WHAT CEO BOARD MEMBERS DO
Board members are active, engaged community leaders who volunteer their time and expertise to the operational oversight of our local CEO Program.
Facilitator Support: Board members provide ongoing support to the CEO Facilitator.
Event Planning: Board members plan and execute key CEO events, including investor and mentor socials, and the student trade show.
Student Recruitment & Selection: Board members organize recruitment efforts, engage with local schools, and oversee the selection of CEO students.
Mentorship Coordination: Board members recruit mentors, manage mentor-student pairings, and ensure mentor program success.
School Liaison: Board members maintain communication with school administrators to coordinate student participation and scheduling.
Investor Recruitment & Care: Board members recruit and maintain relationships with local investors, ensuring the program's financial sustainability.
Who is a board member?
Meet the local leaders who make up our CEO Board.
Kraig Ritter
PartnerBoard Chair
Kim Ekena
RetiredVice Chair Committees: Investor Recruitment & Care
Angi Carter
Vice President LendingTreasurer Committees: Investor Recruitment & CareAngi Carter, is a Vice President of Lending for Farm Credit IL servicing Moultrie, Macon and DeWitt counties. She manages a $90 Mil + portfolio of farmers and agricultural investors. She is a graduate of Southern Illinois University and resides in rural DeWitt with her husband, Jud and 2 children. She has lived the majority of her life in DeWitt county.
Kevin Maxwell
FounderSecretary Committees: Investor Recruitment & Care
Ryan Aupperle
Farm ManagerBoard Member Committees: Investor Recruitment & CareRyan Aupperle is an owner, farm manager and real estate broker at Heartland Ag Group, Ltd. Heartland manages farmland for absentee landowners and provides real estate brokerage, appraisal and consulting services. Ryan is a graduate of the University of Illinois and resides outside of Maroa with his wife, Rachel and two kids. CEO is a unique opportunity to give back to the community and expose students to a wide variety of businesses in our area.
Katherine Brodbeck
OwnerBoard Member Committees: Investor Recruitment & CareKatherine is originally from a farm in Kentucky. After graduating with a degree in Economics from the University of Kentucky, she made her way to central Illinois in 2006 to work as a commodities trader for ADM. Since leaving ADM, she has lived in Ohio, southern Illinois and most recently Bucharest, Romania. Katherine and her family returned from Europe and settled outside Warrensburg. Her two children attend Warrensbug-Latham Elementary.
Curt Nettles
Retired SuperintendentBoard Member Committees: Facilitator Review / HireCurt Nettles is in his fourth year as the superintendent of Clinton CUSD 15. He previously has served as a superintendent and principal in three other districts, while beginning his educational career as a teacher and coach. He earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree at Eastern Illinois as well as his superintendent’s designation from Illinois State University. Curt lives with his wife and family in rural Dewitt County. He believes the CEO program will offer great opportunities for students that have that creative and entrepreneurial edge.
John Oakley
Retired DirectorBoard Member Committees: Investor Recruitment & Care
Hillary Stanifer
SuperintendentBoard Member Committees: Facilitator Review / HireDr. Stanifer currently serves as the Superintendent of Blue Ridge CUSD#18. She has previously served as the Curriculum Coordinator for Blue Ridge, and has spent time as an administrator in Champaign Unit 4 and Edwardsville District 7. Prior to her years in administration, she taught middle school and high school math in Edwardsville, Collinsville, and Temperance, Michigan. Dr. Stanifer and her husband have three adult daughters and one granddaughter. During her free time, Dr. Stanifer can be found solving number puzzles or baking!
Brian Waddell
Director of ProcurementBoard MemberBrian Waddell is Director of Sales & Procurement for the HarBrand Company, which includes MARCO N.P.K. Inc., a wholesale plant nutrition manufacturing business located in Clinton, Illinois. HarBrand is a founding member of Central Illinois CEO and supports the positive impact that the program provides to students in our local communities. Brian has over 27 years of experience in the agribusiness industry and has been with the HarBrand Company since 2009. He is a graduate of Illinois State University, and he and his wife Jill reside in Normal, Illinois with their three children: Addilyn, Clara, and Charlie.
Cheryl Warner
SuperintendentBoard MemberMrs. Cheryl Warner is beginning her first year as Superintendent with Warrensburg-Latham CUSD #11 in 2020-2021. This is her 25th year in education. She previously served as a Principal in the Mt. Zion CUSD #3 for over ten years at Mt. Zion High School and McGaughey Elementary. Prior to that she was a Special Education Administrator servicing K-12 students in various Decatur schools through the Macon Piatt Special Education Cooperative. Prior to that she was an Assistant Professor at Eastern Illinois University in the Department of Secondary Education and Foundations. Her first teaching position was as a Special Education Teacher at Mattoon High School. Mrs. Warner was recently recognized as the School Administrator of the Year through the Illinois School Counselor Association. She earned her Superintendent license, Master's and Bachelor's Degrees as well as her Reading Specialist from Eastern Illinois University. Her educational areas of expertise include working with at-risk students, curriculum and assessment development, differentiated instruction, and developing tiers of intervention and enrichment for students. Mrs. Warner is married and she and her husband have two daughters.
