The Table

Join hosts Brad and Chris as they welcome Zach Hoyle, Vice President of Manufacturing, and Jake Erickson, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, from Kwik-Wall. They share the story behind the company, the innovative movable wall systems they manufacture, and the impact Kwik-Wall continues to have on Central Illinois and customers across the world. As the company experiences significant growth,...

This week on The Table, we welcome Wes Heinkel, President of Heinkel’s Packing Company, a family business with roots dating back to 1912. Wes shares the rich history of the company, how it has grown and evolved through multiple generations, and the values that have made it a trusted name throughout Central Illinois. Heinkel’s has become a leader in the meat industry, supplying customers and retail...

Join hosts Brad and Chris as they welcome Roger Huebner, Executive Vice President of Central Illinois Builders of AGC. Roger shares his journey from attorney to leading one of the region’s key construction industry organizations, reflecting on the experiences and relationships that shaped his career along the way. He also provides insight into how Central Illinois Builders of AGC supports its memb...

Join hosts Brad and Chris as they welcome John and Pete Skeffington from Skeff Distributing Co. as they share the family history behind one of the region’s most recognizable companies. From generations of hard work and relationships to navigating an ever-changing industry, John and Pete reflect on how Skeff Distributing has grown over the years, the values that continue to guide the business, and...

Brad and Chris host this episode of The Table with Bailey Woosley of Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc and Nick Gentile of Prairie State Bank & Trust, the founders of RISE Springfield. Now with the The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, RISE was designed to give young professionals a place to connect, grow, and build meaningful relationships within the community. Now taking on a life of its own...

Join hosts Brad and Chris on The Table as they sit down with Tyler Morgan, a third-generation leader of Morgan Distributing Inc. Tyler shares the story behind the family business and how it has grown into one of the top 10 ExxonMobil distributors in the Americas, servicing petroleum needs across the Midwest. In this episode, Tyler reflects on the generations that built MDI, the journey that shaped...

Join hosts Brad and Chris on The Table as they sit down with Mike Grossen, Director of School Leadership and Facilities Planning for Springfield School District 186. Mike provides an inside look at the ongoing upgrades and improvements happening across the district, and how these projects are helping create better learning environments for students and staff. Mike also shares his background and th...

Brad and Chris are joined at The Table by Jill Reedy, Regional Superintendent of Schools for the Macon/Piatt Regional Office of Education #39. Jill explains the important role their office plays in supporting the education community, working with 13 area school districts to provide resources, programs, and services that help both students and educators succeed. Jill also talks about an upcoming co...

Join hosts Brad and Chris as they welcome Ali Farmer, Director of the HSHS St. John’s Foundation. Ali shares how she is dedicating her career to advancing philanthropy in healthcare and the role the Foundation plays in supporting St. John’s Hospital, St. John’s Children’s Hospital, and St. John’s College of Nursing. Ali talks about the power of community generosity and how donor support is helping...

Brad and Chris sit down at The Table with Colt McLeod, President of McLeod Express. Colt shares the story behind the family business and how its growth from a simple farm operation through the evolution of McLeod Express as we know it today. Colt also shares about the company’s commitment to community, including hauling equipment for the University of Illinois. We love to talk business, leadership...

Join hosts Brad and Chris on The Table as they sit down with Jim Allmon, Sangamon County Coroner. Jim shares what it’s really like serving in this vital and often misunderstood role, offering an honest look at the realities his office faces and the responsibility that comes with serving families during some of their most difficult moments. Jim also discusses the new state-of-the-art facility in Sa...

Join hosts Brad and Chris on The Table as they welcome John Flora from Flora Gems in Decatur. John takes us on a journey through the remarkable history of the family jewelry business, tracing its roots all the way back to the 1800s and sharing how it has grown and evolved across generations. John reflects on the relationships built within the community, and what it means to steward a legacy busine...

Join hosts Brad and Chris as they sit down with Billy Monnett at The Table. Billy is the managing partner at Win, Lose, or Draught, a popular sports bar on the south side of Springfield just before the Chatham line. Billy shares the story of running a local bar, along with the realities of operating in today’s ever-changing business environment. He opens up about the challenges he’s faced, the les...

Join hosts Brad and Chris on The Table as they welcome Larry Clark for a special episode celebrating his retirement after 20 years at Peerless. What started as a one-year commitment turned into two decades of relationships, trust, and plenty of laughs along the way. Larry reflects on his journey, the people he’s worked with, and the moments that made his time at Peerless so meaningful. His knowled...

Join hosts Brad and Chris on The Table as they welcome Debbie Bogle and Emily Phillips from United Way of Decatur & Mid-Illinois. In this episode, they discuss the critical work United Way is doing across the community, with a focus on supporting ALICE families, and other programs including the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, providing wheelchair ramps for individuals in need, and other init...

Join us for a moving episode of The Table where hosts Brad and Chris sit down with Abby Milburn, a mother fighting for her daughter, Lottie, who was diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome, an ultra-rare, terminal disorder. Abby shares her family’s emotional journey of discovery, love, and resilience as they navigate life with this devastating diagnosis. Abby opens up about the challenges of finding an...

Brad and Chris welcome Michael Thomas, Director of Business Relationships at Express Employment Professionals in Springfield to The Table in Episode #71. Michael shares his powerful story of transformation of becoming a respected professional, community leader, and man of faith. Michael, through his work at Express and community efforts, now follows a passion of connecting people with opportunitie...

Join hosts Brad and Chris on Episode #70 of The Table as they sit down with Blake Allison, 31-year-old kicker for Millikin University and local Gallagher insurance agent. Blake shares the unique story of returning to college athletics and what it’s been like stepping back onto the field surrounded by teammates nearly a decade younger. We love to talk business, leadership, community engagement and...

Join hosts Brad and Chris on Episode #69 of The Table as they sit down with Dr. Mandy Eaton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Health. Mandy shares her inspiring journey through the healthcare industry, from her early days in public health and human resources to now leading one of Central Illinois’ premier health systems. She discusses her leadership philosophy and her vision for t...

Join us at The Table as we welcome Chris Stone, serial entrepreneur, lobbyist, and President of Governmental Consulting Solutions. Chris shares the story of his professional journey, the many businesses he has built, and the experiences that shaped his approach to entrepreneurship and leadership. Chris also talks about how he ended up in Springfield, the lessons learned along the way, and how his...

Join us at The Table as we welcome Gabe Cagwin, Vice Chancellor for Advancement at the University of Illinois Springfield and Senior Vice President of the University of Illinois Foundation. Gabe shares insights into his role in advancing higher education and building support for programs and initiatives that make a difference for students.  We love to talk business, leadership, community engagemen...

Join us at The Table as we welcome Eric and Andrew Floyd, the father-son duo behind Floyd Imports, Springfield’s premier import shop. Eric shares stories from the early days working at Chris’ dad’s dealership and some of the mischief Chris and his brothers got into along the way. Eric and Andrew also talk about the values that drive their business such as prioritizing customer service, doing what’...

Join us at The Table as we welcome Dr. Dean Pribbenow, the new president of Millikin University. Since stepping into his role, Dr. Pribbenow has been hitting the ground running connecting with students, faculty, and the broader community to immerse himself in campus life. He shares his journey prior to Millikin and ways he hopes to strengthen the university’s impact in the community. We love to ta...

On Episode #64 of The Table, Brad and Chris, sit down with Mike Mannion, Director of Legislative Affairs, State of Illinois, for Troutman Pepper Locke. A seasoned public policy attorney with more than 30 years of experience, Mike provides strategic counsel on a wide range of federal and state regulatory and legislative issues. Mike shares his journey from the South Side of Chicago to becoming a ke...

On Episode #63 of The Table, Brad and Chris sit down with Jennifer Dahn, Founder and Executive Director of PawPrint Ministries, an organization dedicated to bringing comfort, love, and support through trained comfort dogs. Jennifer shares the inspiring story of PawPrint Ministries, which provides comfort dog teams to nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and disaster areas, all at no charge to those...