Board of Directors

Brian Laird, PharmD, MBA, BS, RPh
Pharmacy Manager, OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center

Brian Laird is an experienced pharmacy manager with a diverse background in hospital pharmacy. He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and a Bachelor of Science degree. In addition to his role as Pharmacy Manager at OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center, Brian serves on the board of Promise Healthcare. Driven by a commitment to equitable healthcare access, he joined the board to support efforts to provide high-quality care to all community members.

Ashley Inez Buckley
Homeless Services Specialist, Champaign County Health Care Consumers

Ashley Inez Buckley is a Licensed Social Worker with a Master’s in Social Work specializing in Leadership and Social Change. She is currently a Homeless Services Specialist with Champaign County Health Care Consumers, focusing on supporting and connecting the homeless with essential healthcare resources.

Ashley chose to join the board of Promise Healthcare because of her strong belief in its mission to provide healthcare access to the community. She is especially excited about Healthcare’s strategic expansion in mental health, dental, and prescription assistance programs. She is committed to supporting the organization’s continued growth to better serve the community.

Julianna Sellett

Vice President of Community Health for the Carle Health system.

Julianna has over 34 years of health care experience, with special interest in organizational strategy, systems and design thinking, performance improvement, community and population health, as well as cross-sector community integration. Her current work focuses on innovative approaches to improving the health, educational achievement, and economic prosperity of at-risk populations. She is a Registered Nurse (RN), with a Doctoral degree in Nursing Practice (DNP), Master’s degree in Nursing (MSN), and a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA). She is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) and is certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP). In addition to her healthcare roles, she is actively involved in the community and has been named by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to the Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

Robert Lewis, CMPE
Senior Healthcare Business Banker / Vice President, PNC Bank

Robert Lewis is an experienced financial professional serving as Senior Healthcare Business Banker and Vice President at PNC Bank. With a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and certification as a Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE), Robert has financial and business management expertise, particularly within the healthcare sector. His community involvement includes participation in the McLean County Leadership Program and serving as President of the Country Ridge Homeowners Association. Robert joined the board of Promise Healthcare to support its essential role in providing accessible healthcare services, which he believes are vital to strengthening and caring for the local community.

Paulette Colemon-Peeples
Community Health Worker/Benefits Case Manager

Paulette Colemon-Peeples is a dedicated Community Health Worker and Benefits Case Manager with over two decades of personal connection to Promise Healthcare, where she and her family have been patients. In addition to her work supporting community health, she has served on the CUTU Board since 2005. Paulette joined the board of Promise Healthcare inspired by her long-standing relationship with the organization and the value of having a reliable medical home. She is enthusiastic about Promise Healthcare’s commitment to providing essential healthcare services to the community.

Jennifer L. Zang, JD
Attorney, Maatuka Al-Heeti Emkes LLC

Jennifer L. Zang is an accomplished attorney at Maatuka Al-Heeti Emkes LLC, with a vital community service and leadership foundation. She holds an Associate's degree from Heartland Community College, a Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law. Admitted to the Illinois Bar in 2016 and the Federal Bar shortly after.

Her leadership roles include serving as the Director of the CU at 9 Chapter of Master Networks since 2023, as well as previous board and committee roles with Labrador Life Line. A graduate of several advanced leadership programs, she brings a dynamic perspective to her community contributions. Jennifer joined the board of Promise Healthcare to support essential healthcare services for the unemployed and underemployed, and she is passionate about expanding access to healthcare for those in need.

Grant Ghighi, CFP, CRPC
Financial Advisor, Edward Jones Investments

Grant Ghighi is a seasoned financial advisor with a Bachelor's degree in Finance and a minor in Insurance. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Chartered Retirement Plan Counselor, Grant brings extensive expertise in financial planning. He was recognized as a 2024 News-Gazette "40 Under 40" award recipient. Alongside his professional role at Edward Jones Investments, he serves on the board of Promise Healthcare and the OSF Heart of Mary Community Council. Driven by a desire to make a positive community impact and reduce the national medical debt crisis, Grant is passionate about Promise Healthcare's mission to close critical healthcare gaps for the underprivileged.

Claudia Lennhoff

Executive Director of the Champaign County Health Care Consumers (CCHCC).

CCHCCis a local non-profit consumer health advocacy organization founded in 1977. Claudia has been on staff at CCHCC for over 27 years (since 1997) and is a past recipient of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Community Health Leaders Award for her work to expand access to health care in Champaign County.

Claudia has extensive experience working to improve access to health care, both through working directly with clients, and through community organizing and advocacy. CCHCC currently serves about 500 clients per month,helping them navigate the health care system and gain access to public benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP, and Disability (SSI and SSDI).

Claudia has led many community organizing campaigns that have resulted in the creation of new or expanded services and benefits for Champaign County residents, including a county-wide Public Health Department, a dental access program for low-income children, and the Promise Healthcare organization – a Federally Qualified Health Center that now operates Frances Nelson Health Center and the SmileHealthy dental clinic and programs.

Claudia has also led CCHCC’s environmental work, focusing on an effort to clean up a toxic site in a residential neighborhood in Champaign, and the work to protect the Mahomet Aquifer from environmental contamination.

Claudia is one of the founders of Hope Village – a Permanent Supportive Housing village to be comprised of 30 fully-accessible small homes and a community center that will provide on-site case management and health care services for homeless individuals who are medically fragile. Hope Village founding partners include Carle Health, UIUC, and CCHCC.

Minnie Pearson 

President of the NAACP Champaign County Branch

Minnie serves as the President of the NAACP Champaign County Branch and has been a dedicated resident of the Champaign-Urbana community for over 50 years. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Illinois and, from an early age, aspired to teach elementary education. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois, Minnie began her teaching career with Champaign Unit 4 School District as a first-grade teacher at Dr. Howard Elementary School. She dedicated over 30 years to the district and is now retired. However, her passion for working with children remains strong, and she continues to substitute teach a few days a week to stay connected with youth and keep up-to-date on the best teaching practices. Additionally, Minnie has volunteered as a CU One to One Mentor for the past ten years within Champaign Schools, embodying her commitment to public service.

A life member of the NAACP Champaign County Branch, Minnie previously served as First Vice President for eight years and is currently in her second term as President. She is especially proud of the work done by the NAACPCC Executive Branch and all committees. The mission of the NAACP Champaign County Branch is to ensure political empowerment, educational excellence, social and economic equality for all, and to eliminate racial hatred and discrimination. As President, Minnie is committed to upholding this mission and working tirelessly to make a difference in the community. Recognizing that an organization’s strength lies in its membership, she invites community members to join the local branch, participate in committees, or serve on the board.

Minnie is also actively involved in other local boards and holds leadership roles across the community. She is a life member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Champaign-Urbana Alumnae Chapter, and has been a devoted member of Salem Baptist Church in Champaign for over 45 years.