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 employee benefits consulting firm, combined more than 25 as an entrepreneur, he transitioned to business mentoring and advising spending 3 years between 2016 – 2019 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 addition, he is certified as a Business Development Advisor through the Illinois Entrepreneurship & Small Business Growth Association, Illinois Entrepreneurship Network, and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. He also holds certificates from VentureWell, Lean LaunchPad Educator and serves as a Co.Starters Facilitator.

While I currently work for OSF Innovation and help Distillery Labs get up and running, I started my career managing a $1.3m retail store in Detroit. From there, I went to work at the corporate office in Grand Rapids for 6 years in the real estate/design/construction department where we worked with the designers, architects, contractors and visual merchandisers to build brand new stores, product displays, remodels, etc. Since then, I earned a master's degree in Organizational Psychology focusing on strategy, leadership and organizational culture.

They/She
Alexander Martin is a Black and Trans Artist and performer working out of Peoria, IL. Their practice includes visual art, performance, drag, advocacy, education, and community engagement. They have had their work exhibited across the states and have done artist residencies in both the U.S. and in the U.K. They are a former state title holder for the drag pageantry system Miss Gay USofA and have performed all across the U.S. They were recently featured in the PBS short film festival for their collaborative documentary with filmmaker Allison Walsh, The Daily Aesthetics of Alexander Martin. They are a founding and board member of the Peoria Guild of Black Artists, a co-founder of Project 1612, and are involved in several community based efforts.

As the Director of the Illinois SBDC at Bradley University, Eric advises individuals who want to start a business or expand existing businesses. His specific areas of assistance include developing business and marketing plans, financial projections, business formation issues, and obtaining financing. He also helps owners and managers of existing small businesses to identify solutions to business-related problems to expand and diversify their sales. Eric brings with him a diverse background in finance, technology development, marketing, and real estate and investment management. He can be reached at [email protected] for small business support. Services are confidential and provided at no cost.

Chelsie is the artist and owner behind Lettering Works, LLC. Lettering Works is on a mission to create, inspire, and empower people through art. As a one-woman business, Chelsie does this through custom branding and online courses for artists, as well as selling her art products throughout Chicago and beyond. She is passionate about helping other artists accelerate their success while being an advocate for disability, chronic illness, and mental health.

Jonathon Romain has been a professional artist for over 25 years. His art has been shown and collected throughout the country and abroad. He’s been commissioned by colleges, corporations, and individuals.
He along with his wife Nikki Romain have leveraged their artistic talents and founded the not-for-profit after school arts and cultural center ART INC in an old school building. Together they have created one of the fastest growing nonprofits in the city of Peoria and perhaps even the State. They employ nearly eighty full and part time staff and have several hundred kids enrolled in their programs.

Nikki Romain is a Midwest girl with a southern twist, having been raised in Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas. Since Nikki moved around a lot while growing up, she developed fierce social skills and a love for arts, culture, and community as natural as breathing. Nikki has an extensive background in the arts as an actor, singer, writer, and voice over artist that has allowed her to perform on stages in Italy, Los Angeles, Orange County, Chicago, and Miami.
Using arts and culture as a vehicle, Nikki’s personal mission in life is to empower the lives of women and youth by working tirelessly to give them a voice and creating safe spaces to thrive and reach their full potential. This mission ultimately resulted in the creation of Artists ReEnvisioning Tomorrow Inc-ART Inc . The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2017 by she and her husband, is an innovative Arts and Culture Center designed to inspire and empower the community through arts, education, and culture.

Nikki Wheeler is Director of Education at the Peoria Art Guild and co-Director of the annual Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair. Nikki is also a fiber artist and costume designer. Her work includes sewing, fabric dyeing, fabric painting, embroidery and more. Her costume designs can be seen onstage at Bradley University. She also enjoys painting and printmaking. Nikki has taught a variety of art and design classes to all ages since 2003.

Sarah Marie Dillard is a singer/songwriter, educator and entrepreneur rooted in the Greater Peoria Area music industry. Affectionately 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 Women’s Cooperative, the creator of The Listening Room - Mobile Open Mic, facilitator of the Peoria Pickin’ Circle and a proud contributor to ArtsPartners of Central Illinois. You can catch Sarah in the corner of a crowded dive, on stage in a theatre of thousands, at home on your television screen, or wherever you listen to music and podcasts.

Jason Watts is a professional artist, writer, adventurer and combat veteran.
Watts began to formally study art at Illinois Central College in 1998. He was soon hired by one of his professors, Marlene Miller, as her her main artistic assistant on the College’s commissioned monumental relief sculpture, “Tribute”, which includes a self portrait by Watts.
Soon after, Watts enlisted in the Marines, where he volunteered to undergo the rigorous process of becoming one of the Corps’ elite Force Reconnaissance Marines. Watts said, “I think it’s important to test yourself, and to push well beyond any perceived limitations.”
After leaving active duty, Watts attended SIU earning his BFA in Ceramics. He was a winner of the prestigious “RZ” Trust Award and the Annual Student Purchase Award with one of his sculptures on permanent display at the University. Watts continues to exhibit his artworks at various venues throughout the country.
His more contemporary work includes figurative and relief sculpture, paintings and murals. Images of hawks and other birds of prey often serve as focal points in Watts’s compositions. According to Jason, “The hawk serves as a potent symbol of a being that is fully immersed in the moment. It represents being present, aware and keen. There is a certain grace and clarity about them that resonate with me on many levels.”
Watts is the owner of Tactical Artwork and has a private studio in Mackinaw, IL. He supportive of various non-profits in the special operations and veteran communities including: the Marine Recon Foundation, Recon Sniper Foundation, Force Recon Association, PBAbbate and 22VA.

Jonathan Phillips is the founder of Phillips & Bathke, P.C., a law firm focused on intellectual property and related issues. His clients include creative professionals and he provides advice and representation concerning the protection of intellectual property assets, like copyrights, trademarks, and patents, and enforcing those (as well as defending those accused of infringing others’ rights). He also advises businesses, including those stemming from creative endeavors, on fundamental business law and contractual issues.

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.