Honorees, pictured from left to right, President Emeritus Steve Bahls, Heidi Huiskamp Collins (’85), Melissa Pepper (’09), Haley DeGreve (’20), Dr Sangeetha Rayapati, and Kai Swanson (’86)
ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (December 1, 2023) — Three Augustana College staff members and three alumni were named to the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal’s Most Influential list.
QCBJ readers cast their votes in October for the region’s most influential business leaders. According to QCBJ, those named to the list are recognized for making “the biggest mark on the Quad Cities region within the past year, whether through their leadership, business accomplishments, or philanthropic efforts.”
Augustana President Andrea Talentino said she was delighted to see so many of the college’s best and brightest recognized by the community in this way.
This year’s Most Influential title goes to Caitlin Russell, who is president of Russell, a commercial construction and development firm. Augustana’s Most Influential nominees include:
- Steven C Bahls, former Augustana president
- Haley DeGreve (’20), communications manager, John Deere
- Heidi Huiskamp Collins (’85), founder, Huiskamp Collins Investments LLC
- Melissa Pepper (’09), chief strategy officer, Russell
- Dr Sangeetha Rayapati, City of Moline mayor and Augustana professor of voice
- Kai Swanson (’86), special assistant to the president, Augustana College
View the complete list of honorees at quadcitiesbusiness.com.
