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Episode 42: Andrew M. Morgan M.D.

Enter the world of Andrew Morgan, M.D., Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, and founder of The Penguin Project. From age nine, Dr. Morgan's burning desire to become a pediatric physician set in motion his course to champion children with developmental disabilities. Working closely with parents, he is dedicated to each child's success in reaching full potential as well as striving to strengthen the family unit.

A combined love of medicine, theatre and the performing arts led Dr. Morgan to create The Penguin Project. As its founder and director, he pioneered a way for disabled children to improve self-confidence, build better communication skills and expand interactions with family and friends. Through his Penguin Project activities, Dr. Morgan has lifted community theatre to new heights in awareness and audience support.

Learn more about the many facets of Andrew Morgan, what continues to drive his passion, and how The Penguin Project got its name!

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Episode 41: Stacy Cordery

What makes a History class come alive? Probably any student would answer: a teacher who makes it interesting. Meet Monmouth College History Professor, Stacy Cordery, who is able to catch the realness of people and eras and impart their authenticity to her students.

Armed with a B.A. in Theatre, an M.A. and Ph.D. in History, all from University of Texas, Stacy knows how to communicate and deliver. Her interests in history, theatre, research and writing combined with a fascination of the Roosevelt family led to her book, New York Times bestseller Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, From White House Princess to Washington Power Broker. Learn about Stacy's methods of portraying historical facts in her writing and why Alice herself made such an indelible and enduring impression.

As a biographical writer, Stacy interprets the past and captures the intersection of individuals and circumstances. Stacy's classroom courses include U.S. Women's History, World War II, The Vietnam Era, Illinois and United States History. Find out the subject of Stacy's next book, why she chose it and her explanation of the highs and lows of being a writer.

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Episode 40: Bruce Weber

Named National Coach of the Year in 2005, Bruce Weber won the prestigious Naismith Award for coaching. He is the 11th winningest coach in the United States holding 152 victories across the past six years; his 72.7 winning percentage is the highest in the history of the Big 10 for the last six seasons. Additional recognitions include the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Henry Iba Award and the Adolph F. Rupp Cup Award.

Bruce's assistant coaching career began at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, in 1978. Job experience followed as an assistant high school coach and fifth grade teacher before serving as assistant to Gene Keady --- ultimately the head basketball coach at Purdue. Working with Coach Keady for 18 seasons as assistant coach, Bruce moved to head coach position at Southern Illinois University before becoming University of Illinois head coach in 2003.

Bruce Weber mentored University of Illinois standout players who went on to achieve Pro status: Deron Williams, Luther Head, James Augustine and Dee Brown.

Early life for Bruce Weber began in Milwaukee, as one of five children. By his own admission he was never an outstanding athlete himself; he earned the nickname "Dirt" growing up due to many sports related injuries. He and his wife, Megan are parents to three children.

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Episode 39: “Life and Work of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen”

Bishop Daniel Jenky of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria and Monsignor Stanley Deptula, Executive Director of the Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation discuss the life and work of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, a man once referred to by the Reverend Billy Graham as "the greatest communicator of the twentieth century."

Sheen's life began in El Paso, Illinois. The son of a hardware store owner father with a second grade education and a mother with an eighth grade education, Sheen and his three brothers achieved great success in their respective vocations: an Archbishop, a physician, an attorney and an industrialist.

Archbishop Sheen rose to prominence first as a member of the Catholic clergy and later as the host of Life Is Worth Living, an ABC program that in its prime reached up to ten million viewers and transcended traditional religious boundaries. Sheen was outspoken when it came to issues about which he felt strongly. He delivered railing sermons on the evils of Communism, while reminding viewers not to judge the Russian people based on their government's ideals. While serving as the Bishop of Rochester, Sheen spoke out against what some considered to be the racist hiring practices of Eastman Kodak, the city's largest employer.

Bishop Jenky and Monsignor Deptula describe the canonization process, involving 22 volumes of testimony, currently underway for Archbishop Sheen.

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Episode 38: David Heinzmann

David Heinzmann is a Chicago Tribune reporter and author of the crime novel A Word to the Wise. After receiving his Master's in Journalism from the University of Illinois, David worked for the Associated Press in Baltimore and for the Daily Southtown on Chicago's South Side. It was while covering the sometimes gritty and corrupt south suburbs that David first began writing about white collar crime and the frequent connection between crime and development, and it was there that the seeds for writing crime fiction were planted.

Sara Paretsky, author of the V. I. Warshawski series described A Word to the Wise as "An eye-popping look at Chicago's political underbelly. Heinzmann knows what makes "the city that works" tick, and the lines he draws between the Outfit, City Hall, and Chicago's legal and corporate players will make your blood run cold."

As a reporter covering Chicago's crime beat, David has been interviewed on numerous programs on CNN, MSNBC and NPR. In addition to writing about crime for the Tribune, David does some political reporting. He was part of the investigation into the former lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Scott Lee Cohen, whose background came into question following a primary victory that surprised even seasoned political observers.

David discusses his childhood in Metamora, his early inspirations, the influence of his creative writing teacher A. E. Claeyssens, media biases, and the role of a reporter in journalism.

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Episode 37: Debra Conner

Debra Conner taught college-level creative writing and poetry courses for 22 semesters before embarking on a new way to educate as a living history performer. The self-described introvert details her transition from teaching it to "living it" as she travels the country performing as historical figures to a variety of audiences.

A living history performer differs from the more commonly known reenactor in that the living history performer is a scholar who has studied all aspects of a historical figure (his or her family, political beliefs, personality, hobbies, etc.). In Debra's case, she studies figures for well over a year before introducing them into her repertoire. Debra's performance has three parts, all of which are meant to engage the audience. She begins her performance in period costume and performs a monologue in character. Next the audience has a chance to ask the historical figure questions, which Debra answers in character. Finally, the audience has the opportunity to address Debra, where she can answer questions from the perspective of a scholar.

A published author herself, Debra is drawn to portraying other writers including Margaret Mitchell, Zelda Fitzgerald, and Emily Dickinson. Of Dickinson, a reclusive figure who withdrew from the world around the age of 30 to focus on writing, Debra says, "For those of us who love to write, it sounds like a delicious way to live."

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Episode 36: Nancy G. Brinker

Peoria native Nancy G. Brinker is the Founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization she founded after losing her sister Susan to breast cancer. Nancy's career as a fundraiser began early in her childhood when she and Susan put on a neighborhood variety show that raised $50.14 to help those with Polio. Susan G. Komen for the Cure has given grants of $1.5 billion and has funded more breast cancer research than any organization other than the United States government.

In addition to her work with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Nancy has also served her country as an Ambassador to Hungary and as the Chief of Protocol of the United States. Among her countless awards and honors, Nancy was recently awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

Nancy continues to seek opportunity for Susan G. Komen for the Cure to influence policy and produce positive results. The Harris Interactive 2010 EquiTrend poll named Susan G. Komen for the Cure as one of the nation's most trusted nonprofit organizations. Nancy is proud of the work the organization has done to eradicate cultural barriers - it was only a generation ago that it would have been rare to hear the words "breast cancer" on television or see them printed in a newspaper.

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Episode 35: Michael Bryant

W. Michael Bryant is the President and CEO of Methodist Health Service Corporation. In addition to Methodist Medical Center, Michael is responsible for other entities such as the Methodist Medical Center Foundation, Methodist's fundraising subsidiary; Methodist Services, Inc., Methodist's real estate holding arm which includes the 800,000 square foot hospital plus approximately 1,000,000 square feet of other real estate space; Methodist Physicians Services and Heartland Incorporated.

A native of Jeffersonville, Indiana, Michael passed his CPA exam before even graduating Indiana University with Bachelor's of Science in Business. He later obtained an MBA with a focus on Marketing and Health Administration from the University of Chicago. It was while he was employed as an auditor at KPMG's Chicago office that Michael realized he had an affinity for healthcare, and more specifically, the point where healthcare and business intersect.

As a self-described "finance guy" Michael appreciates the social element that is relative to his position and believes it is his role to create a compassionate environment that is "businesslike and not business." Michael believes that hiring the right people, those who possess not only technical skills but who are a good cultural and philosophical fit for the organization, is the key to Methodist's success.

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Episode 34: Paul Kinsinger, M.D.

Paul Kinsinger, M.D. is a physician and the inventor of Dr. Paul's Piggy Paste, a treatment for thick toenails (a condition that accompanies toenail fungus). As a doctor, Paul sees many patients suffering from toenail fungus. Though he often recommended that patients soak their toenails in white vinegar and water for five minutes everyday for nine months, patients rarely followed the recommendation. It occurred to Paul that adding vinegar to a penetrating gel would allow for easier treatment, and Dr. Paul's Piggy Paste was born. Though Paul doesn't claim that Dr. Paul's Piggy Paste treats toenail fungus, of his 110 patients who were the first to try the solution, 81 patients were satisfied with the results. Paul continues to hear positive stories from new users as well.

At seven years old, Paul's mom told him that he should become a doctor or a missionary. From that point on, he never considered pursuing another career path. Combining medicine and compassion has allowed Paul to become something of a missionary as he treats patients and offers them guidance using Christian principles.

Dr. Paul's Piggy Paste is currently available at various stores including some local Walgreen's and can also be purchased from the Piggy Paste website. QVC, the home shopping channel, will soon begin making the product available on its website. In January, Paul will appear on QVC to sell his product.

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Episode 33: Barbara Padilla

Soprano Barbara Padilla came into the public eye while a contestant on NBC's America's Got Talent. Her voice enchanted the audience and the judges. Barbara's performance of Ave Maria, watched by an audience of 15 million viewers, left notoriously tough judge Piers Morgan "speechless."

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Barbara grew up listening to opera. As an adult, Barbara graduated college in Mexico with a degree in Music Instruction. In 1996 she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease. A friend arranged for her to visit the renowned M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. While Barbara was in Houston, another friend scheduled her an audition with Peter Jacoby of the University of Houston's Moores School of Music. Jacoby offered her an undergraduate and graduate scholarship on the spot. Barbara has since graduated, married, become a mother and is working on her first album.

Barbara's talent and spirit are an inspiration. She believes her illness gave her far more than it took away, and as America's Got Talent judge David Hasselhoff once said to her, "You are exactly where you are supposed to be."

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Episode 32: Nancy T. Brady

When they met in college at Illinois Wesleyan, Bill Brady told Nancy he wanted to be President of the United States. Bill's interest in politics led him to first run for office in 1992. Today Bill is State Senator of the 44th District, and a recent Republican gubernatorial candidate. Nancy, after a career in Information Systems at Country Companies, works as the Business Manager for Brady Property Management of Bloomington and is the mother of three children.

Nancy cites strong relationships with family as one of the most important things in her life. In particular, she owes much of who she is to her parents, who served as lifelong role models, as individuals and as a couple. Additionally Nancy recalls the moment a geometry teacher took the time to encourage her to be the best she could be in everything she attempts. It is one of her few regrets that she never told this teacher what a positive impact he had on her life.

Raising a family in a "fishbowl" has not always been easy, but the experience has helped the Bradys grow as a family. Nancy has learned to rise above the political mudslinging and stay positive by embracing the experiences her life has to offer with grace and a good sense of humor.

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Episode 31: Sara L. Rusch, M.D.

Sara L. Rusch, M.D., the Regional Dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Dr. Rusch received her Bachelor's in Molecular Biology and is a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Wisconsin.

At Wisconsin, she is one of six that was awarded Phi Beta Kappa designation as a Junior; she served as President of her sorority and then was engaged in the practice of internal medicine in Peoria. She served as the chief resident at St. Francis, the chair of the Department of Medicine and was elected to Mastership Status in 1997, having demonstrated her commitment to excellence in medical care, education, research and community service.

Dr. Rusch, is married to Thomas Cusack, M.D., and is the mother of seven grandchildren and grandmother to six. Dr. Rusch details her typical day, the role of the female in today's workplace, her family background and her view of the future of the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Dr. Rusch cites problem-solving and the ability to make decisions as characteristics that have contributed to her success as dean. She also believes that experience is a valuable tool explaining, "Each person's life is an evolution of incremental experiences." Hesitant to call herself a role model, Dr. Rusch feels the path to success is different for everyone.

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Episode 30: Dr. Jack Thomas

It was a tearful conversation eight-year-old Jack Thomas had with his mother that set him on the path to success. Having been forced by her parents to leave school in the eleventh grade, Thomas's mother said she wanted more for him. Though he originally set out to be a high school English teacher, Dr. Thomas ultimately received a Ph.D. in English and became an English professor.

Dr. Thomas describes the segue from academic to administrative work as an evolution resulting from the encouragement he received from college administrators. After working in administration at Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Dr. Thomas and his family came to Western Illinois University where he served as provost and academic vice president beginning in January 2008. In January 2010 Dr. Thomas was named the eleventh president of Western Illinois University, where he oversees a $220 million budget.

In 2010, the Princeton Review rated Western Illinois University as among the colleges offering the best economic value. Dr. Thomas feels that the unique academic programs offered by WIU put its alumni on equal footing with the alumni of any other university. Dr. Thomas believes that WIU offers students a quality and well-rounded education, with a balance of social and academic experiences.

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Episode 29: Edward J. Tangel

Edward J. Tangel, founder and Chairman of the Board of Enercon Engineering Inc., a global leader in the power generation industry, started the company in 1975 - the year of One Flew Over the Cuckoo Nest -- with $1,700 in a facility located in Chillicothe, Illinois. Enercon now employs more than 300 individuals in facilities consisting of more than 240,000 square feet, located in East Peoria, Illinois, Barnesville, Georgia, Phoenix, Arizona, Singapore and Bangladesh. Enercon has completed more than 38,000 projects located in all continents other than Australia.

Ed was born in Brooklyn, New York, earned both an undergraduate and Master's degree in electrical engineering and from the beginning of his career, enjoyed learning "how things worked" and "making them work better." Ed and his spouse, Beatrice, have five children, including Larry, the president and CEO of Enercon. He describes his management style, his responsibilities toward Enercon employees, the future of the engineering profession and his view of the world of leadership and rewards.

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Episode 27: Phil Ryan

Phil defined Phil and described his quantative approach to qualitative issues, i.e., how a social service provider analyzes productivity and benefits conferred. He expressed his views as to the current status of not-for-profits, compared and contrasted for-profits and not-for-profits. Phil's special focus related to the role of Social Impact Bonds - suggested in a recent issue of The Economist and in more detail by Jeffrey B. Libeman, a Harvard professor in his February 2011 paper issued by the Center for American Progress. The approach: cause not-for-profits to emulate the role of the for-profit, i.e., "skin in the game" in the form of bonds issued by a tax-exempt organization.

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Episode 27: Harold Fritz

Lieutenant Colonel Fritz, the recipient of two Purple Hearts, one Silver Star and the Congressional Medal of Honor, detailed his near death experiences in Vietnam. On January 11, 1969 - the year of Super Bowl III when the Jets defeated the Colts - while serving as a platoon leader of a 7 vehicle armored column, Fritz was the subject of intense crossfire from approximately 220 North Vietnamese. His 28 member platoon was reduced to 5; the reduced number caused the enemy to abandon its efforts. Fritz, one of approximately 3,600 Medal of Honor recipients (40+ million soldiers have served since the Civil War), described the Medal of Honor award ceremony, the role of a cigarette lighter given to him by his spouse and the surreal experience - returning the grade school and seeing the bullets slowly rotated followed by vapor streams -- when faced with rocket-propelled grenades and bullets approaching his chest.

Lieutenant Colonel Fritz's Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Capt. (then 1st Lt.) Fritz, Armor, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving as a platoon leader with Troop A, near Quan Loi. Capt. Fritz was leading his 7-vehicle armored column along Highway 13 to meet and escort a truck convoy when the column suddenly came under the intense crossfire from a reinforced enemy company deployed in ambush positions. In the initial attack, Capt. Fritz' vehicle was hit and he was seriously wounded. Realizing that his platoon was completely surrounded, vastly outnumbered, and in danger of being overrun, Capt. Fritz leaped to the top of his burning vehicle and directed the positioning of his remaining vehicles and men. With complete disregard for his wounds and safety, he ran from vehicle to vehicle in complete view of the enemy gunners in order to reposition his men, to improve the defenses, to assist the wounded, to distribute ammunition, to direct fire, and to provide encouragement to his men. When a strong enemy force assaulted the position and attempted to overrun the platoon, Capt. Fritz manned a machine gun and through his exemplary action inspired his men to deliver intense and deadly fire which broke the assault and routed the attackers. Moments later a second enemy force advanced to within 2 meters of the position and threatened to overwhelm the defenders. Capt. Fritz, armed only with a pistol and bayonet, led a small group of his men in a fierce and daring charge which routed the attackers and inflicted heavy casualties. When a relief force arrived, Capt. Fritz saw that it was not deploying effectively against the enemy positions, and he moved through the heavy enemy fire to direct its deployment against the hostile positions. This deployment forced the enemy to abandon the ambush site and withdraw. Despite his wounds, Capt. Fritz returned to his position, assisted his men, and refused medical attention until all of his wounded comrades had been treated and evacuated. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by Capt. Fritz, at the repeated risk of his own life above and beyond the cal of duty, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect the greatest credit upon himself, his unit, and the Armed Forces."

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Episode 26: Tana L. Utley

Tana L. Utley, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President at Caterpillar Inc., as the face of Caterpillar's 9,000 member technical community, oversees Caterpillar's research and development budget of approximately $1.98 billion per year. Her focus: sustaining Caterpillar's global technology leadership. Tana, one of three female members of the 38-person Executive Management Team, joined Caterpillar in 1986 - the year the space shuttle Challenger, disintegrated and lost, among others, a school teacher, Christa McAuliffe -- as a member of its College Graduate Training Program. Before joining Caterpillar, Tana received her mechanical engineering degree, cum laude, from Bradley University. At Bradley, she was the President of Tau Beta Pi Honor Society and participated in the wind ensemble, band, and clarinet choir. Tana's family - her father, Jan Allen, is a mechanical engineer, her two sisters are mechanical engineers and her spouse, Kent is a mechanical engineer -- focuses on "problem solving". Tana discussed the correlation between music - her first interest - and math.

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Episode 25: J. David Arnold, Ph.D.

Professor Arnold, the 26th President of Eureka College, received his Masters and Ph.D. with an emphasis in social psychology - the study of how humans think and relate to each other -- from the University of New Hampshire. Eureka College, "A small, supportive, exceptional family", was chartered in 1855 by the Disciples of Christ. It was the first college in Illinois that admitted men and women on an equal basis and was rationally integrated in 1931. Among its more than 5,000 grads, are 7 Governors, Members of Congress, 42 college presidents and the 40th President of the United States, Ronald W. Reagan. The following quotes from President Reagan epitomize the philosophy of Eureka College: "Everything that has been good in my life began here" and "The most valuable lesson I learned at Eureka is that every individual makes a difference." Professor Arnold was the first in his family to graduate from college and describes the "Eureka moment" when he decided to pursue his post-graduate education.

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Episode 24: Reverend Linda Butler

Reverend Butler was born in Peoria, the 10th of 13 siblings, was a Romeo B. Garrett Scholar and received her degree in Journalism from Bradley University. Linda is an ordained minister and was associated with WPEO Christian Radio for 21 years as a director of both public affairs programs and community relations. Linda is President of Peoria School District 150 and is the New Promise Director of the South Side Mission - in charge of a shelter for homeless women and women with children. Reverend Butler discusses the role of education, the challenges of educators and her role in allowing others to achieve "success."

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Episode 23: Malcolm C. Pike, Ph.D.

Malcolm C. Pike, Ph.D., is a statistical mathematician by training and an epidemiologist by profession and is associated with New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering's Cancer Center. Dr. Pike, an author of more than 536 professional papers, is a renowned epidemiologist who has made seminal contributions to the understanding of hormone-related breast cancer. His research addresses key public health issues such as those relating to oral contraceptives and breast cancer. Dr. Pike received his Ph.D. degree in mathematical statistics in 1963 from Aberdeen University, in Scotland. Dr. Pike was previously the Director of the Cancer Epidemiology Unit at Oxford University from 1983 to 1987. His many honors include membership in the Institute of Medicine and the 2008 Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Society of Preventive Oncology. He discusses the application of statistics to today's world: the movie, Money Ball, starring Brad Pitt, Google and the differences between an individual with a quantative mind and a qualitative mind. Dr. Pike describes not the ultimate cure for breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer, but instead the steps which in the foreseeable future will reduce the adverse impact of those diseases by reaching an acceptable state of imperfection.

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