Special Issues

Jake Woollen 33 Occupation: Orchestra and choir conductor, Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Springfield Choral Society Email: jwoollen@ilsymphony.org Education: Bachelor of music in cello; master’s in orchestral conducting from University of Michigan; post-graduate studies at the Vienna University for the Performing Arts Affiliations: Illinois Symphony Orchestra; Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestra; Springfield Choral Society; UIS Music; Sing […]

Steve Hott 34 Occupation: Supervisor of Illinois electrical operations at Ameren; owner of Central Illinois Gutters Email: S.hott1190@gmail.com Education: Bachelor of arts in business administration, University of Maine Family: Wife, Katlyn; children, Mila (8), Sam (6) and Laila (4) Affiliations/community activities: National Society of Leadership; Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce; American Business Club; Better Business Bureau […]

Zach Stead 39 Occupation: General superintendent of generation for CWLP’s generating facilities  Email: zach.stead@gmail.com Education: Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; registered professional engineer. Family: Wife, Lauren; sons, Luke and Alex Affiliations/community activities: Rochester Competitive Baseball, head coach; Rochester Junior Football League, coach; Rochester Athletic Booster Club, member What is your guiding principle in life? Each morning I choose to be […]

Jessica Barney 34 Occupation: Department administrator of internal medicine, SIU School of Medicine Email: jbarney@siumed.edu Education: MBA, Master's in nursing leadership Family: Husband, Justin; children, Noah and Sophia; Mom, Reny Drendel and sibling, Adam Drendel Affiliations/community activities: SIU Internal Medicine Community Advisory Board; volunteer with children’s programs at West Side Christian Church What is your guiding principle in life? My mother and my husband taught […]

Adam McConnell 39 Occupation: Human Resources; associate HR business partner and employee relations lead at Horace Mann Email: adam.mcconnell@horacemann.com Education: Bachelor’s degree in human resources management from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota Family: Single Affiliations/community activities: Legislative director, Central Illinois Society for Human Resource Management board of directors (2025-present); Legislative committee member, Central Illinois Chapter SHRM […]

Jessica Sisk 39 Occupation: Director of residential operations, Hope Email: jsisk@hope.us Education: Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University Family: My fur babies, Luna and Ryno What led you to your current career? I began working at Hope 15 years ago and quickly realized I was working with a team of amazing people to support a […]

Allison Long 29 Occupation: Dentist at Prairie Dental Group Email: drlong@prairiedentalgroup.com  Education: Rhodes College, Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine Family: Parents, Rae and Scott Long; husband, Nicholas Koch Affiliations/community activities: Vice president of G.V. Black District Dental Society; board member and volunteer for Wooden It Be Lovely; executive committee member and community service chair of […]

John Curry 37 Occupation: Chiropractor and owner, Curry Chiropractic in Springfield and Petersburg; owner, Cowork Springfield; adjunct biology instructor at LLCC and UIS Email: drjohn@currychiro.com Education: Bachelor of science in biological sciences, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; Master of Science in sports science and exercise rehabilitation, Logan University; doctorate of chiropractic, Logan University Family: Parents, Dan and Pat […]

Amanda M. Brown,  24 Occupation: Member engagement coordinator, Illinois Senate Email: amandamarie275@gmail.com Education: Bachelor of arts in communication and education from UIS; Master’s in public administration with a certificate in community planning, UIS (in progress) Family: Parents and two younger brothers Affiliations/community activities: Board member and event committee for Kiwanis Club of Springfield Downtown, creator […]

John Pankau 39 Occupation: Senior vice president and commercial credit manager, United Community Bank Email: jpankau@ucbbank.com Education: Bachelor of Science in finance with minors in accounting and economics from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, MBA from Benedictine University Family: Wife, Maurielle; son, J.R.; parents, John and Holly Pankau What led you to your current career? I started my […]

Becky Gabany 38 Occupation: Owner, ChangeBridge Consulting Email: Becky@ChangeBridgeConsulting.com Education: Bachelor of arts in communications; master of arts in human services Family: Husband, Adam; two sons, Julian and Arlo; 30-plus pets Affiliations/community activities: National Association for Community and Restorative Justice, co-chair, DEI committee; Washington Street Mission, life skills training facilitator, volunteer; St. Patrick’s Catholic School, community advisory […]

Katie Beveridge 38 Occupation: System director of talent acquisition at Memorial Health Email: Beveridge.katie@mhsil.com Education: Bachelor of science in business administration with a concentration in human resources management and a minor in Spanish from Saint Louis University; master of human resources and industrial relations from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Family: Husband, Colin; children, Graham and Abigail Affiliations/community activities: […]