FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact Information: 
Michael Eckhardt, WTVP Chief Development & Engagement Officer
Michael.eckhardt@wtvp.org, 309-495-0525

[Download Press Release PDF]

January 7, 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 2024! This exceptional class of leaders was chosen from a pool of over 100 applications and was selected by a committee comprised of WTVP board members, staff, 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 2024 class of 40 Leaders Under Forty: 

• Pierre Anyansi, Network Security Engineer, Advanced Medical Transport
• Alexander Bousky, Section Manager, Caterpillar
• Brett Brooks, Founder, Bee Squared Films
• Nickolas Connor, Firefighter, City of Peoria
• Raquel Dagit, Commercial Talent Development Manager, Caterpillar
• Everley Davis, Assistant Curator and Community Engagement Coordinator, Peoria Riverfront Museum
• Adam Donahoe, Senior Manager, RSM US LLP
• Marissa Draney, Principal, Peoria Academy
• Mariama Ford, Director of Human Resources and Finance, Central Illinois FRIENDS
• Ryan Foster, Founder, Budded Mattah
• Baylee Gambetti, Designated Managing Broker, RE/MAX Traders Unlimited
• Ben Getz, Director of Internal Audit, RLI Insurance Company
• Jona Hall, Founder and CEO, Illuminate: Lighting the Way Against Trafficking & Abuse
• Michelle Hayes, Director of Foster Care, Children’s Home Association of Illinois
• Reagan Leslie, Principal Designer, Leslie Tyler Design & Build
• Francie Hinrichsen, Founder, Founding Females
• Ronnie Hudson II, Systems Engineering Team Lead, Caterpillar
• Danielle Jepson, Account Executive, Adams Outdoor Advertising
• Alexandra Kaiser, Funeral Prearrangement Specialist, Funeral Directors Life
• Alicia Kamischke, Project Management Officer/SLED Market Lead, Prairie Engineers

• Kerry Klesath, Director at SEAPCO
• Devon Knobloch, Vice President - Commercial Banking Officer, Fortress Bank
• Brett Kolditz, Assistant Attorney General, Illinois Attorney General’s Office
• Kimberly Ku, Clinical Oncologist and Hematologist, Illinois Cancercare
• Alexandria Lavin, President, The Yellow Bear Foundation
• Lisa Martin, CFO, Midwest Food Bank
• Michaura Pittman, Counselor, Manual High School
• Claudia Plumer, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria – Pediatric Resource Center
• Nicole Rau, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois College of Medicine
• Liridon Rrushaj, Director of Venture Investing, OSF Ventures
• Joshua Schnauber, Transportation Manager, Caterpillar
• Maxwell Schneider, Real Estate Broker, Keller Williams Premier Realty
• Adam Shaw, Director of Finance, Greater Peoria Sanitary District
• Jami Trulove, President/CEO, Heart of Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Pat Venditte, Account Executive, Pearl Technology
• Christi Walker, Bookkeeper, Walker Excavating
• Judy Wang, Owner, Judy’s Family Cafe
• Michael “JoJo” Winters, Jr., Skilled Trades Coordinator, Dream Center Peoria
• Michelle Wolfe, Teacher of the Deaf, Charter Oak Primary School
• Charlie Zimmerman, Principal, Metamora Township High School

WTVP will honor each recipient in an induction ceremony on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at the Par-A-Dice Hotel in East Peoria. Tickets to the event will be available in mid-February. For sponsorship information, contact Megan Aeschliman at megan.aeschliman@wtvp.org or 309-495-1561. 

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

Founded in 1971, WTVP serves as the primary PBS affiliate station for 17 counties in central Illinois, annually broadcasting over 46,000 hours of commercial-free content across five unique channels. Learn more at www.wtvp.org.