George Ghareeb
Coming from the coastal Mediterranean City of Beirut, I have been committed to our beautiful Peoria since I first landed in America in 1983. As a two-time Bradley alum with a BS and MS in Civil Engineering, landed my first opportunity to work at Illinois IDOT for 10 years prior to traveling overseas for an international opportunity that took me to countries such as Italy, Great Britain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Dubai. An amazing opportunity to be immersed in a variety of diverse cultures, that provided me with novel insight for my future endeavors. Currently a partner at TERRA engineering in Peoria managing multiple offices and resources for the company, I find myself on the happier end of the spectrum of life, enjoying my days with my three children Allen James and Christelle and wife Diana. I have a small group of friends, but I’ve come to learn to build relations and friendships with many people. I enjoy what life and what God has given me, with no questions asked. I relish in having a glass of bourbon with a nice Cigar on my Friday or Saturday nights. I belong to the 309 Bourbon Society and the Peoria Cigar Club.
Jamie Harwood
Jamie Harwood is the Coroner for Peoria County. He is a 1992 graduate of Princeville High School. He graduated from Methodist School of Nursing in 1997, and in 2018, was named Distinguished Alumnus of the Year; he is also an active member of the Methodist College Board of Directors. Jamie received his Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Penn State University in 2015, where he graduated with honors. Jamie is the former President of the Illinois Coroner and Medical Examiners Association of Illinois. Jamie is an active member of the Community Life Saving Leaders Committee with the Gift of Hope and is member of the Gift of Hope’s Coroner Advisory Board. In his free time, Jamie enjoys spending time with his family, Jonathan, and his 22-year-old son, Hunter, 19-year-old daughter, Hope, and 5-year-old Jacob. He enjoys traveling, college football, and takes every opportunity he can for community education. Having experienced the foster system and adoption of his son, Jacob, Jamie and Jonathan are extremely excited to support CASA and the mission of advocacy for children.
Ryan Pierson
Ryan is thrilled to be returning to CASAblanca this year as a judge. Last year, he and his partner Lexi Kaiser blew the roof off of the Par-A-Dice with their 90s-themed performance en route to winning the 2021 Critics’ Choice Award. In his day job, Ryan is a Principal in the consulting practice at RSM, LLP, the nation’s fifth largest accounting firm. A native of Dunlap and 2001 graduate of Bradley University, he spent 15 years in Chicago before returning to Peoria in 2016 with his wife Aimee and their three children Emma (9), Hannah (8) and Ben (6). You may remember Ryan and his family from an episode of “House Hunters”, which documented their journey from the Windy City back to Central Illinois. In addition to his dedication to his family and job, Ryan is also dedicated to giving back to his community. In 2019, he led RSM’s Birdies Fore Love campaign for Central Illinois, which is the firm’s annual fundraising initiative to support local charities. He currently serves as the President of the Bradley Braves Club, is a founding member of the Home of the Brave NIL Collective and is also a member of the Midwest Leadership Board for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. While being a judge won’t compare to performing and hoisting the trophy at the end of the night, Ryan is honored to be back as a part of the year’s CASAblanca!
Sarah Stewart de Ramirez
Dr. Sarah de Ramirez is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria and the Medical Director for Population Health at OSF Healthcare. Dr. de Ramirez started working in Haiti in her teens and has followed her passion of combining public health and medicine to achieve better health outcomes for vulnerable populations since that time. A graduate of Harvard Medical School and an Emergency Medicine trained physician from John’s Hopkins Hospital, she has held numerous global leadership and consulting positions with various organizations, including the World Health Organization, the Gender Health Equity Network, the United Nations and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Since moving home to Peoria, she has led UICOMP’s strategic efforts for innovation and health equity as well as OSF HealthCare’s population health agenda. She also serves on the Easter Seals’ board and is a founding board member of the Autism Collective. She and her husband, Miguel, have four awesome little kids: Diego, Liliana, Sebastian and Cecilia. Sarah is excited to be dancing to promote such a fabulous organization and is hoping that some of her husband’s champion CASA dancing skills have rubbed off on her over the years.
Lexi Zellmer Kaiser
Lexi is thrilled to finally relax behind the judge’s table after multiple years of dancing in the CASA competition. She is honored to judge alongside co-champion, Ryan Pierson, after winning the 2021 Critic’s Choice title last year. Lexi grew up onstage and backstage, performing in shows since childhood. She has been seen performing in national dance and acting competitions as well as commercials. She is currently a local director and choreographer in Central Illinois. She prefers being behind the director’s chair, but sometimes can be seen onstage. Her most recent shows were Singin’ in the Rain (Director, Choreographer, Lina Lamont), High School Musical (Choreographer), Spongebob the Musical (Choreographer) and Mamma Mia (Director and Choreographer). Full time since 2012, Lexi is a Licensed Prearrangement Specialist, partnering with funeral homes in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. In 2018, she earned the national preneed sales record and is a member of the Funeral Directors Life Presidents Club. Lexi graduated from Illinois State University as a secondary educator. She currently teaches Public Speaking and Art at Illinois Central College in the summer program. In the past and currently, Lexi has kept her plate full with community involvements in Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Big Brothers Big Sisters, St. Jude (Memphis), Dunlap dance team coach, University of Wisconsin dance instructor, March of Dimes March Madness Coordinator, Illinois Speech and Theatre Association, National Communication Association, Universalist Unitarian Church. She can currently be found teaching weekly cardio dance classes. As a prior host family to foster children, Lexi is passionate about helping the CASA cause. She has been blessed to share the CASA dance floor with three amazing dance partners, Dave Templin, Mark Plunkett and co-champion, Ryan Pierson. She lives with her husband John Kaiser and their two sons, Henry (8) and Addison (3).
Paige Blanzy
A Peoria transplant as of 2020, Paige Blanzy moved to the River City as a University of Illinois graduate to report for 25 News. Blanzy has a passion for sharing the stories of people in the community. She enjoys working through complicated stories and giving a voice to the powerless. Through her stories, Paige has built relationships with many people in the area.
Although Blanzy has no dance experience, she was a swimmer in high school and a member of Best Buddies and Special Olympics. Being an advocate and giving a voice to children is what CASA stands for and what Blanzy strives to do for everyone.
