Ensuring CEO’s long-term growth and impact in the community.
Our board of local volunteers manages the core functions that keep CEO strong.
Active Board Members
The Community Leaders Behind CEO
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.

Rachael Judd
Executive DirectorBoard ChairRachael Judd has served as an LLCEO Mentor and Board Member, currently serving as Chairman. She is ... Learn More

Rachael Judd
Executive DirectorBoard Chair Committees: Event Coordinator, Alumni, Media, Facilitator Review / Hire, Investor Recruitment & Care, MentoringRachael Judd has served as an LLCEO Mentor and Board Member, currently serving as Chairman. She is invested in the Logan County community through Chester 4-H and the Lincoln Community Garden Project. Rachael resides in Lincoln with her family and enjoys supporting the growing group of entreprenuers in our community.

Michelle Bauer
Financial RepresentativeVice ChairMichelle Bauer is a Financial Representative with COUNTRY Financial in downtown Lincoln. ... Learn More

Michelle Bauer
Financial RepresentativeVice Chair Committees: Event Coordinator, Facilitator Review / Hire, Investor Recruitment & Care, MentoringMichelle Bauer is a Financial Representative with COUNTRY Financial in downtown Lincoln. Prior to her career with COUNTRY Financial she was the Director of Transition Services at Lincoln College. She has served as a CEO mentor and was thrilled to be asked to participate as a member of the board. She believes CEO allows her the opportunity to combine her passions for watching young people come into their own and giving back to the community that has given her a place to call home. She shares her life with her husband, Todd, and 2 daughters Alaina & Sophia. She currently serves on the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Board of Directors and the Logan County Professional Network board. She is a member of the Lincoln Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary and former City of Lincoln Alderman. She is an avid Chicago White Sox fan and musical theater junkie.

David Pickering
CFOTreasurerDavid Pickering is the CFO of The First National Bank in Tremont. He was born and raised in the ... Learn More

David Pickering
CFOTreasurer Committees: Investor Recruitment & CareDavid Pickering is the CFO of The First National Bank in Tremont. He was born and raised in the town of Lincoln. After spending several years working in the surrounding area, he has returned to become a resident of the town he grew up in. David is married to Molly Gleason and they are expecting their first child in February of 2023. In his free time, he enjoys golf, basketball and basically anything competitive. With over 12 years in banking David plans to use this experience to help the young people in the area succeed in business thus strengthening the local community.

Ashley Bryan
Warranty AdministratorSecretaryAshley Bryan, an LLEO Alumni to the class of the 2016-2017 . She attended Hartsburg-Emden Jr./Sr. ... Learn More

Ashley Bryan
Warranty AdministratorSecretary Committees: Alumni, Facilitator Review / Hire, MentoringAshley Bryan, an LLEO Alumni to the class of the 2016-2017 . She attended Hartsburg-Emden Jr./Sr. High School. She then furthered her education at Heartland Community College on a scholarship and Illinois State University where she majored in Agribusiness on a scholarship as well. She has worked for investor Central Illinois Ag since 2017. She is the Warranty Administrator at Central Illinois Ag. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Zach Bryan and her son Clark as well as her family and friends on their farm. She loves to be able to give back to a program that gave her so much.

Kelsi Edwards
Associate Director, Academic AdvisorBoard MemberKelsi Edwards is a lifelong resident of Lincoln. She has worked at Heartland Community College for ... Learn More

Kelsi Edwards
Associate Director, Academic AdvisorBoard Member Committees: MentoringKelsi Edwards is a lifelong resident of Lincoln. She has worked at Heartland Community College for nine years. In her current role, she serves as the Associate Director, Academic Advisor, Success Coach and Recruiter for the Lincoln service area.Her passion for education drives the desire to encourage the success of students, allowing them to explore opportunities to foster personal growth. She understands the value the CEO program provides for students to learn life skills and the importance of being involved. She currently serves on the Mentor Committee. Aside from these duties, Kelsi is a wife, mother of three and is currently the President of Logan County Pride, a non-profit organization.

Robert Puckett
Lincoln Land Technical Education Center DirectorBoard MemberAs LTEC Director, I am committed to providing the best career and technical education opportunities ... Learn More

Robert Puckett
Lincoln Land Technical Education Center DirectorBoard Member Committees: Facilitator Review / Hire, School CoordinatorAs LTEC Director, I am committed to providing the best career and technical education opportunities to Lincoln Community High School and the surrounding LTEC member schools. Our mission at LTEC, is to prepare students to be successful after high school. Whether entering the work force, or continuing their education, LTEC has all kinds of career and technical education programs for any junior or senior student. Most of our learning is “hands on” where students will be expected to participate, think critically, and work independently. At the completion of an LTEC class, students will have gained valuable job skills while obtaining insight into various rewarding careers.
John Robinson
Business InstructorBoard MemberJohn Robinson is in his 16th year teaching High School Business at Hartsburg-Emden HS in Hartsburg ... Learn More
John Robinson
Business InstructorBoard Member Committees: Event Coordinator, School CoordinatorJohn Robinson is in his 16th year teaching High School Business at Hartsburg-Emden HS in Hartsburg, IL. He is also an adjunct instructor at Heartland Community College in Normal, IL, teaching Accounting Fundamentals. In his spare time, John is a public address announcer for different school sporting events. He produces content for fantasy football, both as a writer for Fantistics, and audio with a radio show every Sunday morning on ESPN Peoria during the NFL Season, as well as appearances on the Fantasy Sports Channel on SiriusXM. John has had several students go through the CEO program during his time teaching high school, and he has seen these students increase their skills and self-confidence because of the CEO Program. He enjoys watching each class go through the program's learning process. He is honored to have two former Hartsburg-Emden students, one of whom was in a CEO class, serve on the Land of Lincoln CEO Board.

Bridget Schneider
Financial AdvisorBoard MemberBridget Schneider's interest in Land of Lincoln CEO stems from a desire to help the youth in our ... Learn More

Bridget Schneider
Financial AdvisorBoard Member Committees: Event Coordinator, Facilitator Review / Hire, MentoringBridget Schneider's interest in Land of Lincoln CEO stems from a desire to help the youth in our community succeed financially in addition to inspiring an entrepreneurial spirit in our community. Bridget is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional with Broadway Graham Wealth Partners in Lincoln. Her focus is financial planning and investment management for families and individuals. She also has several years of experience advising small business owners regarding retirement plan benefit options. In addition to a focus on the future retirement needs of families and individuals, she assists with income distribution planning during retirement, estate planning, and insurance needs. She is a University of Illinois graduate and lives in rural Logan County.