Meet the Board

Julie Navickas works in corporate communications at COUNTRY Financial. She also instructs coursework in the School of Communication at ISU and Heartland Community College. Julie is a mom of three, is a six-time published author of contemporary romance and loves spending time reading and writing. Her favorite book is J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.

Amy Secretan is an academic advisor for the Honors Program at Illinois State University, where she advises undergraduate Honors students, supervises a group of Honors student leaders, manages social media accounts, and coordinates recruitment and admissions for the program. She also teaches in the School of Communication at ISU, and at Heartland Community College.
Stephanie Duquenne is a senior director for Alumni Engagement at Illinois State University focusing on the annual Homecoming celebration, reunions, and advocacy work. She also teaches in the School of Communication. Stephanie is a mom to one teenage daughter and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Foundations at Illinois State University.
Nick Schmidt is an account executive at bopi and has been with the company for 5 years. Beyond his sales role, he also serves on the executive leadership team, strategic planning team, marketing team, and the forecasting team. Nick enjoys spending time with his children, Ember (4), Ryne (2), and Colson (2 months). He also has two springer spaniels.
Timothy Bill is the Director of Marketing Operations at First Mid Bancshares, Inc., where he leads marketing strategy, advertising, and campaign execution across the organization. Tim earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Communication from Illinois State University. Tim enjoys spending time with his wife, Mandy, and their two children, Maya (11) and Dean (9). He’s a proud fan of all things Redbirds—cheering on both Illinois State University and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Courtney Schafer is the Community Marketing Manager for the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council. She loves using social media to connect, share exciting updates, and foster community engagement. Outside of her work, she’s proud to have completed the Chicago half-marathon in 2022. Courtney looks forward to connecting and exploring ways to collaborate in CICA.
 Amanda is the owner of OMNIA, LLC, a managed marketing company that assists local businesses of all sizes and industries with their marketing efforts. She also owns Eat Local, a business dedicated to promoting and supporting local restaurants. She graduated from Illinois State University and has lived in Bloomington-Normal since 1998. When she’s not working, you can usually find her on the sidelines at her sons’ sporting events or volunteering on one of the various boards she serves in the community.
Dani Schroeder is a regional director of development at Illinois Wesleyan University, where she works to connect IWU’s alumni and supporters with their passions to impact student outcomes. Dani is mom to three little boys and loves spending time at their activities and with her husband Zach. She is a big women’s sports fan and loves watching games with her kids.
Amy Secretan is an academic advisor for the Honors Program at Illinois State University, where she advises undergraduate Honors students, supervises a group of Honors student leaders, manages social media accounts, and coordinates recruitment and admissions for the program. She also teaches in the School of Communication at ISU, and at Heartland Community College.
Megan Rolfs is the Executive Director of Marketing at Heartland Community College, overseeing the College’s marketing and advertising strategies. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Illinois State University, where she worked prior to Heartland. Megan enjoys traveling, baking, volunteering at her church, and spending time with her husband and two boys.
Kyah Joseph is the Program Assistant for the School of Communication at Illinois State University, where she plans and leads fun events for students and alumni. Kyah received her bachelor’s in Public Relations at ISU and it currently working on her master’s in Communication. Kyah is a huge lover of baking and is looking to get into the puzzle and Lego-building world.