Les Willis is currently an Executive for State Farm Insurance Companies in Bloomington, Illinois. Originally from Chicago, Les has also worked in Texas, Indiana, and Toronto, Canada. Les received a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Bradley University. He earned the Chartered Property and Casualty (CPCU), Chartered Financial Consultant (CHFC), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Fellow Life Management Institute (FLMI) and Associate in Premium Auditor (APA) designations. He also serves as Operations Chair on the Auto Insurance Plan Services Office (AIPSO) Board and on the Executive Committee for the Property Insurance Plan Services Office (PIPSO) board.

Taunya is the Executive Director of Quest Charter Academy. She hails from Dallas, Texas where she earned her double major undergraduate degree from Texas Woman’s University in Education and Dance. She danced professionally for Dallas Black Dance Theatre and The Dallas Cowboys. Here in Illinois, she works with many arts organizations in various capacities from director to choreographer to board member. She earned her Master’s degree and Doctorate degree in Educational Administration from Illinois State University.

Thomas “Tom” D. Schlink was born and raised in Peoria. He attended Iowa State University where he achieved a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance. Tom has 30 years of commercial banking experience. He currently serves as Peoria Market President for F&M Bank in Peoria where he has overseen the commercial and retail banking operations since 2018. He focuses on helping business owners achieve greater financial results by listening to their needs and providing financial advice. Tom is an Eagle Scout, a graduate of the Peoria Chamber’s Community Leadership School and a past recipient of the 40 Leaders Under 40 Award. He is a proud member of the Peoria Rotary service club. He understands the importance of volunteering and giving back to the community. He currently serves on the boards of the Heart of Illinois United Way, Wildlife Prairie Park, Heart of Illinois Harvest, the Peoria Zoo and the Weaverridge Master Homeowner’s Association. He is also an active member of the Creve Coeur Club of Peoria. He is a past board member and supporter of the Peoria Symphony. Tom is married to his wife Deirdre and loves being a dad to his seven year old daughter Rosie. They are proud members of the St. Philomena Catholic Church parish. Tom enjoys golf, traveling, geocaching and competitive running when not chasing around Rosie or doing volunteer work.

Shanell L. McGoy, PhD MPH, a Peoria native, is a product of programming at George Washington Carver Center, Peoria Tri County Urban League, ICC, Bradley University, Peoria Park District, and Peoria Players Theatre. She has spent nearly 20 years working in a variety of public health settings across the country. Shanell obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Women’s Studies at Spelman College and a Master of Public Health degree in Community Health Sciences from the University of Illinois – Chicago School of Public Health in Community Health Sciences. She completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and was a Health Policy Leadership Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine.

Any Rubenstein is the President, CEO, & Director of Accel Entertainment, Inc. Previously, he was the owner and operator of the largest liquor store chain in Central Illinois by revenue after starting his career at Arthur Anderson Consulting. Andy has vast experience of successfully introducing progressive retail and customer service strategies. He received a BA (Economics) and MA (International Finance & Economics) from Brandeis University.

Carolina Huser has been involved in different fundraising events within multiple organizations during the last couple of years. She’s a program coordinator at Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service where she dedicates her time in serving the community and impacting people’s life in a daily basis. Carolina is currently the Head Leader of PAME, a nonprofit organization that teaches kids the art of philanthropy. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the State University of New York. In her free time, Carolina enjoys traveling with her husband and two daughters.

Darlene Violet’s philanthropic contributions know no bounds with her contributions spanning both Illinois and Ohio. In Ohio, she sits on the boards of the Red Cross, Meals on Wheels of Stark and Wayne Counties, Shared Blessings, among many others. In 2003, Darlene founded Shared Blessings, a charity with the mission to aid the community and local schools and missions in the Peoria, IL and Canton, OH communities. Locally, Darlene is on the boards of Build Peoria, I.W.E.C. Inc., and the Peoria Zoological Society among others. She also recently brought Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to several zip codes in Peoria.

Neil is currently the Senior Director of Sales Force Operations at AstraZeneca BioPhamceuticals. He currently leads an organization responsible for commercial and medical field personnel sizing, field sales deployment, analytics, data reporting, incentive compensation, and customer relationship management technology. He has spent nearly 30 years working in the healthcare industry within commercial sales, marketing, managed care, and commercial operations. He has been a charter member of several employee resource groups, such as DE&I, within his workplace and with community based charitable organization in Chicago, IL.  Neil is an alumni of Bradley University with a BS in Business and Computer Systems.

With 16 years of experience, a native of Peoria, Illinois, Christopher S. McCall is the lead attorney at McCall Law Offices, P.C. After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Mr. McCall moved on to the school’s College of Law and obtained his Juris Doctorate degree. From there, he started his career in law while serving as an associate with Kavanagh, Scully, Sudow, White & Frederick, P.C.

Following his time there, Mr. McCall began working for Peoria County State Attorney Kevin Lyons as an Assistant State Attorney, where he handled civil suits, traffic violations, misdemeanors, and felonies.