Leaders Among Us 2015

Serving 18 Illinois counties • www.sbj.biz • May 2015

LEADERS AMONG US

Southern Illinoisans who have a positive impact on their communities

Special Section : Xxxxxxxx 2015 1

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The Southern Business Journal is a monthly publication of The Southern Illinoisan. Contact us via mail at 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL, or at P.O. Box 2108, Carbondale, IL, 62903. Also reach us on the web at www.sbj.biz and via email at SBJ@ thesouthern.com. Copyright 2015 by The Southern Illinoisan. All rights reserved. Information about how to subscribe may be obtained by calling 618-529-5454, or by visiting www.sbj.biz.

Publisher: John Pfeifer Editor: Autumn Phillips Writer: Les O’Dell Copy Editor: Mary Thomas Layton Advertising: Kim Fowler

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Stories by Les O’Dell for Southern Business Journal / Photographs by Byron Hetzler and Richard Sitler, The Southern Illinoisan

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2 Southern Business Journal | May 2015

Looking forward

I

enjoy the feeling of going through life without looking over my shoulder, secure in the knowledge that others are following.”

I’m not certain where I first heard the sentiment expressed above, but, at some point, I cobbled together thoughts and experiences and included the statement above as my résumé “cover.” It was stated as a fact, but, more often than not, it really served as a challenge to myself, an expression of hope that others really were following. I admit, there are times when I’d peek, when I was nowhere near as certain as my résumé statement proclaimed.

The 10 exceptional leaders profiled in this magazine need no such concerns. They are bold, they see possibilities clearly that are curiously hidden from others, and Pfeifer they are relentless in accomplishing things that benefit others more than themselves. They don’t need to look over their shoulders to see if others are following, but,

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in humility, they peek nonetheless. They don’t lack confidence. They do lack arrogance.

This year’s honorees join over 100 other leaders, recognized throughout the years, who have given of themselves and continue to do so. They come from different communities and have vastly different interests, but the impact they have on their communities is profound. They exemplify servanthood.

In addition to their profiles of accomplishment in this magazine, each leader was recognized at the May 20 Community Leaders’ Breakfast at John A. Logan College. The breakfast is part of a series sponsored by Southern Business Journal and The Southern Illinoisan.

JOHN PFEIFER is publisher of Southern Business Journal and The Southern Illinoisan. He can be reached at 618-351-5038 or john.pfeifer@thesouthern.com.

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May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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J

John Aiken

ohn Aiken is not one who seeks out the limelight. In fact, on more than one occasion, he has cordially declined an honor or recognition, saying that there were other people more worthy.

“This makes me uncomfortable,” he humbly says.

Yes, he avoids being the center of attention, but he is not invisible in and around his community of Benton. Anything but. He is one who always seems to be looking out for the needs of Benton, West City and Southern Illinois.

There are a ton of good people and good leaders in our Aiken, 63, is proud to be a lifelong resident of the area. I’ve always enjoyed working with the people in local community. His service to the community began almost government, the people in economic development, the immediately after completing his college degree at the folks in the chamber and the guys you meet on the square University of Illinois and returning home to Benton. Quite every day. If we can all work forward in one direction, quickly, he became involved in the community’s Chamber good things will happen. I think we’ve already of Commerce and another civic group, the seen that.”

Benton Promotion Association.

To say that he offers a voice to his “These were the business leaders who were Did you community would be an understatement. active in promoting the area,” he recalls. “A know?

He has literally been the voice of Benton bunch of young guys like me became their Rangers football since 1975 and boys’ Even as PA underlings to prepare the next generation. basketball since 1985. announcer, Aiken That’s something we always need to do.”

“I was just out of college and working gets excited for He says he immediately saw benefit to his at Benton Community Bank. The football games. In fact, in involvement in civic groups. public address announcer and attorney “There’s a selfish reason to be involved,” the late 1990s, he Elmer Jenkins came to see me at the bank he admits. “First of all, it’s to improve the was so thrilled to call and said that he and his wife were going on area for ourselves and for our family. Also, Benton’s first football a trip that weekend, and he wondered if I’d we’re just trying to enhance the entire area playoff game that do the game Friday night for him. I did it, to improve the quality of life for everyone. he forgot to turn and it turns out he never came back to the Early on, I saw the chamber working off his car. He found microphone. on a united basis, trying to improve the it three hours later, “Forty years later, I’m still there.” community. Turns out there are a lot of completely out of Each year, he gives a month’s-worth or different areas where we’ve seen that happen gas. more of evenings to Ranger games in his economically, socially and in entertainment.” volunteer role. He says he has enjoyed During his career, Aiken has been a every moment. member of the Benton-West City Economic “The athletic directors have all been terrific, Development Corp., as well as a member of the the coaches are great and the kids are terrific. We just all local Lions and Rotary clubs, taking a turn as an officer of each. Through all of the efforts, he says he has discovered a want to make sure that the events are top-notch for the student-athletes and for the fans.” level of community caring.

He now is introducing the sons of players whose names “I’ve found that people here are always willing to help, he called years ago, but he has no immediate plans to turn always willing to provide any kind of assistance or support the mic over to anyone else. for someone in need,” he says.

“I’m very proud that I’ve been the stadium announcer.

A partner in Benton’s S.C.D. Rea and Sons insurance It’s a lot of fun,” he says. agency, Aiken calls himself an optimist.

For Aiken, everything — from PA announcing to “We all struggle now with the business or economic volunteer efforts and being a business leader — is about conditions we find our communities in, but there’s a lot of making the community a better place to live. opportunity. I see a positive outlook for us, and I’m glad “I am very grateful for all of the blessings and even all of to be part of it going forward. I just think that our area is a the challenges. If I’m on the green side of the grass, I feel good area and will thrive,” he says.

When questioned about that optimism, he explains it is a very blessed,” he says. “I always felt like any person, who wants to make their community a better place, just steps up necessary quality. and does the extra thing.”

“I think optimism is a key component of a leader.

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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Did you know?

Anton says he and his wife can hold complete conversations using only quotes from television’s ‘Seinfeld.’

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Y

Phil Anton

ou may call them cases of divine inspiration or times when the planets seem to align and everything just clicks. Phil Anton of Carbondale calls them “light bulb moments,” and they have been commonplace in his life.

Anton, an associate professor of exercise physiology at Southern Illinois University, is the exercise program director of Strong Survivors, a collaborative effort that offers free exercise as a therapeutic tool to help cancer survivors and caregivers. The story of his involvement in — and even the creation of the program itself — requires illumination from several light bulb moments.

A native of Hastings, Michigan, Anton, 44, was always interested in exercise. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health and began his career teaching health and PE in elementary schools. After a couple of years, the light bulbs began going off.

Light bulb moment No. 1

Realizing that he liked teaching physical education, but discovering it was not the challenge he wanted. Desiring to be more involved in exercise science and presented with an opportunity to move to Colorado, Anton began graduate studies in kinesiology and applied physiology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, working in the school’s cardiovascular lab.

“It was challenging and fun, but I wasn’t sure that cardio research was where I wanted to be,” he recalls.

A friend reminded him of how he enjoyed teaching and asked if he had ever thought about teaching at the collegiate level.

“I came out of my own shell when I was in college, so I really felt a strong connection to someone at that point in their life. I started looking at college teaching jobs and realized that I needed a Ph.D. One of the schools that I looked at was the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley.”

He says he enrolled there because the college had a reputation for turning out graduates who could teach.

Light bulb moment No. 2

“I went to Greeley without any idea of what I wanted to do in terms of research,” he remembers. “Luckily enough, I was assigned to Dr. Carolyn Dennehy as my research adviser.

She asked me what I wanted to do, and I didn’t have a clue.

She asked if I had ever heard of cancer rehab and I said, ‘Cancer re-what?’”

Anton says Dennehy explained that she and a colleague, Carole Schneider, had just started the Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute and that they were using exercise as a therapeutic tool to help cancer survivors get through their treatment and recovery period.

Her statement could not have been more poignant for Anton. Just a few years prior, he had lost a cousin — “his best friend,” he says — after a five-year battle with cancer.

Following her death, he says he desperately wanted to do something that would give back to people recovering from the disease.

“I thought about how I love to teach exercise — that’s my passion — and to be able to incorporate that in working with cancer survivors, it was the perfect fit.”

Light bulb moment No. 3

Fast-forward to 2004. Anton and his wife, Julie Partridge, had moved to Carbondale. Partridge had accepted a tenure-track position to teach in the Department of Kinesiology at SIU. Anton says he “was lucky enough to be hired to teach a few exercise science classes.” It was in a casual conversation with one of his former professors from Northern Colorado that Anton discovered he was not the only person in Southern Illinois with an interest in cancer rehabilitation.

Anton found out that Jerry Bechtel of John A. Logan College had gone out to the Rocky Mountain Institute to visit the facility because he wanted to start a program like that at Logan.”

He also learned that Southern Illinois Healthcare had applied for and received a grant to fund a program for cancer survivors.

“I thought I was the only person in the entire region interested in cancer rehabilitation, and when they learned about me, their reaction was that this was meant to be.”

A few meetings later, the Strong Survivors program began, enrolling participants beginning in 2005. Exercise classes for survivors first were offered just at John A. Logan College, where cancer survivors can exercise, gain nutritional information and get support completely free of charge. Later, the Cancer Rehabilitation Center was opened at SIU, giving participants two locations from which to choose. To date, 420 cancer survivors have participated in the collaborative effort of John A. Logan College, Southern Illinois Healthcare and SIU. “Our rule is that if you’ve survived the words, ‘You have cancer,’ you are a cancer survivor. It doesn’t matter if it was last week or 20 years ago, you are eligible for our program,” Anton explains.

He says the program is unique in the Midwest.

“We’re able to keep the program free because of the SIU students in our academic program,” he said. “They are all assigned as a personal trainer to a Strong Survivor. They’re often looking for experience, but they come away with more of a personal revelation about what they want to do.

It goes both ways. The participants learn from them and they learn from the participants.”

With the addition of the SIU facilities, Strong Survivors has been able to double the number of participants. Anton says he hopes development of SIH’s Cancer Institute will allow for further collaboration and even more expansion of Strong Survivors. The results and reaction to the program have been outstanding.

“If there is another word for positive to describe the reaction from participants that is more descriptive than positive, I would choose that word,” he says. “That’s from the survivors and caregivers, as well as the students and from others in the community who realize what kind of resource this is,” he adds. “I see this as a service to the community. The participants are able to learn that they can do so much. It’s fun to watch that happen.”

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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Charlotte Clover and Evelyn Bailey T

here are many adages about the importance of working together: “Two heads are better than one,” “Many hands make light work” and “None of us is as smart as all of us,” are just a few. When individuals, communities or even entire counties work together, many of the sayings ring true.

“We both come from families that are very civic minded.

That’s why it is fitting that two Union County women It’s in our blood,” Clover explains. “We’re very passionate have been selected as Leaders Among Us for their efforts about Union County and feel the area is under-appreciated in encouraging economic development in their area, one and under-utilized.” transaction at a time.

Bailey adds, “We realized that for a lot of our local people, Charlotte Clover, an agent with Country Financial, and the need to purchase a birthday gift, it automatically means Evelyn Bailey, a former Jonesboro teacher and current a trip to Cape Girardeau. We want them to realize and realtor with Southern Real Estate Group, along with consider what is right here. They could save time, money other members of the Union County Women in Business and contribute to our local economy. We want our people organization, are reminding Union County residents to to shop here for local services and products.

“Keep it in the County” and to “Think, Shop, We want them to give our local businesses Buy Locally Fir$t.” a chance.”

Using those two taglines, the pair is leading Did you know?

Their message is simple and reflected on the charge to get consumers to, whenever the program’s printed materials: “We can’t possible, do business with local merchants Clover and her husband fix all of the problems of Illinois, but we can and service providers. The program came are developing an make a difference in the future of Union about, following a presentation at a Union agri-tourism, youCounty, the place where we and hopefully County Economic Development meeting. pick lavender farm, our children call home!”

“Susan Odum of the University of Illinois of course, in Union Clover and Bailey also are focusing on Extension Service shared results of a study County. the future. showing a significant loss of retail dollars in “We are both interested in the new CEO Southern Illinois,” Bailey recalls. “We already Bailey’s father played program,” Clover says of a countywide had been talking about the importance of trombone in the U.S. initiative to teach entrepreneurship to high building up our local businesses, and when Navy’s Great Lakes school students. “It’s important to show she reported that Union County had a $44 Band under the our young people that there are lots of million loss annually, we were floored.” legendary John Philip opportunities here. We hope that even if Together, Bailey and Clover, both Anna Sousa they go away to school, they’ll remember residents, and the other members of the the possibilities and good life are all here in UCWIB contacted local businesses, banks Union County.” and economic development groups, asking They also are focusing on continued promotion of for their help in turning the tide of dollars flowing out of “Locally Fir$t.”

Union County.

“It was supposed to be a one-year project, but response “As we met with all of them, they were shocked at what was so positive, that we’ve extend it to this year as well,” we shared,” Clover says. “They all have been very supporting Bailey says. “We see ourselves sort of as Union County’s and helped us get the word out about the Locally Fir$t cheerleaders. There is so much going on here that is great: program. We wanted to let everyone know how this We have fantastic schools. You can get pretty much anything affects our communities and convince everyone to shop locally. We want people to eat, shop, play and learn here. locally first.”

We want to reach out to retirees, young mothers, business The two say they realize that not everything can be leaders, everyone. There are all sorts of opportunities here.” purchased within Union County, but the plan is to convince Thanks to Bailey, Clover and the Union County Women residents to buy whatever they can within the county. in Business, people are thinking locally first and making Together, they gave numerous presentations to anyone who would listen, printed fliers, signs, wrote letters to editors and one more adage ring true. As Aesop wrote, “In union there is strength.” took to social media to spread the word.

8 Southern Business Journal | May 2015

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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Southern Business Journal | May 2015

Mark ‘Skip’ Cosgrove S

emper Fi. To members of the U.S. Marine Corps, it is the branch’s motto, meaning “Always Faithful.”

To Mark “Skip” Cosgrove, it is at the core of all that he does. And it’s been that way since he got out of the Marine Corps in 1970.

“I wouldn’t trade my time in the Corps for anything,” the of Carbondale Junior Sports that Cosgrove reached out 66-year-old says. “The Marine Corps was good to me and good to SIU softball coach Kay Brechtelsbauer to assist with training coaches. That relationship turned into his role with for me. If they called me again, I’d go back. I wouldn’t be Saluki Athletics. able to do what they do now, but I would definitely go back.”

“For me, in coaching, wins and losses are frosting on the Cosgrove credits his service in the Marines with making cake,” he explains. “The development of the person, and him into a leader. Being a soldier was something he says he their success as an athlete and a person, is more important. If wished for growing up. you develop all that, you get winning seasons.”

“I had always had an interest in the military,” he recalls.

Cosgrove says the philosophy works both with softball “I played a lot of soldier games and did a lot of reading on players and with young Marine recruits. military things. I had always wanted to join the Marine Corps, “It’s leadership,” he says. “You have to be able to and a friend of mine and I joined together. I left tune into where they are and be able to bring the day after Christmas, 1966.” them along until they are free-standing. In my Leaving his childhood home in Peru, Illinois, Did you estimation, leadership is preparing people to Cosgrove began a four-year tour of duty that take your place.” included 13 months of service in Vietnam, an know?

He continues to work with others and assignment at a recruit rifle training facility The nickname ‘Skip’ continues to organize and lead. He was one after earning the rank of E-5 sergeant, and topwas given to Cosgrove of the founders of Alto Vineyards and served secret clearance while assigned to the National when he was just a on the school board for Giant City School. He Security Agency. few days old. He says spends much of his time overseeing projects of “It was a spit-and-polish sort of thing,” some people don’t the Shawnee Detachment of the Marine Corps he says. even know him by any League, including last year’s exhibition of the After discharge, Cosgrove returned to other name.

Traveling Vietnam Wall in Carbondale, an northern Illinois, where he attended Illinois effort that began two years earlier. He also works Valley Community College and married to to coordinate SIU’s annual veterans’ appreciation wife, Patty. Making a decision to study forestry at Southern Illinois University, the couple moved to Carbondale. tailgate and volunteers for the local Toys for Tots campaign.

Proud that he still wears the same size Marine uniform as “Once in school, I started getting involved in outdoorhe did while on active duty, Cosgrove says he gets a great deal related sort of things. I started volunteering at Touch of of enjoyment from these efforts.

Nature (SIU’s environmental center) and eventually worked “I get satisfaction from helping the community,” he says. my way up from volunteer to director.”

“I enjoy organizing things, working with people and getting He spent 30 years at Touch of Nature and then six more things done. There is a sense of accomplishment. I want to coordinating projects for the university’s physical plant. do things that are beneficial to people, not just doing things During that time, he also spent 22 years as an assistant coach to be doing them. I want to see the enjoyment of other for the SIU softball team. people and get the vicarious reward that comes when you’ve “I started in it as a volunteer. Then it worked its way into done something positive. I can function off of vicarious a paid position. Then, eventually, I volunteered again,” he rewards for a long time.” says, fulfilling a passion he had nurtured since high school, Cosgrove also does things just because they are the right when he played sports and helped coach baseball and thing to do, a calling that, too, harkens back to his days as an softball teams. active-duty Marine.

“If you read my high school yearbook, it says that I “We took an oath when we went in,” he says. “We’ve never wanted to be a coach,” he adds. “I didn’t really get back into been relieved of that oath. I can still contribute.” coaching, though, until I had daughters of my own.”

Semper Fi. It was while he was coaching his own girls as a part

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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Dayton Franklin Did you know?

Dayton Franklin and his wife, Bonnie, recently celebrated 70 years of marriage.

B

y all accounts, Dayton Franklin of Herrin is an outstanding storyteller. That is a good thing because with 90 full years under his belt, he has a lot of stories to tell. Stop by his home for a visit and you’re likely to hear a few. You’ll also probably get the chance to admire some of the plaques, certificates and accolades he has earned over nine decades of service to his community and nation.

His memory is sharp as he shares tales with vivid details and realism, especially of the events of Aug. 7, 1944. Franklin was part of the 83rd Infantry Division, which landed at Omaha Beach in Normandy, just a few months after the D-Day invasion. His unit came under heavy fire as it moved in the early morning toward Saint Malo, France. He was hit by a combination of machine gun fire and shrapnel. In fact, he was hit 14 times.

“It was a foggy morning,” he recalls.

“What saved my life, I guess, is that the

12 Southern Business Journal | May 2015

German machine gun was so powerful that after a few shots, it would kick up into the air, so they would have to stop and reset.”

Regardless, 13 of Franklin’s companions were killed.

“When I was lying there, other soldiers thought I was dead, and, as they stepped on me, I hollered. We were taught not to stop and help fallen soldiers because it takes you out of combat. They’d momentarily stop, I’d say I was OK, but I had to just lie there.”

Franklin said every time the medics would approach him, Germans would open fire. Finally, about eight hours later, he was able to get help. He was transported to an evacuation hospital, surviving another attack once he arrived.

Months of care and scares followed.

“I remember once that I started feeling really funny,” he says. “A Catholic chaplain came by, stopped at my bed and asked if I cared if he said a prayer for me. I agreed and assumed he was going to pray, but he disappeared. Eventually, he came

back dressed in a robe and with all of his paraphernalia. He began chanting in Latin and going around my bed. I later learned that he was saying last rites.”

The sacrament was not without cause.

Franklin was severely hemorrhaging and required emergency surgery.

“When I was operated on, they took out one bullet and told me that there were still 13 or more pieces of metal in me,” he says. “I had eight blood transfusions. They told me that I was almost dry and that I was lucky.”

Waiting on care and recovery gave Franklin time to ponder.

“It made me start thinking that life is so short. A lot of things go through your mind, and I tried not to think about it all too

much because I knew I had problems, and they told me not to let things worry me too much,” he says.

Hospitalized until January, Franklin was finally well enough to return to the United States, where he underwent extensive rehabilitation on his arm, which had been badly wounded. Eventually, he gained very limited use of the arm.

Understanding that he was lucky to be alive, he began to lead his postwar life with a sense of gratitude and service. He began a 30-year career as a meat cutter at Boren’s IGA grocery and started finding ways to be involved.

“I love doing things for people. I don’t do them with the understanding that you owe me,” he says. “That’s not how it works. I do

things because I want to and I like you.”

Wanting to help his community, Franklin served on the Herrin school board for more than 30 years, 18 as president. He led efforts to purchase property and build a new school. He also helped to initiate efforts to build Herrin Civic Center.

“I feel like I made a difference. This community means a lot to me,” he adds.

The mementos of community service are all around his home. Plaques from Herrin Chamber of Commerce, honors from the school district and thank-you awards from the local Masonic lodge and civic center hang on the wall, not far from a collection of medals that includes a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. They all commemorate a life of service and bring to mind a lot of stories.

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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Ella Lacey A

sk Ella Lacey how old she is and the answer might surprise you. “I am 74½ ,” she replies with childlike enthusiasm and a big grin.

That sense of wonder and excitement permeates everything the Carbondale resident involves herself in — a long list of civic and charitable causes.

“I do so many things because there are so many things to be done, and someone’s got to do them,” she says. “I find that doing is better than sitting on the sidelines.”

Lacey has been doing for all of her 20 years of retirement, managing to squeeze in time with four children, 10 grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren, along with active roles in a number of local programs, all as a volunteer.

“This all relates to me getting a little nudge from my son, who was concerned when I said I was going to retire,” she recalls. “He wanted me to define a plan, but I’m not one who believes that you plan your life completely. I enjoy letting life unfold. He thought I should have a plan, and that made me think about not only what I was going to do, but also what I really liked to do. That’s how I got into the Peace Corps.”

Yes, the Peace Corps. When Lacey retired at the age of 54 ½ from Southern Illinois University, she started what she calls her “post-vocational experience.”

That experience included a term of service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa.

“I went to Malawi, a country that was the eighth poorest country in the world on the United Nations list at that time. I had some skepticism about what it would be like working in a country like that, but I was really pleased to be able to go someplace like that and give of myself,” she told The Southern’s Life and Style Magazine in a 2013 interview. “It was probably the single most enriching experience during that period in my life,” she continued. “Being an adult and realizing the learning curve is totally open to you, not in a classroom but in life, I felt that every day was a significant learning experience about other people and how they live their lives.”

At home again in Carbondale, Lacey worked to enrich the lives of others.

She involves herself in causes that deal with women’s issues, as well as those that combat discrimination of African Americans, and she has worked with the I Can Read! Program for more than a dozen years, not to mention pitching in for a variety of civic and charitable projects. For Lacey, all of it combines for some very full days.

“When you are retired, you think of yourself as not putting in a certain number of hours every week, but there are days when I look back and say, ‘this has been a 10-hour day.’ It’s just different. It’s not that it is so much more or so much less.”

She says she still gets thrilled about all that she does.

“I think excitement for me is working on some small task and seeing it change into something else, or just getting that feeling that you had some little impact on things along the way,” she says. “I find that doing is better than sitting on the sidelines.”

Now, as she has — in her words — celebrated 20 years of retirement, she continues to look for ways to work for causes she believes in. And she does it all with an attitude and approach of adventure and joy.

“I hope that I have retained some of that childlike enthusiasm,” she says.

“Children always are ready to embark on things and explore. They will work very hard to a goal until they find out that it will not work. I am the same way because I don’t think we can predetermine the answers. If I only were to work on those things that I was sure were to succeed, I don’t think it would be nearly as much fun.”

She believes that fun, hard work and education are all intertwined. That is the message she shares with her children, grandchildren and even her greatgrandchildren. It’s all about doing and enjoying those things you do.

“People often ask about hobbies, and I’ve thought, ‘Oh, my, I guess I better get a hobby.’ Everybody thinks you ought to have a hobby, but I really never had.

Life is my hobby.”

Did you know?

Lacey’s first full-time job was in her family’s cotton fields at age 11.

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May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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P

eople who know Roger Lipe often shake their heads in amazement. They wonder when the 58-year-old ever sleeps. They can’t believe all that he accomplishes: leading student athletes and coaches at every level across Southern Illinois as the regional representative of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as the chaplain for a couple of Southern Illinois University sports teams including Saluki Football and for the Southern Illinois Miners, being a mentor for sports chaplains worldwide, authoring thousands of devotions for people of sports and writing countless handwritten notes of encouragement and congratulations to players and coaches — notes he calls “atta-boys” — every week.

Yet he does it all, with a relentless drive and contagious energy fueled by his faith and love of athletics.

“I love God and I love sports,” the Carbondale resident says. “I really love sports people. Those are those people with whom I connect most readily. I get how their brains work, I understand what is going on in their hearts, and I find it incredibly easy to connect with them. I don’t have the foggiest idea of what’s going on in a musician’s mind, but that kid who just took a third strike, I know what’s going on there. The kid who rolled his ankle and is watching somebody else play his position and it’s killing him, I know what that is.

There are places and visceral moments when I know I can connect right there. I am trying to lead, inspire and encourage. I’m trying to lead sports people to the reason that God made them.”

Lipe has been with the FCA organization since 1994, after 15 years in the building and lumber industry and a stint with the Du Quoin-based No Greater Love Ministries, an organization for which he still volunteers. He says his role with FCA has been perfect.

“Way back when I was in high school, I thought I had a sense of calling,” he remembers. “Growing up in a Baptist church in Southern Illinois, the only vision of that we had was you were either a pastor — I didn’t want to do that — or you are a missionary to someplace you can’t pronounce — and that didn’t look too attractive either, but at my core, I knew I was a jock and I loved God. Trying to figure out an expression of that was really hard.”

In 1994, he was helping to organize a series of banquets featuring Dallas Cowboys legendary coach Tom Landry to raise money for a Champaign-based FCA staff member, when several people told him FCA was where he needed to work.

He wrote a letter basically outlining his interest, should a position ever become available.

Lipe says he didn’t know it at the time, but other people were reaching out to the organization with a desire for a professional FCA presence in Southern Illinois.

“Turns out those phone calls and my letter landed on the same desk at the same time,” he recalls. He’s been with the organization ever since.

“I started in a brand-new professional role with FCA, and they turned me loose,” he says. “It was, basically, here’s a binder with some stuff in it; go get ‘em.”

Over the years, he has helped to establish and grow FCA groups — called huddles — at schools all across the region, supporting and leading coaches and student athletes, while coordinating

18 Southern Business Journal | May 2015

dozens of supporters and volunteers. He’s established models for programs, built summer camps from scratch, played a role in the athletic and spiritual development of thousands of young people and sent a lot of “atta-boys.”

He took on the role of chaplain for SIU football in 1994, a role he has maintained ever since.

Often, he has done more than just talking with players or leading pre-game chapels. It was Lipe who was a constant during many of Coach Jerry Kill’s health scares, even spending nights on the floor of Kill’s hospital room floor.

“When I say that I love coaches and players, I really do,” he says. “In my way of thinking, that means sacrifice. If you love people, you make sacrifices for them; otherwise it’s fandom or something else.”

After struggling to find handbooks or a roadmap of sorts for sports chaplaincy and falling short, Lipe wrote what has become the leading work on this specific area of ministry, leading him to mentor sport chaplains around the world at all amateur and professional levels.

“These opportunities have just popped up and have been thrilling to me,” he adds. “It’s become a platform for me around the world. Now I am able to watch for opportunities and go and serve.

Not to be a big shot, but to go and serve. That makes sense to me.”

He is embarking on a new role for FCA, an increased campus ministry presence at SIU, more focus on chaplaincy programs and leading FCA’s international ministry for staff members in a fivestate region.

The new challenges have energized Lipe even more.

“I get to do soul-enriching stuff, so it doesn’t fatigue me. It is rich work, so it doesn’t drain me of passion. I think if one finds himself in the center of that for which he was created, boom! Big things happen. I know I’m there, and I want to stay there. When you are doing something that is so central to whom you are, it’s not burdensome; it is freeing and energizing at the same time.”

All the while, Lipe keeps a constant focus on what is important.

“I never think about retirement, but I always think of the legacy I’m leaving,” he says. “I’m thrilled when I hear back from players and coaches who tell me, ‘now I’m doing this, I’m a husband, a father, a leader in my church…’ It is stunning stuff. That’s the legacy I’m thrilled with, not the organizational stuff, not books or anything else. It’s lives changed on a long-term basis.

That’s what really gets me going.

Atta-boy, Roger, atta-boy.

Did you know?

Lipe and his wife of 39 years, Sharon, first met as neighbors in the third grade.

Roger Lipe May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

19

Marcia Raubach Did you know?

Raubach is credited with being the first American disc jockey to play a Beatles record on the air.

She played ‘From Me to You’ during the summer of 1963.

20 Southern Business Journal | May 2015

I

t has been said that nothing happens in West Frankfort without Marcia Raubach’s help. While she dismisses the sentiment with a laugh, she does admit that she is a resource for many of the community’s residents. Or, at least her stack of documents, files and newspaper clippings is.

“I am one of those people that, if someone is looking for something, they’ll call because I probably have it,” she admits.

They call, too, for help with projects throughout the community. They call often.

“If people suggest that we meet at my house,” Raubach says, “I always say, ‘Let’s go somewhere else, because my phone rings all of the time.”

The phone rings for work. Raubach, 69, has worked for WGGH-AM for nearly 20 years, for her family business where she serves as office manager for her husband’s appraisal company, for the Old King Coal

Festival, for Frankfort Community High School, for church and for a variety of other community happenings. In all, the telephone gets a lot of use, as does the office in her home.

“I don’t know why I seem to get involved in all of this,” she remarks. “I don’t feel like I push my way in, but I always seem to be a part of things. I say that I’ve tried not to over-commit, but I take after my father. It’s a family thing. We are pushers, doers — ones that like to see things happen.”

Her father, Walt Schafer, was deeply involved in the community from the moment the family moved to West Frankfort in 1956. Raubach says the family put down deep roots right away.

“We immediately felt at home here.

The people are just very close. It’s a closeknit community that is very proud of the town, even though it has seen some rough economic times. It is a loving community, and I feel more today than ever that this is home.”

It’s a town that celebrates its heritage, too. Raubach is instrumental in the

annual Old King Coal festival, serving in a leadership position and taking primary responsibility for the commemorative program book each year and much of the media relations for the event, taking and making calls to make it all happen.

“I do all of the press releases for Old King Coal, and, six or seven years ago, I got involved in publishing the book,” she explains, noting that it’s a project that is both time-consuming and enjoyable. “It’s fun. I can sit almost all night and work on the booklet. Literally, I can do it all night.”

The media work comes naturally. Her father was an owner of WFRX-AM and her sister, the late Cheryl Shafer Collins, worked in radio, too.

“Our family has more than 100 years combined in radio,” she says. I’ve got more than 30 years myself.”

Even as a teenager, Raubach worked as a disc jockey on her father’s station. Today, she still works on a part-time basis with advertisers for WGGH. Raubach has been with the station through a variety of owners and programming formats.

“I’ve been part time since 2000. They let me keep my client list because I’ve worked with them since 1982. I just do everything from home,” she says as one of the two side-by-side telephones in her dining room begins to ring.

She also was a driving force behind last year’s 100th anniversary celebration of the first four-year graduating class from Frankfort Community High School.

“Six or seven years ago, several of us realized that the anniversary was coming up, and we started talking about ways to celebrate the milestone,” she says. “It was a huge success. We had people from more than 25 states for the three-day event.”

The celebration included a formal program, a special window display, a golf scramble, a breakfast and lettermen’s jackets designed just for the event.

“We still have a few of those to sell,” she adds.

Selling those should be no problem for Raubach. She’s been selling and promoting her entire life. All she needs to do is pick up the telephone.

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

21

Did you know?

Renfro’s undergraduate degree is in French.

Kathy Renfro

K

athy Renfro remembers what it was like to be a child. In fact, she wants others to remember, too. “My goal is to make us all feel like kids again and to find out what you are good at and then go after it,” Renfro, 54, says.

Technically, that’s her job. Since 2008, she has served as executive director of Carbondale Park District. It’s a position that she feels like she has been preparing for her entire life. Her first job was with a park district, working at age 15 with a day camp in her hometown of Highland Park. That position later led to a variety of other jobs — everything from tending rose gardens as a high schooler on summer break to working at the municipal golf course after spring semesters at college. She found she loved working outdoors and with recreation.

After college, she spent a few years working in an accounting office, but, as she says, “wanted to get back outside,” and she took a position growing athletic turf for a parks department in Texas and then becoming the first parks employee in Flower Mound, Texas.

“It was a great experience,” she says. “They had a lot of undeveloped open spaces, and I had the opportunity to work closely with grantors and the entire community. One of the things we did was build a big trail system connecting all of the city parks to the schools in a community that had no sidewalks.”

Wanting to be closer to home, she moved to Southern Illinois in 1994 and became assistant superintendent at Hickory Ridge Golf Center, the Carbondale Park District’s public golf course. Three years later, she was named superintendent, a post she held until accepting a position as director of West Frankfort Park District in 2005.

“I had an opportunity to go and open their new aquatic center,” she says. “It was really an incredible experience with a great facility.”

Returning to Carbondale and Carbondale Park District, Renfro served as superintendent of recreation for two years and then was named executive director in 2008.

“When I came back as the recreation superintendent, I went all around the community, knocked on doors and tried to make some connections and partnerships to best serve the residents,” she recalls. “That was a great platform for when I became the executive director.”

As executive director, Renfro says she often leans on her experiences building relationships in Texas, the accounting skills she learned right out of college and the joy of working with children as a teen. She says all of it serves her well in her unique role with the park district.

22

Southern Business Journal | May 2015

“I think this kind of position provides an incredible platform for community building, one that is easy for us because what we provide is kind of the ‘frosting’ if you will,” she explains.

“We’re sort of the sweet side of government.

We’re not about streets or police or fire, nor have the responsible for directly educating children in the schools, yet we work really closely with all of those agencies.”

Renfro says for that reason, people are drawn to parks and recreation programs.

“It’s sometimes easier for us to make an invitation that people will accept without fear of bad outcomes. People are willing to help for the same reasons. We’re all drawn to outside because the outcomes are so often positive. We often joke that the worst thing that’s going to happen to you when you engage with the park district is you’re going to have a lot of fun. The best thing that is going to happen to you is that you are going to enjoy yourself and you are going to learn something along the way.”

She says because of all of the cooperative efforts, it is difficult for her to distinguish her job from other activities.

“The direction I have received from my board is to get out there and serve people and make connections,” she says, pointing to involvement in the Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale, the Jackson County Health Department’s steering committee for the Healthy Communities Coalition and her role in mentoring SIU students.

All of her work centers on her love of the outdoors and her fondness for working with other people.

“People drive me. I like people,” she says.

“That’s easy for me and it’s the most rewarding part of this job — consensus building and relationship building.”

She likes teaching others to enjoy the outdoors, regardless of age. She recalls the time she taught a children’s recreation class on kite flying. One 4-year-old girl mastered the art very quickly. Proud of her accomplishment, she told Renfro at the end of the course that her two favorite things were flying kites and getting new socks.

“From her, I learned to appreciate new socks, and every time I do, I think of her,” Renfro says.

“It’s the simple things.”

Simple things like new socks, fresh air, playfulness and feeling like a child.

Byron Hetzler, The Southern

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

23

T

he late radio commentator Paul Harvey had a daily radio segment called “The Rest of the Story.” It was a short program in which he would tell many of the circumstances and coincidences that, in some way, led to fame, accomplishment or success. Will Stephens of Murphysboro would be Paul Harvey’s kind of guy.

Stephens, 33, serves as mayor of Murphysboro. At the time of his election two years ago, it was believed that he was the youngest serving mayor in Illinois, if not in the nation. He works to promote cooperation in his community, and with other municipalities, and tirelessly seeks to develop Murphysboro’s economy. But, as Harvey would say, now the rest of the story.

A young Stephens first tried learning to play the guitar at age 15. In fact, he took lessons for three years or more without much success.

“I am just good enough to be in the way,” Stephens says.

It would be fair to say he is

disappointed in his musical skills. Music always held a special place for young Will.

“I loved the feeling I got whenever a song came on the radio that I loved,” he recalls.

“There’s an instant feeling of ‘yeah,’ and I wanted to give that to other people, but I discovered I couldn’t do it myself.”

The desire to share music that he loved with others led to “The Electric Blues Hour,” a weekly broadcast on Carbondale’s community radio station, WDBX-FM. The show has been on the air for 15 years. It’s a broadcast Stephens continued to host while working at several

Kroger stores, at other radio outlets and even while serving as mayor.

Eventually, his show led to a job with River Radio as a board operator during Cardinal baseball and other broadcast duties.

“Radio was a way for me to stay close to the music. That is what gives me real joy,” Stephens says.

Next, Stephens was recommended for a job at Ava’s WXAN-FM, a station playing Southern Gospel music, religious programming and an afternoon talk show, on which he interviews newsmakers, authors and elected officials. In addition to the show, Stephens

serves as the station’s manager.

“I feel like I have a calling to be here at WXAN,” he says. “I think I am here to keep this ministry striving and succeeding. I’m grateful to [station owner] Harold Lawder for giving a 24-year-old kid an opportunity to manage a radio station. If he didn’t give me that, the next thing wouldn’t have happened.”

The “next thing” was seeking and being elected to public office. First, he won a seat on the Jackson County Board, and then he was elected as mayor of Murphysboro. The reason for running is rather simple and came from his experiences interviewing others on-air

Will Stephens 24

Southern Business Journal | May 2015

You have to get educated and at WXAN. motivated, take some time “I feel that you can’t and show up for meetings complain on the radio about and make your voice heard. the way things are and, yet, not Government will still react to get involved. Period. I don’t people, especially have much respect at the local level. for many of the You can’t just be talk show hosts Did you a critic in life. who have this know?

That’s just not great platform good enough.” and they use it Stephens is a Since being to throw rocks, New York Knicks elected, Stephens but don’t do basketball fan, says he has held much to get on following the team 500 meetings the inside and since playing as the with 500 unique make reforms,” Knicks on the ‘NBA city residents on he says. “I think Jam’ video game as a variety of issues. you can do both, a child.

He’s worked to and I think you improve safety and are more effective crime prevention, when you do.” and recently embarked on an Stephens continues: “You effort to find new industry for can’t sit at home and complain the city, all while building on about the city, state or nation.

Murphysboro’s sense of pride and community. He boasts about the city’s numerous festivals and active civic organizations.

“These are the things that make the difference between a town and a hometown,” he says, citing his self-imposed challenges.

“What I want is a growing, thriving economy, where we can do more to attract young families. That’s what my business is about. I want to leave the mayor’s office with more people employed in the city of Murphysboro than on the day I took over. If I can say that, then I will truly be proud of my time in office.”

Stephens says his intent is to serve only two terms, unless no one else comes forward to

serve. As for plans to seek other offices, he is non-committal.

“If I felt like there would be an office where people would approach me, then I think you have a duty to see that, but it would have to be the right fit.

Right now, I love being mayor,” he says. “I think the future holds me continuing to work here at WXAN, continuing to guide the city of Murphysboro to a brighter future, keeping on churning out the blues shows on WDBX, hopefully growing in my faith, enjoying Southern Illinois and being available for people. I want to help.”

Failed guitar lessons, playing blues music on the radio, interviewing leaders and becoming one himself. As Paul Harvey would say, “And now… you know the rest of the story.”

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

25

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS

Growing Southern Illinois…One Business at a Time Success Story: SBDC helps histology firm go beyond concept Maureen Doran was not quite ready to give up her career interests when she retired as director of the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Histology Center. So Doran, who has more than three decades histology experience, collaborated with Deborah Jung, a former business manager of the SIU School of Medicine’s physiology department, to create their own business.

Saffron Scientific Histology Services launched in August (2014) and the Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIU has been instrumental in enabling them to turn a concept into a viable business. Doran and Jung, along with Elizabeth Dawn Grisley, a graduate student in molecular, cellular and systemic physiology, found a location and wet lab for the business in the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center.

“We have a great facility and we love it. We love it here at Dunn-Richmond.

It’s an amazing group of people and an amazing facility. Our SBDC counselors have been really helpful in getting our business together.”

Researchers and medical professionals investigate disease processes and evaluate drugs and products using histology, which is the study of tissues. Saffron makes microscope slides used for research and diagnostic services. The company’s clientele includes researchers, veterinarians, physicians and others involved in research or medical fields.

For more information the SBDC can help YOU turn your dream into a reality, call 618/536-2424, email sbdc@siu.edu or visit us online at sbdc.siu.edu.

They found the startup assistance they needed at the SBDC, getting help with their business plan, financial projections, incorporation, other relevant applications and website. Most importantly, they say the SBDC helped them secure lab space that is cost efficient and wellsuited to their business needs.

—excerpt from University Communications and Marketing at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

The Illinois Small Business Development Center/International Trade Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

26

Southern Business Journal | May 2015

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It is with a feeling of joy and accomplishment that we open the doors of a regional gem: the first dedicated cancer center in southern Illinois.

This effort started out as a seed, branched out with financial support from hundreds of individuals, and blossomed into a living testament to the willingness to care for our friends and families in our own backyard.

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2015 Š

About Us

Contact Us

The Southern Business Journal is a monthly publication of The Southern Illinoisan. Contact us via mail at 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL, or at P.O. Box 2108, Carbondale, IL, 62903. Also reach us on the web at www.sbj.biz and via email at SBJ@ thesouthern.com. Copyright 2015 by The Southern Illinoisan. All rights reserved. Information about how to subscribe may be obtained by calling 618-529-5454, or by visiting www.sbj.biz.

Publisher: John Pfeifer Editor: Autumn Phillips Writer: Les O’Dell Copy Editor: Mary Thomas Layton Advertising: Kim Fowler

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Stories by Les O’Dell for Southern Business Journal / Photographs by Byron Hetzler and Richard Sitler, The Southern Illinoisan

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2 Southern Business Journal | May 2015

Looking forward

I

enjoy the feeling of going through life without looking over my shoulder, secure in the knowledge that others are following.”

I’m not certain where I first heard the sentiment expressed above, but, at some point, I cobbled together thoughts and experiences and included the statement above as my résumé “cover.” It was stated as a fact, but, more often than not, it really served as a challenge to myself, an expression of hope that others really were following. I admit, there are times when I’d peek, when I was nowhere near as certain as my résumé statement proclaimed.

The 10 exceptional leaders profiled in this magazine need no such concerns. They are bold, they see possibilities clearly that are curiously hidden from others, and Pfeifer they are relentless in accomplishing things that benefit others more than themselves. They don’t need to look over their shoulders to see if others are following, but,

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in humility, they peek nonetheless. They don’t lack confidence. They do lack arrogance.

This year’s honorees join over 100 other leaders, recognized throughout the years, who have given of themselves and continue to do so. They come from different communities and have vastly different interests, but the impact they have on their communities is profound. They exemplify servanthood.

In addition to their profiles of accomplishment in this magazine, each leader was recognized at the May 20 Community Leaders’ Breakfast at John A. Logan College. The breakfast is part of a series sponsored by Southern Business Journal and The Southern Illinoisan.

JOHN PFEIFER is publisher of Southern Business Journal and The Southern Illinoisan. He can be reached at 618-351-5038 or john.pfeifer@thesouthern.com.

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May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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4 Southern Business Journal | May 2015

J

John Aiken

ohn Aiken is not one who seeks out the limelight. In fact, on more than one occasion, he has cordially declined an honor or recognition, saying that there were other people more worthy.

“This makes me uncomfortable,” he humbly says.

Yes, he avoids being the center of attention, but he is not invisible in and around his community of Benton. Anything but. He is one who always seems to be looking out for the needs of Benton, West City and Southern Illinois.

There are a ton of good people and good leaders in our Aiken, 63, is proud to be a lifelong resident of the area. I’ve always enjoyed working with the people in local community. His service to the community began almost government, the people in economic development, the immediately after completing his college degree at the folks in the chamber and the guys you meet on the square University of Illinois and returning home to Benton. Quite every day. If we can all work forward in one direction, quickly, he became involved in the community’s Chamber good things will happen. I think we’ve already of Commerce and another civic group, the seen that.”

Benton Promotion Association.

To say that he offers a voice to his “These were the business leaders who were Did you community would be an understatement. active in promoting the area,” he recalls. “A know?

He has literally been the voice of Benton bunch of young guys like me became their Rangers football since 1975 and boys’ Even as PA underlings to prepare the next generation. basketball since 1985. announcer, Aiken That’s something we always need to do.”

“I was just out of college and working gets excited for He says he immediately saw benefit to his at Benton Community Bank. The football games. In fact, in involvement in civic groups. public address announcer and attorney “There’s a selfish reason to be involved,” the late 1990s, he Elmer Jenkins came to see me at the bank he admits. “First of all, it’s to improve the was so thrilled to call and said that he and his wife were going on area for ourselves and for our family. Also, Benton’s first football a trip that weekend, and he wondered if I’d we’re just trying to enhance the entire area playoff game that do the game Friday night for him. I did it, to improve the quality of life for everyone. he forgot to turn and it turns out he never came back to the Early on, I saw the chamber working off his car. He found microphone. on a united basis, trying to improve the it three hours later, “Forty years later, I’m still there.” community. Turns out there are a lot of completely out of Each year, he gives a month’s-worth or different areas where we’ve seen that happen gas. more of evenings to Ranger games in his economically, socially and in entertainment.” volunteer role. He says he has enjoyed During his career, Aiken has been a every moment. member of the Benton-West City Economic “The athletic directors have all been terrific, Development Corp., as well as a member of the the coaches are great and the kids are terrific. We just all local Lions and Rotary clubs, taking a turn as an officer of each. Through all of the efforts, he says he has discovered a want to make sure that the events are top-notch for the student-athletes and for the fans.” level of community caring.

He now is introducing the sons of players whose names “I’ve found that people here are always willing to help, he called years ago, but he has no immediate plans to turn always willing to provide any kind of assistance or support the mic over to anyone else. for someone in need,” he says.

“I’m very proud that I’ve been the stadium announcer.

A partner in Benton’s S.C.D. Rea and Sons insurance It’s a lot of fun,” he says. agency, Aiken calls himself an optimist.

For Aiken, everything — from PA announcing to “We all struggle now with the business or economic volunteer efforts and being a business leader — is about conditions we find our communities in, but there’s a lot of making the community a better place to live. opportunity. I see a positive outlook for us, and I’m glad “I am very grateful for all of the blessings and even all of to be part of it going forward. I just think that our area is a the challenges. If I’m on the green side of the grass, I feel good area and will thrive,” he says.

When questioned about that optimism, he explains it is a very blessed,” he says. “I always felt like any person, who wants to make their community a better place, just steps up necessary quality. and does the extra thing.”

“I think optimism is a key component of a leader.

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

5

Did you know?

Anton says he and his wife can hold complete conversations using only quotes from television’s ‘Seinfeld.’

6 Southern Business Journal | May 2015

Y

Phil Anton

ou may call them cases of divine inspiration or times when the planets seem to align and everything just clicks. Phil Anton of Carbondale calls them “light bulb moments,” and they have been commonplace in his life.

Anton, an associate professor of exercise physiology at Southern Illinois University, is the exercise program director of Strong Survivors, a collaborative effort that offers free exercise as a therapeutic tool to help cancer survivors and caregivers. The story of his involvement in — and even the creation of the program itself — requires illumination from several light bulb moments.

A native of Hastings, Michigan, Anton, 44, was always interested in exercise. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health and began his career teaching health and PE in elementary schools. After a couple of years, the light bulbs began going off.

Light bulb moment No. 1

Realizing that he liked teaching physical education, but discovering it was not the challenge he wanted. Desiring to be more involved in exercise science and presented with an opportunity to move to Colorado, Anton began graduate studies in kinesiology and applied physiology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, working in the school’s cardiovascular lab.

“It was challenging and fun, but I wasn’t sure that cardio research was where I wanted to be,” he recalls.

A friend reminded him of how he enjoyed teaching and asked if he had ever thought about teaching at the collegiate level.

“I came out of my own shell when I was in college, so I really felt a strong connection to someone at that point in their life. I started looking at college teaching jobs and realized that I needed a Ph.D. One of the schools that I looked at was the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley.”

He says he enrolled there because the college had a reputation for turning out graduates who could teach.

Light bulb moment No. 2

“I went to Greeley without any idea of what I wanted to do in terms of research,” he remembers. “Luckily enough, I was assigned to Dr. Carolyn Dennehy as my research adviser.

She asked me what I wanted to do, and I didn’t have a clue.

She asked if I had ever heard of cancer rehab and I said, ‘Cancer re-what?’”

Anton says Dennehy explained that she and a colleague, Carole Schneider, had just started the Rocky Mountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute and that they were using exercise as a therapeutic tool to help cancer survivors get through their treatment and recovery period.

Her statement could not have been more poignant for Anton. Just a few years prior, he had lost a cousin — “his best friend,” he says — after a five-year battle with cancer.

Following her death, he says he desperately wanted to do something that would give back to people recovering from the disease.

“I thought about how I love to teach exercise — that’s my passion — and to be able to incorporate that in working with cancer survivors, it was the perfect fit.”

Light bulb moment No. 3

Fast-forward to 2004. Anton and his wife, Julie Partridge, had moved to Carbondale. Partridge had accepted a tenure-track position to teach in the Department of Kinesiology at SIU. Anton says he “was lucky enough to be hired to teach a few exercise science classes.” It was in a casual conversation with one of his former professors from Northern Colorado that Anton discovered he was not the only person in Southern Illinois with an interest in cancer rehabilitation.

Anton found out that Jerry Bechtel of John A. Logan College had gone out to the Rocky Mountain Institute to visit the facility because he wanted to start a program like that at Logan.”

He also learned that Southern Illinois Healthcare had applied for and received a grant to fund a program for cancer survivors.

“I thought I was the only person in the entire region interested in cancer rehabilitation, and when they learned about me, their reaction was that this was meant to be.”

A few meetings later, the Strong Survivors program began, enrolling participants beginning in 2005. Exercise classes for survivors first were offered just at John A. Logan College, where cancer survivors can exercise, gain nutritional information and get support completely free of charge. Later, the Cancer Rehabilitation Center was opened at SIU, giving participants two locations from which to choose. To date, 420 cancer survivors have participated in the collaborative effort of John A. Logan College, Southern Illinois Healthcare and SIU. “Our rule is that if you’ve survived the words, ‘You have cancer,’ you are a cancer survivor. It doesn’t matter if it was last week or 20 years ago, you are eligible for our program,” Anton explains.

He says the program is unique in the Midwest.

“We’re able to keep the program free because of the SIU students in our academic program,” he said. “They are all assigned as a personal trainer to a Strong Survivor. They’re often looking for experience, but they come away with more of a personal revelation about what they want to do.

It goes both ways. The participants learn from them and they learn from the participants.”

With the addition of the SIU facilities, Strong Survivors has been able to double the number of participants. Anton says he hopes development of SIH’s Cancer Institute will allow for further collaboration and even more expansion of Strong Survivors. The results and reaction to the program have been outstanding.

“If there is another word for positive to describe the reaction from participants that is more descriptive than positive, I would choose that word,” he says. “That’s from the survivors and caregivers, as well as the students and from others in the community who realize what kind of resource this is,” he adds. “I see this as a service to the community. The participants are able to learn that they can do so much. It’s fun to watch that happen.”

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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Charlotte Clover and Evelyn Bailey T

here are many adages about the importance of working together: “Two heads are better than one,” “Many hands make light work” and “None of us is as smart as all of us,” are just a few. When individuals, communities or even entire counties work together, many of the sayings ring true.

“We both come from families that are very civic minded.

That’s why it is fitting that two Union County women It’s in our blood,” Clover explains. “We’re very passionate have been selected as Leaders Among Us for their efforts about Union County and feel the area is under-appreciated in encouraging economic development in their area, one and under-utilized.” transaction at a time.

Bailey adds, “We realized that for a lot of our local people, Charlotte Clover, an agent with Country Financial, and the need to purchase a birthday gift, it automatically means Evelyn Bailey, a former Jonesboro teacher and current a trip to Cape Girardeau. We want them to realize and realtor with Southern Real Estate Group, along with consider what is right here. They could save time, money other members of the Union County Women in Business and contribute to our local economy. We want our people organization, are reminding Union County residents to to shop here for local services and products.

“Keep it in the County” and to “Think, Shop, We want them to give our local businesses Buy Locally Fir$t.” a chance.”

Using those two taglines, the pair is leading Did you know?

Their message is simple and reflected on the charge to get consumers to, whenever the program’s printed materials: “We can’t possible, do business with local merchants Clover and her husband fix all of the problems of Illinois, but we can and service providers. The program came are developing an make a difference in the future of Union about, following a presentation at a Union agri-tourism, youCounty, the place where we and hopefully County Economic Development meeting. pick lavender farm, our children call home!”

“Susan Odum of the University of Illinois of course, in Union Clover and Bailey also are focusing on Extension Service shared results of a study County. the future. showing a significant loss of retail dollars in “We are both interested in the new CEO Southern Illinois,” Bailey recalls. “We already Bailey’s father played program,” Clover says of a countywide had been talking about the importance of trombone in the U.S. initiative to teach entrepreneurship to high building up our local businesses, and when Navy’s Great Lakes school students. “It’s important to show she reported that Union County had a $44 Band under the our young people that there are lots of million loss annually, we were floored.” legendary John Philip opportunities here. We hope that even if Together, Bailey and Clover, both Anna Sousa they go away to school, they’ll remember residents, and the other members of the the possibilities and good life are all here in UCWIB contacted local businesses, banks Union County.” and economic development groups, asking They also are focusing on continued promotion of for their help in turning the tide of dollars flowing out of “Locally Fir$t.”

Union County.

“It was supposed to be a one-year project, but response “As we met with all of them, they were shocked at what was so positive, that we’ve extend it to this year as well,” we shared,” Clover says. “They all have been very supporting Bailey says. “We see ourselves sort of as Union County’s and helped us get the word out about the Locally Fir$t cheerleaders. There is so much going on here that is great: program. We wanted to let everyone know how this We have fantastic schools. You can get pretty much anything affects our communities and convince everyone to shop locally. We want people to eat, shop, play and learn here. locally first.”

We want to reach out to retirees, young mothers, business The two say they realize that not everything can be leaders, everyone. There are all sorts of opportunities here.” purchased within Union County, but the plan is to convince Thanks to Bailey, Clover and the Union County Women residents to buy whatever they can within the county. in Business, people are thinking locally first and making Together, they gave numerous presentations to anyone who would listen, printed fliers, signs, wrote letters to editors and one more adage ring true. As Aesop wrote, “In union there is strength.” took to social media to spread the word.

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May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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Mark ‘Skip’ Cosgrove S

emper Fi. To members of the U.S. Marine Corps, it is the branch’s motto, meaning “Always Faithful.”

To Mark “Skip” Cosgrove, it is at the core of all that he does. And it’s been that way since he got out of the Marine Corps in 1970.

“I wouldn’t trade my time in the Corps for anything,” the of Carbondale Junior Sports that Cosgrove reached out 66-year-old says. “The Marine Corps was good to me and good to SIU softball coach Kay Brechtelsbauer to assist with training coaches. That relationship turned into his role with for me. If they called me again, I’d go back. I wouldn’t be Saluki Athletics. able to do what they do now, but I would definitely go back.”

“For me, in coaching, wins and losses are frosting on the Cosgrove credits his service in the Marines with making cake,” he explains. “The development of the person, and him into a leader. Being a soldier was something he says he their success as an athlete and a person, is more important. If wished for growing up. you develop all that, you get winning seasons.”

“I had always had an interest in the military,” he recalls.

Cosgrove says the philosophy works both with softball “I played a lot of soldier games and did a lot of reading on players and with young Marine recruits. military things. I had always wanted to join the Marine Corps, “It’s leadership,” he says. “You have to be able to and a friend of mine and I joined together. I left tune into where they are and be able to bring the day after Christmas, 1966.” them along until they are free-standing. In my Leaving his childhood home in Peru, Illinois, Did you estimation, leadership is preparing people to Cosgrove began a four-year tour of duty that take your place.” included 13 months of service in Vietnam, an know?

He continues to work with others and assignment at a recruit rifle training facility The nickname ‘Skip’ continues to organize and lead. He was one after earning the rank of E-5 sergeant, and topwas given to Cosgrove of the founders of Alto Vineyards and served secret clearance while assigned to the National when he was just a on the school board for Giant City School. He Security Agency. few days old. He says spends much of his time overseeing projects of “It was a spit-and-polish sort of thing,” some people don’t the Shawnee Detachment of the Marine Corps he says. even know him by any League, including last year’s exhibition of the After discharge, Cosgrove returned to other name.

Traveling Vietnam Wall in Carbondale, an northern Illinois, where he attended Illinois effort that began two years earlier. He also works Valley Community College and married to to coordinate SIU’s annual veterans’ appreciation wife, Patty. Making a decision to study forestry at Southern Illinois University, the couple moved to Carbondale. tailgate and volunteers for the local Toys for Tots campaign.

Proud that he still wears the same size Marine uniform as “Once in school, I started getting involved in outdoorhe did while on active duty, Cosgrove says he gets a great deal related sort of things. I started volunteering at Touch of of enjoyment from these efforts.

Nature (SIU’s environmental center) and eventually worked “I get satisfaction from helping the community,” he says. my way up from volunteer to director.”

“I enjoy organizing things, working with people and getting He spent 30 years at Touch of Nature and then six more things done. There is a sense of accomplishment. I want to coordinating projects for the university’s physical plant. do things that are beneficial to people, not just doing things During that time, he also spent 22 years as an assistant coach to be doing them. I want to see the enjoyment of other for the SIU softball team. people and get the vicarious reward that comes when you’ve “I started in it as a volunteer. Then it worked its way into done something positive. I can function off of vicarious a paid position. Then, eventually, I volunteered again,” he rewards for a long time.” says, fulfilling a passion he had nurtured since high school, Cosgrove also does things just because they are the right when he played sports and helped coach baseball and thing to do, a calling that, too, harkens back to his days as an softball teams. active-duty Marine.

“If you read my high school yearbook, it says that I “We took an oath when we went in,” he says. “We’ve never wanted to be a coach,” he adds. “I didn’t really get back into been relieved of that oath. I can still contribute.” coaching, though, until I had daughters of my own.”

Semper Fi. It was while he was coaching his own girls as a part

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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Dayton Franklin Did you know?

Dayton Franklin and his wife, Bonnie, recently celebrated 70 years of marriage.

B

y all accounts, Dayton Franklin of Herrin is an outstanding storyteller. That is a good thing because with 90 full years under his belt, he has a lot of stories to tell. Stop by his home for a visit and you’re likely to hear a few. You’ll also probably get the chance to admire some of the plaques, certificates and accolades he has earned over nine decades of service to his community and nation.

His memory is sharp as he shares tales with vivid details and realism, especially of the events of Aug. 7, 1944. Franklin was part of the 83rd Infantry Division, which landed at Omaha Beach in Normandy, just a few months after the D-Day invasion. His unit came under heavy fire as it moved in the early morning toward Saint Malo, France. He was hit by a combination of machine gun fire and shrapnel. In fact, he was hit 14 times.

“It was a foggy morning,” he recalls.

“What saved my life, I guess, is that the

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German machine gun was so powerful that after a few shots, it would kick up into the air, so they would have to stop and reset.”

Regardless, 13 of Franklin’s companions were killed.

“When I was lying there, other soldiers thought I was dead, and, as they stepped on me, I hollered. We were taught not to stop and help fallen soldiers because it takes you out of combat. They’d momentarily stop, I’d say I was OK, but I had to just lie there.”

Franklin said every time the medics would approach him, Germans would open fire. Finally, about eight hours later, he was able to get help. He was transported to an evacuation hospital, surviving another attack once he arrived.

Months of care and scares followed.

“I remember once that I started feeling really funny,” he says. “A Catholic chaplain came by, stopped at my bed and asked if I cared if he said a prayer for me. I agreed and assumed he was going to pray, but he disappeared. Eventually, he came

back dressed in a robe and with all of his paraphernalia. He began chanting in Latin and going around my bed. I later learned that he was saying last rites.”

The sacrament was not without cause.

Franklin was severely hemorrhaging and required emergency surgery.

“When I was operated on, they took out one bullet and told me that there were still 13 or more pieces of metal in me,” he says. “I had eight blood transfusions. They told me that I was almost dry and that I was lucky.”

Waiting on care and recovery gave Franklin time to ponder.

“It made me start thinking that life is so short. A lot of things go through your mind, and I tried not to think about it all too

much because I knew I had problems, and they told me not to let things worry me too much,” he says.

Hospitalized until January, Franklin was finally well enough to return to the United States, where he underwent extensive rehabilitation on his arm, which had been badly wounded. Eventually, he gained very limited use of the arm.

Understanding that he was lucky to be alive, he began to lead his postwar life with a sense of gratitude and service. He began a 30-year career as a meat cutter at Boren’s IGA grocery and started finding ways to be involved.

“I love doing things for people. I don’t do them with the understanding that you owe me,” he says. “That’s not how it works. I do

things because I want to and I like you.”

Wanting to help his community, Franklin served on the Herrin school board for more than 30 years, 18 as president. He led efforts to purchase property and build a new school. He also helped to initiate efforts to build Herrin Civic Center.

“I feel like I made a difference. This community means a lot to me,” he adds.

The mementos of community service are all around his home. Plaques from Herrin Chamber of Commerce, honors from the school district and thank-you awards from the local Masonic lodge and civic center hang on the wall, not far from a collection of medals that includes a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. They all commemorate a life of service and bring to mind a lot of stories.

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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Ella Lacey A

sk Ella Lacey how old she is and the answer might surprise you. “I am 74½ ,” she replies with childlike enthusiasm and a big grin.

That sense of wonder and excitement permeates everything the Carbondale resident involves herself in — a long list of civic and charitable causes.

“I do so many things because there are so many things to be done, and someone’s got to do them,” she says. “I find that doing is better than sitting on the sidelines.”

Lacey has been doing for all of her 20 years of retirement, managing to squeeze in time with four children, 10 grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren, along with active roles in a number of local programs, all as a volunteer.

“This all relates to me getting a little nudge from my son, who was concerned when I said I was going to retire,” she recalls. “He wanted me to define a plan, but I’m not one who believes that you plan your life completely. I enjoy letting life unfold. He thought I should have a plan, and that made me think about not only what I was going to do, but also what I really liked to do. That’s how I got into the Peace Corps.”

Yes, the Peace Corps. When Lacey retired at the age of 54 ½ from Southern Illinois University, she started what she calls her “post-vocational experience.”

That experience included a term of service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa.

“I went to Malawi, a country that was the eighth poorest country in the world on the United Nations list at that time. I had some skepticism about what it would be like working in a country like that, but I was really pleased to be able to go someplace like that and give of myself,” she told The Southern’s Life and Style Magazine in a 2013 interview. “It was probably the single most enriching experience during that period in my life,” she continued. “Being an adult and realizing the learning curve is totally open to you, not in a classroom but in life, I felt that every day was a significant learning experience about other people and how they live their lives.”

At home again in Carbondale, Lacey worked to enrich the lives of others.

She involves herself in causes that deal with women’s issues, as well as those that combat discrimination of African Americans, and she has worked with the I Can Read! Program for more than a dozen years, not to mention pitching in for a variety of civic and charitable projects. For Lacey, all of it combines for some very full days.

“When you are retired, you think of yourself as not putting in a certain number of hours every week, but there are days when I look back and say, ‘this has been a 10-hour day.’ It’s just different. It’s not that it is so much more or so much less.”

She says she still gets thrilled about all that she does.

“I think excitement for me is working on some small task and seeing it change into something else, or just getting that feeling that you had some little impact on things along the way,” she says. “I find that doing is better than sitting on the sidelines.”

Now, as she has — in her words — celebrated 20 years of retirement, she continues to look for ways to work for causes she believes in. And she does it all with an attitude and approach of adventure and joy.

“I hope that I have retained some of that childlike enthusiasm,” she says.

“Children always are ready to embark on things and explore. They will work very hard to a goal until they find out that it will not work. I am the same way because I don’t think we can predetermine the answers. If I only were to work on those things that I was sure were to succeed, I don’t think it would be nearly as much fun.”

She believes that fun, hard work and education are all intertwined. That is the message she shares with her children, grandchildren and even her greatgrandchildren. It’s all about doing and enjoying those things you do.

“People often ask about hobbies, and I’ve thought, ‘Oh, my, I guess I better get a hobby.’ Everybody thinks you ought to have a hobby, but I really never had.

Life is my hobby.”

Did you know?

Lacey’s first full-time job was in her family’s cotton fields at age 11.

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May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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P

eople who know Roger Lipe often shake their heads in amazement. They wonder when the 58-year-old ever sleeps. They can’t believe all that he accomplishes: leading student athletes and coaches at every level across Southern Illinois as the regional representative of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as the chaplain for a couple of Southern Illinois University sports teams including Saluki Football and for the Southern Illinois Miners, being a mentor for sports chaplains worldwide, authoring thousands of devotions for people of sports and writing countless handwritten notes of encouragement and congratulations to players and coaches — notes he calls “atta-boys” — every week.

Yet he does it all, with a relentless drive and contagious energy fueled by his faith and love of athletics.

“I love God and I love sports,” the Carbondale resident says. “I really love sports people. Those are those people with whom I connect most readily. I get how their brains work, I understand what is going on in their hearts, and I find it incredibly easy to connect with them. I don’t have the foggiest idea of what’s going on in a musician’s mind, but that kid who just took a third strike, I know what’s going on there. The kid who rolled his ankle and is watching somebody else play his position and it’s killing him, I know what that is.

There are places and visceral moments when I know I can connect right there. I am trying to lead, inspire and encourage. I’m trying to lead sports people to the reason that God made them.”

Lipe has been with the FCA organization since 1994, after 15 years in the building and lumber industry and a stint with the Du Quoin-based No Greater Love Ministries, an organization for which he still volunteers. He says his role with FCA has been perfect.

“Way back when I was in high school, I thought I had a sense of calling,” he remembers. “Growing up in a Baptist church in Southern Illinois, the only vision of that we had was you were either a pastor — I didn’t want to do that — or you are a missionary to someplace you can’t pronounce — and that didn’t look too attractive either, but at my core, I knew I was a jock and I loved God. Trying to figure out an expression of that was really hard.”

In 1994, he was helping to organize a series of banquets featuring Dallas Cowboys legendary coach Tom Landry to raise money for a Champaign-based FCA staff member, when several people told him FCA was where he needed to work.

He wrote a letter basically outlining his interest, should a position ever become available.

Lipe says he didn’t know it at the time, but other people were reaching out to the organization with a desire for a professional FCA presence in Southern Illinois.

“Turns out those phone calls and my letter landed on the same desk at the same time,” he recalls. He’s been with the organization ever since.

“I started in a brand-new professional role with FCA, and they turned me loose,” he says. “It was, basically, here’s a binder with some stuff in it; go get ‘em.”

Over the years, he has helped to establish and grow FCA groups — called huddles — at schools all across the region, supporting and leading coaches and student athletes, while coordinating

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dozens of supporters and volunteers. He’s established models for programs, built summer camps from scratch, played a role in the athletic and spiritual development of thousands of young people and sent a lot of “atta-boys.”

He took on the role of chaplain for SIU football in 1994, a role he has maintained ever since.

Often, he has done more than just talking with players or leading pre-game chapels. It was Lipe who was a constant during many of Coach Jerry Kill’s health scares, even spending nights on the floor of Kill’s hospital room floor.

“When I say that I love coaches and players, I really do,” he says. “In my way of thinking, that means sacrifice. If you love people, you make sacrifices for them; otherwise it’s fandom or something else.”

After struggling to find handbooks or a roadmap of sorts for sports chaplaincy and falling short, Lipe wrote what has become the leading work on this specific area of ministry, leading him to mentor sport chaplains around the world at all amateur and professional levels.

“These opportunities have just popped up and have been thrilling to me,” he adds. “It’s become a platform for me around the world. Now I am able to watch for opportunities and go and serve.

Not to be a big shot, but to go and serve. That makes sense to me.”

He is embarking on a new role for FCA, an increased campus ministry presence at SIU, more focus on chaplaincy programs and leading FCA’s international ministry for staff members in a fivestate region.

The new challenges have energized Lipe even more.

“I get to do soul-enriching stuff, so it doesn’t fatigue me. It is rich work, so it doesn’t drain me of passion. I think if one finds himself in the center of that for which he was created, boom! Big things happen. I know I’m there, and I want to stay there. When you are doing something that is so central to whom you are, it’s not burdensome; it is freeing and energizing at the same time.”

All the while, Lipe keeps a constant focus on what is important.

“I never think about retirement, but I always think of the legacy I’m leaving,” he says. “I’m thrilled when I hear back from players and coaches who tell me, ‘now I’m doing this, I’m a husband, a father, a leader in my church…’ It is stunning stuff. That’s the legacy I’m thrilled with, not the organizational stuff, not books or anything else. It’s lives changed on a long-term basis.

That’s what really gets me going.

Atta-boy, Roger, atta-boy.

Marcia Raubach Did you know?

Raubach is credited with being the first American disc jockey to play a Beatles record on the air.

She played ‘From Me to You’ during the summer of 1963.

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I

t has been said that nothing happens in West Frankfort without Marcia Raubach’s help. While she dismisses the sentiment with a laugh, she does admit that she is a resource for many of the community’s residents. Or, at least her stack of documents, files and newspaper clippings is.

“I am one of those people that, if someone is looking for something, they’ll call because I probably have it,” she admits.

They call, too, for help with projects throughout the community. They call often.

“If people suggest that we meet at my house,” Raubach says, “I always say, ‘Let’s go somewhere else, because my phone rings all of the time.”

The phone rings for work. Raubach, 69, has worked for WGGH-AM for nearly 20 years, for her family business where she serves as office manager for her husband’s appraisal company, for the Old King Coal

Festival, for Frankfort Community High School, for church and for a variety of other community happenings. In all, the telephone gets a lot of use, as does the office in her home.

“I don’t know why I seem to get involved in all of this,” she remarks. “I don’t feel like I push my way in, but I always seem to be a part of things. I say that I’ve tried not to over-commit, but I take after my father. It’s a family thing. We are pushers, doers — ones that like to see things happen.”

Her father, Walt Schafer, was deeply involved in the community from the moment the family moved to West Frankfort in 1956. Raubach says the family put down deep roots right away.

“We immediately felt at home here.

The people are just very close. It’s a closeknit community that is very proud of the town, even though it has seen some rough economic times. It is a loving community, and I feel more today than ever that this is home.”

It’s a town that celebrates its heritage, too. Raubach is instrumental in the

annual Old King Coal festival, serving in a leadership position and taking primary responsibility for the commemorative program book each year and much of the media relations for the event, taking and making calls to make it all happen.

“I do all of the press releases for Old King Coal, and, six or seven years ago, I got involved in publishing the book,” she explains, noting that it’s a project that is both time-consuming and enjoyable. “It’s fun. I can sit almost all night and work on the booklet. Literally, I can do it all night.”

The media work comes naturally. Her father was an owner of WFRX-AM and her sister, the late Cheryl Shafer Collins, worked in radio, too.

“Our family has more than 100 years combined in radio,” she says. I’ve got more than 30 years myself.”

Even as a teenager, Raubach worked as a disc jockey on her father’s station. Today, she still works on a part-time basis with advertisers for WGGH. Raubach has been with the station through a variety of owners and programming formats.

“I’ve been part time since 2000. They let me keep my client list because I’ve worked with them since 1982. I just do everything from home,” she says as one of the two side-by-side telephones in her dining room begins to ring.

She also was a driving force behind last year’s 100th anniversary celebration of the first four-year graduating class from Frankfort Community High School.

“Six or seven years ago, several of us realized that the anniversary was coming up, and we started talking about ways to celebrate the milestone,” she says. “It was a huge success. We had people from more than 25 states for the three-day event.”

The celebration included a formal program, a special window display, a golf scramble, a breakfast and lettermen’s jackets designed just for the event.

“We still have a few of those to sell,” she adds.

Selling those should be no problem for Raubach. She’s been selling and promoting her entire life. All she needs to do is pick up the telephone.

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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Did you know?

Renfro’s undergraduate degree is in French.

Kathy Renfro

K

athy Renfro remembers what it was like to be a child. In fact, she wants others to remember, too. “My goal is to make us all feel like kids again and to find out what you are good at and then go after it,” Renfro, 54, says.

Technically, that’s her job. Since 2008, she has served as executive director of Carbondale Park District. It’s a position that she feels like she has been preparing for her entire life. Her first job was with a park district, working at age 15 with a day camp in her hometown of Highland Park. That position later led to a variety of other jobs — everything from tending rose gardens as a high schooler on summer break to working at the municipal golf course after spring semesters at college. She found she loved working outdoors and with recreation.

After college, she spent a few years working in an accounting office, but, as she says, “wanted to get back outside,” and she took a position growing athletic turf for a parks department in Texas and then becoming the first parks employee in Flower Mound, Texas.

“It was a great experience,” she says. “They had a lot of undeveloped open spaces, and I had the opportunity to work closely with grantors and the entire community. One of the things we did was build a big trail system connecting all of the city parks to the schools in a community that had no sidewalks.”

Wanting to be closer to home, she moved to Southern Illinois in 1994 and became assistant superintendent at Hickory Ridge Golf Center, the Carbondale Park District’s public golf course. Three years later, she was named superintendent, a post she held until accepting a position as director of West Frankfort Park District in 2005.

“I had an opportunity to go and open their new aquatic center,” she says. “It was really an incredible experience with a great facility.”

Returning to Carbondale and Carbondale Park District, Renfro served as superintendent of recreation for two years and then was named executive director in 2008.

“When I came back as the recreation superintendent, I went all around the community, knocked on doors and tried to make some connections and partnerships to best serve the residents,” she recalls. “That was a great platform for when I became the executive director.”

As executive director, Renfro says she often leans on her experiences building relationships in Texas, the accounting skills she learned right out of college and the joy of working with children as a teen. She says all of it serves her well in her unique role with the park district.

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“I think this kind of position provides an incredible platform for community building, one that is easy for us because what we provide is kind of the ‘frosting’ if you will,” she explains.

“We’re sort of the sweet side of government.

We’re not about streets or police or fire, nor have the responsible for directly educating children in the schools, yet we work really closely with all of those agencies.”

Renfro says for that reason, people are drawn to parks and recreation programs.

“It’s sometimes easier for us to make an invitation that people will accept without fear of bad outcomes. People are willing to help for the same reasons. We’re all drawn to outside because the outcomes are so often positive. We often joke that the worst thing that’s going to happen to you when you engage with the park district is you’re going to have a lot of fun. The best thing that is going to happen to you is that you are going to enjoy yourself and you are going to learn something along the way.”

She says because of all of the cooperative efforts, it is difficult for her to distinguish her job from other activities.

“The direction I have received from my board is to get out there and serve people and make connections,” she says, pointing to involvement in the Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale, the Jackson County Health Department’s steering committee for the Healthy Communities Coalition and her role in mentoring SIU students.

All of her work centers on her love of the outdoors and her fondness for working with other people.

“People drive me. I like people,” she says.

“That’s easy for me and it’s the most rewarding part of this job — consensus building and relationship building.”

She likes teaching others to enjoy the outdoors, regardless of age. She recalls the time she taught a children’s recreation class on kite flying. One 4-year-old girl mastered the art very quickly. Proud of her accomplishment, she told Renfro at the end of the course that her two favorite things were flying kites and getting new socks.

“From her, I learned to appreciate new socks, and every time I do, I think of her,” Renfro says.

“It’s the simple things.”

Simple things like new socks, fresh air, playfulness and feeling like a child.

Byron Hetzler, The Southern

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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T

he late radio commentator Paul Harvey had a daily radio segment called “The Rest of the Story.” It was a short program in which he would tell many of the circumstances and coincidences that, in some way, led to fame, accomplishment or success. Will Stephens of Murphysboro would be Paul Harvey’s kind of guy.

Stephens, 33, serves as mayor of Murphysboro. At the time of his election two years ago, it was believed that he was the youngest serving mayor in Illinois, if not in the nation. He works to promote cooperation in his community, and with other municipalities, and tirelessly seeks to develop Murphysboro’s economy. But, as Harvey would say, now the rest of the story.

A young Stephens first tried learning to play the guitar at age 15. In fact, he took lessons for three years or more without much success.

“I am just good enough to be in the way,” Stephens says.

It would be fair to say he is

disappointed in his musical skills. Music always held a special place for young Will.

“I loved the feeling I got whenever a song came on the radio that I loved,” he recalls.

“There’s an instant feeling of ‘yeah,’ and I wanted to give that to other people, but I discovered I couldn’t do it myself.”

The desire to share music that he loved with others led to “The Electric Blues Hour,” a weekly broadcast on Carbondale’s community radio station, WDBX-FM. The show has been on the air for 15 years. It’s a broadcast Stephens continued to host while working at several

Kroger stores, at other radio outlets and even while serving as mayor.

Eventually, his show led to a job with River Radio as a board operator during Cardinal baseball and other broadcast duties.

“Radio was a way for me to stay close to the music. That is what gives me real joy,” Stephens says.

Next, Stephens was recommended for a job at Ava’s WXAN-FM, a station playing Southern Gospel music, religious programming and an afternoon talk show, on which he interviews newsmakers, authors and elected officials. In addition to the show, Stephens

serves as the station’s manager.

“I feel like I have a calling to be here at WXAN,” he says. “I think I am here to keep this ministry striving and succeeding. I’m grateful to [station owner] Harold Lawder for giving a 24-year-old kid an opportunity to manage a radio station. If he didn’t give me that, the next thing wouldn’t have happened.”

The “next thing” was seeking and being elected to public office. First, he won a seat on the Jackson County Board, and then he was elected as mayor of Murphysboro. The reason for running is rather simple and came from his experiences interviewing others on-air

Will Stephens 24

Southern Business Journal | May 2015

You have to get educated and at WXAN. motivated, take some time “I feel that you can’t and show up for meetings complain on the radio about and make your voice heard. the way things are and, yet, not Government will still react to get involved. Period. I don’t people, especially have much respect at the local level. for many of the You can’t just be talk show hosts Did you a critic in life. who have this know?

That’s just not great platform good enough.” and they use it Stephens is a Since being to throw rocks, New York Knicks elected, Stephens but don’t do basketball fan, says he has held much to get on following the team 500 meetings the inside and since playing as the with 500 unique make reforms,” Knicks on the ‘NBA city residents on he says. “I think Jam’ video game as a variety of issues. you can do both, a child.

He’s worked to and I think you improve safety and are more effective crime prevention, when you do.” and recently embarked on an Stephens continues: “You effort to find new industry for can’t sit at home and complain the city, all while building on about the city, state or nation.

Murphysboro’s sense of pride and community. He boasts about the city’s numerous festivals and active civic organizations.

“These are the things that make the difference between a town and a hometown,” he says, citing his self-imposed challenges.

“What I want is a growing, thriving economy, where we can do more to attract young families. That’s what my business is about. I want to leave the mayor’s office with more people employed in the city of Murphysboro than on the day I took over. If I can say that, then I will truly be proud of my time in office.”

Stephens says his intent is to serve only two terms, unless no one else comes forward to

serve. As for plans to seek other offices, he is non-committal.

“If I felt like there would be an office where people would approach me, then I think you have a duty to see that, but it would have to be the right fit.

Right now, I love being mayor,” he says. “I think the future holds me continuing to work here at WXAN, continuing to guide the city of Murphysboro to a brighter future, keeping on churning out the blues shows on WDBX, hopefully growing in my faith, enjoying Southern Illinois and being available for people. I want to help.”

Failed guitar lessons, playing blues music on the radio, interviewing leaders and becoming one himself. As Paul Harvey would say, “And now… you know the rest of the story.”

May 2015 | Southern Business Journal

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CELEBRATING 30 YEARS

Growing Southern Illinois…One Business at a Time Success Story: SBDC helps histology firm go beyond concept Maureen Doran was not quite ready to give up her career interests when she retired as director of the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Histology Center. So Doran, who has more than three decades histology experience, collaborated with Deborah Jung, a former business manager of the SIU School of Medicine’s physiology department, to create their own business.

Saffron Scientific Histology Services launched in August (2014) and the Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIU has been instrumental in enabling them to turn a concept into a viable business. Doran and Jung, along with Elizabeth Dawn Grisley, a graduate student in molecular, cellular and systemic physiology, found a location and wet lab for the business in the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center.

“We have a great facility and we love it. We love it here at Dunn-Richmond.

It’s an amazing group of people and an amazing facility. Our SBDC counselors have been really helpful in getting our business together.”

Researchers and medical professionals investigate disease processes and evaluate drugs and products using histology, which is the study of tissues. Saffron makes microscope slides used for research and diagnostic services. The company’s clientele includes researchers, veterinarians, physicians and others involved in research or medical fields.

For more information the SBDC can help YOU turn your dream into a reality, call 618/536-2424, email sbdc@siu.edu or visit us online at sbdc.siu.edu.

They found the startup assistance they needed at the SBDC, getting help with their business plan, financial projections, incorporation, other relevant applications and website. Most importantly, they say the SBDC helped them secure lab space that is cost efficient and wellsuited to their business needs.

—excerpt from University Communications and Marketing at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

The Illinois Small Business Development Center/International Trade Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

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Southern Business Journal | May 2015

Built for the community— by the community.

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This effort started out as a seed, branched out with financial support from hundreds of individuals, and blossomed into a living testament to the willingness to care for our friends and families in our own backyard.

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