FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact Information: 
Audrey Kamm, WTVP Chief Development Officer
Audrey.kamm@wtvp.org, 309-495-0525

December 3, 2025

WTVP PBS Announces Recipients of 40 Leaders Under Forty

Peoria, IL – WTVP PBS is pleased to announce the selection of the 40 Leaders Under Forty class of 2025! This 32nd annual Peoria tradition shines a spotlight on young leaders who have positively impacted central Illinois. 

This exceptional class was chosen from a pool of over 100 applications and was selected by a committee comprised of WTVP board members and past 40 Leaders Under Forty recipients. “This year’s candidate pool was really impressive,” commented Win Stoller, one of the Recognition Committee Members. “We’re excited to be able to recognize and celebrate 40 young leaders who are doing big things in central Illinois and will continue to do more of the same in the years to come.”

Join us in congratulating the 2025 class of 40 Leaders Under Forty:

• Rilla Adcock, Grants Supervisor, Prairie State Legal Services, Inc.
• Caleb Aeschliman, Assistant Global Trade Advisor, Caterpillar
• Temi Akinlua, Product Lifecycle Manager, Caterpillar
• Jaleesha Allen, Administrative Aide, University of Illinois Chicago – Division of Specialized Care for Children
• Laura Burke, Owner, Serendipity Mercantile
• Amanda Campbell, Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP
• Alex Carmona, Artist/Owner, Old School Alex
• Kate Carter, Attorney, Miller, Hall & Triggs
• Molly Copher, Genetics Lab Manager, AgReliant Genetics
• Rozana Dwyer, General Surgeon, Graham Health System
• Lauren Emanuelson, Vice President of Operations, Advanced Medical Transport
• Melissa Entzminger, CEO, Founder & Communication Strategist, Taking Your Stage
• Katie Fitch, Executive Director, Picket Fence Foundation
• Ryan Funk, Otolaryngologist, Peoria Ear, Nose & Throat Group
• Jason Garber, Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services, Methodist College
• Dave Gleissner, Senior Account Manager, Caterpillar
• Josh Graham, Real Estate Broker, Re/Max Traders Unlimited
• William Grant, Co-owner, Sun Collectors
• Justin Green, Corporate Loan Review Manager, Morton Community Bank
• Shilpa Hari, Child Abuse Pediatrician and Educational Director, UICOMP
• Frannie Heine, Director of Domestic Fulfillment and Global Logistics, Maui Jim Sunglasses
• Molly Hogeboom, Community Engagement Manager, Easterseals Central Illinois

• Laurel Huston, Corrections Transition Program District Supervisor, TASC
• Megan Hutton, Director of Operations, Children’s Hospital of Illinois Ambulatory Clinics, OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois
• Nick Knuffman-Brewer, HR Director, Simantel
• Gabrielle Kolditz, Total Health Communications Specialist, Populus Group
• James Kosner, President and Founder, JIMAX Corporation
• Adam Larck, Portfolio/Prospect Development Manager, OSF HealthCare Foundation
• Dave Maroon, Jr., Business Manager, Plumbers Local 63
• Diamond Matthews, Supply and Logistics Specialist, 182nd Airlift Wing, United States Air Force
• Derek Oddo, Marketing/CRM Manager, Prairie Home Alliance
• Sarah Polnitz, Principal, Whittier Primary School
• Zach Ponder, Vice President, Commercial Lending, INB, NA
• Luke Rosenbohm, Business Owner, Better Earth Logistics
• Gina Seghetti, Advisor – Area Development, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – ALSAC
• Kelsey Staley, Manager of Residential/Recovery Home SUD Services, Trillium Place
• Patricia Starkey, Assistant Professor/Physical Therapist, Bradley University/Vitality Physical Therapy
• Bill Sullivan, Captain/Paramedic and Owner/Operator, Peoria Fire Department/WS Investments LLC
• Lindsey Swischuk, Owner and APN, Artemis Esthetics & Wellness
• Mike Whittle, Director of Operations and Engineering, Micro Weld

WTVP will honor each recipient in an induction ceremony on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Par-A-Dice Hotel in East Peoria. Tickets to the event will be available in early January. 

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Illinois Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation (WTVP PBS) is a nonprofit, community-owned public media source dedicated to inspiring and connecting our communities through quality content that educates, informs and entertains.

Founded in 1971, WTVP serves as the primary PBS affiliate station for 17 counties in central Illinois, annually broadcasting over 36,000 hours of commercial-free content across four unique channels. Learn more at www.wtvp.org.