40 Leaders Under Forty is an annual celebration of emerging leaders in Greater Peoria. Through nominations submitted by the community, the region’s rising young stars are honored each year at a prestigious community reception.
Class of 2022
We here at Peoria Magazine are thankful that we can have hope in our collective future, confident that our 40 view this moment in their lives as less a pinnacle than a prelude to more great things to come. Go forth and lead. — Mike Bailey, Editor
Watch the 2022 celebration Event
2022 honorees
Click/tap on individuals below to learn more about them.
Baker, Nicholas
Nicholas Baker | 32 Sales Executive, Facet Technologies;Owner of British Automotive Specialists Nick Baker began his career in the Peoria area as the operations and …
Baker, Zack
Zack Baker|37 Real estate broker, Keller Williams Premier Realty As a real estate professional, Zach Baker has seen success on the two arms of the …
Bradley, Taryn
Taryn Bradley | 36 Coordinator of Student Success and Engagement, Mennonite School of Nursing, Illinois State University; Third-year PhD student, Higher Education Administration, ISU Taryn …
Chambers, Andrew
Andrew Chambers | 34 Alternative investments manager, family wealth advisor, financial planning specialist, Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley branch in Peoria for 12 years, where he …
Chambers, Pete
Pete Chambers | 34 Supplier Finance Manager, Caterpillar Inc. Pete Chambers has received consistent promotions in his seven years in the Corporate Treasury Department at Caterpillar, …
Chaturvedula, Surya Teja
Surya Teja Chaturvedula | 38 Interventional cardiology physician; Director of the Structural Heart Program, UnityPoint Health Peoria Dr. Chaturvedula provides cardiac care to patients with …
Cintron, Manuel Angel
Manuel Angel Cintron | 29 Researcher, National Institutes of Health; Medical student, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP) Manuel Cintron works as …
Coad, Stephanie Schachtrup
Stephanie Schachtrup Coad | 38 Project manager, structural designer, architectural designer, Muller & Muller, Ltd. (M2) Stephanie Schachtrup Coad works on building projects for transportation, …
Dalfonso, Lauren
Lauren Dalfonso | 35 Senior territory manager, ZOLL, Cardiac Management Solutions Division For the last four years, Lauren Dalfonso has promoted ZOLL’s suite of cardiac …
Dilbeck, Lacey Jaye
Lacey Jaye Dilbeck | 37 Material planning analyst, Caterpillar; Illinois Air National Guard former active-duty U.S. Air Force In her work for Caterpillar, Lacey Jaye …
Faggett, LaKeisha
LaKeisha Faggett | 38 Service network capability and performance manager, Caterpillar In her new position, LaKeisha Faggett is responsible for global service training, technician development …
Frank, Nathan
Nathan Frank | 35 Advertising sales manager In his work managing a sales team at Adams Outdoor Advertising, Nathan Frank drove revenue streams and worked …
Green, Kate
Kate Green | 34 Executive director, Home for All Continuum of Care, Heart of Illinois United Way Kate Green implements and oversees efforts to reduce …
Hanson, Keith
Keith Hanson | 39 Assistant professor of clinical pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP); Pediatric hospitalist, Children’s Hospital of Illinois As …
Hounwanou, Arius
Arius Hounwanou | 33 Graphic designer, Cullinan Properties As senior graphic designer at Cullinan Properties, Arius Hounwanou is responsible for creating schematic design concepts during …
Johnson, Mitch
Mitch Johnson | 33 Co-founder and laboratory director, Veloxity Labs, LLC Mitch Johnson launched Veloxity, a biotech laboratory in Peoria that recently was named the …
Jump, Christopher J.
Christopher J. Jump | 33 Associate attorney, Davis & Campbell LLC Christopher Jump’s law practice focuses on representing and advocating for businesses, public bodies and …
Kerrigan, Renae Stenger
Renae Stenger Kerrigan | 33 Curator of science, planetarium director, Peoria Riverfront Museum (PRM) Arguably the most dynamic and influential science educator in the Peoria …
Kriegsman, J. Scott
J. Scott Kriegsman | 39 Attorney, Kriegsman Dunn James Kriegsman is an attorney practicing in personal injury law, workers compensation law, municipal law, estate planning, estate …
McDaniel, Cole
Cole McDaniel | 29 Executive director, Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development (SRPED) As executive director of the Spoon River Partnership for Economic Development in …
McLean, Aaron
Aaron McLean | 37 Physician assistant, hospitalist, UnityPoint Health Central Illinois As a physician in the UnityPoint network of area hospitals, Aaron McLean is known …
Meardy, Ryne E.
Ryne E. Meardy | 39 Senior master sergeant, United States Air Force; Facilities engineer, Caterpillar As senior master sergeant with the United States Air Force …
Mehta, Brinda
Brinda Mehta | 37 Pediatric hematologist and oncologist, OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois; Assistant professor of clinical pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine (UICOMP) …
Moultrie-Belk, Kendra
Kendra Moultrie-Belk | 30 Access services coordinator, Illinois Central College In her position at ICC, Kendra Moultrie-Belk provides students with disabilities the accommodations they require …
Null, Spencer
Spencer Null | 34 Engineer, director of product development, Natural Fiber Welding (NFW) In his capacity at Natural Fiber Welding, a start-up company that invents …
Oyler, Heather M. Bean
Heather M. Bean Oyler | 39 Broker/realtor, Oyler Real Estate with Re/Max Traders Heather Oyler has a passion for causes such as the Peoria Symphony, …
Oyler, Zachary M.
Zachary M. Oyler | 38 Realtor, At-Large Peoria City Councilman As one of his nominators said, “Councilman Oyler is a stunning example of servant leadership …
Phegley, Scott
Scott Phegley | 39 Media manager, Stanley Steamer Scott Phegley’s career primarily has been spent in the insurance industry, specializing in restoration and claim adjustment, …
Rauh, Kari
Kari Rauh | 33 Director of workforce solutions, Greater Peoria Economic Development Council “A qualified and available workforce is a region’s most important economic development …
Reyes, Frances
Frances Reyes | 36 Director, Domestic Violence Family Centered Services, Center for Prevention of Abuse (CFPA) Frances Reyes began her career in social services as …
Roberts, Shelbey Simone
Shelbey Simone Roberts | 29 Television journalist, WMBD-TV/WYZZ Shelbey Simone Roberts is the evening news anchor for WMBD-TV/WYZZ, while also reporting on health care issues …
Scholl, Jay H.
Jay H. Scholl | 39 Attorney, Davis & Campbell, LLC Jay Scholl represents businesses and their owners in a wide range of complex matters, from …
Sharpe, Shelley
Shelley Sharpe | 35 Accounting manager, Risinger Brothers Transfer, Inc. Shelley Sharpe prepares monthly financial statements, coordinates the annual audit, and is the project manager …
Shelley, Tim
Tim Shelley | 31 News director, WCBU, Peoria Public Radio Tim Shelley supervises WCBU’s full-time newsroom staff, as well as a team of correspondents and …
Spears, Timothy W.
Timothy W. Spears | 32 Commercial portfolio manager, Busey Bank Tim Spears’ duties at Busey Bank include managing and monitoring the investment portfolios of many …
Stickelmaier, Hank
Hank Stickelmaier | 34 Manager of talent acquisition, RLI Insurance Company Hank Stickelmaier leads the specialty insurance company’s search for workforce talent, partnering with recruiters …
Sutter, Laura
Laura Sutter | 34 Assistant vice president, RLI Insurance Company Laura Sutter oversees both the home office and actuarial support division for a significant number …
Vincent, Mikayla R.
Mikayla R. Vincent | 39 Client services manager, strategic business development for the Midwest, CORE Construction Mikayla Vincent is a business strategist at CORE, one of …
Weeks, Andrew
Andrew Weeks | 37 General manager, N.E. Finch Company Andrew Weeks leads all aspects of project pricing/estimating, project management, field operations and customer service for …
Whitlatch, Ashley L.
Ashley L. Whitlatch | 32 Advanced practice nurse, OSF HealthCare Ashley Whitlatch is responsible for providing high-quality care to her patients. In addition to maintaining …
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