Board of Trustees

Current Members of the Millikin University Board of Trustees

Benjamin M. Andreas
Real Estate Broker, Main Place Properties

Since 2011, Ben has been a Real Estate Broker for Main Place Properties, which manages $50 million dollars of real estate in Decatur, Illinois. Before Main Place Properties, Ben was a student at Millikin University from 2009-2011 and graduated with a degree in Finance. While at Millikin, Ben was involved with the TIP Portfolio and was one of the first students to go through this Investment class. Ben currently sits on the TIP Portfolio Board as the only student to go through the program and be on the board within a three-year span.

This led to Ben’s other main job, which is being a portfolio manager of the Andreas Foundation. The Andreas Foundation is worth approximately $100 million. Ben has been very active in the community through the Andreas Foundation. He makes sure that funds are properly distributed to those in need, primarily focusing in the Decatur area, where he was born and raised.
 

Tanya Andricks
CEO Crossing Healthcare

Tanya graduated from Millikin University’s School of Nursing in 1995 and immediately went to work at Decatur Memorial Hospital in the emergency department. After several years as a clinician Tanya pursued her interest in nursing administration in the role of Director of Maternal Child Nursing Services at DMH. Tanya’s passion for community health prompted a role change in 2003 to Administrative Director of Home Health Services for DMH. In 2013 Tanya left DMH and accepted the role of CEO Crossing Healthcare (formerly CHIC) a federally grant funded community health center providing comprehensive health services to the medically underserved residents of Macon County. Tanya serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Primary Healthcare Association.

Tanya enjoys time with her family as well as running. Tanya also enjoys volunteering as a member of the DMH foundation Board, the Board of Northeast Community Fund as well as the Macon County Continuum of Care Board for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

 

Randell S. Blackburn
Retired Vice President, Transportation Union Pacific Railroad

Randy grew up in southern Illinois and moved to St. Louis in 1974 after graduating from Millikin with a degree in biology. He began his career with Missouri Pacific Railroad which merged with Union Pacific Railroad in 1982. At Union Pacific, Randy has held several positions in Operations as well as in Marketing and Sales. In 2012 he was appointed Vice President Transportation where he was responsible for the safe and efficient delivery of the company’s service product.  He retired from Union Pacific Railroad on February 28, 2015.

Randy is an avid golfer and an advocate of plant conservation in the Nebraska area. He serves on the Lauritzen Gardens’ Board of Directors. Randy and his wife, Sharon, have a daughter and son. Megan currently resides in Washington, D.C. Brian resides in Denver, Colorado. He and Sharon look forward to traveling and spending time exploring coastal Maine where they have a home.

 

Ronald L. Branch
President/Broker RLB Realty Group, inc.

Ron Branch is president of RLB Realty Group, Inc., a full-service real estate brokerage specializing in REO/foreclosure marketing, asset management, and redevelopment.  Ron became a real estate broker in 1986 and has specialized in Real Estate Owned (REO) marketing/selling since that time. His REO clients include Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac/HomeSteps, and other financial organizations.  Ron founded RLB Realty Group, Inc. in 1990 when he established ERA Branch & Associates Realty, a real estate franchise.  He is the Past President of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inc.

Branch, a lifelong resident of Chicago, is an honors graduate of Millikin University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management in May 1981. In addition to his accomplished real estate career in which he has earned numerous awards and recognition, Ron is also involved in numerous volunteer, civic, and social organizations.  

Ron loves sports and competition and previously served over 20 years as a basketball coach, including head coach for Chicago’s Whitney Young High School’s varsity basketball team. Ron is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and St. Edmund Episcopal Church. Ron resides in Chicago with his wife Lori J. Watts-Branch and is the proud father of Ronald II, Malcolm, Class of 2014, Zachary, and Maya.
 

Leonard Brinson, Jr.
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, South Jersey Industries

Leonard was born in Madison, Florida and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. He graduated from Millikin in 1979 with a degree in Political Science and Government. He earned a master’s degree in Business Administration, focused in Management and Operations from Jacksonville University.

As Vice President and Chief Information Officer for South Jersey Industries (SJI), he is responsible for the day to day operations of all components of the technology environment. He provides strategic guidance, leadership and direct oversight at the corporate level for all technology and business information system initiatives for SJI and its subsidiaries. He was appointed to his current role in 2017. Prior to joining SJI, he held several technology leadership roles in the insurance, natural gas and energy, and automotive industries. Additionally, he served as technology consultant for several utilities in the state of Florida. 

Leonard serves on the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey Board of Trustees. He is also a member of American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE). He previously served as Board President for the Simon Estes Educational Foundation in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is a member of Sigma Pi Phi. Leonard resides in New Jersey with his wife Tamara (1981 Millikin graduate) and is the proud father of Brandon, Melissa, and Stephen.
 

Michael Canty 
CEO/President of Alloy Bellows & Precision Welding and Star Precision Technologies                              

Born in California and raised in Illinois, Michael lived in Oregon during and after Grad School before becoming a resident of NE Ohio in the early 1980s. Michael has a B.A. in Political Science and an M.B.A in Marketing and Finance. Michael is the Owner, President & CEO of Alloy Bellows & Precision Welding, an 80-year old manufacturing company in Cleveland that designs and produces custom engineered products for the power generation, aerospace, semiconductor, and oil & gas markets.

Michael currently serves on the National Small Business Association Board (NSBA), the Ohio Governor’s Small Business Advisory Council, the Garfield Institute for Hiram College, the Small Business Council for the US Chamber of Commerce, and in leadership capacities politically in Ohio.

 

Sheri is a native of Champaign, Illinois. She earned a degree in Marketing and Business Administration in 1983 at Millikin University. She began her career with Sprint in 1983 in Kansas City before joining AT&T in Chicago in 1984. During Sheri's 34 year career with AT&T, she held several positions in global Sales and Marketing as well as Sales Operations. From 1999 to 2002, she led sales operations in a global venture between AT&T and British Telecom. In 2010, she was appointed Vice President, Global Business - Enterprise Solutions where she was responsible for growing a $3B business through the design and sale of wired and wireless IT applications to Fortune 200 multi-national corporations. She has resided in Illinois, Wisconsin, New Jersey, California, Ohio and Texas throughout her career.

 
Kara Demirjian-Huss
President DCC Marketing
Vice President & Global Marketing Director T/CCI Manufacturing
President, Demirjian Real Estate Portfolio

Kara began her career in the fashion industry following her degree in 1992 from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. In 1994, she became Marketing Manager for several of the Demirjian family corporations. She launched their real estate division in 1997 and continues as President of their portfolio which maintains over $32M in assets. She is Founder and President of DCC Marketing a BEP certified, Women Business Entity, that provides full service marketing, advertising, PR and web services to companies around the world. In 2015, she also became VP and Global Marketing Director of T/CCI Manufacturing, a global leader in compressor technology for the commercial vehicle market with facilities in eleven countries around the world.

She is active regionally as Past President of the Young President’s Organization (YPO) Illinois Chapter and serves as the Membership and Diversity Director for YPO Mid-America Region. She is an executive board member of the EDC / Macon County, Vice President of the Community Foundation of Macon County, and President of Millikin Associates. She also serves on the Decatur Parks Foundation, Carle Illinois College of Medicine Advisory Council for Advancement and is a lifetime member of the President’s Council for the University of Illinois. Kara and Mark reside in Decatur, IL. Their oldest daughter is at Purdue University in Pre-Dental, their son Jack is a senior in high school, and Caroline (5th) and Steve (4th).

 

Robert M. Givens
Chairman Emeritus Monotype Imaging Holdings, Inc.

Bob grew up in Decatur and graduated from Millikin in 1966 with a degree in biology. Bob was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, president of the I.F.C and president of his senior class. Upon graduation, Bob earned a Master’s Degree in Higher Education from Indiana University. After serving one year on the Dean of Student’s staff at the University of Connecticut, Bob was drafted and served two years in the U.S. Army Infantry, including one year in Vietnam.

Bob is the Chairman Emeritus of Monotype, home to some of the world’s most famous typefaces including Helvetica, Arial and Times New Roman. He co-founded the business in 1986, and served this software company as President/CEO until 2006 and Chairman until 2014. In 2007 he helped take the company public on the Nasdaq exchange (Type). Prior to 1986 Bob worked in sales and then as an International Marketing Manager for Agfa Corporation, a multi-national provider of graphic arts equipment and supplies.

Bob has served on a number of Christian non-profit boards and is actively involved with his local church. He has made mission trips with his church to Moldova to teach English, and with World Vision to support children of war in Uganda. Bob and his wife, Connie, a Tri-Delt who earned an elementary education degree from Millikin in 1967, enjoy spending time with their daughters’ families and their five grandchildren.

 

James J. Grady
Retired President, Kopetz Mfg., LLC

Jim earned a degree in Economics and Finance in 1973 at Millikin University. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and a standout on the swimming team, where his performance led to his 1996 induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame.

In 2008, Jim purchased Kopetz Mfg., LLC where he serves as President/CEO. Kopetz Mfg. fabricates pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and similar industrial products for the chemical and natural gas industries. Previously, he was Chief Operating Officer of Behnke & Co., and prior to that was Executive Vice President for WIT & Co. Jim was an Army veteran serving as an infantry officer with the 82nd Airborne Division and currently is retired. 

Jim is married to Carin Harner Grady, Class of 1973, who is the daughter of deceased emeritus trustee G. William Harner, Class of 1947, and Jean “Fuzzy” Sutherd Harner. Many members of the Harner and Sutherd family are Millikin graduates dating back to 1918. Jim and Carin have two adult daughters who are Millikin Legacies.  Katherine “Katie’ Grady Weatherford graduated in 2004, and Callie Harner Grady graduated in 2008. Katie’s husband Luke Weatherford graduated from Millikin in 1997. Jim’s hobbies include golf, skeet shooting and bird hunting. He and Carin enjoy spending time at their second residence in Boca Grande, Florida.   

 

Matthew W. Guffey

Senior Vice President of Global Strategy and Transformation, UPS

Matt is currently the Senior Vice President of Global Strategy and Transformation for UPS.  His responsibility encompasses enterprise strategic planning to drive short- and long-term growth goals. He’s leading the building and execution of UPS’s “Better not Bigger” strategy and responsible for transformation and modernization opportunities to fuel growth and business profitability. His team oversees high priority strategic initiatives, working directly with the global business units.

Matt started his UPS career in 2000 as a Marketing Specialist in Decatur, Illinois. With 20+ years at UPS, Matt has worked in Marketing, Sales, and Operations which has provided him a unique breadth of perspective. His integrated experience allows for both a customer centric and global approach to his strategic decisions.

In his previous role as the President of US Marketing and SMB Strategic Growth Imperative, Matt’s responsibilities included US District Marketing, Segment Marketing, Customer Experience, and the Small and Medium Business Strategy.

Matt has served in a variety of roles with increasing responsibility both domestically and internationally. His focus has been on managing customer behaviors that directly impact revenue and profit within targeted industry verticals.

In 2013 Matt broadened his global Marketing perspective while working in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Nordics. He led the growth efforts and fashioned the UPS value proposition to enable growth for small, medium, and global companies. He supported the creation of the UPS communication strategies to boost subject matter experts in exporting, drive customer experience, and increase UPS’s presence in the European market.

Matt and his spouse, Heather, have three children (Amirah, Gianna, and Harper).  Matt enjoys reading,  spending time with his family traveling, and kids’ sports activities.   

 

Steve K. Horve
President & Owner, Horve Contractors Owner, Assisted Living Facilities in Illinois Owner, Hilton Hotel Chains in Illinois

After graduating Millikin University in 1986 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Steve began work in his third-generation family business, Horve Builders, building anything from custom homes, retail, commercial and industrial projects in many states About 10 years ago, Steve broke ground on the first assisted living facility in his portfolio – Eagle Ridge of Decatur.

Over the years, he has continued to build and owns many assisted living and memory care facilities throughout Illinois. In addition, he has several successful hotels in central Illinois, including 5 Hilton-brand hotels. Currently Steve is working on several large projects in central and northern Illinois and he plans to do several more in Indiana in the coming years. Steve serves on the Board of Directors for the YMCA in Decatur and the Leadership Council for St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation.

He has served on the Forsyth Youth League and spends many hours coaching youth baseball and basketball. Steve and his wife, Tina, of 20 years have five children and reside in Forsyth, Illinois. Their oldest daughter graduated from Millikin in 2015.

 

Amy Johnson Kemp

Owner/CEO of Amy Kemp, Inc.

Amy Kemp is the owner & CEO of Amy Kemp, Inc.  In her work within this growing company, Amy helps leaders and business professionals understand how deeply thought habits impact every part of our work and lives. 

As a certified Habit Finder coach, Amy has led over hundreds of top female business leaders through a four-month leadership development engagement designed to replace unhealthy thought habits with more healthy ones.  She also works through the Habit Finder curriculum with leaders in one-on-one settings and with leadership teams at small and large companies. 

In addition, Amy leads a national sales organization of over 900 independent sales consultants and directors across the United States.  She has led her team of consultants to be the #1 unit of sales consultants in the state of Illinois every year since 2012 and for the last 2 years, the #1 unit in the entire country.   

Most importantly, she is a proud wife and mom.  She has been married to her husband Ryan, a high school administrator and coach at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School and they have 3 children - Avery who is a freshman at Northwest Missouri State, Anthony who is a junior in high school and Andrew who is in 6th grade.

 

Rosalind R. Leeck

Executive Director-Market Access & Strategy United States Soybean Export Council

Rosalind (Roz) Leeck is the Senior Director for Global Market Access at the U.S. Soybean Export Council. She is responsible for worldwide activities monitoring and addressing trade barriers and other market access issues that impact the U.S.’s ability to export soy and soy products.

Prior to joining USSEC, Roz served as the Director of Grain Marketing at the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) and Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA). She has more than 10 years of experience in the grain trade field with previous positions at Archer Daniels Midland Co. and Demeter L.P. She has also worked for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, serving in the Division of Soil Conservation.

Roz has been involved in a number of industry activities including serving as Chair of the Indiana Grain and Feed Association and Agribusiness Council of Indiana. Roz originally hails from southern Illinois where she remains a partner in her family’s grain and livestock farm. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, a Master of Business Administration from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

 

Jefferson D. Lilly II
​Vice President of Partnerships, Benefit Data Trust

Jeff is an eighth-generation Central Illinoisan, growing up in Shelbyville. Selected as a Presidential Scholar, he graduated from Millikin with a degree in political science in 1998. While a student, he served in leadership positions with his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, the Millikin Interfraternity Council and Model Illinois Government, as well as being a multi-year member of the Student Senate and the University Honors Program Committee. He then matriculated to Indiana University, earning a master's degree in public finance in 2000. He began his professional career at Crowe, Chizek and Company as a municipal finance and bond consultant. He then became a practice director in a major lobbying and governmental relations firm. From 2010 to 2021, he served as Vice-President of Sales & Government Relations with RCR Technology Corporation, overseeing its national consulting practice, business development, and governmental relations. In 2021, Jeff assumed an executive role as Enterprise Director of the U.S. subsidiary of Columbus Global A/S, a worldwide information technology and data company, based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Jeff is an avid golfer, genealogist, and serves on several statewide and national nonprofit boards. He is a member of many organizations, including St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Indianapolis Literary Club, and the Antelope Club. In 2006, he was honored to co-present, along with Professor Ed Walker, Millikin’s annual James W. Moore lecture.

Jeff and his wife, Jeanne, a law firm Controller, reside in Richmond, Virginia, along with their daughter. Hannah is a member of Millikin’s Class of 2024 and is the fifth generation of the Lilly family to attend Millikin and a sister of Delta Delta Delta.

 

Case M. McGee

Executive Director, Global Talent Acquisition and Executive Talent Search

Case McGee is the Executive Director, Global Talent Acquisition and Executive Talent Search at The Boeing Company.  In this role, he is responsible for the enterprise-wide strategies and innovative solutions that attract top, diverse talent and enable the organization to achieve its ambitious business goals.    

Before joining Boeing, McGee served as the Chief People Officer at Clayton Homes, a Berkshire Hathaway company.  Prior to Clayton, McGee served in a variety of senior positions at Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) in strategic leadership and operational roles during periods of significant growth and transformation.  His experience combines human resources expertise, commercial business acumen and enterprise leadership of the investor relations, corporate communications, and organizational change management functions.  

McGee brings deep experience in talent management, talent acquisition, learning & development, compensation, and ensuring HR strategies drive business results.  He advocates passionately for diversity and inclusion and has been recognized with a “Leadership Excellence” award by both the Illinois Diversity Council and National Diversity Council, along with the CEO Leadership Award for Diversity & Inclusion at ADM.  He is a former chairperson of the Illinois Diversity Council.

McGee is a member of the Board of Trustees at Millikin University, serving on the Committee on Governance, along with the Compensation, Investments and Evaluation Committees.  

McGee received a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts from Millikin University in Decatur, IL.

 

Kevin McGreevey 

Kevin McGreevey grew up in the south Chicago suburbs and Morton, Illinois after stops in Ocala, Florida and Castro Valley, California. Since 2000, he has been living in Perrysburg, Ohio, an area similar to Decatur that is tied to agriculture and manufacturing. He graduated from Millikin in 1978 with a B.A. in Communications. During his four years at Millikin he was a Football letterman, two year letterman in Track, an Academic All-State Team member, Maxwell Award Winner, and the recipient of the Dr. H.F. Byrd Scholar Athlete Award. Kevin played on two Conference Title Teams and participated in the Boot Hill Bowl Game. Kevin was a member and officer of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. 

The McGreevey family has endowed scholarships at Millikin in the School of Nursing and for first time family college attendees. Kevin has over 40 years in consumer product sales, marketing, and logistics with Gillette, Frito-Lay, Anheuser-Busch, and recently retired from D.G. Yuengling & Son Brewery in 2019. Kevin is active in northwest Ohio and international charities, enjoys traveling to new places, physical fitness, golf, reading, and visiting family.
 

William Christian Olsen
Vice President, Community and Government Affairs, Tate and Lyle

Chris is a native of Decatur, Illinois, and began his career at Illinois Power Company in 1977.  He joined Tate and Lyle in 2005.

Chris has been active in numerous community organizations throughout his career.  These include the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, Millikin Alumni Association, the United Way, Macon Resources (an agency supporting the developmentally disabled), Easter Seals, Rotary, Kiwanis, and the Special Olympics.

Chris and his wife, Debbie, live in Bluffton, South Carolina.  He met his wife at Millikin, and she is also a 1974 graduate.  Debbie formerly worked for the Meridian School District and Decatur Memorial Hospital.  Debbie was also active in the Millikin Decatur Symphony Guild.  The Olsens are still members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Decatur.  They are also members of the Belfair Golf Club in Bluffton, South Carolina, and the Country Club of Decatur. Both Chris and Debbie enjoy golf, college athletics, and travel.

 

Larry was born and raised in Decatur. A graduate of MacArthur High School, Richland Community College, and in 1978 from Millikin University. Millikin was a great foundation for his professional studies at SIU-SDM graduating in 1982. Upon graduation he returned home to establish his General Dentistry Practice on Mound Road. Professionally he has earned Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry, a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, and a Fellow of the International College of Dentistry. Larry is a Past President of the Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS) and a chair of the Council on Government Affairs for the American Dental Association. He currently serves as the chair of Government Affairs for the ISDS.

Since graduating from dental school 38 years ago, he has served on several community boards: The March of Dimes, Macon County Health Department, and First Lutheran Church. Dr. Osborne most recently served 18 years on the Richland Community College Board of Trustees and also served two terms on the Millikin Alumni Board. Larry and his wife Nancy have a son Samuel, a 2010 Millikin graduate, and their daughter, MacKenzie,, is a 2011 graduate of Greenville University. Larry and Nancy enjoy traveling, golfing, and most outdoor activities.

 

Sue Pilling
Retired Teacher, Decatur Public Schools, District #61

After graduating in 1974 with an elementary education degree from Millikin University, Ms. Pilling enrolled at the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, where she earned a master’s degree in Elementary Education in 1977. Ms. Pilling taught in Decatur Public Schools, District #61, for 25 years, most recently at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. She retired from teaching in May 2012. She and her husband, Bob Walker, live in Decatur and are active at Lampstand Presbyterian Church.

Ms. Pilling is also a docent for Oglesby Mansion in Decatur and does prison ministry at Decatur Correctional Center and a charter member of the Investor’s Society and is the treasurer of the Pilling Family Foundation. She is a sponsor for the Bud and Lauri Pilling Scholarship, which is given with preference for an international student. Through a family gift for the Advancing the Vision capital campaign, Pilling Chapel was built on campus.

John R. Schleppenbach

Attorney

Jay is originally from Quincy, Illinois, but has lived and worked in Chicago since graduating from law school in 2003. At Millikin, he was a double major in English and music with a minor in business. His diverse legal career has involved work for the state and federal governments, one of the top ten law schools in the country, a variety of leading legal publications, and two large international law firms. Currently, he serves as Counsel in the White Collar Criminal Defense & Investigations group at Seyfarth Shaw LLP.

Jay frequently writes and performs sketch and musical comedy in the Chicago area. He is a past committee chair for the Illinois State Bar Association, an active member of the Chicago Bar Association, and a legal volunteer for the National Immigrant Justice Center and Lawyers for the Creative Arts.

Jay and his husband, Ian, have a beagle, Aubrey, and enjoy spending time with Jay’s sister Megan Bates (a 2003 Millikin graduate) and her family, who also live in Chicago. They frequently travel with friends, including an annual trip to Vienna, Austria, where Jay’s law students take part in a moot court competition.

 

John G. Skeffington
President & CEO
Skeff Distributing Company, Inc.

John grew up in the Midwest living in Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota and Illinois before moving to Decatur in February, 1967 when his father and uncle purchased the Anheuser-Busch distributorship. He graduated from St. Teresa High School and attended Richland Community College and Springfield College in Illinois (now Benedictine University) before being drafted in the United States Army. After being honorably discharged from the service, he went to work in the family business where he has had a 39 year career and currently serves as President and CEO.

He spent many years being the coach for youth sports and loved being the coach for baseball and girls basketball.  John has served on numerous Boards and he currently serves on the Boards of EDC, the Country Club of Decatur, CIPAC and Hickory Point Bank & Trust, fsb.

John and his wife Susie (Millikin Class of 1975) have two sons; Brendan, currently a Millikin PACE student, and Peter, Millikin Class of 2012. They also have two daughters; Katy (UK) and Maggie (Butler). John and Susie enjoy golf and serving the Decatur community as well as spending time with the family.

 

Father Nicholas W. Smith
Rector, Basilica of Saint Louis, King (Old Catherdral)
Director, Office of Sacred Worship
Instructor, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
Campus Minister, Saint Louis University

 

 

Kathy Gardner Thomforde
Retired Professor of Marketing, St. Olaf College Northfield, MN

Born and raised in central Illinois, Kathy has spent most of her career in higher education. After earning a Ph.D. in marketing from Northwestern University, Kathy worked for a year and a half at 3M Company in St. Paul before returning to academia and to her passion for teaching. She spent two years on the faculty at the University of Minnesota, followed by twenty-one years on the faculty at St. Olaf College.  Over the years, she has pursued a strong interest in the application of marketing principles to not-for-profit organizations, including symphony orchestras, higher education, and K-12 public schools. Her book entitled Improving Schools Through Community Engagement: A Practical Guide for Educators, was published by Corwin Press in 2004.

Kathy enjoys traveling with her husband, Chris, to visit children and grandchildren who live in Switzerland, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Florida. She volunteers with an organization that provides tutoring and writing support to underserved Twin Cities youth.

 

Joshua Warren

Senior Vice President Transaction Advisory Practice Leader Lockton

Josh is a Senior Vice President and M&A Advisory Practice Leader of ABD Insurance and Financial Services. His responsibilities include operational leadership, client management, program design, and risk analysis for alternative asset managers and ABD clients facing a merger or acquisition. Prior to joining ABD, Josh spent 15 years at Equity Risk Partners, an insurance brokerage and consulting firm concentrating exclusively on alternative asset managers.. Prior to Equity Risk Partners, he was an account executive specializing in the real estate industry at Mesirow Financial and a sales professional at a suburban Chicago insurance agency. In 2013 and 2015, Josh was named a Power Broker by Risk & Insurance Magazine in the Finance - Private Equity category. In 2013, Josh was included on the Risk & Insurance Magazine “Under 40” list. Josh was also recognized by Business Insurance Magazine by being named to their inaugural “40 Under 40” program. In 2014, Josh was recognized in the Service Provider category on the M&A Advisor “40 Under 40” list.

In addition to serving on Millikin's Board of Trustees, Josh serves as the Co-Chair of the Millikin University Football Alumni Advisory Board. He is the past Treasurer of the Oak Park/River Forest Young Life committee, Deacon at First Presbyterian Church of River Forest, and board member for the Canadian U.S. Business Council Chicago. He is also past co-chair of the Illinois Young Agents Committee, which was awarded the National Young Agents Committee of the Year Award in 2004.

 Mr. Warren earned an undergraduate degree in secondary education from Millikin and is an MBA candidate at DePaul University. Josh lives in Northfield, Illinois, with his wife, Suzanne, and sons Zach and Nick.  Suzanne is a tenured professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at DePaul University.

 

Born in Decatur, Cindy spent her early childhood years traveling with her family and the Air Force. They returned to Decatur in 1963 and Cindy attended DPS 61 Public Schools and graduated from Millikin with a degree in marketing. With an interest in retail, Cindy purchased a retail store near Millikin’s Campus and was the manager/owner for more than 10 years. A change in personal circumstances caused a career change and Cindy was hired at Decatur Memorial Hospital, as Assistant Director of Volunteers managing all fundraising projects for the Auxiliary. She was then recruited to become the first Director of Development for the Decatur Memorial Foundation and was responsible for annual giving, donor recognition and special events. As principal manager for the Komen Decatur Race for the Cure, it grew from less than 1000 participants to more than 5000 and raised significant funding for the fight against breast cancer. In 1997, she established Events Plus and began a career of retail management and event planning for corporate, private and social service organizations. Volunteering has been at the core of Cindy’s life and while still important, she and husband Mark now enjoy managing their businesses, traveling and spending time with family and grandchildren.

 

Eric L. Zollinger

Principal, Elegran Real Estate

Eric graduated from Millikin University in 1997 with a B.F.A. from the College of Fine Arts. 

Known for his enthusiasm and passion, Eric Zollinger brings over 20 years and $2+ Billion in sales experience in luxury residential real estate to Wolf Development Strategies and Cirrus Condominiums in Chicago, Illinois. Eric had a two-decade real estate career in Manhattan, working with such visionaries as Barbara Corcoran, Louise Sunshine, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, and Zaha Hadid Architects. Eric worked on multiple projects at The Related Companies including One Madison, Superior Ink, The Caledonia, Astor Place, Hudson Yards (RFP), 520W28 Zaha Hadid (pre-development) and Clarendon Back Bay in Boston. He founded Zollinger & Associates (2010-2013), a boutique real estate company, wherein Eric ranked #1 in West Chelsea for volume and number of condominium sales in both 2011 and 2013, and #3 in all of Chelsea for 2011.

Most recently Eric was Senior Executive Vice President and Managing Director for Douglas Elliman Development Marketing Texas overseeing expansion in Houston, Dallas and Austin. In his previous role as Executive Manager of Sales with the New York Team, Eric helped manage and guide the process from inception through closing of sale. Notable developers include ELAD, DDG, Alfa Development, Magnum Real Estate Group, and The Moinian Group.

Outside the office, Eric is actively involved in the growth of the real estate industry overall. He has led several round table discussions and contributed to The Academy of Continuing Education sharing knowledge from his multi-market experience providing selling tips for buyer’s brokers in new development. Eric previously held multiple positions at FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation in both New York & Chicago and attended the World Congress in Moscow. He curated and moderated panel discussions at multiple new developments in New York and Chicago.

 

Marilyn Davis, Secretary of the Board
Chief of Staff, Millikin University

Marilyn joined Millikin University in 1991 and currently serves as the Chief of Staff/Board Secretary in the President’s Office. During her tenure, she has served six Millikin University Presidents. For the past couple of years, she has enjoyed teaching in the Tabor School of Business as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Marketing.

Marilyn holds two degrees from Millikin University: a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, Class of 2000, and a Master in Business Administration, Class of 2011.

Marilyn is very involved in the Decatur community serving on the Boards of the American Red Cross, Come Together, Let’s Walk, Decatur Area Arts Council, Decatur Public Schools Foundation, Decatur and Macon County Animal Shelter Foundation, and James Millikin Homestead.