Board Members

Board of Directors 2023–24

 
 

Charles (Trip) Barton, PE, GISP         

Vice Board Chair

Trip Barton is an Engineering Manager for Illinois American Water with broad-based experience primarily including water and wastewater engineering projects and geographic information systems applications. Mr. Barton has over 30 years of experience in the public and private sector including work at two engineering firms, a municipal sanitary district, and a private water company. 

Kevin D. Day

Peoria, IL

  • Juris Doctor, Northern Illinois University College of Law, Bachelor of Arts In Political Science, Augustana College in Rock Island, IL

  • Associate Attorney with the law firm of Hasselberg Grebe Snodgrass Urban and Wentworth

  • Member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Peoria County Bar Association, PCBA Young Lawyers Committee, Young Professionals Organization of Greater Peoria, and Independent Sports Club of Central Illinois

  • Former Vice President of the American Constitution Society – Northern Illinois University, Former Environmental Law Society Member – Northern Illinois University

Sally Jo (Sarah) Eastman

East Peoria, IL

  • BA, Communications and Minor in Music Business, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL

  • Marketing & Special Events Manager at Junior Achievement of Central Illinois

  • Camera Operator, Independent

Zachary G. Fiddes

Peoria, IL

  • Bachelor of science in Psychology – Bradley University, Cum Laude

  • Commercial lines underwriter – Auto-Owners Insurance

Doug Holmes

Peoria, IL

  • Graduate of Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL.

  • Peoria Park District Employee, Illinois Park and Recreation volunteer award recipient for volunteerism, Peoria Zoo Herpetologist

  • Peoria Zoo Green Team Leader, Sun Foundation Board Member, Sun Foundation Treasurer, Instructor for Art and Science in the Woods since the early 1980’s, Clean Water Celebration Speaker

  • Central Illinois Herpetological Society, President, Peoria Academy of Science, Board member Peoria Heart of Illinois, American Zookeeper Association, Founding member of Fundraising for Conservation

Andy Knapp

Andrew “Andy” Knapp is the principal at North Shore Corporate Advocacy, LLC, a public and government affairs firm focused on the unique public policy issues of small to mid-cap manufacturing and industrial companies.

Before starting his own firm, Andy worked for several large companies in both renewable and traditional energy. He led public policy, ESG and sustainability, and government affairs teams.

Prior to his work in energy, Andy focused on healthcare. He started a government relations division for a major specialty managed care company and served in various capacities at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These included Deputy Administrator (Acting) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.

Andy graduated from Michigan State University with a double major in the James Madison College International Relations program and Spanish. Born in Moline, Illinois, Andy grew up in Libertyville, Illinois.

Kira Santiago

East Peoria, IL

  • Organic flower farmer and floral designer who is the fifth generation in a family of academics, writers, and organic farmers

  • After studying studio art at the University of Iowa, she is currently working on her certificate of sustainable food and Farming through the University of Massachusetts Amherst

  • UMass Amherst, 2014 to present

Lorraine Schwass

Toluca, IL

Treasurer

  • BS, Secondary Education, MS Counseling and Guidance, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL. Post Graduate studies, Illinois State University, Bloomington, IL.

  • Retired High School Guidance Counselor

  • Former President Illinois Valley Food Co-op, Volunteer with Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, and former Illinois Humanities Council Road Scholar Program member

Travis Wilcoxen

Board Chair

Travis Wilcoxen is a Professor of Biology at Millikin University. Travis is the Faculty Athletics Representative to the NCAA and CCIW for Millikin. Travis is also President of the Board of the Illinois Raptor Center, a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation and conservation organization in Decatur, IL. Travis received his B.S. in Biology from Eureka College and a M.S. and a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Memphis.

Walter Wilkins

Secretary

  • Retired Pastor Glassford IL United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church East Peoria, IL.  

  • Retired Librarian University of Illinois at Chicago and Bradley University 

  • Former Instructor Bradley University

  • B.A History, biology Illinois Wesleyan University

  • M.S. Library science University of Illinois

  • M.A. sociology/anthropology Illinois state University

  • M.A. Bradley University Educational Administration 

  • Phi Kappa Phi, Peoria Opera chorus, Philharmonic chorale, 

Jonathan Wright

Peoria IL

Vice Board Chair

  • Graduate of Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School

  • Denver Technical College, Information Systems programming certificate

  • BA in Business Management with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship, Bradley University, Peoria, IL.

  • Managing Editor, Peoria Magazines, Central Illinois Business Publishers

  • Former computer programmer and systems analyst, independent publisher, freelance writer, musician and concert promoter

  • Former board member of WCBU_FM, Peoria Radio and Arts Partners of Central IL

 

Advisors

 

Shae L. Birkey

Washington, IL

  • MS, Restoration Ecology and Conservation Biology

  • Former Caterpillar Inc. global water resources manager

  • Greater Peoria Economic Development Council Water Resources Team co-chair, IL Wastewater Operator’s Certification board member, Middle IL Water Supply Planning-Industry representative, Central IL Groundwater Protection Committee member

  • Water Resources and Dangerous Goods Transportation, Global Environmental Affairs, Health and Safety, Law and Public Policy, Legal Services Division, Caterpillar Tractor, Inc.

Preston Jackson

Dunlap, IL

Artists Resources Advisor

  • MFA, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL.

  • Professional painter, sculptor, and musician

  • Recipient of the State of Illinois Lincoln Award, nationally exhibited sculptor, Head of Sculpture Department at the Art Institute of Chicago, Art and Science in the Woods Instructor

Jo Lakota

Peoria, IL

  • MA, Bradley University, Peoria, IL

  • Artist and storyteller

  • Lakota and Yakima heritage, taught in Central Illinois and at Santé Fe Indian School, Board Member for University of Illinois 4-H Youth Program Development, Art and Science in the Woods instructor and former student