BOARD OF DIRECTORS | MEMBERS | 2023-2024

Heather Acerra, Galesburg, Illinois

Husband Michael and 2 Sons Luke and Alec, Benefits Consultant for Cottingham & Butler Co-owner of Lux Blox, an educational learning toy. Background of decades of experience in human resources with focused human resources skills. Started a business, experience setting goals, creating and managing budgets. Serves on the Board of the Oak Brook Human Resources Association Employer Advisory Board for NEIU and has experience helping shepherd non-profits and educational institutions to reach their goals and achieve successful outcomes. Both her sons are classically trained musicians, and public television has been a big part of their family’s cultural education.

Kim Armstrong, Peoria, Illinois

Helen Barrick, Peoria, Illinois
Treasurer

Andrew Chambers, Peoria, Illinois

Andy Chiou, MD, MPH, FACS, Morton, Illinois
Vice Chair

Father of two sons – Alex and Christopher, Dr. Chiou is the President and CEO of Illinois President and CEO of Illinois Surgical Specialists and is the Medical Director for the Peoria Vein Center. Dr. Chiou has been a professor at many Universities, teaching medicine, engineering and technology, as well as serving as a trustee for Eureka College and board member for Easter Seals and the Peoria Dist. 150 Foundation. Dr. Chiou is a former member of the United States Air Force, serving as Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force serving as Chief of Vascular Surgery for the USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Chiou's background brings business acumen, innovation and creativity to the board.

Alex Crowly, Peoria, Illinois

Dawn Dinh, Peoria, Illinois

Emily Galligan, Morton, Illinois

Emily has spent her life in Central Illinois. She is married to her husband, Andrew, and their family consists of her two stepchildren (aged 13 and 10) and two sons (aged 2 and 9 months). Emily works as an attorney in the Office of General Counsel at Illinois State University. Emily currently serves on the Carle Health Center for Philanthropy - Greater Peoria and previously served on both the board for Destiny for Women Health Clinic and the Heart of Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters. Emily was an adjunct faculty member at Bradley University, where she earned her MBA, teaching a course called "The Legal Environment of Business." Emily brings a unique perspective to the board from a legal standpoint and as a mother to young children.

Kevin Hicks

Kevin Hicks (57) is a lifelong resident of central Illinois.  Growing up in Germantown Hills, he graduated from Metamora Township High School in 1984 and cum laude from Eureka College in 1989 with a BA in History Education.  He also obtained a Master of Arts in Education Administration in 2008 from Governors State University.

Kevin has taught History and English at Metamora Township High School for 33 years and has won numerous awards for his teaching, including the "Teacher of the Year - Make a Difference Award" (2006) from MTHS and Eureka College's "Alumni Teacher of the Year Award'' (2006-2007).  Over the years, he has directed over 30 Fall Plays and Musicals and has written and directed 20 Madrigal Dinners.  He has written and directed a full-length play, "The Haunting of Hill House" (2022), and his fiction novel Quitter was published in 2017.

Kevin has also served as vice president of the MTHS SEA (teachers' organization) since 2009 and is on the board of directors for Peoria Players.  He met his beautiful wife Annie while in a production of Brigadoon at Cornstock Theatre in 1992.  They have been married for over 30 years and have two grown sons, Colin and Ian. Though passionate about the arts, Kevin enjoys hiking, golf, and his beloved Philadelphia Eagles. Kevin brings a love of the arts to the board and a teaching perspective.

Martin Johnson, Peoria, Illinois
Secretary

Martin Johnson serves as the Senior Pastor of New Beginnings Ministries Of Peoria and is actively involved in our community and the city of Peoria. He serves as the lead chaplain for the Peoria Police Department, the Peoria Fire Department chaplain, and the Peoria Adult Transition Center. He is the founder of the Nannie M. Johnson Community Center. His leadership and impact in Peoria's religious and secular communities are unsurpassed. He is a retired United States Air Force veteran of 29 years. Martin is married to his military sweetheart, Lisa, and they have two sons, a daughter and two grandkids. 

Rick Lavendar, Chillicothe, Illinois

Married to wife, Della, 45 years old, with 3 Children and 2 Grandchildren. Retired AT&T Technician - 36 years, Retired Network Equipment Contractor - 9 years. Present and Current board member of Peoria Bell Credit Union and regular WTVP viewer interested in history programming on WTVP. Brings a common-sense approach to keeping WTVP at the forefront of great Family Entertainment.

Dan Pearson

Married to wife, Gina Pearson, with two adult married daughters and six grandchildren. Served 29 years as a Sports Anchor/Report in Peoria, Springfield, IL, Quad Cities, mostly recently at KWQC. Following retirement from media activities served 12 Years with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and recently the Multi-Area Director, including seven counties in Greater Peoria while doing freelance sports reporting and videography w/WQAD, quad cities. This background brings knowledge in program development and filming.

Robert G Senneff, FACHE, Canton, Illinois

Bob Senneff, a native of Tiskilwa, Illinois, currently serves as the Graham Health System (Canton, Illinois) President and Chief Executive Officer, a position he has held for the past 18 years. Graham has annual revenues of $330,000,000 and 840 employees, operating in 5 counties in Central Illinois. He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton, Illinois, President of DeWitt Community Hospital and Vice President of Genesis Health System in Davenport, Iowa and President and Chief Executive Officer of Salem Hospital, Inc. in Hillsboro, Kansas.  

Bob holds a Master of Health Administration from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, a Bachelor of Science Business Management from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, and an Associate of Arts from Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby.  
                             
Bob serves on the Mid-America National Bank (Holding Company Secretary /Chair - Audit Committee), Graham Hospital Association, Graham Hospital Association Foundation (Founder and President), Fulton County Health and Wellness Clinic (Founder), Carl Sandburg College Foundation, Illinois Compensation Trust, Illinois Provider Trust, Illinois Hospital Association Finance Committee and the Illinois Hospital Association PAC. Bob brings excellent leadership skills to the board.

Win Stoller, Germantown Hills, Illinois

Win Stoller is a lifelong resident of Germantown Hills and a graduate of the University of Illinois, where he earned both his accounting degree and an MBA in Business. Win Stoller spent the last 23 years working at Widmer Interiors in Peoria, where he is currently the CEO. Prior to that, he was an auditor for Price Waterhouse Coopers. Senator Stoller was elected to the Illinois Senate in 2020 and represented the 37th Senate District, which includes all or parts of Bureau, Henry, Knox, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, Mercer, Peoria, Stark and Woodford counties. Mr. Stoller actively volunteers in the community, including being past Board Chair for the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, past Treasurer of Business PAC of Central Illinois, 23-year Advisory Board Member and Past President for The Salvation Army, and Past President of the Rotary Club of Peoria. He is a Church Elder and was a Campus Outreach Board Member for 12 years at Grace Presbyterian Church. He also served on the Illinois State University College of Business Advisory Committee. Brings leadership experience and knowledge on governmental matters.

Jessica Tilton

Jessica represented Illinois in the 2024 Miss America competition as Miss Illinois 2023 and was the first woman in history to compete with a flag performance for the talent competition. She was also one of the color guard coaches at Washington Community High School for eight years. Jessica graduated from Bradley University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology (2020) and a Master of Science (2021). Following that, she taught as an instructor at Bradley for two years before going back to school, where she is now a medical student at Southern Illinois University. Jessica also works alongside five organizations to advocate for organ donation--most notably with the Illinois Secretary of State's 'Life Goes On' program and Gift of Hope. She brings a new perspective on inclusion and social responsibility to the board.

Chester A. (Chet) Tomczyk, Peoria, Illinois

Chet is retired from a 50+ year career in public and educational telecommunications at the local, national and international levels.

Most recently, he was the President and CEO of WTVP, central Illinois' public television station for 18 years, and the station's Director of Development for two years. In the year before his retirement in 2014, he also concurrently served as the Interim CEO of WILL-TV/AM/FM, the University of Illinois' public radio and television stations. Among his accomplishments here, he headed up WTVP's conversion from analog to digital and then high-definition broadcasting, the first public TV station in Illinois to do so.

Before coming to Peoria in 1994, Chet was the Director of PBS's Elementary/Secondary Service at the network's Washington DC area headquarters. He was also privileged to have several consultancies with clients such as the Smithsonian Institution, George Washington University, Great Plaines National Television Library, and the US Department of Defense.

Since his retirement, Chet has led adult tour groups to locations around the world, helping turn many armchair travelers into first-hand, direct-experience travel pros. He also serves his faith as a Notary/Auditor for the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. Chet brings incredible experience to the Board with his 18 years at the helm of WTVP.

Daysha Warr, Bloomington, Illinois

Married to husband Dennis Warr Jr., 2 children, 14 years and 8 years. Serves as a claim specialist for State Farm Insurance. Founder of PEVAS, a strategic advisory business focused on supporting leaders in both ministry and the marketplace. Brings a mother’s viewpoint and innovative ways to impact the lives of our listening audience.

John Wieland, Peoria Area
Chair

Married to wife, Julie, for 41 years with four adult children and one grandchild. Recently finished term of Carle Health West and serves as a board member on Trillium Place. Mr. Wieland is the CEO of MH Equipment. Founded in 1952, MH Equipment has grown from a small company of 50 employees into an organization composed of multiple dealerships with over 1,000 employees and 36 locations throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Mr. Wieland brings deep leadership experience.