Building Blocs

Keith Pekau | Mayor of Orland Park

Keith Pekau, the Mayor of Orland Park, is a decorated veteran and successful small businessman who will put people over politics in the 6th District. In Pekau’s first run for political office in 2017, he defeated a 28-year politician to become the mayor of his hometown, Orland Park. He ran to put an end to the political games and instead focus on doing what was best for his community—and he kept that promise. In his first term as Mayor, Pekau worked with the Orland Park Village Board to reduce operating expenses, pay down debt, lower property taxes, and institute term limits. He refused to take a pension and worked to eliminate pensions for all Village of Orland Park elected officials. As mayor, Pekau has worked proactively with local law enforcement to make Orland Park safer. During his tenure, crime has been reduced to the lowest levels in over 27 years, and Orland Park was recently named the safest city in Illinois and the 8th safest city in the county. Pekau has worked tirelessly to grow the economy in Orland Park. He helped diversify the local economy by reimagining the village’s downtown, saving Orland Square Mall, and helping local businesses survive during the pandemic. He works closely with regional municipal and business partners, co-founded an I-80 corridor development group, Chicago Southland Interstate Alliance, and currently serves on the board of the I-80 coalition. Over 600 businesses have opened in Orland Park so far during his tenure. Serving people and his community has always been a driving motivation for Pekau. As a U.S. Air Force Officer, Pekau was the Top Graduate at Undergraduate and Fighter Navigator Training. Additionally, he was the #1 graduate (out of 648) at Squadron Officer School. He is a decorated combat veteran, serving as an Instructor Weapons System Officer in the F-15E Strike Eagle. He has over 1,500 hours of flight time, including 45 combat sorties and 150 combat hours over Southern Iraq. After leaving the Air Force, Pekau was a management consultant for two international consulting firms. In 2003, he became a small business owner, starting GroundsKeeper Landscape Care, a full-service landscaping and tree service company. In 2009, he co-founded Fahrenheit Consulting which specializes in helping businesses develop market growth strategies. Pekau has also served as the Illinois Director of Vets4Energy, which focused on energy policy, national security, and American energy independence. To further his impact in the community and among veterans, Pekau hosts a Veterans Golf Outing which has raised nearly $100,000 for veteran’s groups. Pekau has volunteered with numerous local organizations, and sponsored and coached Orland Park youth basketball, and baseball teams. Pekau was born and raised in Orland Park, which is where he currently lives with his wife, Betty. They have three children, all of whom grew up in Orland Park, and one granddaughter. Pekau has a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Arizona State University and an M.B.A. from Duke University, as a Fuqua Scholar.

Devereaux Peters | 2x WNBA Champion & Developer of The Monreaux

Devereaux is a 2-time WNBA Champion, a moving story-teller, and a staunch advocate for gun safety. Over the course of her basketball career, Devereaux distinguished herself at every level while overcoming nine surgeries. Devereaux won championships with the Minnesota Lynx in 2013 and 2015 and was listed as one of the Top 20 Players in Minnesota Lynx history. Over her 6-year career, Devereaux played with the Lynx, the Indiana Fever, and the Phoenix Mercury. She also played overseas in seven countries, winning a championship in 2018 with the Slovakia Good Angels. Devereaux led Uniqa Sopron to a Hungarian National Championship in 2016 and was named Most Valuable Player. In 2011, Devereaux helped lead Team USA to a Gold Medal at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China. In college, Devereaux starred at Notre Dame, leading the Irish to two Final Fours and winning numerous awards including being named an All-American and Big East Defensive Player of the Year twice. In 2019, Devereaux launched her own production company, Devereaux Productions, and is developing a series of inspiring and empowering stories about underrepresented women leaders, starting with Check Up, an interview series with WNBA stars about their incredible achievements on and off the court. Devereaux has written for the Washington Post, the Chicago Sun Times and Bright Lite. She is a co-host of ESPN’s Around the Rim podcast. She is an outspoken advocate for gun safety and a founding member of Everytown for Gun Safety’s Athletic Council. A Chicago native, Devereaux has devoted her philanthropy to supporting local organizations that are empowering youth in her community.

Adam Poock | RanksAcademy

Adam Poock stands as a distinguished expert in the realm of physical wellness and athletic training, boasting nearly two decades of specialized experience. His profound expertise encompasses postural evaluation and correction, manual therapy, pain management, and a keen focus on athletic training. Adam is particularly renowned for his innovative approaches in enhancing balance, flexibility, and pain reduction, making significant strides in improving the quality of life for his clients. As an accomplished author, Adam has contributed valuable insights to the field through his seminal works, "Muscular Age/MuscularYouth" and "The Gluing Energy Process and the 10 Preventables of Muscular Aging." These publications reflect his deep understanding of muscular aging and offer groundbreaking strategies for its prevention and management. In his quest to redefine the standards of aging in America, Adam founded RanksAcademy, a pioneering platform dedicated to the education and empowerment of the New Older Athlete. Through RanksAcademy, he provides a blend of educational forums and electronic media, aimed at advancing physical education and training. His work is driven by a passion to challenge conventional notions of aging, positioning him as a trailblazer in promoting a more vibrant, active lifestyle for aging populations. Adam's specialties lie in the intricate dynamics of muscular aging and prevention. His approach is not just about combating the physical signs of aging but redefining what it means to age in America. By integrating advanced physical education and training methodologies, Adam Poock is at the forefront of a movement that seeks to empower individuals to lead healthier, more active lives well into their later years.

Stephen Parker | Stantec Architecture

A dedicated behavioral health planner and mental health design subject matter expert, Stephen is a proponent of “architect as advocate” for colleague, client, and community alike, and he believes strongly in leadership through service. Advocating by design for humanity at its most vulnerable, elevating communities in crisis, and serving those that suffer in silence, Stephen is driving purpose in Stantec’s boundaryless Behavioral Health Practice across the globe. With awards from Healthcare Design Magazine, FastCo, and the Institute for Patient-Centered Design, Stephen is a collaborative researcher and accomplished designer. An AIA Young Architect Award Winner & HFSE George Pressler Under 40 Recipient, Stephen has been named to Healthcare Design's Best Under 40 list by the AIA’s Academy of Architecture for Health and the ENR’s National Top 20 Under 40. He was the youngest licensed architect elected to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Strategic Council, and he championed the AIA Strategic Council’s Mental Health + Architecture Incubator. In his personal time, Stephen can be found building a three-generation home with his wife Carrie for their differently-abled parents or volunteering at home and abroad, most recently in Kenya and India as a medical planner, designing hospitals for local NGOs.

Tom Cuculich | Chicagoland Associated General Contractors

Tom Cuculich is the Executive Director of the Chicagoland Associated General Contractors (CAGC) and brings with him a wealth of leadership and administrative experience. CAGC, revered as the leading voice for Chicagoland's commercial construction industry, operates as the local chapter of the nationally recognized AGC of America. Before taking on his current role at CAGC, Cuculich served as the County Administrator for DuPage County, honing his management skills and gathering insights that span over three decades. As he steps into the forefront of the commercial construction industry, he is primed to lead the implementation of all Board-approved programs and services. Cuculich’s career trajectory underscores his dedication to administrative excellence, and his transition to CAGC indicates his commitment to enhance the industry's landscape. With eyes set on the future, Cuculich aims to not only maintain the Association's long-standing success but also to build upon it.