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.
Monica Pesely grew up in Washington, Illinois and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Painting from Dominican University. She is trained in the classical tradition of observational painting and drawing. Prior to pursuing her love of art, she worked in a variety of fields from veterinary medicine as a veterinary assistant to healthcare as a phlebotomist. Monica previously worked for Carle Health as a screening assistant for the Wellmobile, which offered free health screenings to the community. When she’s not creating art, Monica enjoys reading, going to art museums, and hanging out with her cat.
Rachel Dart received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting through Friends University. She was a professional ballet dancer for seven years, but has retired from dancing and now owns her own dance studio and continues to teach and inspire students of all ages. She owns and operates Affinity Illinois Dance Center based in Washington, IL. Outside of work, she is actively sewing costumes for dance performances, reading, renovating her house, and spending time with her two dogs.
A third generation painter, Harry William Sidebotham II received his BFA in painting from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and his MFA in painting from Illinois State University. Prior to moving to Peoria, Sidebotham held positions as Collections Organizer for Pagoda Red, Sign Painter for Potbelly Sandwich Shops, Art Handler, Installer and Crater for various galleries and institutions, all in Chicago. In addition to his role as Gallery Coordinator for the Follow Your Arts Gallery, Sidebotham serves as Exhibitions Coordinator at the Peoria Riverfront Museum contributing to every exhibition and display seen at the museum.
Hello, my name is Emily Crank and I am a student at Bradley University. I am currently working towards the goal of double majoring in Art History and History with a minor in Museum studies and Women and Gender studies. My plan is to pursue local history and Gallery exhibition work with a community focus when I graduate. I love art and working on projects that explore the history of the Peoria area, and I am very excited to be working with Arts Partners towards these goals. I look forward to serving the community and furthering the reach of Arts Partners throughout the summer.
Dr. Julie Traenkenschuh grew up in Peoria and after attending Bradley University and majoring in music education, began her teaching career as the band director at Nauvoo-Colusa schools in Nauvoo, IL. In 2001, she returned to Peoria as the director of the Woodruff High School Band from 2001-2009, the Fine Arts Director for Peoria Public Schools from 2008-2010, and the director of the Peoria Jazz AllStars from 2003-2010. In 2009, Julie became the Assistant Principal of Woodruff High School and spent the next three years in Peoria Public Schools administration before leaving in 2012 to become the Principal of Illini Bluffs High School in Glasford, IL. Since 2015, Julie has worked for OSF HealthCare as a Director in Performance Improvement and Innovation. Her current role at OSF is focused on execution of complex, strategic projects across the organization, partnerships with early-stage health tech companies and portfolio management. Julie has remained an active musician in the area having played trumpet with the Peoria Municipal Band, Prairie Wind Ensemble, Central Illinois Jazz Orchestra and currently plays in and conducts the Peoria Heights Community Band. Julie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Bradley University, a Masters in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Concordia University Chicago, with research focused on system level partnerships between education and health care and current research focused on health literacy.
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.
A proud Peoria native, Allison has been involved with ArtsPartners of Central Illinois since starting as a committee member for both the Business of Art and Ignite Peoria. Passionate about the arts, she frequently attends performances at the Peoria Civic Center and concerts by the Peoria Symphony Orchestra. She also enjoys exploring local treasures like the Peoria Riverfront Museum and participating in events such as the Sculpture Walk and First Fridays. Allison is the Director of Human Resources at Easterseals Central Illinois, where she leads HR operations. She holds degrees in Human Resource Management from Purdue University and Bradley University. In addition to her professional role, Allison serves on the boards of Heart of Illinois SHRM and the Women’s Fund Advisory Board of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois. She also volunteers as a Big Sister with Heart of Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters and as a Classroom Volunteer with Junior Achievement of Central Illinois. Allison is passionate about ArtsPartners because she believes in the power of the arts to bring people together and strengthen the community.
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.
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 investor relations and business strategy as part of the Legal team of Natural Fiber Welding (NFW). NFW produces proprietary eco-friendly materials for the fashion and automotive industries.
Previously, Ross spent 19+ years advising local businesses at the Illinois 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.
David is a dedicated communications professional with a passion for leveraging the arts to drive community development and engagement. Originally from Ghana, West Africa, David brings over a decade of experience in Public Relations, Branding, Programmatic Communications, and Marketing, with a strong background in development and social enterprise sectors. Currently, David serves as the Communications Manager for the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, where he plays a key role in promoting economic growth in the region through strategic communication efforts. His approach to communication is deeply rooted in storytelling, visualization, and creative techniques, which he uses to connect with diverse audiences and demographics. David’s commitment to the arts and community service extends beyond his professional role. As a board member of Arts Partners of Central Illinois, he is dedicated to fostering a vibrant arts community that enhances the cultural fabric of the region. David believes in the transformative power of the arts to inspire change, bridge communities, and contribute to the overall well-being of society. His extensive experience includes collaborations with international organizations such as the United Nations and ECOWAS, as well as leading communications for the USAID-funded West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change Program. Now proudly residing in the Greater Peoria area, David continues to contribute his expertise and passion to enrich the local arts scene and support initiatives that promote creativity and cultural engagement.
Everley Davis is the Director of Community Engagement at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. In addition to managing the museum’s innovative flagship program, the Every Student Initiative, Everley also works closely with the curations team. She has lent her hand to exhibitions like “Life and Legacy of Annie Malone” and was an integral part of bringing nationally renowned artist Alfred Conteh to the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Davis has worked with the Peoria Riverfront Museum since May 2021, and some of the major achievements in her tenure include: producing “Project Fashion Show,” which used grants from Art Bridges to allow high school students to create garments based off of Andy Warhols’ Endangered Species Prints, being the liaison for an original piece from artist Alfred Conteh and working tirelessly to strengthen the quality of the Every Student Intiative program, which serves 44 schools in the central Illinois area.
Previous to her time at the museum, Everley worked with Art Inc., first as a program coordinator and then as a teacher. Her experience with Art Inc. lends her a strong background in education, as well as a strong connection to her community. Everley serves as the chair of the Sky Art committee, sits on the board of ArtsPartners in central Illinois, and was one of the founding members of not-for-profit organization Peoria Grown. When Mayor Rita Ali chose 50 emerging role models in Peoria’s Black community, Everley was honored to be among those selected. Everley is a Peoria native, an equestrian, and though she is passionate about travel, she has strong home-town connections and loves to spend time with family.
Nate Domenighini is the Associate Vice President of Accelerators at gener8tor, a global venture capital firm and accelerator network. He helps lead accelerator strategy, programming and teams supporting entrepreneurs throughout the United States and internationally. His work focuses on building stronger pathways between promising founders, experienced mentors, investors, corporate partners, universities and the communities positioned to help new companies grow.
Nate’s journey into startups, accelerators and venture capital began in his hometown of Peoria, Illinois. In 2021, he joined gener8tor to lead the first two gBETA Distillery Labs programs, working directly with early-stage founders while helping cultivate a growing network of local mentors, investors and entrepreneurial partners. Those programs demonstrated the potential of combining gener8tor’s nationally recognized accelerator model with the relationships, expertise and commitment already present in Central Illinois.
Peoria continues to serve as an important foundation for Nate’s work and his approach to economic development. He believes communities create lasting economic impact when they identify, support and invest in their own entrepreneurs while connecting them to opportunities beyond their immediate geography. Through gBETA and related initiatives, Nate has helped elevate Peoria’s founders, strengthen connections across the regional startup ecosystem and demonstrate that venture-scale companies can emerge from communities that have historically received less attention from the venture capital industry.
Since launching the Peoria programs, Nate has progressed through leadership roles at gener8tor as a Director, Managing Director and Associate Vice President of gBETA before assuming his current position as Associate Vice President of Accelerators. Today, he works across gener8tor’s broader accelerator portfolio, supporting program leaders and entrepreneurial ecosystems in markets throughout the country. His work includes developing accelerator strategies, coaching teams, strengthening mentor and investor networks, improving founder programming and collaborating with public, private, corporate, philanthropic and university partners.
Nate is particularly interested in helping communities transform their unique assets into meaningful opportunities for entrepreneurs. His work spans industries and regions, including initiatives supporting university researchers, technology commercialization, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, mobility, water technology and other emerging sectors. He is actively involved in efforts to improve the pathways through which university-linked research and intellectual property become scalable companies capable of attracting customers, investment and long-term community support.
His experience also extends to international entrepreneurship programming. Nate has helped lead and support accelerator initiatives connecting founders outside the United States with mentorship, commercialization guidance and access to American markets and investors. This has included health technology programming for entrepreneurs in Lebanon, as well as broader efforts to help international founders establish meaningful relationships and potential long-term business operations within U.S. communities.
Across each of these efforts, Nate brings a relationship-driven and founder-centered approach to accelerator leadership. He is motivated by the opportunity to support talented entrepreneurs in places where others may not expect to find them and to help communities build the infrastructure, confidence and connections necessary to invest in their best and brightest. Whether working in Peoria, across the United States or with founders internationally, his goal remains the same: help entrepreneurs build stronger companies while creating lasting value in the communities that support them
Kevin has a broad background in leadership, economic strategy, and business development. As an entrepreneur, he founded several ventures, including Snave Trading, a broker-dealer affiliated with the Chicago Stock Exchange, Snave Partners Limited, an investment trading partnership, and Kevin Evans & Associates, an employee benefits consulting firm. With over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience, Kevin brings a wealth of practical knowledge in financial and strategic business operations.
In recent years, Kevin has shifted his focus towards mentoring and advising business owners. From 2016 to 2019, he served as the Director for the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Bradley University. During his time at the SBDC, he guided over 400 businesses in their startup and growth endeavors, significantly contributing to the entrepreneurial landscape in Illinois.
Kevin’s qualifications include a certification as a Business Development Advisor through the Illinois Entrepreneurship & Small Business Growth Association, the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Additionally, he has earned credentials from VentureWell and Lean LaunchPad Educator, and he is also a Co.Starters Facilitator, enhancing his ability to provide cutting-edge support to new and growing businesses.
Sarah Glover teaches courses in Medieval Art, Northern Renaissance Art, Art Criticism and Gender in Art. She received a Ph.D. in Art History from the University of Virginia where she specialized in the study of medieval manuscripts. Her early research focused on the iconography of illustrations of Marian miracles appearing in devotional books made for women in late Medieval England. Her study of medieval art extends beyond the illuminated page to consider the use of medieval imagery and Marian iconography in contemporary art and textile design. She has published on a wide range of topics from the Marian Miracle Cycle at Eton College to the motif of the Vagina Dentata in contemporary American visual culture. Her current research focuses on the use of Medieval and Renaissance art in the fashion industry and digital textile design.
Brittany Personett is the Executive Operations Specialist at Easterseals Central Illinois, where she has spent more than eight years supporting nonprofit operations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Eureka College.
Brittany first became involved with ArtsPartners of Central Illinois in 2025, serving on the Arts Dollars grants panel and as Chair of the 2026 Business of Art event. Through these experiences, she developed an appreciation for ArtsPartners’ role in strengthening and celebrating the local arts community.
While not an artist herself, Brittany is passionate about the role the arts play in creating vibrant, connected communities and is excited to bring her nonprofit experience and perspective to the ArtsPartners Board of Directors. She lives in Germantown Hills with her husband and two sons.
Stacy Peterson serves as the Strategic Communications Manager and Public Information Officer for the City of Peoria. In this role, she works across all departments and enjoys communicating all aspects of the City with community members and visitors. She has been involved with the arts in Peoria as the Fine Art Fair Coordinator for the Peoria Art Guild, served as member of the Steering Committee of SculptureWalk Peoria, and many other arts initiatives. She is a board member of Arts Alliance Illinois, the Dirksen Congressional Center, Community Foundation of Central Illinois, CWTC, and the Friends of the Peoria Public Library.
As Communications Analyst for RLI Insurance Company, Nicole prepares and reviews internal/external communications and provides product marketing and social media content support. She brings over 15 years of experience in marketing, communications and events to this role. In her previous role as Senior Marketing Manager for Cullinan Properties, her responsibilities included leading the marketing team in the implementation of leasing, consumer and corporate marketing strategies for Cullinan and its projects/developments such as RockRun Collection, the award-winning Levee District, Streets of St. Charles and Peoria-area office properties. She also managed public relations and corporate communications. Nicole coordinated all aspects of Cullinan Properties’ presence at regional and national industry trade shows including onsite coordination and vendor relations. Prior to joining Cullinan Properties, Nicole was an Event Manager at the Peoria Civic Center where she was an integral part of the event services team specializing in exhibit hall, theater, arena and meeting space management. Nicole is active in the Peoria community and has served as an Executive Board Member for ArtsPartners of Central Illinois, Keep Peoria Beautiful and the Springdale Historical Preservation Foundation. She currently lends her time and expertise to the Heart of Illinois United Way’s Marketing Committee. A graduate of Illinois State University, Nicole also completed the Peoria Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School in 2018. She was a recipient of Peoria’s 40 Leaders Under Forty award in 2019 and has been awarded several American Advertising Awards.
I’m Jose! I am a Senior at Bradley University with a Game Design Major and Film Studies Minor. So obviously, I love video games and movies, but really I love all forms of media and creative art! Outside of that I love listening to music, spending time with my family and friends, my baby brother, and my girlfriend!
