Bridget Schneider is CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional with Level Four® Wealth Management to Connections Financial Advisors in Lincoln. Her focus is retirement planning and she 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. Bridget’s interest in the Land of Lincoln CEO stems from a desire to help the youth in our community succeed financially.

I have spent the majority of my working life as an entrepreneur in the automotive field.  As the CEO/GM of two dealerships I have enjoyed the challenges of the daily operations of these sales and service businesses.  The CEO program captured my attention from attending the trade show, were the current students present their individual businesses.  I needed to get involved.  Fortunately there was room for me and I jumped at the chance to join these young adults in their quest for business knowledge.  I reside in Lincoln with my wife (and business partner) Barb.  We are  the proud parents of Kate, age 24, who lives and works in Chicago.

April Doolin is the Managing Partner at Integrity Holdings. She has been an active part of binging CEO to Lincoln from the beginning. April feels that the CEO program is a unique opportunity to give local students hands-on experience in business while providing them with a support network of experienced business people in their own community. She resides in Lincoln with her husband, Patrick, and their four children.

Robert Bagby is beginning his seventh year as superintendent of Lincoln Community High School. He is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a BA in Physical Education and English, earning his MA in Education Administration from the U of I, and finally a Certificate of Advanced Studies from Western Illinois University. While teaching, he served as a Head Football Coach for 13 years, taking three different schools to the play-offs. Robert is excited about what CEO offers students.

I am a school counselor at Lincoln Community High School and serve as the secretary for the CEO Board of Directors. I have spent over half my years in education working as a business teacher in local high schools. This in combination with my experience as a school counselor provides me the opportunity to see how the CEO class can benefit our students and community. Hands on experiences have a profound effect on student learning, which makes for an awesome experience for our students!

A New Yorker by birth, a Hawkeye by adoption and a Lincolnite by choice: Clyde brings his own perspective to life in the heartland. Clyde moved to Lincoln in 1977. In 1986 he and his wife started Keystone Risk Management. “A lot of great people live in Lincoln, but job opportunities are limited. The CEO program offers students a chance to look at an alternate future of entrepreneurship where they are the creators of economic opportunities for themselves and their employees. It’s a win-win!

Kristi Powell is the Associate Director of the Heartland Community College Lincoln Center and has worked for Heartland for the past 20 years. Kristi lives in Lincoln with her husband, Deron and is the mother of four children. Over the years, Kristi has been on the Chamber of Commerce Board, the Tourism Board and various committees targeting Leadership, Workforce Development and Education in Logan County. Kristi is passionate about creating opportunities for the students of her community.

Lisa Steve is beginning her third year as a school counselor and volleyball coach for Olympia High School. Lisa graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Ashford University in 2010 and her M.S. in Counseling from Eastern Illinois University in 2013. Lisa was asked to serve on the board for CEO after Olympia High School decided to join the Land of Lincoln CEO program and offer this unique learning experience to students. Lisa is anxious to see the students develop as the LLCEO year gets started

Dr Nobbe is the owner of Nobbe Eye Care Center / Vision Source has been providing eye health care to Lincoln and Logan County since 1994. He enjoys having his business in the community where he grew up. He is a graduate of SIU with a BS in Biological Science, and a graduate of Illinois College of Optometry with a BS in Visual Science and Doctor of Optometry. Dr Nobbe joined the CEO board to help local students learn how to operate a small business and develop their entrepreneurial spirit.