“I love working with the Belleville CEO Program. It gives me great hope for the future of our community and the country to work with respectful and smart young adults who are turning good ideas and hard work into businesses”.

Ms. Boyer is a registered professional engineer in the states of Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Indiana, and Minnesota, and she is a Founder and President of Kaskaskia Engineering Group, LLC located in Belleville, Illinois.  Prior to forming KEG, Ms. Boyer managed the Transportation Engineering Department for a local consultant. 

Ms. Boyer’s previous experience also includes ten years of service with the Illinois Department of Transportation in various civil engineering positions. Most recently, Ms. Boyer was the Local Roads Field Engineer for Madison, Bond, Clinton, and Washington Counties.

As Manager of KEG, Geri provides leadership and strategic planning to achieve and maintain the company’s mission and vision; she facilitates organizational growth and professional development of all employees; she oversees the day-to-day operations and ensures the quality of all projects engineered, inspected, and built by KEG.

Ms. Boyer studied Mining Engineering at the University of Missouri at Rolla and received her Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.  She also has a Masters of Pastoral Studies from Loyola University at New Orleans.

Throughout her career, she has promoted and nourished her community through business relationships as well as spiritual and religious endeavors.  Ms. Boyer is the President of the Belleville CEO program, Vice-president of the Illinois American Consulting Engineering Council, and serves on the Protestant Memorial Medical Center Board and the Memorial Foundation Board. She is an executive member of Belle-Scott Committee. She is also member of the City of Belleville’s Development/Redevelopment Commission, is on the Board of Directors for Community Kindness, and serves on the professional advisory committee for Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. Additionally, she serves on the preaching team at The King’s House Retreat and Renewal Center.  She has completed Diaconal Ministry training with her husband, Deacon Doug Boyer, and serves with him at Saints Peter and Paul parish in Waterloo, Illinois. 

Ms. Boyer was recognized as the 2014 Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Outstanding Civil Engineering Alumna of the Year, a 2014 Top Women Business Owner by Small Business Monthly, and one of the 2011 St. Louis Business Journal’s top 25 Most Influential Business Women in 2011. She has also received the 2011 Faith in the Marketplace Award and the ACEC-Illinois Community Service Award.

 KEG was also honored as Engineering Firm of the Year by the Illinois Department of Transportation in 2014.

 She has two children and two grandchildren and resides with husband in Belleville, Illinois.  She has lived in and served her local community for the last 20 years.

"I have had the opportunity to see the impact CEO has had on the Althoff Catholic students. This is a life changing class that allows the students to meet so many professionals from our community. They learn leadership and creative skills that will help them in their professional growth. The CEO class has an amazing facilitator, Julie Siebers who supports the students throughout the year. We are fortunate to have so many Belleville business partners."

Education
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Work Experience
Althoff Catholic High School – 1994-Present
1994-2008 Development Director
2008- Counselor

Affiliations
Rotary Interact Mentor- Althoff Catholic High School 2008- Present
BASIC –Belleville Achieves Strength in Character Mentor for Youth Board – 2009-Present
Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce – Education Committee
Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish- Past School Board Member- St. Vincent De Paul Society Current Member
Junior Service of St. Clair County – 1988 – Sustaining Member
Belleville CEO Board of Directors 2015

Special Recognitions
Belleville Citizens of Character Award – 2011
Racial Harmony Phenominal Woman Award – 2011
Althoff Catholic Distinguished Alumni Award - 2015

As the Assistant Superintendent of Belleville Township High School District #201, I am very excited to offer this innovative program to our students. I am humbled to serve on the Belleville CEO Board! As a local business owner, I am excited to see a "grow our own" program develop. Learning business skills now will give these students an advantage moving forward.

EDUCATION
• SIU-Carbondale, Type 75 – Supt. Certification, 2007
• SIU-Edwardsville, M.S., Education Administration, 2002
• SIU-Edwardsville, B.S., Education, 1998

WORK EXPERIENCE
• Assistant Superintendent, Belleville Township High District No. 201, July 2012 to present.
• Superintendent, Millstadt CCSD #160, 2010-2012
• Principal, Director of Title I, and Director of Buildings and Grounds, 2004-2010
• Teacher, Belleville School District #118, 1998-2004

ASSOCIATIONS
• Member, Illinois Association of School Administrators
• Member, Illinois Association of School Business Officials
• Member, Illinois Principals’ Association

PERSONAL ASSOCIATIONS
• President, Franklin Neighborhood Community Association
• Member, Ainad-Shriners
• Member, Ainad-Shriners Hospital Unit
• Member, Scottish Rite
• Member, Mason’s Lodge #24
• Board Member, United Way

The Lowery Benefits Services and Northwestern Mutual have always been strong believers and supporters of our community.  We see the CEO program as an important investment for the future of our community.  The program will enable students to get a taste of entrepreneurship and experience it within the businesses of our local community.               Chris & Roger Lowery

Graduated with a B.S. from the University of Missouri, Columbia

Roger began his insurance and investment career as a one man office in Belleville in 1968 as Financial Representative. In 1973 he became Managing Director. He now holds the Senior Representative contract with Northwestern Mutual in Fairview Heights, IL and owner of Lowery Benefit Services.

Serves as the Chairman of the CEO Board

Serves on the Board of Directors for Allsup Inc., Belleville, IL

Past Chairman of the Board of Directors for Memorial Hospital, Belleville, IL

Board Member for Southwestern Illinois College Foundation

Roger works with business owners and professionals in the community specializing in estate planning, business succession and employee benefit planning.

On a personal note, Roger is married to his wife, Elaine, for 50 years. He has three grown children: Julie, Christopher and Patrick as well as eight grandchildren. He enjoys reading, playing golf, traveling and watching college sports

“Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of any community because of the new businesses, jobs and economic opportunity they create for that community. And since Belleville needs new businesses, Belleville needs new entrepreneurs. That is why Belleville’s new CEO program is so very important. Its purpose is to give high school students a peek at what entrepreneurship is all about—because the more that students understand what entrepreneurship is, the more students will choose to be entrepreneurs. I am excited to be a part of Belleville’s new CEO program because it represents the future of what Belleville can be.”

Jim Allsup founded Allsup in 1984 as the first nationwide, non-attorney Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) representation provider. More than 30 years later, as president and CEO, he heads an organization of hundreds of professionals headquartered in Belleville, Illinois. Allsup and its affiliates are innovators of specialized services and technologies that help meet the financial and healthcare needs of American with disabilities. The company is the premier provider of Social Security disability, veterans disability appeal, exchange plan and Medicare services for individuals, employers and insurance carriers. His company has helped more than 250,000 people receive $21 billion in SSDI payments and Medicare benefits.

Upon graduating from college, Mr. Allsup accepted a position as a field representative with the Social Security Administration. After four years, realizing there should be a better way for individuals to collect their disability benefits, he left government service to establish Allsup in Belleville. Belleville is located in southwestern Illinois, about 15 miles from St. Louis.

Recognized as an authority on disability-related Social Security and Medicare issues, Mr. Allsup was highly influential in the legislative clarification of the 1993 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which mandated Medicare pay primary for non-working disabled employees. He also has testified before the House and Senate in Washington, D.C., on these and other issues.

Mr. Allsup has enjoyed professional success on many levels. In 1991, he completed construction of the 53,000-square-foot corporate headquarters building on a 30-acre campus in Belleville. In 1992, Allsup received its third consecutive Inc. 500 award, which recognizes America’s fastest-growing private companies. In 2006, the Better Business Bureau presented Allsup its prestigious Torch Award for world-class customer service. Mr. Allsup was recognized by the Invisible Disabilities Association with its 2009 Advocacy Award. Allsup was a finalist in the 2010 BBB International Torch Awards for Marketplace Excellence. Mr. Allsup and his company also received the Distinguished Corporate Partner Award for Excellence in 2014, presented by the John Cook School of Business at Saint Louis University.

Dedicated to the local business community, Mr. Allsup is a member of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and is involved with the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce.

A successful entrepreneur, Mr. Allsup shares his experiences as sponsor and presenter for the Allsup Entrepreneurship Academy. This summer academy for high school students is offered through two programs hosted by Saint Louis University (SLU) in Missouri and Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) in Illinois.

Mr. Allsup is an Air Force veteran and a graduate of Belleville Area College (now Southwestern Illinois College) and Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.

I am proud to be part of the area business community bringing this transformational program to our high schools.  This is a unique opportunity for several enterprising area students to be out of the traditional school environment, raise their awareness of entrepreneurial opportunities, and allow them to experience starting a new business.  No doubt this will pay dividends to our community in the future.

Work Experience:

President/CEO of Bank of Belleville, January 2005 - Present.

Executive Vice President, Commericial Banking Executive at Magna Bank (now Regions Bank), July 1994 - January 2005.

Senior Vice President at Mercantile Bank, October 1991 - March 1994.

Vice President, Senior Loan Officer at Mark Twain Bank, January 1986 - October 1991.

Assistant Vice President at General Bank (now Bank of America), November 1982 - December 1985.

Associate National Bank Examiner; U.S. Treasury Department - OCC, January 1980 - November 1982.

Education:

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

Master of Business Administration, 1987

BSBA - Professional Accounting Specialization, 1979

Affiliations:

Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce; 2004 Chairman of the Board. Board member since 1999.

YMCA of Southwestern Illinois; Finance Committee Chairman 2002 - 2004; Board Member since 1998.

Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish and School; Trustee 1999 – 2007; School Board Member 1995 – 1997; School Board President 1997. 

Belle-Scott Committee; since 2004. 

Rotary Club of St. Clair County (West); since 1992; President 1999-2000; Board Member.

St. Louis Zoo Associaton; Board Member 2015.

Belleville Hospitals’ Golf and Tennis Classic Committee; since 2003-Present; Chairman in 2007 and 2008.

Okaw Valley Council of Boy Scouts; Executive Board 2005 – 2007; Advisory Board 1992 - 2005.

River Bluffs Council of Girl Scouts; Board of Directors 1994 – 1999; Delegate to the National Convention in 1996.

Althoff Catholic High School; Board Member 2007-2010; Finance Committee 2007 - Present.

United Way of Greater St. Louis, Illinois Division; Auxiliary Board of Directors 2007- 2009.

St. Elizabeth’s Hospital; Executive Board 2009 – 2011; Community Advisory Board 2007 - 2009.

Belleville CEO Program. Board of Directors 2015.

Operation Food Search; Honorary Chairman of Operation Weekend Backpack Program 2013 – 2014, Belleville District 118.

Special Recognition:

2006 Kimmel Community Service Award.

Belleville Township High School District 201 is very excited about this wonderful opportunity for students. The CEO program allows students opportunities to develop an entrepreneurial spirit through unique real-world experiences in our local business community. I look forward to seeing the creative ideas of our students develop into solid business plans that will enhance our communities for years to come.

EDUCATION
• St. Louis University, Ed. D., Educational Leadership, 2007
• SIU-Edwardsville, M.S., Education Administration, 1991
• McKendree College, B.S. Education, 1987

WORK EXPERIENCE
• Superintendent, Belleville Township High District No. 201, December 2011 to present
• Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, Belleville Township High School District No. 201, 2007-2011
• Assistant Superintendent for Finance, Belleville District 118, 2005-2007
• Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Belleville District 118, 2004-2005
• Principal of Franklin School, Director of Title I and Prekindergarten programs, Belleville District 118, 1999-2004
• Principal of Henry Raab and Washington Schools, Belleville District 118, 1994-1999
• Dean of Students, Central and West Jr. High Schools, Belleville District 118, 1993-1994
• Teacher, West Jr. High School, Belleville District 118, 1989-1993
• Teacher, Jefferson Elementary School, Belleville District 118, 1988-1989

ASSOCIATIONS
• Member, Illinois Association of School Business Officials
• Member, Illinois Association of Title I Directors
• Member, Illinois Principals’ Association
• Member, Illinois Association of School Administrators.

AREAS OF CERTIFICATION
• Type 75, Superintendent Endorsement
• Type 75, General Administrative, K-12
• Type 09, Secondary Education, 6-12
• Approval for Learning Disabilities and Learning Behavior Specialist I

I’ve been excited and proud to be part of this experience for our local students. I only wish I could’ve had the same opportunity when I was in high school. The CEO program has been a great tool in teaching lessons outside the classroom in a real business world setting and helping to shape the future business leaders of our community.

Education

LL.M. - Taxation, University of Miami School of Law, 2006
J.D., University of Miami School of Law, 2005
B.B.A. - Accounting, University of Notre Dame, 2002

Bar Admissions

Florida
Illinois
Missouri

Practice Groups

Business Services
Joint Ventures & Strategic Alliances

Trusts & Estates
Asset & Divorce
Protection Planning
Charitable Planning
Corporate Fiduciary Representation
Estate Planning
Estate, Gift & Fiduciary Income Tax Return Preparation
Estate, Gift & Income Tax Planning
Family Business & Succession Planning
Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
Probate & Trust Administration

 Community Involvement

• Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, 2014-present
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois, 2012-present
• St. Louis Sports Commission, board member, 2016-present; associates board of directors, 2008-2016, vice chair, 2013-2016
• St. Louis Children's Hospital, Legacy Advisors, 2010-present
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, 2002-2005
• Belleville CEO Class, board member, 2015-present

“Both in estate planning and business counseling, I enjoy the great personal contact I have with clients. You develop a close bond, which is why it’s important for them to trust you.”

Through the often-personal experience of estate planning, Garry Reuter builds clients’ trust with a personable approach that draws on his advanced knowledge of complex tax planning. Working with individuals and families in Illinois, Missouri, and Florida, his services include:

• Drafting trusts (revocable and irrevocable), wills and powers of attorney for financial and health care matters
• Tax planning for estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and federal and state income taxes
• Tax return preparation for individuals and fiduciaries
• Trust and probate administration
• Premarital and postmarital agreements
• Planned charitable giving

Garry also works with owners of closely-held companies, with clients in areas ranging from physician practices, to family-owned restaurants, to construction and development companies. Garry advises and ass o ists clients with the formation of business entities (e.g. corporations, limited liability companies, general and limited partnerships); preparation of shareholder agreements, operating agreements, and buy-sell agreements; and instruction on other general business needs. Garry also helps business owners with succession planning and tax planning, helping them develop strategies for passing a business to the next generation of owners.

Garry has an LL.M. degree in taxation and worked as a legal intern for the Internal Revenue Service Office of Chief Counsel in Miami. Before joining Greensfelder, he spent several years handling trusts and estates planning at another large St. Louis-based firm.

Having now been a mentor, investor, and a board member I have been truly impressed with the students every year. The confidence this builds in the students is truly remarkable. Within the first month or two of the year they are very comfortable speaking with business owners in the community, something that I know I, as a high school senior, was definitely not as confident in or comfortable with. This skill and confidence alone gives the students the ability to propel themselves into their futures, whether that be directly into Entrepreneurship, college, or something else.

In 2015, Josh McDermott assumed ownership of the Belleville-based home remodeling company his father started more than 25 years ago after serving as its business manager.

During his tenure, Josh has worked quickly to modernize and formalize work practices and policies to make the company more efficient with the goal of providing a high quality experience to the customer. Those techniques included introducing an online forum for the company and client to communicate, share photos and update schedules. Another was offering third-party online surveying of customers to identify company strengths and weaknesses. Finally, Josh launched a digital online marketing program to assist in enhancing the company’s online presence in targeted markets on both sides of the river.

Josh is proud to continue the tradition started by his father of nurturing a family-centered culture within the company. In fact, J.T. McDermott boasts two employees who have been there since the company began.

Another tradition is the company’s deep involvement within the community. J.T. McDermott supports myriad local groups, organizations, events and causes.

Education

• Graduate of Althoff High School, 1999
• Bachelor Science in Business, University of Missouri-Columbia 2003

Work Experience

• Specialty Sales Professional, Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals 2004-2010
  • Sales awards including Regional, National, and International awards.
• Business Manager, J.T. McDermott Remodeling 2010-1015
• Owner, J.T. McDermott Remodeling 2015-Present
• Certified Graduate Remodeler, National Association of Homebuilders
• Mentor, Belleville Area CEO Program
• Board Member, Homebuilder’s and Remodeler’s Association, Southwestern IL
• Board Member, Belleville Area CEO Program
• Professional Remodeler Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2017

Patrick B. Mathis is a founding shareholder at Mathis, Marifian and Richter (MMR) who focuses his practice in business law, banking, estate planning, and taxation. 
With over 30 years of experience, Pat has an extensive background in providing legal counsel related to business mergers, sales and acquisitions, shareholder litigation, trusts and wills, probate, federal and state tax audits and appeals, Tax Court litigation, and criminal tax defense. He has written several definitive articles on various aspects of each area. 

Over the past 34 years at MMR, Pat has provided a full range of legal services to clients in the Southern Illinois and St. Louis Metropolitan areas. His mission is to deliver superior personalized service to every client, no matter how large or how small. He has the knowledge to identify the issues and find creative solutions, whether it’s analyzing complex tax or estate planning issues or advising business clients. 

Professional Affiliations
Pat is a member of the American Bar Association, and he has been a member of the organization’s Taxation Section since 1980. He has also served on the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis’ Taxation Committee for the past 19 years.

Pat is currently a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, where he has served as chairman of the federal Taxation Section Council; the St. Clair County Bar Association; Missouri Bar; Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), where he has served as a member and chairman of the board of directors; the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the Illinois Supreme Court Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission. He has conducted numerous seminars and educational programs for the IICLE and the American, Illinois State and Metropolitan St. Louis Bar Associations. Pat has also been named to Illinois’ Leading Lawyers and Illinois Super Lawyers for several consecutive years, as well as to Who’s Who in American Law. 

Community Involvement
Pat has been a member trustee of Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois since 2006 and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Belleville High School CEO Program. He has served on the Board of Directors for the March of Dimes, Southern Illinois District; as a board member for the Southwestern Illinois College Foundation and for Camp Ondessonk of the Catholic Diocese of Belleville; and as a Southern Illinois University Foundation Planned Giving Council Member. He also previously served on the Board of Directors for St. Clair County Greenspace Foundation and Signal Hill Neighborhood Association, and he was also a board member for the Signal Hill Education Foundation and Signal Hill School District. Pat also previously served on Special Children, Inc.’s Finance Committee for Mamie O. Stookey School and as Chairman of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of St. Clair County’s Annual Fund Drive. He is involved in Blessed Sacrament Parish, having been a member of the Finance and Parish Councils and serving as president and as a Parish School of Religion teacher. Pat is also a member of the Missouri Athletic Club, St. Clair Country Club, Alpha Sigma Nu, and Eta Sigma Phi.

 Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Bar Association, Member, Taxation Section, 1980 - 1992
• American Bar Association, Member, Domestic Relations Tax Problem Committee, Taxation Section, 1982 - 1988
• American Bar Association, Vice Chairman, Alimony Issues Subcommittee, Taxation Section, 1984 - 1986
• American Bar Association, Member, Civil and Criminal Tax Penalties Committee, Taxation Section, 1989 - 1992
• American Bar Association, Member, General Practice Section, 1987 - 1988
• American Bar Association, Chairman, Taxation Committee, General Practice Section, 1989 - 1991
• American Bar Association, Vice Chairman, Taxation Committee, General Practice Section, 1987 - 1989
• Illinois State Bar Association, Member, Federal Taxation Section Council, 1980-1985 and 1989-1991
• Illinois State Bar Association, Vice Chairman, Federal Taxation Section Council, 1991 - 1992
• Illinois State Bar Association, Secretary, Federal Taxation Section Council, 1990 - 1991
• Illinois State Bar Association, Chairman, Corporate Tax Division, Federal Taxation Section, 1983 - 1985
• Illinois State Bar Association, Editor, Federal Taxation Section Newsletter, 1982 - 1985
• Missouri Bar Association, Member
• Clair County Bar Association, Member
• Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Member, Taxation Committee, 1989 - 1991
• Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education(IICLE), Board of Directors, 1990 - Present
• Clair County Greenspace Foundation, Board of Directors, 1990 - Present
• Signal Hill Neighborhood Association, Board of Directors, 1989 - Present
• Special Children, Inc. (Mamie O. Stookey School), Finance Committee, 1987 - Present
• Missouri Athletic Club, Member
• Blessed Sacrament Church, Member
• American College of Trust and Estate Counsel

Donor Services Manager
St. Louis Community Foundation
December 2010 – Present  
Greater St. Louis Area
Donor/Fund -holder interaction and engagement. Strategic philanthropy, family meetings, intergeneration communication and giving strategies. Grant processing.

Owner
In All Things
September 1999 – Present
Wholesale and Retail distribution of top quality 'green' home care, cosmetics, and nutrition products. Also affiliated with major brands in a variety of other areas.

Mortgage Banker
Envoy Mortgage
August 2009 – September 2010
Residential Mortgage Banker.

Corporate Development & Loan Officer
USA Mortgage
September 2006 – April 2009
B2B and B2C
Retail loan officer for local major mortgage lender. Also assisted in development of referral relationships, including Financial Advisors, CPAs, and Real Estate Agents.

Business Development Manager (Sales Rep)
MILA
September 2003 – September 2006
B2B
Wholesale representative for major mortgage lender offering primarily non-conforming products and technologically advanced solutions. Emphasis on training loan officers to effectively utilize the technology to empower them in controlling more of the loan process for their borrowers. President's Club (Top 10 Account Executive) 2004. Achieved same volumes in an overall shrinking market in 2005.

Business Development Manager (Rep)
Indymac Bank
July 2002 – September 2003
Wholesale representative of mortgage products primarily focused in the Alt-A arena.

Administrative Assistant to the CEO
Indymac Bank
January 2000 – June 2002
As assistant to the CEO was responsible for maintaining CEO calendar of 50+ meetings each month and keeping him on schedule. Worked extensively with all Senior Managers reporting to the CEO. Also handled most phone calls and many e-mails directed to the CEO. Multiple other typical administrative functions.

Vice President of Administration
Pasadena YMCA
May 1993 – September 1999
Held a series of positions with the Pasadena YMCA beginning as Administrative Assistant to the CEO and growing to Vice President of Administration. As VP of Administration handled all Human Resources functions including: update of HR policies and procedures; created and streamlined job descriptions; conducted salary survey. Also supervised Camp branch in Big Bear, California and served as Interim Director of Pasadena Branch; including hiring and firing of program directors and staff; tracking budgets; designing and implementing sales and marketing strategies.

Account Administrator
IBM
January 1984 – July 1990
Performed a variety of marketing and administrative support functions. Most involved working directly with customers on implementing sales plans; ordering and coordinating the installation of equipment; accounts receivable; designing on-going systems to track sales commissions, customer maintenance agreements, and other problem areas as identified.

Principia College
BA, English
1979 – 1983