BenGil Business
Benld city officials host open house, dedication for newly remodeled events center
With upward of 50 local residents attending, Benld city officials hosted an open house and dedication for the newly remodeled Benld Civic Center, now renamed the DeStefane Events Center, on Saturday afternoon at the renovated facility. Benld native Rick DeStefane, 64, Creve Couer, Mo., who financially subsidized the project, was a guest of honor.
“I think they did a great job,” DeStefane said of the renovation, which included extensive remodels of bathrooms, kitchen and bar, along with a new ceiling, new walls and asbestos removal.
Retired educator Ed Saracco, who taught DeStefane as a student at Gillespie High School, told the group that “Rick was the kid who always had a smile on his face to the point that you worried about what he was up to.” Active in sports and other extracurricular activities, DeStefane was among the top 10 students in the graduating class of 1976, according to Saracco. The natiionally known entrepreneur and nursing care executive was the 1976 prom king at GHS and was inducted into Community Unit School District 7’s “Wall of Honor” in 2013 for his “commitment to providing outstanding health care services.”
Saracco said the Civic Center project had its genesis with a phone call from DeStefane in May 2021 during which DeStefane said he wanted to do something for the community and ask Saracco for ideas. Shortly after the phone call, DeStefane flew himself to the Litchfield airport where Saracco and Ald. John Balzraine picked him up and brought him to Benld. They had two projects in mind—renovating the Civic Center and improving landscaping at the public library. DeStefane agreed to pay for both.
Despite his success later in life, Saracco said DeStefane never forgot his roots in Benld and often volunteered to help when he could. When the Benld Elementary School was built, Saracco said DeStefane called and asked if there was anything it needed.
“I said, ‘I hope not, it’s a brand new school’,” Saracco recalled. Undeterred, DeStefane later became a major donor to the High School Sports Complex.
Saracco said removing the 105 photos and biographies of Benld veterans that lined the walls of the Civic Center since the city’s centennial celebration was perceived as a possible stumbling block. Those materials have since been organized in binders and place on file at the Benld Library where they are accessible to a wider cross-section of people. Additionally, volunteers have collected information on about 30 veterans that were not included in the original project. The veterans project now includes nearly 300 photos and additional materials, such as the program for a 1946 dedication of a plaque honoring local veterans that was displayed at the Old Benld School.
Mayor Jim Kelly publicly thanked DeStefane for supporting the Civic Center project and extended thanks to city works, contractors and volunteers who contributed to the project.
“Rick, I want to thank you for what you have done here for the people of Benld,” Kelly said. Kelly also cited Build Benld for that organization’s donation of new folding chairs for the facility.
The months-long renovation project included removing and replastering walls, renovating the kitchen with new appliances and fixtures, upgrading the electric system, installing an electric door for handicapped accessibility, and redesigning the bar area. Along the way, contractors had to contend with unexpected encounters with asbestos tile and the discovery of termite damage. John Watson of Gillespie was the general contractor.
According to city officials, the events center is now a desirable venue for a variety of events including wedding receptions, showers, funeral dinners and other uses.
Taking the microphone for nearly 30 minutes, DeStefane credited his parents and his upbringing in Benld for much of his success.
“I love this community,” he said. “It’s just a neat, Norman Rockwell town.” As owner and president of the Reliant Care Group, LLC, DeStefane said he has to be familiar with small town cultures throughout the Midwest.
“If you’re going to have a business in a community, you’d better understand the culture,” he said. “I have yet to find a town that has the attributes Benld has.”
Today, Reliant Care Group and it’s subsidiaries operate in three states with about 4,000 employees and $250 billion in annual revenue. In addition, DeStefane has diversified into real estate holdings in St. Louis and other areas, semi-pro sports teams in Hannibal (where he maintains a second home) and Bloomington, and restaurants, including a new restaurant near Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis.
“Why do that?” he asked. “If you do it for the money, I’m not saying you won’t be successful but you do it to do the best you can do. That’s what my mom and dad taught me.”
After a stint as Vice President and Assistant to the Chairman of the Lockwood Group, DeStefane began buying and starting businesses in health care related industries in 1990. He said he approached 20 banks for a start-up loan before finding a bank in Chicago willing to take a chance on his fledgling company. The early days were tough, he recalled, especially when it came to managing cash flow. Meeting the weekly payroll, he said, was a major issue.
“Every day you wanted to quit,” he said, “but I’m from Benld and we don’t quit.”
After graduating from Gillespie High School, DeStefane earned dual undergraduate degrees—one in political science and one in business management—from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. He also earned a Masters in Business Administration with a specialization in accounting from SIU-E, and he became a certified public accountant in 1984. He has served as President of the Missouri Health Care Association and is a co-founder, board member and shareholder of the Business Bank of St. Louis. He also serves as co-chairman of the board for St. Alexius Hospital in St. Louis, and as a board member for the Northeast Missouri Economic Development Commission. He also is a licensed pilot.
Speaking to those attending the open house on Saturday, DeStefane recalled his formative years in Benld, where he started his first business mowing yards for neighbors—a venture that reinforced for him his first rule of founding a successful business: find a gap and fill it. He recalled playing whiffle ball tournaments, riding his bike and eagerly partaking of sweet confections at the local soda founain. All the while, he said, he was absorbing the work ethic, initiative and drive of the adults around him.
“Here’s what I’ve learned in life,” he said. “People want to know that you care. If they know you care, you can build their trust.”
In addition to DeStefane’s success in the business world, DeStefane said the community has produced other individuals who have excelled in their own fields of endeavor, including a federal prosecutor, a NASA aeronautical engineer and the former St. Louis County public prosecutor.
“I care about this community,” DeStefane said regarding his willingness to help. “I care about the people. I care about Benld. Please, don’t ever change.”
As part of the dedication, DeStefane was presented with an appreciation plaque bearing his quote: “Don’t leave this earth without making a positive difference in people’s lives. It’s just that simple.”
Comments
Gillespie Methodist Church is thrilled to announce the arrival of Logan and Jacey Zepp as their new ministerial team. The couple, relocating from Paint Lick, Kentucky, will begin their pastoral journey with the church on Sunday, October 5, 2025.
About the Zepps
Logan Zepp hails from Elma, Washington, where he grew up with three brothers in a family involved in agriculture, a livestock feed business, and logging. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business from the University of Idaho in 2017 and is recognized as the Washington State FFA Champion in Public Speaking and an FFA American Farmer Degree recipient. During the summer of 2020, Logan completed a UMC internship at a church in Richmond, Kentucky, where he felt God’s calling to ministry. He subsequently pursued theological studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and is on track to graduate with a Master of Divinity in spring 2026.
Jacey Zepp was born and raised in West Salem, Illinois, alongside three brothers and one sister. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Oakland City University in 2020. Jacey participated in a UMC internship at a church in Shiloh, Illinois, where she felt the stir of God’s calling. She moved to Wilmore, Kentucky in fall 2020 to study at Asbury Theological Seminary and completed her Master of Divinity in summer 2024.
The couple met in fall 2022 at Asbury through a mutual friend and began dating in February 2023 during the Asbury Revival. They were married in April 2024. Logan and Jacey share a love of reading, watching movies, and playing board games. Logan enjoys kayaking and woodworking.
Their family also includes two beloved pets: Lucy, a lively one-year-old Golden Retriever, and Minnie, a four-and-a-half-month-old Newfoundland puppy who’s growing quickly. Zeppelin, a six-year-old brown tabby cat, rules the household with snacks and a fondness for sleeping at the end of the couple’s bed. Zeppelin accompanied Jacey to Kentucky during her Asbury years and served as her “mini roommate.”
Ministry Focus and Vision
Logan and Jacey approach their co-pastoral ministry with a shared commitment to spreading the Gospel, fostering a life of faith within the church family and broader community, and growing Gillespie Methodist Church’s children’s and youth programs. They look forward to building strong connections with parishioners, supporting families, and collaborating with church leadership to nurture spiritual growth and vibrant worship.
Pastoral Role and Engagement
Logan and Jacey are excited to serve as co-pastors and to minister alongside one another as they minister to the congregation and community. They anticipate opportunities to nurture faith formation, outreach, and service, and to be closer to Jacey’s family in southern Illinois.
All are invited to join in welcoming Logan and Jacey as they begin this new chapter in ministry. Gillespie Methodist Church is a welcoming faith community committed to worship, discipleship, service, and outreach. The church seeks to embody the love of Jesus in its programs, partnerships, and daily life, inspiring believers of all ages to grow in faith and compassion.
Comments
BenGil Business
Local Shell stations support Macoupin Center for Developmentally Disabled through The Giving Pump
Consumers fueling up with designated pump at their local Shell stations will support Macoupin Center for the Developmentally Disabled, at no extra cost
Carlinville-based J.F. Boente & Sons is collaborating with Shell for The Giving Pump to drive positive change by giving back to the Macoupin Center for the Developmentally Disabled (MCDD), a local nonprofit supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Starting September 1st and running through October 31st, a portion of the purchases made by consumers who use the designated pump at four Shell stations across Macoupin County, including Gillespie, will be donated by J.F. Boente & Sons to support MCDD.
The Giving Pump will be specially marked with purple signage at participating Shell gas stations to inspire consumers to support this charity when fueling up. With no additional cost when filling up, it’s easy to participate in the program.
MCDD is a Carlinville-based nonprofit day learning center that serves developmentally disabled adults in and around Macoupin County. Now in its 70th year, the center helps students achieve a more fulfilling life by fostering personal autonomy through education, transportation, food security, and fellowship.
“If you come here, you’re not leaving in a bad mood, “said Kimberly Wing, Development Coordinator at MCDD. “The love our students have for their friends and our staff at MCDD is so powerful, and the support we receive from Boente through The Giving Pump will help to expand our school and welcome new friends into the MCDD family.”
J.F. Boente and Sons is a fourth generation Shell wholesaler founded nearly 100 years ago in Carlinville. For President David Boente, supporting MCDD is deeply meaningful.
“I’m the fifth of nine children, and my sister Judy was a child with down syndrome,” said Boente. “Back then, there was a serious shortage of support for kids like her, so MCDD was transformative. Judy learned life skills and made life-long friends in a safe place that felt like a second home to her. It means just as much to the students there today, so drivers at our Giving Pumps should know that these fill ups make a real difference right here in Carlinville.”
This year, nearly 6,500 Shell stations across the US are participating in this two-month Giving Pump initiative to support 400 local charities. Since 2021, Shell wholesalers and retailers have donated to and supported over 750 charities through The Giving Pump. Those looking to find a participating station can visit shell.us/givingpump.
Visit shell.us/givingpump to find additional program details, participating sites and content on local charities. Follow @ShellStationsUS on Instagram to keep up with the latest news.
Comments
BenGil Business
Gillespie launches “BizBuzz Bootcamp” to spark small business growth in Macoupin County
The City of Gillespie, in partnership with local communities and Best Business Assistance, LLC, is proud to announce the launch of the BizBuzz Bootcamp, a dynamic new program designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners in Macoupin County start, strengthen, and grow their businesses.
Funded through the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) Energy Transition Community Grant Program (ETCG), the initiative is part of a broader regional response to the 2020 closure of the Shay #1 Mine. The ETCG program was created to help Illinois communities facing coal mine and power plant closures by investing in economic revitalization, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and community resilience. Gillespie and its regional partners are using these funds to create new opportunities for residents, and the BizBuzz Bootcamp is a cornerstone of that effort.
“The City of Gillespie and our partners are proud to be leading the way in creating a small business–friendly culture in Macoupin County,” said Dan Fisher, president of Grow Gillespie. “The BizBuzz Bootcamp shows that even in the face of economic transition, our communities are ready to invest in entrepreneurs who bring energy, creativity, and long-term growth potential.”
Launching in October 2025, the BizBuzz Bootcamp will deliver a comprehensive series of workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions covering the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. Participants will gain:
- Business Planning Skills – how to create, refine, and implement a professional business plan.
- Legal and Structural Guidance – understanding business structures, registration, and compliance requirements.
- Financial Foundations – hands-on training in cash flow management, tax readiness, and financial projections.
- Marketing and Branding – both digital and local strategies to reach customers effectively.
- Pitching and Public Speaking – learning how to confidently present business ideas to investors, lenders, and community leaders.
- Networking Opportunities – direct access to bankers, insurance agents, attorneys, and local officials who are essential to business success.
The program culminates in a public pitch showcase, where participants will present their businesses to a panel of community and business leaders. Winners will receive recognition, mentoring, and potential seed funding support. There is no cost for enrollment, and stipends are available to support participants.
The BizBuzz Bootcamp is designed for individuals who are in the early stages of developing a business idea, operating a new venture, or seeking to expand an existing business. Participants should be ready to commit time, effort, and creativity to completing the program.
Preference will be given to applicants who reside in, operate a business in, or plan to start a business in Gillespie or one of its CEJA partner communities: Village of East Gillespie, City of Benld, Village of Eagarville, City of Staunton, Gillespie Public Library, Benld Public Library, Gillespie Township, Cahokia Township, Gillespie CUSD #7, North Mac CUSD #34, Gillespie-Benld Area Ambulance Service, Village of Royal Lakes, City of Bunker Hill, Village of Mt. Clare, and Brushy Mound Township.
“Small towns thrive when small businesses thrive,” Fisher added. “The BizBuzz Bootcamp is an invitation to entrepreneurs—whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow—to build your future here in Macoupin County. We’re committed to giving you the support and tools you need to succeed.”
“This program is about unlocking ideas and giving entrepreneurs the confidence and tools to succeed,” said Marti Wieland, MPA, owner of Best Business Assistance, LLC and program lead. “From business plans to financial projections to pitching, BizBuzz is designed to take participants from concept to action in a supportive and practical way.”
By training and supporting entrepreneurs, the BizBuzz Bootcamp directly advances the goals of the Energy Transition Community Grant: replacing lost economic activity from mine closures with new, sustainable businesses; creating opportunities for local residents; and ensuring that small towns in Macoupin County remain vibrant, attractive places to live and work. This initiative signals Gillespie and its partners’ commitment to economic renewal through entrepreneurship, showing that even in transition, the region is charting a path toward long-term prosperity.
Seats are limited. Applications are due by October 1, 2025. Apply now at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMWUOzI5FyMJtBJtU7BZ-4bJDWcFB_F8HWiagxcPkDtSNLdQ/viewform.
