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Our Team Director - Connie J. Beck
Ms. Beck teaches Organizational Entrepreneurship and Management and Organizational Leadership-Capstone in the Professional Adult Comprehensive Education (PACE) program. She earned her Master's Degree in Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her Bachelor's Degree in Management from the University of Illinois at Springfield. Ms. Beck is currently the Director of the Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship Network at Millikin University . This network site is the home office for the Governor of Illinois Economic Growth initiative for the Central Region. She specializes in strategic planning, performance management and impact analysis in both corporate and government settings. Consulting assignments have included the development of strategic and organizational plans, the assessment of strategically linked programs, social and environmental impact assessment, economic analysis and assessment, and project management. Ms. Beck has also consulted with area small businesses in development of business plans, employee handbooks and developing client infrastructure. Ms. Beck is past Executive Director of the ROI Network and ASTD Advisory Board. The ROI Network recognized her for Outstanding Leadership in 2002 and awarded her the Best Author Award in 1997. In 1998, Ms. Beck co-authored an article in the ASTD In-Action Series with Dr. Jack Phillips. In 1999, The Wall Street Journal recognized her with the “Wall Street Journal Award of Academic Excellence” for her research on Native American Leadership. Also in 1999, Ms. Beck co-authored Info-Line Guide to Training Evaluation with Dr. Jack Phillips. She pioneered the first social impact assessment of a corporate initiative in the utility industry demonstrating economic impact on the corporation and community. The assessment was recognized by the International Association of Impact Assessors (IAIA) in 2000 at IAIA's international conference in Hong Kong . Board of Directors
Bruce Nims is Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Millikin University in Decatur , Illinois . He acts as a resource for Millikin's Tabor School of Business and its Center for Entrepreneurship, with duties including guest lecturing, acting as a mentor for students, assisting with student projects, and offering consulting and seminars for community organizations. In 1978, he founded Nims Associates, Inc, an information technology consulting services company based in Decatur . The company grew to over 450 employees, with branches in Dallas , Indianapolis , Chicago , Minneapolis , Cincinnati , Kansas City, and Denver . Nims Associates' market included Fortune 100 companies, with Nims providing software design and development, along with consulting and training activities. In 2004, the employee-owned company was sold to Keane, Inc. Currently, Nims is the secretary/treasurer of InDecatur Ventures, LLC, a local venture capital firm. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Soy Capital Bank, and as a member of Advisory Committees for Continental Carbonic Products, Inc. and USA Clean, Inc. He is also active in community organizations; some current affiliations include the boards of Project Success, with the goal of preparing elementary and middle school students for a successful school experience, and Decatur Celebration, Illinois ' largest free street festival. Nims is a 1972 graduate of Millikin and was Millikin's 2004 Alumnus of the Year. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics, Nims worked in Information Technology at McDonnell Douglas Automation Company and Archer Daniels Midland Company from 1972 to 1978. ---------------------- Laura Cornille-Cannady is the owner of a human resource consulting and training company, Learning Alliances Company. Her path to business ownership reflects a diverse career background. As a student at Quincy College in Quincy , IL , Laura majored in Psychology. With a B.A. in psychology, Laura began her career in higher education working in both housing and administration. Laura received a Masters degree in Human Service Counseling from Illinois State University . After receiving her degree, Laura continued her work in higher education as an Assistant Dean of Students for Millikin University . While in higher education, Laura began her public speaking career. She became a well traveled and much in demand speaker. She has spoken in a wide variety of settings including health care, government, social service, education, financial services, corporate, manufacturing and small business. Laura left higher education to pursue a career in corporate America . She worked as an employment specialist, training specialist and became the Corporate Training Manager for a large Midwest manufacturing company. As the owner of her own training and consulting business, Learning Alliances Company, Laura has worked with fortune 100 and 1000 companies as well as many small to medium sized organizations. Her customers have taken her to the east coast, Hawaii , Mexico and throughout the Midwest . Laura works with Millikin University in developing local business owners through training workshops on start up, business ownership and high growth business ownership. She is certified to conduct Kaufman First Step Fast Trac training for potential business owners. Laura is an active member of her profession and her community. She is an alumnus of the 1997 Leadership Illinois Class and is currently the President of that organization. In recognition of her outstanding professionalism, she received the “1996 Women of Excellence Business and Professional Award.” She is also an active member at both the regional and national levels of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). In the community, Laura is a leader in the fight against breast cancer and serves on the board of the United Way . She is the founder of a not-for-profit organization, Wear To Work, which provides clothing and services to women who are making the transition from welfare to work. She also serves on the Quincy University Board of Trustees. ---------------------- Craig Coil began his economic development career almost 17 years ago after holding various marketing positions with WSOY radio in Decatur , Six Flags-St. Louis and the University of Illinois at Springfield . Coil joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) in 1988 as an Area Development Representative. During his career with the State of Illinois he held various positions including Targeted Industry Specialist, Division Manager of Industry Development, Division Manager of Market Development and Senior Corporate Services Manager. In 1996, he received the Illinois Development Council's Distinguished Economic Developer Award. In July of 2002, Coil was named President of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County (EDC). The EDC is a nonprofit public-private corporation responsible for business attraction and retention efforts in Decatur and Macon County and acts as the administrator of the Decatur-Macon County Enterprise Zone and the Decatur Foreign Trade Zone #245. Coil was recently elected Chairman of the Illinois Development Council, a statewide association of economic development practitioners, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Enterprise Zone Association, the Eastern Illinois University Lumpkin School of Business Advisory Committee, the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council, Decatur Macon County Partners In Education, the Macon DeWitt County Workforce Investment Board and the Chamber of Commerce for Decatur and Macon County . A graduate of Illinois State University , with professional studies at Ohio State University and the University of Oklahoma , Coil is married with one son and three step-sons. ---------------------- Kyle L. Harfst is Director of Technology and Business Enterprise Development at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) Within this role he oversees the SouthernTECH Illinois Technology Enterprise Center Initiative and the Small Business Incubator activities at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center on the SIUC campus. Additionally he is serving as Acting Director of the Springfield ITEC. Prior to his 10 years of university-based economic development, he was a banker in the State of Iowa. Professional affiliations include the National Business Incubation Association, the Association of University Research Parks, Association of University Technology Managers, and Business Retention and Expansion International. Mr. Harfst has presented to diverse groups and settings including the Business Retention & Expansion International Annual Conference in Ottawa, Canada, the International Conference on Small Business Incubation and Technology Transfer in Taiwan, and the International TrailLinks Conference in St. Louis. Mr. Harfst holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from the University of Northern Iowa and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He is ABD in the College of Education at SIUC. He is also an Economic Development Institute Graduate from the University of Oklahoma. ---------------------- John Stinson is Regional President for National City Bank. His focus is developing the Corporate Banking line of business in East Central Illinois. During his career in banking, he has primarily served as a relationship manager and lending manager working with entrepreneurial enterprises. He has provided credit structures that accommodate companies at all stages of development. As a multi year Board member of a City Wide, a Community Development Corporation in Dayton , Ohio , he was vice chairman of the lending activities committee which committed SBA and direct CDC funds to growing companies. He is presently a member of the Springfield/Sangamon County Economic Development Council. John holds both a BS in Business administration with a major in Finance and an MBA from The Ohio State University. He is also a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking.
Art works with local small business owners, entrepreneurs and potential high-growth businesses in Greene, Macoupin and Montgomery counties. In cooperation with local, state and university resources, he helps businesses tap into an abundance of resources and know-how to enhance long-term growth and future viability. Art provides confidential counseling to individuals interested in starting their own businesses, and to owners of start-up, small- or medium-sized for-profit businesses of 500 employees or less. A graduate of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE) with an undergraduate degree in organizational psychology, Art received his master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. In addition to serving as a teaching assistant at SIUE, he was a part-time instructor at Lewis & Clark Community College in Godfrey. Art has 25 years of management experience in the healthcare and banking industries. He specializes in the areas of strategic planning, marketing, public relations and fund development. Art also has experience in human resources, recruitment, staff development, community education, physician practice development, regulatory compliance, food service and budgeting. In addition to his participation with The Growth Association of Southwestern Illinois, Art served as director, treasurer, vice president and president of the Carlinville Community Chamber of Commerce. He has also been active with the United Way, Junior Achievement and Rotary International. Art is currently a member and secretary of the Carlinville Rotary Club as well as a member of the Carlinville Community Unit School District #1 Board of Education. |
Arthur H. Knippel
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© 2005-2007 Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship NetworK Millikin University Tabor Center for Entrepreneurship Tabor School of Business |