Board of Directors

Blake Pierce
President

Blake is a Mattoon native who received his Bachelors in Finance and MBA at Eastern Illinois University in 2011 and 2012 respectively, and then joined Rural King in the Finance Department. Since that time, he has advanced through many roles and responsibilities assisting the company quadruple in revenue and double its number of locations to the national retailer they have become today. Currently Blake serves as the Director of Real Estate and Economic Development, where he is responsible for all aspects of the company real estate division and new store selection; along with enhancing the communities in which Rural King calls home. Blake also serves on a number of local boards and committees, and particularly enjoys assisting small businesses and promoting the local economy in his free time.

Angela Griffin
Vice President

Angela Griffin is President and CEO of Coles Together, the economic development organization for Coles County charged with industrial recruitment and retention. Griffin has a BA in Economics from the University of Illinois at Springfield (formerly Sangamon State University) and 29 years of experience in economic development, including working at for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity before joining Coles Together in 2004. At DCEO Griffin held various positions including Assistant to the Director, Manager.

Scott Eggleston

Born and raised in Waterloo, Iowa, Scott Eggleston attended the University of Northern Iowa before accepting a sales position with a Des Moines-based mattress company. Scott quickly familiarized himself with the industry and advanced into a managerial position in Topeka, Kansas, later moving back to Des Moines, and then on to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida as a store owner. Two years later, Scott joined the Slumberland Furniture sales team in Des Moines. He quickly advanced into management and was transferred to Wichita, Kansas where he opened two stores while serving as General Manager.

In June 2012, Scott moved with his wife, Samantha and their sons, Blake and Brenton, to Mattoon. Scott and Samantha saw the opportunity to raise their sons in a tight-knit community while also filling a void in the local furniture market. The Eggleston’s opened their Slumberland store in Mattoon in 2012. They are passionate about helping to improve the world around them- both in their community and around the country- and enjoy traveling and participating in mission trips across the globe.

Scott currently serves as Chair of the Sara Bush Lincoln Health Foundation, and also served as Past President of the Mattoon Rotary Club, Mattoon Chamber of Commerce, and Slumberland Franchise Advisory Council. He also serves on the boards of the Mattoon Area Family YMCA, and Elevate.

Debby Cook

Born in Kankakee, Debby Cook has lived in Coles County since 2002. She is a Registered Nurse and holds a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, a Master’s Degree in Communication Studies from Eastern Illinois University, and completed graduate course work in business operations and strategic planning at the University of Wisconsin Madison. In 2004 she joined LifeLinks, a not for profit community mental health center in Mattoon, as the Compliance Officer. In addition to assuring agency compliance with all State and Federal regulations, she is the primary grant writer. Debby held senior administrative positions in public health and long term care and was the Administrator of a 120 bed for profit skilled nursing facility earlier in her career. She has served on numerous Boards and believes in giving back to her community through service. Over the past 20 years she has also provided consultation to nonprofit Boards of Directors, specializing in governance, roles and responsibilities, and strategic direction and planning.

Evan Kubicek (Coach K)

Evan Kubicek (Coach K) loves helping people, businesses, & communities become something greater. His greatest joy is being a husband of more than 20 years and the father of 4 sons. Professionally he is known as the Indiana Jones of Social Entrepreneurship.

As a faculty member he passes along strategies, processes and ideas that drive transformation in his students, their companies and their communities. As a business & life coach he helps clients rediscover who they are, where they can best apply their talents & experiences, and develop a plan of action to reach the next level of their calling. As a social entrepreneur, he creates unique solutions to impossible problems.

This passion for business and entrepreneurial development has taken Coach K through several professions: retail, education, humanitarian aid, international technology startup and consulting in more countries than you can count on two hands. Currently he is working as a: Faculty member teaching Entrepreneurship & Marketing courses at EIU Chief Impact Officer (CIO) at Wayland an embedded software engineering technology company Partner at Growth10 leading social impact focused executive coaching groups Business Advisor with the West Central Indiana small business development center Board Member Elevate Business Incubation Center Safety Officer & Volunteer Firefighter Kansas Fire Protection District Faculty Advisor EIU Entrepreneurship Club

Sandy Graven

Sandra Graven graduated from Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL in May 2001, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. She passed the CPA exam in 2003 and became a Licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois in August, 2003. Sandra began employment with Kemper CPA Group LLP in December 2008 as a result of a merger with Jones & Greathouse CPA’s. Prior to the merger, Sandra had been with Jones & Greathouse for over 25 years working in various capacities from computer programming to secretary to bookkeeper, then to CPA. She later became a partner with Jones & Greathouse. Sandra’s concentration is in tax. She has experience in individual, partnership, corporate, fiduciary and estate taxes. She became a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning (CSEP) in August, 2010, a QuickBooks ProAdvisor in September, 2014.

Professional Associations: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Certified Specialists in Estate Planning

Ed Dowd

Born in Port Arthur, Texas and also lived in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Norwalk, Connecticut and multiple locations in Northern Illinois. Graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1984. Worked as a Legal Assistant in Downtown Chicago, a Plant Manager for an Environmental Pollution Control Company in Palatine, IL and as the Store Manager at Wal-Mart in Pontiac, IL. Relocated to Coles County in 2000 with my wife and four children. Was the General Manager for Staples, Inc in Mattoon from 2000 to 2015. Became the Executive Director of the Mattoon Chamber of Commerce in January of 2016. Very involved in community organizations and working toward the betterment of Mattoon and Coles County.

Professional Associations: City of Mattoon Tax Incremental Business Board Member, City of Mattoon Planning Commission Board Member, City of Mattoon Revolving Loan Fund Board Member, Life Links Coles County Mental Health Board Member, Mattoon Area Industrial Development Board Secretary, Chairman of Mattoon In Motion Workforce Development Committee, Elevate, CCIC, Inc. Board Member, Member Mattoon Knights of Columbus, Member Downtown Mattoon Planning Group, Member Mattoon Tourism Advisory Board, Former Board Member Big Brothers/Big Sisters of East Central Illinois, Former Board Member Mattoon Kiwanis Club, Former Board President Mattoon Chamber of Commerce

Bobbi Kingery

Bobbi Kingery moved to Mattoon in 1974 and after living in Nashville, TN and Champaign, IL returned to her hometown. She currently serves as the Director of Career Services at Eastern Illinois University, and has been in the office since 1996. In this role she helps students research and plan career options, builds relationships with local and national employers to recruit on campus, and partners with campus departments to support student career development. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree and a Master of Science in Education degree from Eastern Illinois University.