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, Manufacturing Project Engineer, Caterpillar
• Brett Brooks, Founder and Owner, Bee Squared Films and Peoria's Miss Juneteenth
• 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
• Francie Hinrichsen, Founder, Founding Females
• Ronnie Hudson II, Embedded Software Engineering Team Lead/L5 Display Systems Coordinator, Caterpillar
• Danielle Jepson, Account Executive, Adams Outdoor Advertising
• Lexi Kaiser, Funeral Prearrangement Specialist
• Alicia Kamischke, Project Management Officer/SLED Market Lead, Prairie Engineers P.C.
• Kerry Klesath, Director, SEAPCO

• Devon Knobloch, Vice President - Commercial Banking Officer, Fortress Bank
• Brett Kolditz, Deputy Bureau Chief - Worker's Compensation Springfield, Illinois Office of the Attorney General
• Kimberly Ku, Medical Oncologist and Hematologist, Illinois CancerCare - US Oncology 
• Alexandria Lavin, President, The Yellow Bear Foundation
• Reagan Leslie, Principal Designer, Leslie Tyler Design & Build
• Lisa Martin, CFO, Midwest Food Bank
• Michaura Pittman, School Counselor, Peoria Public Schools
• Claudia Plumer, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria – Pediatric Resource Center 
• Dr. Nicole Rau, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Associate Program Director for Pediatrics Residency, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria 
• Liridon Rrushaj, Director of Venture Investing, OSF HealthCare
• Joshua Schnauber, Senior Manager of Transportation, Caterpillar
• Maxwell Schneider, Real Estate Broker, Keller Williams Premier Realty
• Adam Shaw, Director of Finance, Greater Peoria Sanitary District
• Jami Truelove, President and CEO, Heart of Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Pat Venditte, Account Executive, Pearl Technology
• Christina Walker, Office Administrator, Walker Excavating Co. Inc.
• Judy Wang, Owner, Judy’s Family Cafe
• Michael Winters, Jr., Youth Trades Coordinator, Dream Center Peoria
• Michelle Wolfe, Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Peoria Public Schools
• Dr. 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.