The Heart of Illinois United Way hosted its 2025 Annual Meeting on Thursday, June 26, to recognize our outgoing board members, nominate new board members and a slate of officers, and honor community leaders through our annual awards.
Thank you to our outgoing board members:
- Lindsey Birkel, Caterpillar
- Tim Dunton, CEFCU
- Brent Eichelberger, Commerce Bank
- Robert Gates, Heyl Royster
- Ron Givens, GIVSCO
- Monica Hendrickson, Peoria City/County Health Department
- Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, Peoria Public Schools
- Nikki Romain, ART Inc.
- Nathan Thomas, Bradley University
Our reelected board members include:
- Dr. Meenakshy Aiyer, University of Illinois College of Medicine
- Mike Bass, RSM
- Jimmy Dillon, West Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council
- Andrea Tortora, Turtledove Communications
Welcome to our new board members:
- Beth Crider, Peoria ROE (retired)
- Lisa Gates, RLI
- Aaron Kilgore, State Farm
- Chad Kirkenmeier, Commerce Trust
- Robert Strong, Caterpillar
- Tobin Taylor, Heyl Royster
- Jeff Thomas, CEFCU
- Marc Van Camp, Maui Jim
Our 2025-2026 Executive Committee includes:
- Board Chair – Sid Ruckriegel, SERVUS
- Chair-elect – Tom Schlink, F&M Bank
- Vice-Chair, Resource Development – Michelle Conger, OSF
- Vice Chair, Community Investment – Kylene Anthony, Caterpillar
- Vice Chair, Marketing & Community Engagement – Jenna Wiesner, PNC
- Treasurer – Seth Davis, RLI
- Secretary – Pat Roesler, Vermeer Midwest
Click here for the full list of our 2025-2026 Board Members.
Jim and Katie Owens Partner Award
We also presented our annual Jim and Katie Owens Partner Award. Created in 2007, the award recognizes one of our partner agencies for their outstanding leadership, collaboration, and engagement with the Heart of Illinois United Way. The award is named in honor of Jim and Katie Owens for their outstanding volunteer leadership to our United Way and partner agencies. They served on our campaign cabinet, board of directors, and several committees.
The recipient of this year’s Partner Award is Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois. A partner agency since 1962, Goodwill helps communities prosper by transforming donations into life skills training and employment services. Through employment services, veterans’ support services, and a youth mentoring program, they are changing lives in central Illinois every day.
