- Montgomery CEO
- Board Members
Montgomery CEO Board Members
Meet the Montgomery CEO Board Members
Heather Hampton-Knodle
Linkedin
Chairman
Organization:
Knodle, Ltd.
Title: Vice President
Heather's testimonial
About HeatherJeffrey Howell
Vice Chairman
Organization:
All Precision Manufacturing
Title: President
Jeffrey's testimonial
About JeffreyPhil Borgic
Secretary
Organization:
Borgic Pork Partners, Ltd.
Title: President
Phil's testimonial
About PhilMisty Borrowman
Treasurer
Organization:
National Bank
Title: CEO
Misty's testimonial
About MistyAmy Patton
Board member
Organization:
Patton and Company PC
Title: CPA
Amy's testimonial
About AmyCaleb Kirkpatrick
Director
Organization:
Lincolnwood Jr-Sr High School
Title: School Counselor
Caleb's testimonial
About CalebDavid Powell
Advisory Board member
Organization:
Hillsboro Community Unit School District No. 3
Title: Superintendent
David's testimonialDoug Hoster
Advisory Board member
Organization:
Litchfield High School
Title: Principal
Doug's testimonial
About DougKatie Wilson
Director
Organization:
Montgomery County Farm Bureau
Title: Manager
Katie's testimonial
About KatieKurt Aumann
Board member
Organization:
Aumann Auctions
Title: CEO and President
Kurt's testimonial
About KurtMarchelle Kassebaum
Board member
Organization:
Christian-Montgomery ROE
Title: Regional Supt. Of Schools
Marchelle's testimonial
About MarchelleMerle Imler
Co-Secretary
Organization:
Computations
Title: Owner
Merle's testimonial
About MerleRex Brown
Board member
Organization:
Hillsboro Area Hospital
Title: CEO
Rex's testimonial
About Rex- B.S. Business – University of Wisconsin
- Master’s Degree Healthcare – The George Washington University
- Fellow American College of Healthcare Administration
- Past Vice President – St. Mary’s Medical Center
- Past Chief Operating Officer – St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital
- Present Chief Executive Officer – Hillsboro Area Hospital
Valerie Belusko
Reporter
Organization:
Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation
Title: Executive Director
Valerie's testimonial
About Valerie
Heather Hampton-Knodle - Chairman

My interest in the CEO Program is rooted in a desire to see my children and all youth in the area be able to “bloom where they are planted.” I want to see them use their talents and skills to build business in Montgomery County and to be engaged citizens who are committed to the county’s long-term well-being.
Heather Hampton-Knodle - Chairman

Jeffrey Howell - Vice Chairman

I became a member of the Montgomery CEO program to give youth more possibilities.
Jeffrey Howell - Vice Chairman

I am President of All Precision Manufacturing LLC. and a graduate of Western Illinois University.
Phil Borgic - Secretary

As a small business owner, I see the need daily for more business training. I believe Montgomery CEO will be an effective program to give our young people the opportunity to see a variety of businesses and how many decisions go into operating them daily. They can then take that knowledge to start their own business.
Phil Borgic - Secretary

Along with my wife, Karen, we are owners of Borgic Farms and Borgic Pork Partners. I am a member of the Board of Directors of National Pork Producers Council.
Misty Borrowman - Treasurer

Serving as a Director on the inaugural Board of the Montgomery CEO Program is an honor. This program will immediately and directly enrich young minds in our communities and, with long-term success, will provide opportunity and prosperity across Montgomery County. It is a program that says to our youth AND our county, “We believe in you!”
Misty Borrowman - Treasurer

Misty Borrowman is CEO of National Bank, which is headquartered in Hillsboro and operates 11 banking locations in South-Central Illinois. Borrowman joined National Bank in early 2010 as Chief Financial Officer and was promoted to CEO in late 2014. Her previous career experience includes 11 years with Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis, where she first worked in Corporate Accounting and later as the Executive Assistant to the VP of Human Resources. Prior to joining Anheuser-Busch, Borrowman was with KPMG Peat Marwick in St. Louis as a financial institutions auditor. She attended Western Illinois University and is also a CPA. Borrowman and her husband, Tim, have 5 children. They reside in southern Montgomery County, where they raise registered Boer goats, a few cattle and hay.
Amy Patton - Board member

I became involved with the Montgomery CEO program for the future of our County. I believe in the program's potential to have a positive, long lasting impact on our area. I want the younger generation to be believers of Montgomery County.
Amy Patton - Board member

Amy Patton is a Certified Public Accountant at Patton & Company, PC in Hillsboro. Patton & Company, PC was established by RM Patton in 1975 in Hillsboro. They provide a wide range services to individuals and businesses in a variety of industries throughout Illinois.
Caleb Kirkpatrick - Director
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The CEO Program is an amazing opportunity for our youth to gain real-world experiences while learning from local business and community leaders. As school counselors, we strive to prepare students for life beyond education and instill the importance of investing in self and community. The CEO program does an amazing job of executing these sentiments. The program is truly an invaluable resource for our students and investment in Montgomery County.
Caleb Kirkpatrick - Director
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Caleb is the School Counselor at Lincolnwood Jr-Sr High School. He has a Master’s Degree in Human Development Counseling from the University of Illinois – Springfield. He currently resides in Farmersville with his wife, Meghan and daughter, Nora.
David Powell - Advisory Board member

As superintendent of the Hillsboro Community Unit School District #3, I am excited about the CEO programs for two reasons. I see this as a unique and valuable educational opportunity for our students that did not previously exist. In addition, the program has the potential to positively impact the local economy by encouraging our talented youth to pursue and create business opportunities here in Montgomery County.
David Powell - Advisory Board member

Doug Hoster - Advisory Board member
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As a high school principal I see the relevance of the CEO program and the economic impact that it can have on Montgomery County and beyond. The program allows students to experience a variety of business operations and provides them a relevant application opportunity. In my brief experience with these students, devotion and pride in their projects are evident. I look forward to watching these students become future business leaders.
Doug Hoster - Advisory Board member
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Hoster graduated from Lewis University with a B.A. Biology and from Illinois State University with a M.S. in Education. Hoster has previously been a junior high and high school science teacher, coach and athletic director, and has a love of outdoor recreation.
Katie Wilson - Director
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Testimonial: “I am excited to serve on the board of such an awesome county program. I believe Montgomery CEO gives students the opportunity to learn skills and experience things they could never receive from a classroom. Sometimes a student just needs someone to believe in them, and Montgomery CEO can be that someone! I wish this program was available when I was in high school.”
Katie Wilson - Director
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Katie Wilson serves as Manager for Montgomery County Farm Bureau. Through this role she works to promote agriculture in the county and be an advocate on behalf of farmers and all Farm Bureau members. Ag In the Classroom, Governmental Affairs, and Public Relations are just a few of the areas she is involved with on a daily basis. Katie, and her husband, John, reside is rural Litchfield.
Kurt Aumann - Board member

"The CEO program provides a much needed alternative direction our students can consider. It can open up new mindsets, opportunities and provide a path to success that is not covered in conventional curriculum. It can be the spark that ignites a fire!"
Kurt Aumann - Board member

Kurt Aumann was born, raised and lives in rural Nokomis, IL. His first business, a magazine about antique tractors, was started in high school and was later sold when he took over the family auction business. He has built Aumann Auctions into one of the largest auction companies in the midwest and has developed several niche markets which has allowed the company to conduct auctions in over 35 states. In 2006 he franchised his auction business model and formed MarkNet Alliance which has grown to 63 auction companies in 24 states and conducted over 6,000 auctions last year.
Marchelle Kassebaum - Board member
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I believe in the CEO program because of its philosophy, “Learning by Doing”. The CEO program offers talented high school students with the unique opportunity to take ownership of their learning, engage in real-world experiences, and develop entrepreneurial skills. It is the hope that students will become successful business leaders and contribute to the economic development of their community.
Marchelle Kassebaum - Board member
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Marchelle is the Regional Superintendent of Schools for Christian and Montgomery Counties and serves as the administrative agent for Montgomery and Christian County CEO programs. Previously, Marchelle taught 4th grade, directed the Litchfield Summer Gifted Academy and served as a statewide gifted education trainer and National Board Certification coordinator. Currently, she serves on the CEFS Board of Directors and is a member of the Litchfield Rotary Club.
Merle Imler - Co-Secretary

I believe that investment in our local youth is one of the most productive things we can do. The results of the CEO program in Effingham for the past seven years have been phenomenal. I want to make the same thing happen in Montgomery County.
Merle Imler - Co-Secretary

Computations customizes and integrates accounting software to meet the needs of businesses.
Rex Brown - Board member

Learning by observing successful business models in action while being provided the opportunity for hands-on experience creates an excellent and stimulating preparatory environment for our business leaders of tomorrow. The Montgomery County CEO Program is perfect for our youth and for the futures of their communities.
Rex Brown - Board member

Valerie Belusko - Reporter
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I was involved with the Effingham CEO program from March 2008 to December 2015. I watched the program blossom from an idea and a dream into a curriculum that is now taught in 27 classes in four states. I have watched average high school students develop into mature entrepreneurs with goals and vision. I can not express how excited I am to welcome this program to my home community!
Valerie Belusko - Reporter
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Valerie Belusko joined the Effingham County Community Foundation and the Mattoon Area Community Foundation as part-time administrative assistant in March of 2008. Belusko now works full time for the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation and her role with the foundation includes accounting and database management activities in addition to supporting donor services and grant programming.