advocacy by Illinois Arts Alliance’s Democracy in Action Project. She’s also an ordained elder of the Presbyterian Church USA and has served on a variety of church task forces.
Neumiller Schureman is a 1999 graduate of Community Leadership School, currently serves on the steering committee, and served on the Chamber of Commerce Government Committee and candidate review panel.
Neumiller Schureman also served as a speaker for the Peoria High School and Illinois Central College government classes, and participates in Lakeview volunteer activities and teaching confirmation classes at church.
Andrew Paulson
Andy Paulson is a commercial loan officer for First Capital Bank, responsible for working with small and medium-sized local companies to develop effective banking and financial strategies.
Paulson also sets up commercial loans to benefit the community and was a key person in setting up an export loan for which First Capital was recognized by the SBA and presented an award from Congressman Ray LaHood.
He’s been a member of the East Peoria High School board of education since 2001 and is a member of the Rotary Club of Peoria North, serving as treasurer from 1998 to 2000 and currently acting as vice president and president-elect. He was treasurer of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Peoria from 2000 to 2002, and was a Heart of Illinois United Way Cabinet Member in 2000.
Paulson is active in the Better Business Bureau and assists in organizing some of the most successful annual golf events in the area. He’s also active in his church and volunteers to help with Bible School.
Troy Roberts
Troy Roberts opened the Law Office of Troy I. Roberts, P.C. last year and is a member of the American, Illinois, and Peoria County Bar Associations; American Inns of Court; and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.
Roberts also has been a seminar presentation speaker for the organizations to which he belongs, the South Side Office of Concern, and the National Business Institute. Throughout his career, he’s provided pro bono services to clients unable to afford legal fees. In January, he was nominated for “Rewarding Moments—A Hero Is,” sponsored by United Airlines, and he is certified as a child’s representative within his legal profession.
Roberts has served as a Pediatric Resource Center board member since 1999, chairing the Membership Committee, chairing the Stop Child Abuse Pin Sales since last year, and serving as a member of the Blue Ribbon Child Abuse Prevention Committee since 2000.
Roberts is chairman of the Peoria County Zoning Board of Appeals and has participated in fund raising projects for the American Cancer Society and the YMCA, and volunteered for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Until last year, he also was the lead singer and guitar player for local band The Willies, which performed at many charitable functions.
Melissa Sage-Bollenbach
Melissa Sage-Bollenbach is Bradley University’s Wellness Program coordinator. She’s responsible for coordinating the planning, implementation, and evaluation of all wellness programs for students, and she provides wellness consultations and outreach services to the university community. Sage-Bollenbach also develops and evaluates substance abuse programming and advises the Bradley H.E.A.T. peer leadership and education program.
Sage-Bollenbach has received the following awards: Outstanding Advisor, the Bacchus & Gamma Peer Education Network; Outstanding Young Health Care Professional, Peoria Jaycees; Choice Action of the Year, Planned Parenthood Heart of Illinois; and Organizational Advisor of the Year, Bradley University.
Other Bradley awards include Inter-Association Task Force on Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week and Yearlong Programming Award, The Extra Mile Award, the Helen Bartlett Award for Excellence in Service to Students, and the Student Organization Program of the Year.
Sage-Bollenbach has been a group facilitator for the Kids Konnected program since its inception in 1997. She’s also a member of the Planned Parenthood Board of Directors and a counselor for the American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Services.
Thomas Schlink
Thomas Schlink, a National City Bank commercial loan officer, is a seasoned commercial relationship manager with 12 years of commercial banking experience. He currently works with more than 60 commercial clients, helping them in all facets of their financial needs. He offers his clients creative solutions to their financial needs, and as a result, his clients see Schlink as a resource to help them make better decisions, react quickly to opportunities, and improve their financial position.
Schlink received the 2001 National City Corporation Sales Champion Award and the 2001 National City Altus Commercial Lending Award. He’s also a 1999 graduate of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School.
His community involvement includes serving as a member of the Heart of Illinois United Way Finance Committee, volunteering at Lakeview Museum, working in fundraising to support children and youth programs as an active member of the South-West Kiwanis, being appointed a Deputy Grand Knight at the Spalding Council Knights of Columbus, organizing 140 volunteers as chairman of the 2002 Knights of Columbus charity drive for the mentally handicapped, and being a four-time winner of the Knight of the Month Award from the Knights of Columbus.
Stacey Storms
Stacey Storms has just begun a new position as Corporate Real Estate Manager for OSF Healthcare System, where she oversees matters pertaining to property leasing and real estate for all OSF Operating Units. Stacey has been a real estate agent for nine years, five of them as a commercial agent for Coldwell Banker Commercial Devonshire Realty.
She was selected for the Coldwell Banker National Hospitality Business Development Group. Storms earned her GRI degree and is a candidate for the CCIM degree. She was selected for Coldwell Banker’s International Diamond Society for top sales production, is a member of the National and Illinois Association of Realtors, and the Peoria Area Association of Realtors, serving on the Commercial Multiple Listing Service Committee.
Storms is a graduate of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School, serves as an Ambassador, and is on the Chamber’s Transportation Committee. She serves on the board of directors for the Suburban Kiwanis Club, is a mentor for the Peoria Business Academy, and serves on the board of directors for the Hanna City Little League.
Jennifer Streitmatter
Jennifer Streitmatter is human resources director for the Children’s Home Association of Illinois. She leads and supervises department staff, providing diverse support to agency programs and staff in the areas of personnel management and benefits administration. As director, she oversees a workforce of more than 400 people. She successfully hosts new employee orientation each month, implemented a career counseling program to assist new employees in learning about future job opportunities within the agency, and daily carries out the mission of Children’s Home.
She earned the Special Touch Award from Children’s Home in 2001 and was named Employee of the Quarter for Children’s Home. She’s also been a Certified Professional in Human Resources since 2000.
Streitmatter participates in the Recruitment/Retention Committee at Children’s Home and volunteers for many Children’s Home events, including the Maui Jim/Children’s Home Charity Golf Classic and the Tour de Chicken. She is actively involved in planning all-staff activities such as the staff banquet and spring picnic.
Streitmatter is the current president of the Peoria Area Sigma Kappa Alumnae Chapter and received the chapter’s Woman of the Year Award in 2001.
Ian Trahan
Ian Trahan is a project engineer at Clark Engineers, Inc., where he takes full technical responsibility for interpreting, organizing, executing, and coordinating engineering assignments. He prepares or directs preparation of reports, specifications, plans, schedules, and designs; and provides training and review to others on the team.
He currently works as one of the project engineers for the Clark Engineers portion of the Upgrade 74 Design Project, and he was selected to serve as the project engineer to lead CE’s construction inspection teams for the I-74 project.
Accomplishments include being selected by peers and management of Clark Engineers to lead the employee mentoring team; graduating from the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School, where he was selected for nomination to the City of Peoria Planning Commission; and serving on the American Society of Civil Engineers board.
Trahan is a member of the Community Leadership School steering committee for 2002-2003; serves as a Guardian Angel Adopt-A-School volunteer reader and pen pal; is a community mentor for the Bradley University (LINCS) program; participates on the PACC Employee Recruiting and Retention Task Force; and volunteers for Christmas in April, Angel Tree, and highway cleanup.
William Turner
William Turner is in corporate sales for the Peoria Park District/Riverplex. He’s responsible for conducting presentations with corporations and individuals about wellness programs offered at RiverPlex, reviewing and maintaining files for the sales team, prospecting for new corporate accounts, and promoting RiverPlex to Peoria and surrounding communities.
His volunteer activities stretch across a broad range of community interests. Turner is on the board for C.H.O.I.C.E.S. Youth Outreach, is president of the ScoutReach Committee, and is on the board of directors for Peoria Area Community Events and the Boys & Girls Club.
Turner graduated from the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School, is an advocate for the Department of Children and Family Services, is a campaign aid for local elections, is a Team Leader for the Army National Guard, is chairman of the Judicial Review Board, a member of Tomorrow’s Black Leaders, and volunteers as a basketball and Little League baseball coach for the Peoria Park District.
In addition to receiving the first place team award in the Neighborhood Development Project, Turner was a nominee for the Martin Luther King Jr. Non Violent Award.
Tim Warner
Tim Warner is vice president and small business banking officer for National City Bank of Michigan/Illinois, responsible for delivering high quality business and personal banking services to small business clients and prospects in the Peoria area. In the past two years, he generated more than $10 million in new small business loans, more than $3 million in new small business deposits, and generated more than $1 million in SBA-guaranteed loans in the past two years.
Warner is a multiple winner of National City’s Small Business Million Dollar Month Award and the Small Business Quarterly Deposit Distinction Award.
He serves on the Junior Achievement of Central Illinois Board of Directors; the executive committee; and volunteers as a classroom consultant at Manual High School, Oak Grove West Junior High, Holy Family Grade School, Whittier Grade School, and St. Thomas Grade School.
Turner is a member and treasurer of the Pioneer Civic Service Board of Directors, an organization which develops and manages low income and special needs housing. He’s also on the Knights of Columbus Board of Directors, is a Loan Committee Member of the Illinois Business Financial services, and is an Easter Seals VIP.
David Wentworth
David Wentworth is a partner in the law office of Hasselberg, Williams, Grebe & Snodgrass, licensed to practice law in Illinois and Michigan. His practice areas include commercial litigation, transactions, real estate, probate, and estate planning.
He’s a member of the Peoria County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Committee and Publications Committee, and a barrister with the Abraham Lincoln Chapter of American Inns of Court.
Wentworth is a member of the City of Peoria Neighborhood Development Commission, served as president of the West Bluff Council from 2000 to 2001, and is past president of the Moss Bradley Residential Association.
He provides legal services to several neighborhood associations and donates his legal expertise as a pro bono case volunteer for Prairie State Legal Services. Wentworth has been a director for the Community Workshop Training Center since 2001, volunteers his time for the Center for the Prevention of Abuse, and has been co-chair of the Heart of Illinois United Way Capital Campaign Committee, Legal Division, since 2000.
Timothy Williams
Tim Williams is factory manager of Tractor Assembly Operations for Caterpillar Inc. He is responsible for managing the planning and manufacture of Caterpillar’s D6-D11 Track Type Tractors, including leading a team of more than 250 employees responsible for the quality, delivery, and profitability of products assembled at Caterpillar’s Tractors Division in East Peoria.
As senior environmental engineer for Caterpillar Corporate Environmental Affairs Division, Williams created Caterpillar’s Environmental Excellence Award, designed to recognize facilities worldwide for outstanding environmental performance. As purchasing manager for the Track Type Tractors Division, he developed programs which improved quality and delivery while generating more than $20 million in annual savings.
Williams was named the Eureka College Outstanding Young Alum in 1999 and earned an MBA degree from Bradley University in 1996.
Williams served on the Eureka College Alumni Board of Directors and was president in 1998. He’s been a Girl Scout volunteer since 1993, was an assistant coach for the East Peoria Girls Softball Association, and was chairman of the inaugural Heart of Illinois golf outing fundraiser for Eureka College. IBI
