R. David Tebben
Community Leadership Academy
The Pekin Chamber of Commerce will announce details of the 25th annual R. David Tebben Community Leadership Academy in November. We are proud to have The Dirksen Congressional Center sponsoring the academy with grants towards registration fees.
The academy is held for 10 weeks, usually on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Academy Mission
“To identify, inform and educate existing and emerging leaders of the local community, and to motivate them towards leadership responsibilities by exposing them to the realities, opportunities and challenges of the local community.”
Academy Highlights
- Thought-provoking discussions led by Pekin community leaders.
- Informative field trip and tours.
- Networking opportunities.
About the 2023 Community Leadership Academy
- The 2023 Community Leadership Academy will be a 10-week course running from January 10th through March 16th
- Sessions will usually be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from approximately 8:00-10:00 AM. (Subject to change, finalized schedule will be sent to participants in early 2023, prior to the start of the program.)
- Academy registration fee is $600 ($500 for Chamber Members) with partial tuition grants available. (Please see below for more info.)
- Enrollment is limited
Application Deadline: December 31, 2022
Participation Commitment
In order to meet our objectives, and for benefit of every attendee, full participation is required. Candidates will be exposed to community leaders, local business owners, and organizations from our community.
Successful candidates should look forward to completing and participating in the following during the 10-week program:
- Attend 75% of the scheduled Academy classes/tours
- Engage with classmates and presenters with questions and conversations
- Attend one Chamber networking event - this can include Business After Hours, Business Before Hours, or Chamber Business Breakfasts
- Attend two government meetings (City Council, County Board)
R. David Tebben Community Leadership Academy Committee
Susan Jones – Pekin Insurance
Robb Murphy – Pekin Insurance
Linda Ledger – Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory, LLC
Earl Riley – First Pekin Savings Bank
Kelsey Horst – OSF Healthcare
Heather Robertson – United Way of Pekin
This group of volunteers plans the annual R. David Tebben Community Leadership Academy. They meet on an as-needed bases, starting in the early fall. The committee plans each of the 20 classroom sessions and the 10 field trips, as well as the graduation banquet. They also recruit the speakers and programs, and assist with the facilitation of each class. Committee members are all graduates of the R. David Tebben Community Leadership Academy.
Leadership Academy Sponsors
The Dirksen Congressional Center • UnityPoint Health – Pekin • Pekin Insurance • City of Pekin
Busey Bank • CEFCU • NRG Powerton • Pekin Community Bank • Reditus Laboratories • Alto Ingredients • East Court Village
OSF Healthcare • Illinois American Water • Excalibur Seasoning • Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory • Liberty Village of Pekin • Kriegsman Warehouse • Bob Lindsay Honda • SNH Investment
Past graduates of the
R. DAVID TEBBEN
Community
Leadership
Academy
2019
Blake Hunter, Steger’s Furniture
Bob Schaich, City of Pekin
Bobbi Mullis, UnityPoint Health
Bryce Barnes, East Court Village, LLC
Crystal Williford, Pekin Insurance
Csilla Barta, Moehle, Swearingen & Lobacz, Ltd
Donna Cordes, Pekin Insurance
Nick Obren, Pekin Park District
Susie Jones, Pekin Insurance
Todd Dugan, City of Pekin
Tonja Ohnemus, YWCA Pekin
Vince Fraboni, Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory
2018
Michelle Bohm, Inspired Style Company
Brian Eatock, Pekin First Church of the Nazarene
Patrick Elliott, Pekin Insurance
Josie Esker, City of Pekin
Jeff Gillis, Edward Jones-Gary Gillis
Amy Hasty, OSF Center for Health-Pekin
Kristina Joseph, State Representative Mike Unes
Irene Lewis-Wimbley, Pekin First Church of the Nazarene
Danny Lohman, Jimbo’s Jumbo, Inc.
Jordan Matthews, OSF Center for Health-Pekin
Marie Noble, Pekin Insurance
Julie Regan, UnityPoint Health-Pekin
Kim Rohlwing, Busey Bank
Mark Rothert, City of Pekin
Angie Sepich, CEFCU
Jill Sitter, East Court Village, LLC
Abbey Steger, Steger’s Furniture
Noele Tatlock, Farmers Insurance – Tatlock Agency
Chris Valentine, NRG Energy – Powerton Station
Karen Zimmerman, KZBEME Fingerprinting, Inc.
2017
Shannon Atkins, Double D’s Ice Creme
Ryan Casselman, Illinois Corn Processing
Joel Catlin, Grace United Methodist Church of Pekin
Samantha David, UnityPoint Health-Pekin
Kenneth Diana Jr., East Court Village, LLC
Cody Haines, Illinois Corn Processing
Paul Heine, Vonderheide Floor Coverings
Kayla Landuyt, Dan Pfeifer State Farm
Aaron Lohnes, The HOPE Chest
Ryan Lohnes, Kriegsman Warehouses
Nichole Miller, CEFCU
Robb Murphy, Pekin Insurance
Shawn Powers, Pekin Park District
Melanie Riley, Pekin Insurance
Scott Roher, Pekin Country Club
Michael Seeman, NRG Energy – Powerton Station
Katy Shackelford – City of Pekin
Kara Stiles – UnityPoint Health – Pekin
Steve Sympson – Busey Bank
2016
Ed Betzelberger, Tazwood Center for Wellness
Dawn Wilde-Burgess, Pekin Park District
Ben Thomas, Peoria Limousine Company
Ashley Ingles, Dan Pfeifer State Farm
Amelia Schureman, CEFCU
Cord Crisler, Illinois American Water
Shannon Cox, The Mansion on Walnut
Brandon Burling, Burling Excavating
John Plunkett, Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory
John Dossey, City of Pekin
Lenora Fisher, Innovative Medical Therapies
Amy Wilson, Farnsworth Group
Heidi Hutchison, PekinInsurance
Michele Greene, Pekin Insurance
David B. Craig, The HOPE Chest
Kate Legge, Tazewell County
Theresa Ruder, Busey Bank
Mike McClain, Illinois Corn Processing
Matt Keech, Illinois Corn Processing
Ryan Morris, Pekin Hospital
Alyssa Pilgrim, Pekin Hospital
2015
Cameron Bettin, Pekin Park District
Brian C. Byrne, OSF IPMR
Mike T. Eeten, City of Pekin
Justin P. Emery
Krissie Finch, South Side Bank
Royce R Fults, Pekin Insurance
Sara J. Hamilton, PT, OSF IPMR
Rich Jordan, River Valley Mechanical Services, Inc.
Teresa Mack, Artistic Community Theatre
Rev. Jim McClarey, First United Methodist Church
Trent Moberly, Grace United Methodist Church of Pekin
Brent A. Oest, Illinois American Water
Caleb E. Ogden, Illinois Corn Processing
Josh T Parker, Pekin First Church of the Nazarene
Tyler J. Shepke, Excalibur Seasoning Company
Adrienne E. Southerland, Pekin Hospital
Janet A. Stevens, First Pekin Savings Bank
Al J. Tharp, Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory, LLC
Brian J. Throener, Illinois Corn Processing
2014
Dennis Barron Jr., Illinois American Water
Amber Bernshausen, ICPR Family Practice
Greg Burris, City of Pekin Police Department
Joe Campbell, Herget Bank
Don Chism, Illinois Corn
Pamela Cochran, Grace United Methodist Church
Lissa Cox, IPMR
Baylee Gambetti, Coldwell Banker
Mike Hamilton, G & B Mechanical
Brigitte Harper, Pekin Insurance
Jen Horn, Liberty Village / Pekin
Kandace Johnson, Command Center
Mike Johnson, Pekin Hospital
Jake Kinkade, City of Pekin
Doug Leathers, Illinois Corn
Susan McCallister, South Side Bank
Tami Meyer, Pekin Insurance
Dan Pfeifer, Dan Pfeifer State Farm
Travis Regan, Preston Hanley Funeral Home
Travis Shock, The Unland Companies
Sarah Shoff, UnityPoint Health
Bryan Steger, Steger’s Furniture
Cindy Werth, Herget Bank
Julie Young, First Pekin Savings Bank
2013
Rev. Steve Anderson, First United Methodist Church
Robert Baughman, Pekin Fire Department
Don Baxter, Pekin Police Department
Fred Blanchard, Commerce Bank
Manda Brown, The HOPE Chest
Jamie S Cates, Tazewell County
Holly Crotty, TAPS Animal Shelter
Mike Denton, Illinois Corn Processing
Zak Ehrmantraut, Springleaf Financial Services
Ryan Fairchild, Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Michael J. Freilinger, Tazewell County
Phil Gelato, PNC Bank
Malinda Grafelman, Pet Supplies Plus
Jennifer Gray, Pekin Hospital
Debby Hoehn, Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes and Crematory
Joe Howe, Tazewell County
Lora Jacobs, Pekin Hospital
Rochelle Marsden, Pekin Public Library
Shena Meskimen, Leman Property Management
Andrew Peltzer, Illinois Corn Processing
Earl Riley, First Pekin Savings Bank
Dawn Shipman, Jim Maloof Realtor
Jason Ward, Herget Bank
2012
Hope Brock, Pekin First Church of the Nazarene
Darin Girdler, City of Pekin
Roger Goodson, Illinios American Water
Andrea Gschwend, Herget Bank
Steve Haines, Illinois Corn Processing
Carrie Helmig, CEFCU
Don Jolly, City of Pekin
Jason King, Illinois Corn Processing
Linda Ledger, Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory
Brigette Lobacz, Moehle, Swearingen & Umholtz
Melanie Long, McDaniels Marketing Communications
John Priester, Pekin Hospital
Erik Reader
Mitchell Richards, YWCA of Pekin
Andy Snell, Excel Foundry and Machine
2011
Tom Belk, Illinois Corn Processing
Bobbi Brienen Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes
Linda DeFrates, Pekin Hospital
Jill Douglas, SJB Promotions
Lori Draeger, Pekin Hospital
Karen Duckworth, Pekin Hospital
Drew Eilts, Edward Jones
Jamie Evans, City of Pekin
Debbie Gaines, Pekin Hospital
Amy Gehrt, Pekin Daily Times
Paula Gensel, City of Pekin
Chip Hill, South Side Bank and Trust
Chuck Hundt, Illinois Corn Processing
Jim Kaminsky, City of Pekin
Dave Lannert, Pekin Park District
Ali Lohnes, Wolf, Tesar & Company
Marlo Mastalerz, Excalibur Seasoning Company
Katie Muller, CEFCU
Erin Schutte, Holiday Inn Express
Cheryl Sherwood, Pekin First Church of the Nazarene
Lori Utter, IPMR
Rod Wamsley, Henderson Funeral Home
Craig Wells, Herget Bank
Rev. Daryle Wright, Pekin First Church of the Nazarene
2010
Courtney Moessner, Tazewell County Courthouse
Bill Bishop, Pekin Hospital
Rev. Lloyd Brock, Pekin First Church of the Nazarene
Gerald Carter, Pekin Welding
Lyle Chism, County Market / Niemann Foods
Brian Cox, City of Pekin
Ryan Davis, Unland Companies
Dennis Franks, City of Pekin
Chad Gambetti, Pekin Trophy House & Engraved Gifts
Patti Kohaus, Herget Bank
Scott Kriegsman, Elliff, Keyser, Oberle & Dancey, PC
Brent Morgan, Timbercreek Rehab & Health Care
Chris Spanos, Hinshaw & Culbertson
Beth Suddeth, Leman Property Management Co.
Tiffany Tebben, Congressman Aaron Schock
Chris Teurele, Pekin Hospital
Sherry Thompson, Pekin Hospital
Victoria Udry, Udry Jewelers
Mark VanderLinden, Pekin Hospital
David Vaupel, Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes, LLC
Leslie Weyhrich, Wolf, Tesar & Company, P.C.
2009
Mark Blunier, Midwest Generating Powerton Station
Yvonne Burnett, Pekin Hospital
Leslie Cameron, Heartland Bank & Trust Company
Dale Green, Midwest Generating Powerton Station
Michael Guerra, City of Pekin
Steve Hall, Pekin Hospital
Melida Heien, Pekin Daily Times
Becky Hillig, Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes
Greg Jaeger, CEFCU
Jeff Kickert, Midwest Generating Powerton Station
Jason Kreiling, Herget Bank
Steve Lambiase, Pekin Hospital
Fred Lawrence, American Fire Service
Candy Liggin, Washington Chamber of Commerce
Leigh Ann Matthews, Pekin Main Street
Denise Merriman, CEFCU
Kurt Nelson, City of Pekin
Greg Nelson, City of Pekin
Jeff Stevenson, National City Bank
Dan Tharp, Pekin Hospital
2008
John Abel, Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes
Sharon Adams, Pekin Hospital
Kevin Andrews, Pekin Hospital
Vicki Bass, City of Pekin
Val Bricka, WHOI TV
Greg Corcoran, MGP Ingredients of Illinois
Angie Evans, City of Pekin
John J. Franks III, Pekin-Peoria Yellow Checker Cab
Jerry Hinds, Midwest Generation
Adam Kammeyuer, CEFCU
Jeff Livengood, Herget Bank
Laura Lohnes, Associated Bank
Melody Malcom, CEFCU
Asif Malik, MGP Ingredients of Illinois
Joe Parker, Jim Maloof Realtor
George Parsons, Midwest Generation
Jo Ellen Patterson, Pekin Hospital
Justin Reeise, Farnsworth Group
Dennis Short, Herget Bank
Michelle Weghorst, Illinois Central College
2007
Ryan Alwood, National City Bank
Dan Bajic, Midwest Generation – Powerton
Aindrea Balagna, Wolf Tesar & Co.
Brad Barnard, Salon Renaissance
Cheryl Benson, Monge Property Management
Don Bly, UAW Seniors’ Center
Sue Bosich, Elliff, Keyser, Oberle & Dancey
Jeannie DeWitt, Bridgeway
Crystal Elliott, Pekin Hospital
Kevin Garber, Midwest Generation – Powerton
Lynn Grebner, Herget Bank
Renna Hadsall, Busey Bank
Joe Heredia, Midwest
Generation – Powerton
Alan Nerone, Pekin Hospital
Greg Ranney, City of Pekin
Doug Reinking, CEFC
Ron Sieh, City of Pekin
Stephanie Stoneking, Preston Hanley Funeral Homes
Milissa Welborn, Heartland Bank & Trust
2006
Shadia Alwan, CEFCU
Jason Anderson, CEFCU
Jeanne Brady, Tazwood Mental Health Center
Anne Dierker, Pekin Hospital
Ken Fozdar, Pekin Hospital
Michael Gresham, Herget Bank
Rob Hancock, Pekin Hospital
Debbie Ibbotson, Saturn of Peoria
Steve Knight, First Federal Savings
Sally Kuhn, Commerce Bank
Mark Kay Lockridge, Community Hospices of America
Andrew Lockwood, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Connie Milburn, Bridgeway
Erica Mutchler, Tazewell County Health Department
Denise Novotny, CEFCU
Andrea Peyton, Monge Property Management
Pat Pollock, City of Pekin
Susan Price, MGP Ingredients of Illinois, Inc.
Caterina Richardson, Bridgeway
Don Rollo, Midwest Generation Powerton Station
Laura Schwandner, Midwest Generation Powerton Station
Jo Ann Scott, Gallatin River Communications
Doug Snell, Preston Hanley Funeral Homes
Susan Stuart, Heartland Bank
Ryan Styck, WD Boyce Council – Boy Scouts of America
Mark Walters, Midwest Generation Powerton Station
Carrie Warner, Pekin Hospital
2005
Rick Bentley, CEFCU
Michael Catteau, Midwest
Generation – Powerton Station
Kathy Clausen, Professional Cleaning Services
Ruby Cunefare, Noel-Henderson Funeral Home
Greg Davis, CEFCU
Greg Ford, Pekin Hospital
Dean Goff, Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes
William Gray, Pekin
Hospital
Jennifer Haas, Heartland Bank
Nicholas Heskett, Commerce Bank
Tamra Huff, Monge Property Management
Marlene Kramer, Cottingham Property
Management
Michael Krohe, Herget National Bank
Chuck Lauss, City of Pekin
Charlie May, E.W. McDaniels
James Perez, Pekin Hospital
Rita Rittenhouse, Suzi Davis Travel
Chelle Spelbring, Citifinancial Loan Services
Tamara Thorne, Monge Property Management
Brooke Walters, The Center for Prevention of Abuse
Andrew Whitaker, City of Pekin
Bryan Whitton, Midwest Generation – Powerton
Station
2004
Beverly Allen, Pekin Daily Times
Jim Bernal, Midwest Generation – Powerton Station
Julie Brandt, Jim Maloof Realtor
Jennifer Cunningham, CEFCU
Dee Driskell, Pekin Hospital
Jason Freeman, Associated Bank
Bill Gaynor, Midwest Generation – Powerton Station
Kayse Doering, Farnsworth Group
Charlie Hanley, Preston Hanley Funeral Homes
Ron Harlan, Herget National Bank
Scott Haynes, Pekin Hospital
Don Hughes, United Water Service
Scott Lauss, Sentenel Pest Control
Drew Leman, Monge Property Management
Theresa Marshall, YWCA of Pekin
Marc Miller, CEFCU
Tara Picken, Pekin Savings Bank
Christine Penninger, Heartland Bank & Trust
Teresa Sayles, Pekin Travel Company
Jeremy Semonis, Semonis Insurance Group
Matt Stropes, Individual Member
Alissa Williams, Pekin Public Library
Vicki Volker, Pekin Hospital
Don White, Pekin School District 108
Sherry Whitmore, Pekin School District 108
2003
Pamela Anderson, City of Pekin
Larry Brees, Williams Bio-Energy
Scott Davis, Pekin National Bank
Dennis DuPage, Service, Inc.
Brian Ford, Facet Computers
Mark Gielarowski, Federal Bureau of Prisons
Thomas Hayes, Sunset Hills – Monge Apartments
Kristie James, CEFCU
Karen Lewis, Gallatin River Communications
Cathy Lusch, Herget National Bank
Jackie Montgomery, Pekin Daily Times
Debbie O’Neill, RSM McGladrey & Pullen
Christie Perry, Pekin Hospital
Tom Platt, Midwest Generation – Powerton Station
Paul Scherer, Associated Bank
Sherry Semonis, Pekin Hospital Foundation
Sheila Thurman, Manpower
2002
Erika Benton, CEFCU
Steve Brown, Gallatin River Communications
Debbie Davison, Home Health Care, Inc.
Dennis Davison, Caterpillar
Marilyn Felts, Herget National Bank
Ivey Grasshoff, Clark Engineers
Charity Gordon, Monge Property Management
Nick Hill, CEFCU
Pat Hodge, Pekin Hardwood
Christie Martis, Insight Communications
Brock Nissen, Pekin Visitors Bureau
Scott Parkin, Monge Property Mgmt/Service, Inc.
Steve Runyon, AES-CILCO
Dave Stoner, Midwest Grain
John Sutherland, River City Construction
Bev Thompson, Cottingham Property Management/
Brookmeadows Apartments
Mark Vannaken, Midwest Generation
Amy Whiting, Petrov, Watkins, Semonis
Dave Wilbur, Midwest Grain
2001
Janine Aimone, Pekin Hospital
Doug Anderson, Professional Therapy Services
Dean Bacon, Pekin Public School District 108
Margaret Berry, Coca-Cola
Jeff Brooks, Pekin Public Library
Rod Christian, Midwest Generation
Diane Coggins, Monge Property Management
Roy Davis, Midwest Grain Products, Inc.
Becky Goldman, Aramark
Roberta Grewey, CEFCU
Richard Hancock, Midwest Generation
Jerry Kerley, Nieman Foods / County Market
Vietfen Kuo, University of Illinois Extension
Deb Mason, Sun Valley Homes
Jim Onyun, Herget National Bank
Katrina Paddick, Tazewell County Area Education for Employment
Rhonda Parker, Pekin Hospital
Jeff Rathmel, Williams Bio-Energy
Marleen Schmidt, CEFCU
Gary Sciortino, First State Bank of Pekin
Bill Shipley, Commerce Bank
Nichole Stout, Manpower
Ann Trumpy, Monge Property Management
Tom Veerman, Clark Engineers, Inc.Joe Werth, Midwest Grain Products, Inc.
2000
Kim Albers, Illinois-American Water Co.
Pat Alesandrini, Alesandrini & Associates
Karen Blome, Monge Property Management
Russ Braidlow, Schnucks Markets, Inc.
Maureen Broy, Gallatin River Communications
Laura Cramer, Jost/Becker/Jost
Chris Davis, Pekin Daily Times
Nick Filarski, Broadway Liquors
Sherry Frost, Alltel
Todd Hall, CEFCU
Mark Hoffmire, CEFCU
Dick Larson, Midwest
Grain
Gary Lowe, City of Pekin Police Department
Jeff Masters, Federal Bureau of Prisons
Owen Miller, Nieman Foods / County Market
Steve Nash, Pekin Daily Times
Mark Rewerts, Herget national Bank
Kay Sutton, Illinois Central College
1999
Brenda Anderson, CEFCU
Jack Bolen, Illinois Department of Employment
Robert Culp, Clark Engineers
Denise DuPage, Alexander Accounting
Todd Goebel, Gallatin River Communication
Cindy Gress, Midstate Heating and Cooling
Roxanne Heiser, Williams Company
Michele Holder, Pekin Daily Times
Dave Homerin, The Cromwell Group
Mary Ann Ladendorf, Prudential Cullinan
Dave Leman, Monge Property Management
Michael Mahoney, Monge, Crouch Mahoney
Hope McAllister, Herget National Bank
Kim McCullough, Pekin Hospital
Georgianne Miller
Tim Newkirk, Midwest Grain Products
Captain Jerry O’Neil, Salvation Army
Jim Schramm, Pekin Daily Times
Dr. Jim Smalley, Heart Care Midwest
Dianne Steiner, Alltel
Amy Tesar, Manpower
Laura Ziegle, CEFCU
