PEORIA MAGAZINE July 2023

MOVING UP THE LADDER In the mid-‘90s, Kevin and Jim Moore became regional CEOs for OSF. Schoeplein took the northern region, staying in Peoria but often traveling to Rockford and Michigan. “There’s probably a lot of stories out there about my notorious driving,” he said with a chuckle. “I was an early adopter of cell phones. I even had a desk that was strapped into the front passenger seat of my car.” Between 1999, when Kevin became CEO of OSF Health Plans, and 2017, when he retired as CEO of the health care system, he helped set the future strategy for the insurance arm of OSF, build it, and sell it to Humana in 2008. Schoeplein was instrumental in creating the first vision of OSF, as well as operationalizing One OSF. He focused the company on value-based care with a single clinical system that connected everything under the OSF umbrella. Under his leadership, OSF Medical Group became part of OSF HealthCare. He helped bring Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center, one of the world’s most extensive simulation and innovation centers, to Peoria to educate current and future medical professionals. “Peoria has a better quality of health care because of the innovation he brought to it,” said former Caterpillar CEO Douglas Oberhelman. “The Jump Innovation Center under him was amazing.” ‘IT’S ALL SELFLESS, REALLY’ After retiring six years ago, Kevin and Lisa have continued the philanthropic leadership they began years ago. “It’s in their nature to be supportive and to give back,” said friend Beth Salmon. “But always in a quiet way. They don’t need or want attention. They just know it’s the right thing.” “He was always there when there was a difficult situation in the community,” added Don Johnson, CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois. “He was helpful in solving the problem. Always.”

The Schoepleins and their grandkids

The Schoepleins chaired the Pillar Society Campaign for the Heart of Illinois United Way campaign in 2015, working with staff to raise millions for the Peoria area. They chaired an American Heart Association Gala and created an endowment scholarship at Peoria Notre Dame High School. They founded the Kevin and Lisa Schoeplein Innovation Endowment with OSF and Bradley University to advance research in social health, rural health, and cancer treatment and prevention. They support the Peoria Riverfront Museum, the Peoria Playhouse, and Illinois Cancer Care, among countless other charities. The ripple effects of their efforts in medicine and education will last for generations. ’MOM WAS ALWAYS THE ONE BEHIND THE SCENES. SHE DID SO MUCH FOR DAD THAT PEOPLE DIDN’T SEE‘ — Molly Ziegler, daughter “I think they give back to Peoria because it gave them and us a good life,” said daughter Molly Ziegler. “Dad was very passionate about OSF. He made

decisions not only on what would benefit the hospital but the city, as well, because people at OSF became family to him. “He can be a private guy. He’s not for the flash and notoriety. He wants to be successful, but not in that way. And Mom was always the one behind the scenes. She did so much for Dad that people didn’t see. It’s all selfless, really. Unless you’re with them daily, you wouldn’t know that.” Ultimately, everything about Kevin and Lisa Schoeplein can be summed up by this thought from Kevin himself: “I urge everyone to share and give back. Give of your resources, your time, your talent, and your passion as you move through the stages of your career and your life. Allow others to build on the knowledge you can impart to them. The relationships that you create will be invaluable both personally and professionally.”

Laurie Pillman is an author and freelance writer/editor, based in Peoria

54 JULY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE