EIU Media Relations

EIU Foundation to Recognize Retiring Board Members

Five retiring board members will be recognized this weekend when the Eastern Illinois University Foundation gathers for its annual meeting.

Steven L. Childers and Alice Shawver, both of Charleston; George Paulik of Marietta, Ga.; James Schnorf of Longwood, Fla.; and Mariann D. Younger of Findlay, Ohio, will be lauded for their years of service and dedication to the university.

Steven L. Childers, a business graduate of Eastern, has a diversified background in accounting and a lengthy career with Consolidated Communications Inc., where he was named chief financial officer in 2004.  He joined the company in 1986 and was named director of accounting in 1990.  He also served as president of Consolidated Market Response during his tenure.  Childers served in a number of executive roles with McLeodUSA following the merger with CCI, most recently leading the company's Business Process Teams to implement revenue assurance processes and controls.

Childers, who is also a certified public accountant, served as president of the EIU Foundation board for three terms and as treasurer.  He currently serves as chair of the Real Estate Committee, as well as serving on the Finance, Investment, Scholarships/Grants and Annual Dinner Planning committees.

Alice Shawver graduated from Eastern Illinois State Teachers College before attending the University of Missouri, Columbia, and the Realtors Institute.  Her primary work experience has been as a teacher in Coles County schools and as broker/owner of Re/Max of Mid-Missouri Inc. Realtors.  She served on the Missouri Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors and the Fortnightly Club of the University of Missouri, and in the Omega Tau Rho fraternity for officers of the National Association of Realtors.

Shawver currently serves as a volunteer on the Real Estate and Annual Dinner Planning committees, and is a past president of the EIU Foundation Board of Directors.

George Paulik, who holds master's degrees in history and counseling, studied at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in the Investment Management Consultants program.  He is field vice president and sales manager for the Financial Institutions Division of Pacific Life, and has responsibility for the sales efforts of 18 field wholesalers covering depository institutions throughout the United States.

Paulik currently serves on the EIU Foundation's Finance, Investment and Scholarships/Grants committees.  He has also served on the Mission and Policy committees for the past four years.

James Schnorf, a 1976 business/accounting graduate of EIU and a graduate of the University of Illinois Executive MBA Program, is the founder and president of Wall Street Management and Capital Inc.  He previously served as the general manager and chief financial officer of Florida's largest independently owned investor relations company where he oversaw the entity's financing, initial public offering and investment portfolio management functions.  His experience includes serving as co-founder/president of a Midwest-based boutique mezzanine venture fund; as treasurer and chief financial officer of Stevens Industries Inc., a major woodworking firm based in central Illinois; and as group controller for Sequa Corporation, a Fortune 1000 aerospace concern.

Schnorf is a past member of the EIU Alumni Association Board of Directors and the School of Business and Accountancy advisory boards.  He serves on the Foundation Board as chair of the Scholarships/Grants Committee.  He also serves on the Investment and Nominating committees, and is the board's representative to the Council of Institutional Investors.

Mariann D. Younger graduated from EIU in 1954 with a degree in education, and was awarded an honorary fine arts degree from the University of Findlay in 2008.  Her work history includes teaching at all levels:  pre-school, secondary and as a home bound tutor. She is a dedicated volunteer for The University of Findlay's Mazza Museum of International Art from Picture Books, and was a member of the first class of Mazza docents and the first board of directors for Mazza enthusiasts, and has been for all of its 17 years. Younger has a continuing interest in literacy and reading in the community, and remains a dedicated volunteer who devotes her time and talent.

She has served on the EIU Foundation Board as chair of the Scholarships/Grants Committee and continues to serve on the Real Estate and Finance committees.