Stacey Skrysak is a seasoned journalist, public speaker and writer. But her proudest role is becoming a mother.

She’s the parent of a 22-weeker surviving triplet and a preschooler. Through her experience, she’s become a voice for child loss, premature birth and life after loss.

These days, Stacey sprinkles in the trials and tribulations of raising children as she navigates motherhood in her 40s. Stacey’s work can be found worldwide, appearing on popular sites like Today Show, Upworthy and Washington Post.

Tiffany M. E. Mathis Posey serves as the CEO & Executive Director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois. Under Ms. Mathis Posey’s leadership, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois has expanded to serve 22 locations which include 21 elementary and middle school sites throughout the Springfield and Jacksonville area; now recognized as the 2nd largest Boys & Girls Club organization in the state of Illinois.

As an engaged community member, Tiffany dedicates her time and efforts to various non-profit boards and community service organizations. She was most recently appointed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, to the Board of Trustees for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. She also served as Commissioner for the Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (Serve Illinois), Past President of the Rotary Club of Midtown Springfield, served on the Board of Trustees for the Hoogland Center for the Arts, and was a Member of the State Assessment Review Committee for the Illinois State Board of Education. Additionally, Tiffany is a passionate member of the LGBTQ Advisory Committee for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In 2021 Ms. Mathis Posey completed her term as School Board Member with Springfield Public School District 186 (Sub-District 5) and is proud to be a member of the Order of Eastern Star Estella No. 3 and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Springfield-Decatur Area Alumnae Chapter.

Among her many accomplishments and awards, Tiffany is a 2022 Champion for Children Award winner, a 2021 ATHENA Award Nominee, selected as “Woman of Influence” by Security Bank (2020), and recognized as an Outstanding Young Person of Illinois (2020) by the Illinois Jaycees for her volunteer leadership and humanitarianism.

Tiffany graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Ashford University where she was a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society.

Tiffany is a mother to four beautiful children, Avery, Nylah, August, & Leena and married to the absolute love of her life, Mr. Ethan Posey”

Rebecca Clark is the Manager of the Illinois State Fair.

She leads a team of nine who oversee the daily operations and activities on the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
Clark was hired to lead the Illinois State Fair in January 2022, and she is only the second female in the state’s history to hold the position.

Rebecca has an extensive background in communications and marketing, previously serving as the Communications Manager for the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). Prior to her work in the public sector, Rebecca used her Journalism degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as television news producer in Missouri, Tennessee and finally as a television news executive in Illinois. 

Rebecca is an Illinois native who grew up in a centennial family farm in south-central Illinois. She is married with four kids (Evan 10, Allison 7, Ellie 7 and Aiden 7) and currently lives in Sangamon County.

Michael is a Southern Illinois native with a strong background in sales, marketing, and leadership, all of which began in the retail industry. Passionate about helping companies develop stronger, more efficient workforces, he currently serves as the Director of Business Relationships for the Springfield Express Employment office.

In addition to his professional role, Michael is deeply committed to his community. He is the Board President for the Central Illinois Customer Service Association and a Past Chairman of the Salvation Army Board. Through these positions, Michael has developed meaningful relationships and gained valuable opportunities to support local organizations. He actively volunteers with The Outlet and other local agencies, always seeking ways to give back.

One of Michael’s greatest passions is connecting people to opportunities and resources, whether through collaborations with the Family Guidance Center, Gateway, Helping Hands, or local churches. His dedication to building bridges between individuals and the organizations that can support them has earned him recognition both locally and nationally. Michael was named a Top 50 Sales Representative for Express in 2019 and 2023 and was honored with numerous awards, including the Springfield Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, UIS’s “Good As Gold” volunteerism award, and the Hometown Hero Award from Modern Woodmen.

Michael’s dedication to both professional success and community involvement has shaped him into a trusted leader who continuously seeks to make a positive impact in the lives of others.

Taylor Stevens is the Regional Community Liaison for Synergy HomeCare of Central Illinois.

She began this journey after spending two years as a Legislative Assistant for the State of Illinois. Synergy HomeCare had just opened their doors when Taylor joined the team. In the last four years, Taylor has helped build the Springfield office into the top HomeCare agency in Springfield as we are recent recipients of the Best of the Capital and Best of Springfield awards. The goal of Synergy HomeCare is to help people of all ages stay in place, safe and independent in their home; wherever that may be for them by providing non medical services. Taylor felt like came full circle when Synergy HomeCare was presented to her because as a young girl, she would ride her bike around her hometown of Divernon to knock on doors to assist the elderly. A true passion that started from childhood and has continued through adulthood.

Taylor is described as seemingly to have more hours in the day than most of us do as she not only joins organizations like the Marketing Senior Lifestyles, Chamber of Commerce, IWIL, Senior Services of Central Illinois, Local First and SCAN; but also volunteers to chair committees and takes the lead on projects. Her quest to keep building her skillset is obvious as she is a graduate of Leadership Springfield, a 40 under 40 Recipient, Presidents Award Recipient through the Chamber of Commerce, Volunteer Award Recipient and an Athena Award Nominee. Through hard work, kindness, and determination; this Momma is determined to lead by example and show her daughter just how powerful a woman can be.

She is very excited as she strives to help continue to build Springfield and create solutions all around the community. “I’m just a small town girl with big dreams!”

Ryan McCrady is a native of Central Illinois and has worked extensively in the banking industry, economic development and local government administration. Prior to joining the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance (SSGA), he served as the President/CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur-Macon County, Illinois. His experiences in both the private and public sectors give him a unique perspective on how to help the community grow and assist businesses with expansion and site location needs.

In his role as SSGA President, Ryan is responsible for leading the SSGA in its efforts to make the community an attractive place for businesses to operate by capitalizing on the region’s significant workforce, transportation, rail and utility assets.

Ryan holds a Bachelor’s degree in finance from Illinois State University and an MBA from the University of Illinois. He and his wife, Jenna, are the proud parents of three children: Alex, Alison and Clifton.

Taryn Grant began her love for the arts as a young ballet student, violin student and as a former member of the Springfield Ballet Company. She continues that love as a dance instructor for many years. She is a graduate of the SIUE School of Business. After founding Springfield Youth Performance Group in 2005, she has served as the Executive Director of the nonprofit organization. In 2012, she founded the SYPG Foundation to support her mission of community arts outreach programming. Taryn has also choreographed and directed community theatre productions.

As part of the SYPG Foundation, Mighty Movers is a gross motor skills program that was created by Mrs. Grant for children in the community with developmental delays and at-risk youth. Over the last few years, Taryn has received specialized training from Boston Ballet, Dance for PD through the Mark Morris Dance Group, and American Ballet Theatre Teacher National Curriculum Training Program. She was also recently certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT).

In 2021, Mrs. Grant started a local chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts to recognize academic and humanitarian achievements of dance students. Other philanthropic activities include board member of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, board member of the HOPE Foundation and member of the International Association of Dance & Medical Science which focuses on the well-being and holistic development of dancers. Recent awards include 2023 Illinois Women of Leadership nominee and 2023 Good as Gold Volunteer recipient. Taryn is happily married and the mother of two children.

Angie is the CEO of the Springfield YMCA and also serves as President of the Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs. Angie began her career with the YMCA organization in high school working as a lifeguard and teaching swimming lessons. After an internship during college with the Y, Angie chose the YMCA as her career.

Angie began working there right after college and outside of a break from 2003 to 2011 as a stay-at-home mom, she has spent her career as an employee, advocate, and leader for the Springfield YMCA.

Under Angie’s tenure, the Springfield YMCA has grown dramatically including the construction of two state-of-the-art facilities, as well as expansion outside of Springfield. She has held many positions at the YMCA and served on the Alliance Board for the last 4 years.

Angie has been nominated for numerous awards within the YMCA, most recently the Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs Leadership Legacy Award in 2023.

Scott has served as Director of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau since August 2018.

Prior to leading the SCVB, he was Regional Director of Membership for the Illinois Hotel &

Lodging Association for sixteen years. Scott started his tourism career operating hotels for
Equity Hotel Corporation in Illinois and Missouri. He has been active with the Springfield
Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Springfield Inc., Medals4Mettle, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and 

Scott has lived in Springfield for 28 years with his wife, Brandi. They have two children, Nathan (20) and Kaitlyn (16). Scott enjoys time with family & friends, running and golf.

Melissa Horn began her Chamber career with The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce 2 ½ years ago. She oversees the planning and execution of all the events that The Chamber brings to the community. 

This includes monthly morning networking events, Coffee & Connections, monthly evening networking events, Chamber on Tap, along with the Annual Gala, Small Business Awards, ‘Shoes, Brews & Biz’, State of Greater Springfield, the Job Fairs, Elected Officials Reception and the Economic Outlook
Breakfast.

She also serves on the Corporate Cup Challenge Golf Committee.
Melissa is a Leadership Springfield Graduate, Class of 2023. She is currently finishing up her bachelor’s degree in business management with Southern New Hampshire University and will graduate in May of 2025. She earned her Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) certification in 2016.

She resides in Auburn and is married to Eric, owner / operator of Auburn Dumpster Rentals. They have one child, Emerson, who is a very active seven-year-old.

Jenna Broom is a Divernon native, public servant, and proud Springfield resident.

She has been a member of the Springfield Jaycees since 2017, holding the role of Chapter President in 2021. Jenna has also served on the Board of Directors for the
Family Service Center since 2019. She has assisted with the Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series, most recently coordinating the series’ inaugural Community Row.

Jenna also serves as a board member-at-large with the Coalition of Rainbow Alliances (CORAL). She is also a passionate champion in the fight to beat malaria with the UN Foundation and United to Beat Malaria. Jenna holds a Master of Public Administration with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Illinois in Springfield, and a Bachelor of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago (Go Ramblers!).

She has been a Grant Manager with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity since 2019. When she’s not volunteering or working, Jenna likes to watch soccer, read comic books, play trivia, and experience the world through food.

Lakeisha Purchase is a proven leader working to lead positive change in government, private sector housing rehabilitation, historic preservations while making a lasting impact through community and public service.

Purchase was raised in Maywood, Illinois by hardworking parents – her father, a letter carrier and President of the National Association Letter Carriers Branch 1870, and her mother, an advocate in medical field.

First in her family to attend college, LaKeisha graduated from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Communications. While there, she became a Paul Simon Institute Ambassador.

Ms.Purchase received invaluable hands-on legislative experience as an intern in the District Office of Illinois Senator Kimberly A. Lightford and in Springfield after completing the Vince Demuzio internship program as an undergraduate student.

Lakeisha Purchase is a dynamic leader who brings energy, enthusiasm, dedication and determination to all she does.

Outside the realm of politics, Lakeisha is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, she enjoys exercising and loves spending time with her cat Tiger.

As a kid I grew up in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Illinois became my home 30 years ago. I currently reside in Chatham and am enjoying the community and events there. For 7 years now I have been the General Manager of S&K Buick GMC. I have extensive experience in the Automotive Industry. However, when I came to Springfield Il as the GM of S&K something was different.

This became home. I have been actively involved in helping our community. I frequently organize fund raisers at the dealership to help our less fortunate, children and
veterans in our community.

My hobby is refinishing antique furniture…which I also collect. I enjoy bringing back the beauty the furniture once held.

Last but not least…I have a cat named “Squeak.”