Keynote Speakers
Ella Phillips Lacey
Ella Phillips Lacey earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoraldegrees in psychology, rehabilitation administration, and community health education, respectively, at SIUC. She demonstrates excellenceas an educator, volunteer, and leader in a variety of venues. Lacey retired from the SIU School of Medicine in 1994, but remains active in many settings since retirement. She is widely recognized for her devoted work to improve health delivery systems and to health care for the indigent and persons with limited resources. She was instrumental in developing and implementing a plan that improved ambulance service in seven Southern Illinois counties. She conducted research on pica, an eating disorder found largely among women characterized as low-income individuals. After retiring, Lacey dedicated herself to serving as a long-term international volunteer. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer trainer and as a child survival specialist, in Zomba, Malawi for two years. She studied the health care system in Vera Cruz, Mexico, and worked in the Worldwide Polio Eradication Program in northern India and in several countries of Africa. She is a Carbondale resident.
Mark Kiesling
Mark is the co-anchor of the 5:00 evening news on WSIL-TV. He began his television career working behind the scenes at WSIL. Within a year and a half, Mark worked his way into an on-air position as Sports Director. He served in that capacity for nearly 17 years, during which time he won the Merle Jones Award for outstanding sports journalism.
Mark left WSIL in 1999 to serve as a staff member with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He returned in June of 2002 in a dual role of news anchor and promotions director.
He remains involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes by serving as President of the Southern Illinois FCA board. He also volunteers his time as a board member with The Refuge Home, an elder at his church, and a little league softball coach.
Mark and his wife of 26 years, Debbie, live in Herrin where they are currently raising their three granddaughters.
Special Bonus Session featuring:
Gary Renville
Regional Vice President,
Gary Renville is the Vice President for the West Central Region for the HandsOn Network/Points of Light Institute. Working from Denver, Coloradao, he supports affiliated volunteer connector organizations in the central and west regions of the United States. Prior to serving as Regional Vice President, Gary was the Deputy Executive Director of Metro Volunteers in Denver, Colorado.
Over the past 20 years, Gary has served in various capacities as a volunteer and as a paid staff member in the nonprofit sector. He currently serves as a Mayoral Appointee to the Denver Botanic Gardens Board of Directors. He has been a nonprofit board chair, a development and marketing director for international and regionally based nonprofits, has held key volunteer roles in times of disaster, and was an elementary school teacher and administrator for almost 10 years. Gary holds a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from Oregon State University and a Masters Degree in Educational Administration and Leadership from Columbia University in New York, New York.