Denise Moore – CEO/Founder

Denise is an entrepreneur, community advocate and trailblazer who graduated from Illinois State University and retired from State Farm Insurance. In Bloomington/Normal, Denise founded the Black Business Alliance in 1997 and in 2007, the only African American radio station in WXRJ LP-FM. Denise became the first African American woman elected to the Peoria City Council serving from 2013 – 2021. After ten years owning and operating retail stores in Normal and Peoria, in 2013 Denise became the Founder/CEO of the Black Business Alliance Peoria Chapter, Inc. (a 501c3 non-profit corporation), and established its’ affiliates, WPNV 106.3 LP FM, Peoria’s only African American owned community radio station, the Minority Business Development Center that is helping build minority businesses, contractors, and professionals and the Regional Workforce Solutions Center bridging the gap between 21st century opportunities and the minority community. Denise is also the President of UpSouth Energy, LLC, a company devoted to connecting minority communities to renewable energy. She is married to Garry and has a daughter and two handsome grandsons.