An American artist, Alex Carmona is a master relief printmaker specializing in woodcuts, reduction woodcuts, and wood carvings / engravings. He learned the art of printmaking at the University of Northern Colorado under Professor Sieger Hartgers, former Chief Army Artist for Combat Art, head of the Army Graphics School, and now retired professor. Carmona's works are revered for their detail, craftsmanship, and scale. In his short career as an artist, he has gained tremendous notoriety by creating woodcuts and marketing material for some of the biggest names in the music and automotive industry. Alex is also an ambassador for Speedball, one of the largest and most respected names in the world of art and printmaking. His handmade prints and wood carvings are displayed all over the world. Alex's automotive artwork was among the first to ever be publicly displayed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2019 Global Auto Salon, a worldwide automotive festival. Alex served his country for ten years before he made the transition to full-time artist. His brand continued to grow within the automotive industry by traveling the world and selling his woodcuts and original prints. His growing influence and distinctive style attracted the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA). Alex's artwork is used throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center for one of the biggest events in Las Vegas, attracting 140 countries, 3,300 journalists, and over 160,000 attendees each year. After his SEMA Show debut, the Fender Musical Instrument Corporation sought him out to create the world's first "Woodcut Telecaster.” Alex is a proud Colorado native, and now resides in Peoria, Illinois, where he continues to create woodcuts and marketing material for businesses and private collectors.

Bill Conger has been Chief Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at Peoria Riverfront Museum since October of 2017. He oversees all content that is exhibited in the museum galleries dedicated to art, history, science and achievement. For over thirty years, Conger’s painting and sculpture has been exhibited throughout the United States as well as Germany, Poland, Ireland and New Zealand. He has presented numerous lectures on his work at venues including Drake University, the Herron School of Art, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Brigham Young University, and Golden Parachutes Gallery in Berlin, Germany. Prior to his post in Peoria, he served as Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at University Galleries of Illinois State University. Beginning in 1993, he has taught painting, drawing, and color theory at both Illinois Central College and Illinois State University where he also received a Masters of Fine Arts in painting.

Sarah Marie Dillard is a singer/songwriter, educator and entrepreneur rooted in the Greater Peoria Area music industry. Once dubbed “The Songbird of Central Illinois,” Sarah enjoys working as band leader for her SoulFolk trio Sarah & The Underground and as a private music educator for her teaching collective The Underground School of Sound. Sarah is the founder of the Peoria Music Community Womens Cooperative, the Peoria Music Community Pickin’ Circle and “The Listening Room,” Peoria’s first and only mobile open mic community. You can catch Sarah in the corner of a crowded dive, on stage in a theater of thousands, at home on your television screen or favorite radio station, or on any music or podcast streaming platform. Sarah has been featured alongside such talents as Beth Nielsen Chapman, Kim Richey, Linda Taylor (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?”), Maia Sharp, David Hoffman (Ray Charles Orchestra), The Accidentals, 2021 American Idol contestant Althea Grace, WWE on-screen personality Josiah Williams, two-time American flat-picking champion Andy Hatfield, Madisen Ward & The Mama Bear, Good Morning Bedlam, Lissie, Chicago Farmer, The Way Down Wanderers, Brainchild, Steady Flow, Still Shine and Judy Page as well as international streaming sensation Paul Adams. This is Sarah’s seventh year attending The Business of Art and her sixth year as an organizer and presenter.

Kevin has a wide range of leadership, economic, and business development expertise. Previously, Kevin is the founder of Snave Trading a broker dealer and member of the Chicago Stock Exchange, Managing Member of Snave Partners Limited an Investment Trading partnership and Kevin Evans & Associates an economic development consulting firm, combined more than 25 years as an entrepreneur, he transitioned to business mentoring and advising spending 3 years between as the Director for the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Bradley University. During his tenure at the SBDC, Kevin assisted more than 400 business in their startup and growth goals. In 2023 Kevin added an additional 30 businesses to the list of businesses supported. Additional things to note are: Kevin has served as board member of: • Arts Partners • Minority Business Development Center • Peoria Innovation Alliance, • Founding Member of Small Scale 309 • Serves as Staff Liaison for Downtown Advisory Commission • Serves as Staff Liaison for Joint Review Board • Member of the East Village Growth Cell TIF Committee • Committee Member for the Downtown Wayfinding Committee • Illinois Enterprise Zone Administrator Association

Dr. Mae Gilliland Wright holds a master’s degree and Doctor of Philosophy in the digital humanities field from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, with a teaching background in the sciences and humanities. In addition to her role as Executive Director at ArtsPartners, she is Affiliate Faculty and Coordinator of Public History at Bradley University. Past roles include Executive Director of Big Picture Peoria, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, and as an educator at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Mae currently serves as Vice Chair on the Advisory Board of the Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois and sits on the City of Peoria’s Public Arts Advisory Commission. In the past, she sat on the Board of Directors of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois, Acorn Equality Fund, Public Relations Association of Central Illinois, and ART, Inc., along with various other committees with area organizations like Align Peoria and the Community Foundation of Central Illinois. Mae received the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 ATHENA Young Professional Award, which honors emerging leaders between the ages of 25 and 40 who strive toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, who excel in their chosen field, devote time and energy to their community in a meaningful way, and serve as a role model for young women. In 2020, she received the 25 Women in Leadership Award from WEEK - 25 News. She is a member of Americans for the Arts and Women in Leadership of Central Illinois. In her spare time, Mae enjoys reading, gardening with her husband Jonathan, and catching up on podcasts.

John Heintzman graduated from the University of Iowa in 1979. John then worked as a curator at Lakeview Museum and later served as the University Director of Galleries at Bradley University. John previously served as the directors of the Peoria Art Guild’s Fine Art Fair after the fair moved from Junction City to the Peoria Riverfront. He has led hundreds of Docent Tours for the Peoria Riverfront Museum, Peoria Heights Sculpture Walk, and Sculpture Walk Peoria – educating thousands of adults and children on the importance of public art, and inspiring them to appreciate and engage with the arts in our community. He continues to volunteer for multiple arts organizations providing curatorial assistance for exhibits, serving on committees, and providing invaluable support to local artists at shows, exhibits, fairs, and festivals.

Joshua has practiced law since 2008, concentrating in municipal law, school law, employment law, commercial law, and related litigation.
Joshua received his Bachelor’s degree in 2003 from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. After his deployment to Iraq as an Army Reservist, Joshua attended the Chicago-Kent and the University of Illinois Colleges of Law.
While at the University of Illinois, Joshua received the Best Trial Advocate and Best Oral Advocate awards in addition to being on the Green National Moot Court Team. In 2008 he obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law, graduating summa cum laude and receiving the Rickert Awards for Excellence in Advocacy and Excellence in Academics. He is also a member of the Order of the Coif.
Joshua is admitted to practice in Illinois.

Chris Kukla lives in Germantown Hills with his wife and three children. He graduated from Illinois State University in 1989 where he majored in Industrial Technology. He has always enjoyed the arts and took multiple classes at Illinois State and Illinois Central College. He has been actively honing his ceramic skills since 2000 and has pursued multiple techniques. His explorations have led him to primitive pit firing and the colors created by the fire enhance the surface and textures of the pottery he makes.

Ross guides entrepreneurs that are looking to scale product-based businesses nationally and globally through his company Sherpa Enterprises, LLC. He currently is involved in intellectual property and business strategy in the Legal team of Natural Fiber Welding (NFW). NFW produces proprietary eco-friendly materials for the fashion and automotive industries.
A previous client was a filter company that sold premium air filters to the RV industry. Ross was part of the team that grew the company from $60K annual revenue to $1.5M. As part of the team's exit strategy, the company was acquired in December, 2021.
Previously, Ross spent 19+ years at the Small Business Development Center at Bradley University. During that time he advised over 3500 clients and was connected with 300+ startups and 15 acquisitions. He taught innovation courses in the Foster College of Business as well as co-founded Brave Launch, a business accelerator.
Ross also has experience in web development and advertising, working with Global 500 manufacturers and small businesses throughout the US. Ross has a core belief that supporting artists in the region is the best way to maintain and develop a unique community culture that makes the Greater Peoria Area a desirable place to live.

Bob Parkhurst is a CPA with 35 years of experience in public accounting, for profit, and nonprofit companies. He has held leadership positions with organizations in the direct marketing, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail industries. Bob is the CFO of Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois where he leads the Finance, Human Resources, IT, and Marketing/Communications teams. Bob and his wife Jenny reside near Peoria, Illinois. They are both active community volunteers and supporters of the performing arts. Bob has served as President and Treasurer of various arts organizations in Central Illinois including the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, The Peoria Symphony Foundation, and Corn Stock Theatre. Bob is a current board member of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois. Jenny and Bob have two grown children residing in Peoria and New York City.

Megan Pedigo has been involved with ArtsPartners of Central Illinois since the launch of Ignite Peoria back in 2014. Megan enjoys exploring the arts alongside her twin daughters. Their favorite activities include Ignite Peoria, Sculpture Walk, and the amazing exhibits at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. She works at Easterseals Central Illinois as the Director of Marketing and Communications. She is a member of the Illini Bluffs Elementary School Board, WCBU Advisory Board and board member with the Public Relations Society of America - Central Illinois Chapter. Megan originally from Sycamore, Illinois, Megan has lived in the Peoria area for over 13 years. She is a graduate of Western Illinois University.

Jon focuses on intellectual property litigation, intellectual property procurement, commercial litigation, and internet law issues. Regardless of the practice area, Jon believes inventive and well-developed strategies, aggressively implemented from the outset generally yield the best, and most cost-effective, results for his clients. Jon attended Bradley University, earning a bachelors of science in chemistry. He then earned his juris doctor and certificate in intellectual property law from DePaul University College of Law. Not only practicing the law, he also teaches Intellectual Property and the Entrepreneur at Bradley University. Jonathan was also a founding board member of Startup Peoria, an organization aimed at assisting entrepreneurs and facilitating the growth of a startup community in the Peoria, Illinois area. He continues to be active in the Illinois startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem by assisting similar organizations and representing startups and entrepreneurs. Otherwise, he travels the world and spoils his dog. A versatile litigator, Jon has handled contested matters at federal trial and appellate courts across the country, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the World Intellectual Property Organization, Illinois’ state trial and appellate courts, the Illinois Commerce Commission and other Illinois administrative agencies. Jon is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association. He is a former chair of both its Intellectual Property Section Council and the Energy, Utilities, Telecommunications, and Transportation Section Council. He is current Secretary of the IP section counsel. He is a past member of the ISBA’s Food Law Section Council and the Special Committee on Alternative Business Structure as well and Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence. A member of the Federal Bar Association for the Central District of Illinois, Jon is also a member of the International Trademark Association. Leading Lawyers has repeatedly named Jon as an Emerging Lawyer in Intellectual Property Law; Public Utilities Law: Gas/Water/Electric; Energy Law; and Commercial litigation. Only two percent of lawyers under 40 earn this recognition.

Jonathan Romain is an artist who has spent most of his life creating art. He has shared that his creative journey began when he was in prison, where he was sentenced to fifteen years just two weeks after graduating from college. During his time in prison, he developed and honed his artistic skills. After serving seven years, he was released and began carving a path for himself in the art world. He opened art galleries and showcased his work across the country. In addition, he founded the Romain Arts and Culture Center, a community art center located in an old 50,000 square foot, turn of the century school building. Jonathan is passionate about creating art, whether it be painting, building, or teaching. He has also helped raise thousands of dollars for non-profit organizations through his art, including his own. His work is diverse, and he enjoys experimenting with different mediums and techniques. He can be working on a portrait commission while simultaneously creating an abstract painting. Jonathan's primary focus now is to help develop young talent, and he can be found almost every day at the Romain Arts and Culture Center in Peoria, IL. When he's not traveling across the country to showcase his work, he is dedicated to nurturing the artistic abilities of others.

Eric Sampson, Director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Bradley University, advises individuals who want to start a business or expand existing businesses. Guidance provided includes developing business and marketing plans, creating financial projections, addressing business formation issues, and obtaining financing. Eric also assists owners and managers of existing small businesses to identify solutions to business related problems, to examine strategic opportunities, expand their product portfolios, and enhance or diversify their sales efforts. Eric received a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Bradley University. He is a Certified Business Development Advisor and member of the Illinois Entrepreneurship and Small Business Growth Association (IESBGA) and is Certified with GrowthWheel International, Inc. Illinois SBDC services are confidential and provided at no cost to the client.

Jessica is a central Illinois artist who retails her work directly to customers, using her own social media platforms as her primary marketing tool, and creating a six-figure art based business.