Christina Walker | Brimfield, Illinois

Born and raised in central Illinois, graduate of the University of Illinois, wife of 17 years, and mother of two, Christina Walker is Office Administrator of Walker Excavating Co., her family’s commercial construction business. Walker uses her free time to volunteer in her community. She serves as treasurer to the Elmwood High School Parents Club and volunteers with the Junior League of Peoria. Walker says, “The league offered the opportunity to better understand the community in which I live and allowed me to learn about and volunteer with many current and past League partner organizations such as Peoria Playhouse, Phoenix Community Development Services, Neighborhood House, Dream Center, Center for Prevention of Abuse, and many more.” Walker has used her event planning passions to benefit nonprofit fundraisers, including JLP’s Frolic with the Fairies and Crittenton Centers’ Festival of Trees (2015-2023).

In her youth, Walker recalls dreaming of doing many different things and not having a clear idea of what she wanted to do. As a sophomore at U of I College of Engineering, Walker even started to have second thoughts about her chosen career path. She admits she used to connect her self-worth to any of her “big impact actions” as well as her lack of specific ambition for a career. Today, however, she recognizes “…The older I get the more I realize that every contribution, every action no matter how small counts. It has allowed me to see value in myself, as well as made me appreciative of all the large and small actions of others.”

Walker cites clear vision, communication, and the effective guidance of each team members’ strengths and weaknesses as pivotal elements of good leadership. She explains, “Leaders must recognize and understand different types of people so that they can bring out the best in each individual and also foster growth in weaker areas, allowing for each person to see their value and continue to develop.”

Guiding the whole individual into their potential fits well with Walker’s passion for health and education for the next generation. Walker wants her impact to take on a ripple-effect. “I would love the opportunity to work with youth who themselves want to impact their own community and empower them in their goals toward that end.”