The Marion Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating its mission, members and community at its 103rd annual awards celebration on Friday, January 19, 2024, at The Pavilion in Marion. The program will feature presentations by the Chamber, elected officials, and 2023 award winners.

One of the awards that will be given during the event is the Young Professional Leader Award. The Young Professional Leader Award is given to an individual who demonstrates excellence and initiative in their business or profession and is under the age of 40. This award is sponsored by SIU Credit Union.

Members of the Marion Chamber of Commerce were asked to submit nominations from October-November for the award. This year, the Chamber opened up the selection of the winner to its membership through voting that began in October and officially ended November 1.

The 2023 Young Professional Leader Award finalists are:

• AnnaMarie Cook
• William Davis
• Rachel Stroud

AnnaMarie Cook

AnnaMarie Cook is from the small town of Johnston City. She attended John A Logan College and then SIU where she was a Feature Twirler for 4 years. AnnaMarie resides in Marion with her husband Cory and their three children EmiliAnna, Cole, and AnnaBella. In 2018, AnnaMarie joined the Pepsi MidAmerica team as a Manager in Training. She was in this program for year before accepting the role as Director of Marketing. As Director of Marketing, she is over national brands such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr Pepper and many more. She works with 11 depots, in a 5-state territory area. With being head of marketing, AnnaMarie creates and implements promotions company-wide that help gain share and increase sales throughout each category of business that Pepsi MidAmerica entails.

A big part of AnnaMarie’s job is working on community projects and supporting charity programs. She enjoys volunteering at events that Pepsi MidAmerica supports, including a routine walker at most parades in the Southern Illinois area to represent PMA. She is heavily involved in marketing with athletics in the colleges and Universities that Pepsi MidAmerica services. Some of these universities include Southern Illinois University, Eastern Illinois University, Murray State, Bethel, UT Martin, John A Logan, and SEMO university.

When it comes to Chamber involvement, AnnaMarie is very involved. She is an active Board Member for the Marion Chamber. She is also an active member for the Herrin Chamber, Carbondale Chamber and Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce. She is on several committees such as HerrinFesta, marketing committee for Herrin, Grad Spree, Scholarship committee, annual dinner, awards, Golf Scramble, Sikeston Bootheel Rodeo, SEMO Fair and DuQuoin State Fair.

“I am humbled to be nominated for this award. I pride myself on relationships and leadership - my mentors here at Pepsi have really pushed me to be better leader. All in all, this means more than people will ever know. It is nice to feel noticed for the hard work and leadership qualities that I have gained and continue to gain.”

William Davis

William Davis is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Deaconess Illinois, Chief Administrative Officer of Crossroads Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon, IL, and Chief Administrative Officer at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, IL, with more than 12 years of executive leadership experience in Southern Illinois. William Davis has been nationally recognized as a “Rural Hospital CEO to Know” and “Black Healthcare Leader to Know” by the prestigious Becker’s Hospital Review two years in a row. Under William Davis’s leadership, Crossroads Community Hospital was rated 5 out of 5 stars consecutively (2022-2023) by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Five-Star Overall Quality Rating System report.

His calm demeanor, thoughtfulness toward team members, and ability to see the results of actions taken from a patient’s perspective have made Will stand out as a leader. In 2021, the Southern Illinois Business Journal named him among its annual list of “20 Under 40 Leaders” for making a difference as a young leader in the region while serving as Associate CEO of Heartland Regional Medical Center.

In addition to his roles at the hospitals, Will is known for giving back to the region through civic organizations; he currently serves on Rend Lake College Foundation Board, Jefferson County Economic Development Board, American Red Cross of Illinois Advisory Board, Illinois Rural Hospital Steering Committee, CEO Program Board, Marion, IL Kiwanis Club Board, co-chairs the ICAHN Issues Committee, and is a member of the ACHE.

Will has earned a Negotiation Mastery Certification from Harvard University, a Lean Six Sigma Certification from Villanova University, his Master of Business Administration degree from McKendree University, and his Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

Will is originally from Washington, D.C., and has lived in Southern Illinois for 30 years. He and his wife, Brandee, have an 13-year-old son and twin toddlers - a boy and a girl. Their family enjoys playing Mario Cart and Monopoly together as well as traveling. Will has a strong faith in God and believes, “Life is what you make it, so make it a great one.”

"To receive a nomination by the Marion Chamber of Commerce for the Young Professionals Award is not only an accolade; it's a humbling honor. It is a privilege to be a part of the Southern Illinois community and this award is a reminder that hard work does not go unnoticed. Each day, I choose to do the ‘one more thing’ to impact lives with integrity and positivity to make a better world.” – William Davis, Chief Operating Officer of Deaconess Illinois, Chief Administrative Officer Heartland Regional Medical Center, Chief Administrative Officer Crossroads Community Hospital.

Rachel Stroud

Rachel Stroud proudly calls Southern Illinois home and is passionate about seeing the region, and it’s people, grow and thrive. 

Born and raised in the area, Rachel graduated from Agape Christian High School and continued her education at Greenville University pursuing a degree in Business Administration. During her time at the university, she held various leadership positions that helped her develop critical skills that would later benefit her in her professional career.

After graduation, Rachel returned to Marion as the Director of Client & Banquet Services with the Southern Illinois Miners, which sparked her passion for sharing the beauty, opportunities, and excitement of the region with others. She has since worked in various industries including sports, journalism, retail, and marketing, and is now the Communications and Marketing Director for the City of Marion.

She was appointed chair of the 2022 Colt World Series and served again for the 2023 tournament, which brings local, national, and international teams to the region. Rachel also served as a judge for the Miss Illinois 2023 competition. 

Rachel's passion for seeing others succeed and grow is evident in her athletes. As a volleyball and cheer coach at Agape Christian High School, she is committed to providing her athletes with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to succeed both on and off the court. Rachel understands the importance of teamwork, discipline, and hard work, and she instills these values in her athletes through her coaching style. The consistent effort by both the volleyball coaching staff and team paid off as they tied for first in the IHSA South Egyptian Conference and earned the title of IACS State Champions in the fall of 2023. 

Rachel's passion for sports, her Southern Illinois roots and her faith have always been part of the fire that drives her. She is a cheerleader for progress, always pushing herself and those around her to strive for excellence as well as an advocate for the next generation of leaders, nurturing and empowering young people to unlock their full potential.

"It's an absolute honor to be nominated for this award. So many previous recipients are people in our community that I respect greatly. This is a great opportunity to reflect on the impact they have had on me and focus on continuing to pay it forward."