Board of Directors

Mr. Glenn Ross

Glenn Ross is originally from Shreveport - a mid-sized city in North Louisiana.  After completing high school, he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree at Grambling State University where he majored in Business Administration and Business Information Systems. 

He joined Caterpillar Inc. in 1977, and started his career as a Computer Programmer.  Throughout his career, Glenn has worked in a variety of leadership roles in Information Technology. 

In 1987, Glenn earned his Masters Degree in Business Administration from the Bradley University - Foster College of Business Administration.  Glenn retired from his Information Technology (IT) Manager position at Caterpillar Inc. in 2015. 

As IT Manager, Glenn was responsible for managing a Team of Senior IT professionals who lead strategic programs that enabled business units with systems and processes that support profitable business operation and growth.  The Team was also responsible for performing due diligence in evaluating IT organization capabilities and risks. 

His previous positions include Information Technology Audit Manager, Program Management Office Manager, Solution Deployment Manager, and Account Manager (Caterpillar Dealers - Pacific Region; Europe Africa & Middle East). 

Glenn has served his community as a volunteer, giving his time and talents to support the important work of community and civic organizations, and agencies.  He appreciates the opportunity to meet and work with diverse groups of dedicated leaders and volunteers with a mission of making their communities better and more attractive places to live and work.

Glenn currently serves on the Peoria Tri-County Urban League Board of Directors (Chair), National Urban League Board of Trustees, Quest Charter Academy Board of Directors, and the Peoria Promise Board of Directors.  He is Past President of the Bradley University National Alumni Association, and Past President of the Peoria Public Radio Advisory Board. 

Glenn is a strong believer in the importance of higher education - and thinks that education should be a high priority for our country.  “Education is one of the key elements in maintaining and expanding our competitiveness in the global economy.”

Mrs. Jan Leonard

 

Mrs. Leonard earned both a bachelor’s degree in education and master’s degree in Instructional Technology and Telecommunications from Western Illinois University. During her 35-year career in education, Mrs. Leonard was a classroom teacher, athletic coach, grant-writer/grant administrator and juvenile court liaison for truancy cases. She was also a consultant for the Peoria County Regional Office of Education’s Two Rivers Professional Development Center for 16 years, providing professional development to teachers and administrators in a variety of academic areas. In addition, Mrs. Leonard was an adjunct instructor for Aurora University, a national trainer for Collaborative Learning Incorporated and a state trainer and school/district improvement coach for the Illinois State Board of Education. Mrs. Leonard has presented at national conferences, including ASCD, along with several state conferences. Currently Mrs. Leonard is a project coordinator for the Heart of Illinois United Way. In addition to being a member on the board at Quest Charter Academy, she is on the board of directors of the Hult Center for Healthy Living and the board of directors of the Westminster Infant Care Center. Jan also serves on the Education Advisory Board for PNC Bank.  Jan has been married to husband, Gary, since 1974 and has two daughters, two sons-in-laws and six fabulous grandchildren.

Mickeisha has enjoyed a career in Human Resources for over 25 years.  She is currently employed by Caterpillar, Inc., and has worked in a variety of HR management roles at COUNTRY Financial and Mitsubishi Motors.   

Mickeisha received her BA in Business Administration from Eureka College and serves as a member of the Eureka College Board of Trustees.  In addition, she serves as a Commissioner for the Peoria Housing Authority Finance/Audit Committee.  She is a volunteer mentor for YoungLives and serves as a volunteer on the Creative Arts Team for Northwoods Community Church.  Mickeisha is also an adjunct professor at Eureka College.  Mickeisha is a motivational speaker, facilitates training sessions and coaches individuals on one-on-one basis.

Formerly she served as interim Board Chair for the Minority Business Development Center, Board President for the Illinois Heart and Lung Foundation, 1st Vice President for the Eureka College Alumni Board, Chair for the Heartland Healthcare Coalition and Co-Chair for the National Business Coalition on Health.

Dr. Venus Evans Winters

Dr. Venus E. Evans-Winters is Associate Professor of Education at Illinois State University in the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations. Dr. Evans-Winters is also a faculty affiliate with the departments of Women & Gender Studies and Ethnic Studies. Her research interests are school resilience, urban education policy and practice, and the schooling of Black girls and women. Dr. Evans-Winters teaches in the areas of education policy studies, qualitative research, and social foundations of education. She is the author of “Teaching Black Girls: Resilience in Urban Classrooms, and co-editor of the books “(Re)Teaching Trayvon: Education for Social Justice & Human Freedom;” and “Black Feminism in Education: Black Women Speak Back, Up, and Out.” This White House invitee to the convening on, “Research on Women and Girls,” is the author of numerous academic articles and book chapters. Dr. Evans-Winters is also a Boar Certified Professional Counselor, psychotherapist, and school social worker. As an international scholar, she has served in West Africa and South Africa as well as engaged in critical pedagogy institutes in Spain, Greece, and Malta. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, meditation, and watching reality television. Favorite quote: There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children. ~Nelson Mandela

Ms. Preeti Sarin

Dr. Preeti Sarin (Term Expires 2027)

Dr. Sarin has worked at the Mallya Aditi International School in Bangalore in multiple positions, with the most recent being the Head of Pre-University from 2020 – 2022.  She is currently actively involved in inception and co-ordination of some educational activities for Peoria district 150 schools- Medical club and Step-Up program. This is an initiative to develop Medical Talent in Peoria. Aim being building a Pipeline from High School to a Medical Career. A Collaborative Program of OSF, UICOMP, District 150, AICCP, IMA.

Dr. Sarin’s educational background is as follows:

International Certified Career Coach 2020

Credential by Mindler and CDA (USA) to become a certified career coach.

Member: NACAC [ National association for College Admission Counselling] and NCDA [ National Career Development Association]

Annamalai University, Bachelor’s in Education Chennai, IN

  • First Division with distinction 1993-94

Punjab University, MS in Food and Nutrition Chandigarh, IN

  • Ranked 3rd in university 1991-93
  • Thesis: Effect of microwave cooking and boiling on Garbanzo beans

Punjab University, B.Sc. in Home Science Chandigarh, IN

  • Ranked 2nd in university
Mrs. Polly Barton

Polly Barton is from Peoria, IL.  She went to St. Philomena grade school, Richwoods Community High School, and then Southern Illinois University graduating with a Business Education degree.

After college, she taught at Central High School in Peoria.  While raising a family, she coached tennis at Norte Dame High School and worked in the Development Department as Public Relations Director.

Her volunteer experiences include, Junior League of Peoria, Women’s Strength, St. Philomena CCD teacher as well as PE teacher.  Polly has sat on various community boards including Peoria Park District Advisory Board, Peoria Zoological Society where she was co-chairman of the Zoological Capital Campaign, Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum, WTVP and OSF Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Polly’s interests are swimming, golf, reading and making our community a better place to live, learn and play.

Dr. Kiran K Velpula is Assistant Professor of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, Pediatrics and Neurosurgery at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria. He got his Ph.D. from the University of Hyderabad, India, and finished post-doctoral cooperations at the University of Central Florida, Case Western Reserve University, and the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria. His exploration advantages are to create novel quality treatment systems focusing on malignant growth cell digestion for the treatment of glioblastoma, generally known as cerebrum tumors. 

Dr. Velpula has gotten various network grants including the "40 Leaders Under 40" in 2017, Athena Young Professional Award in 2017, and "Ten Outstanding Young Professionals of Illinois" for clinical development in 2018. He is presently an individual from the Government Affairs Committee, The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Board of Directors for The Center for Prevention of Abuse, EP!C, and the Neighborhood House of Peoria. He likewise took an interest in the Horizons 150 program of PSD150 and served on the Education and Workforce Committee of the Chamber of Commerce.

 

Emeritus Board Members

Mr. Glen Barton, retired Caterpillar CEO

Mr. McFarland Bragg II, President and CEO of the Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity, Inc. (PCCEO)

Dr. Cindy Fischer, retired Peoria Public Schools Associate Superintendent & retired Executive Director of Crittenton Centers

Mr. Al Hooks, retired Caterpillar engineer

Dr. Vicky Stewart, retired Illinois Central College administrator