Jeff Ball, P.E., F.ASCE, is president and chief operating officer of Hanson Professional Services Inc., a national, employee-owned engineering, planning and allied services consulting firm headquartered in Springfield, Illinois. He oversees Hanson’s administrative functions, information technology, project management office and six markets: aviation, government, industry, infrastructure, power and railway. He also helps develop strategies and resources to support the firm’s growth and profitability. Ball joined Hanson in 1991 and has served as president and chief operating officer since 2016.

 Active in business, professional and community leadership, Ball serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois. He is a past chair of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and serves on Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s College of Engineering, Computing, Technology and Mathematics Industrial Advisory Board.

Ball earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Kristi Corpin graduated from the University of Illinois Springfield with both her Bachelors (2005) and Masters (2006) of Accountancy. She has over 20 years of experience with Eck, Schafer and Punke, starting as an intern and becoming a partner in 2018. She has significant experience in providing audit services to not-for-profit organizations; including membership associations, voluntary health and welfare organizations, foundations, and higher education entities.  She also currently oversees the firm’s audit practice, serving as QM partner.

Jim Hogge graduated from the University of Illinois Springfield in 1999 and began his accounting career with Eck, Schafer & Punke, LLP.  After successfully passing the CPA exam, Jim continued to grow his career and became a partner in 2012.  He currently serves as the firm’s Managing Partner, bringing years of experience and leadership to the firm and its clients.

Alycia Hightower has been with CEFCU for 33 years. Currently, she serves as the Chief People Officer, providing executive leadership and strategic direction for several key enterprise functions at the Credit Union, including Human Resources, Employee Benefits Administration, Member Experience & Organizational Development, Marketing & Strategic Communications, DEI, and Succession Planning.  Through these responsibilities, Hightower helps strengthen CEFCU's culture, workforce capabilities, member relationships, and community impact, while advancing the organization's diversity, inclusion, and succession-planning objectives.

Hightower earned a bachelor's degree from Illinois State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois - Springfield.

Active in both professional and community organizations, Hightower is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Financial Secretary for the Peoria Alumnae Chapter), a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Heart of Illinois SHRM, serves on the University of Illinois Springfield College of Business and Management Dean's Advisory Board, and is a member of Impact Central Illinois.

Outside of work, Hightower is committed to supporting initiatives that foster leadership development, professional growth, workforce excellence, and stronger communities throughout Central Illinois.

Desiree has been a team member of three different divisions of businesses owned by the Bunn Family in Springfield, IL. From 1986-2006, she was the Director of Marketing and the Test Kitchen at Bunn Capitol Company.   She served as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Citizenship for Bunn-O-Matic from 2007-2014. When the Bunn Family acquired Pease’s Candy in 2014, she led the efforts torevitalize the brand. In 2026 she became an Advisor for the Bunn Family Corporation, overseeing the strategy and operations at Pease’s at Bunn Gourmet.  As a 41-year veteran with these organizations, she has represented the company at key events and trade organizations in the beverage and food service industries. 

Desiree is passionate about Springfield and has a 45-year history as an active community volunteer.  Her current professional and community affiliations include

serving as a Board Member of the Central IL Customer Service Association and the Chaine des Rotisseurs.  She serves on the Springfield Executive Air Services Advisory Council and the UIS College of Business Management Dean’s Advisory Board.  She is a member of IL Women in Leadership and Women for Women.  Past leadership roles have included Chair of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, President of Local First, President of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance, President of Sangamon Menard County Crime Stoppers, Member of the National Association of Convenience Stores Board and the National Restaurant Association Advisor Council, and Tournament Chair for the State Farm LPGA Golf Classic.

Since December 2021, Mike has served as President & CEO of The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, the largest chamber in Illinois with approximately 1,400 members. Mike served as State Representative for the 99^th District in the Illinois General Assembly. He was elected in November of 2018 and re-elected in November of 2020. Mike spent most of his career in the restaurant business working for several different operations. He ended his restaurant career as the owner/operator of Charlie Parker’s Diner. Mike sold Charlie Parker’s to his assistant manager in 2017.

Mike grew up and attended school in Divernon, Illinois.  After high school, he joined the US Army from 1973-1976; he worked as an Air Traffic Controller. Mike served overseas in The Republic of South Korea from 1975-1976. He attended Eastern Illinois University from 1976-1979, majoring in Political Science.

Mike and Cindy have been married since 1978 and have two children, a son Bobby (wife Christina) and a daughter Megan (husband Jody Crouch). They have six grandchildren who all live in the area.