Pinnacle Actuarial Resources, Inc. in Bloomington has announced several consultant appointments. Hongmei Li and Darcie Truttmann were named senior consulting actuaries and Brittany Henrich, Andrew Krieger and Nicole McArdle were named consulting actuaries. Pinnacle is a leading property and casualty actuarial consulting firm.
Peoria Symphony Orchestra has hired Kelly Schneider as its new director of development. In that position, she will oversee the growth and development of the organization’s donor relations portfolio, grant management and fundraising events. She has more than seven years of experience working in nonprofits and event planning, including the United Stroke Alliance and CEO Council.
Robert Ambrose has been hired as a business banking officer at the Peoria office of F&M Bank. In this new role, Ambrose is responsible for the continued growth and development of the commercial banking department in the Peoria area market. He has extensive commercial banking experience and is a graduate of Bradley University.
F&M Bank in Galesburg has announced three promotions. Liz Miller has been promoted to assistant vice president, mortgage loan officer. Jennifer Pittman has been promoted to assistant vice president, investment operations manager. She will continue to oversee investment operations. Brittney Shepherd was promoted to business banking officer. She serves as the primary liaison for small business clients.
Priscilla Slaughter has joined the W. D. Boyce Council, Boy Scouts of America, as director of development. She brings a diverse fundraising background in health, education, human services, and arts and culture to her leadership of the development team.
WTVP PBS welcomes Amy Arhart as the newest member of its production team. Arhart has been a self-employed videographer and editor for Sami Studio in Hickory Hills, Illinois, for more than 10 years, and was previously a director, videographer and production crew member at WEIU at Eastern Illinois University.
Brittney Shepherd, business banking officer at F&M Bank in Galesburg, has graduated from the Future Leaders Alliance (FLA) offered through the Illinois Bankers Association. The 14-month FLA program is dedicated to enhancing the professional development of promising bank leaders through education, community service and networking.
Mark and Kim Johnson, owners of Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home in Morton, are recipients of the 2023 Venture Award from the Morton Economic Development Council. The award recognizes Morton business owners who have made a significant impact on the community and the people they employ through their business leadership, growth and innovation.
Ameren Illinois has been recognized with four Inspiring Efficiency Awards (IEA) from the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. The 2023 Rising Star Award went to Angie Ostaszewski, an energy efficiency advisor working on the Energy Efficiency Diversity Initiation. The Champion Award was presented to Kristol Simms, Ameren’s vice president of clean energy transition and economic, community and business development. The Leadership Award was presented to Ameren Illinois’ Energy Efficiency Program and Senior Services Plus. The Marketing Award recognizes a partnership between Ameren Illinois and the Peoria Guild of Black Artists to provide resources and energy efficiency education to Black communities.
Six volunteers in the W. D. Boyce Council, Boy Scouts of America, received the Silver Beaver Award for noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth at the council’s annual recognition dinner in March. Recipients for 2022 are Phil Jordan, Bill Maddox, Melissa Moran, Stacey Reuter, Bob Ripp and Joy Walsh. The council also presented Kevin Walsh with the ISR Frontiersman Award in recognition of his long service as a ranger at Ingersoll Scout Reservation.
A new collaboration between OSF HealthCare and the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex will result in Stadium 1 and 2 at the complex being known as OSF 1 and OSF 2. “We share a common commitment to children, families and the Peoria community,” said Mike Wells, president of OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center.
A new webinar series sponsored by the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at Bradley University focuses on how to grow export business. The no cost, one-hour webinars from May to August will discuss the most important decisions small- to medium-sized businesses need to make for a successful export strategy. Jim Foley, director of the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship, is the presenter. Call 309-677-4321 for details.
Illinois State University has been recognized nationally as a Voter Friendly Campus by Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project (CVP) and NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education). ISU is one of 258 institutions in the country earning the designation, which is valid through December 2024.
Carle Health, the Urbana, Illinois-based health care system, has welcomed the former UnityPoint Health–Central Illinois network, along with Trillium Place and Methodist College of Nursing, into its system. The union will bring an integrated network of three hospitals — including the former UnityPoint Methodist, Proctor and Pekin — with 634 beds, more than 850 multi-specialty physicians, 76 clinics, home health and hospice services, a level two trauma center, advanced specialty services and behavioral health services.
The Office of Student Research at Illinois State University announced two students, Katherine Helmink from Breese, Illinois, and Sage Lauper-Cook from Mt. Zion, Illinois, have been named 2023 Goldwater Scholars. Both are juniors majoring in chemistry. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation provides opportunities for U.S. students with excellent academic records and demonstrated potential for research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.
The Meadows Avenue Tap 4th Annual St. Jude Fish Fry will take place on June 25, 2023, at 2000 Meadows Ave., East Peoria. Head coordinator McKenna Richardson is seeking sponsors, donations and volunteers. Learn more at 309-202-3828 or [email protected].
For the first time in Peoria, the band Brazeros Musical de Durango and Clave Armada will offer live music at Fiesta en Junction After Party, May 6-7 at Hacienda El Mirado, 5805 N. Humboldt Ave. The family-friendly Cinco de Mayo celebration will include music, a live DJ and authentic Mexican food.
