PEORIA MAGAZINE March 2022

B U S I N E S S N E W S IN BRIEF

CLIMBING THE LADDER

HIRES AND RETIRES

‘HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, BABY, GOT YOU ON MY MIND …’ Traders Realty Corporation , also known as RE/MAX Traders Unlimited, is celebrating 85 years in business. The third-generation company, founded by Dewey Wilkins in 1937, is owned and operated by Jeff and Wendy Kolbus, the latter the founder’s granddaughter. Peoria-based advertising and marketing firm Simantel opened its doors 40 years ago. To find out more about the company’s anniversary plans, visit Simantel.com. The Peoria Civic Center recently had its 40th birthday bash, hosted by the Peoria Area, East Peoria, Pekin and Morton chambers of commerce. The Illinois Valley Yacht and Canoe (IVY) Club in Peoria Heights is celebrating its 115th birthday. Carley Allensworth has been hired as the new director of communications for the Community Foundation of Central Illinois. Allensworth previously worked in communications and as a legal assistant at the Peoria Park District. She has earned a master’s degree from Ohio’s Tiffin University. Kimberly Richardson has been hired as Peoria’s assistant city manager. She will oversee the Economic Development Department, Emergency Communications Center and Information Systems staff. Richardson previously served as deputy manager for the City of Evanston. She started in her new position on Jan. 31.

Peoria Fire Chief James Bachman will retire on March 18. He started with the Peoria Fire Department in 1994 and served as a firefighter, engineer, captain, battalion chief and division chief of operations. He was promoted to fire chief in May 2021. The city plans a national search for his replacement. The Village of Peoria Heights has retained the services of Wayne Aldrich as its first-ever community development director, through a consultant contract with the architectural and engineering firm Farnsworth Group. Aldrich retired last year from the Town of Normal, where he held numerous positions, among them uptown development director leading the transformation of that community’s commercial center adjacent to Illinois State University. Prior to that, he worked as an engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Cullinan Properties announces the promotions of Stephanie Webster to Vice President and director of development and of Steven C. Gatton to Vice President and director of asset management. Morgan Stanley in Peoria has elevated two financial advisors to management positions - Daren Epley as managing director, wealth management, and Hiral Hudson as vice president. ELECTIONS AND SELECTIONS Robert Sehring, chief executive officer of Peoria-based OSF HealthCare, has been elected treasurer of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association’s 2022 Board of Trustees. The board is the policymaking body for the association, which represents more than 200 hospitals and nearly 40 health systems across Illinois. Peoria attorney Gale Thetford has been named to the Peoria Historical Society Board of Trustees. Thetford, a former Peoria City Council member, also serves on the Illinois Central College Board of Trustees and is vice president of the Heartland Health Services Board of Directors. HITTING THE JACKPOT Knox College in Galesburg has been awarded a $1.2 million grant by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to fund projects sponsored by its Abolition Lab, with the mission of enhancing the understanding of historical and contemporary social justice issues.

Wayne Aldrich

MARCH 2022 PEORIA MAGAZINE 79