SKYCON 2025 Registration is OPEN! Late registration begins 10/1 and will close 10/17.
The IL Skyward® User Group steering committee members are employees of Illinois Skyward® School Districts who volunteer their time and labor. Each committee member plays a vital role in the planning of the IL Skyward® User Group annual conference (SkyCon) held in the fall. We act as an advocate for IL Skyward® users - meeting with Skyward® staff to review the software and give feedback on important functionality and priorities for the state of Illinois.
Student/Finance/IT
Qmlativ
Joel has been a part of the Illinois Skyward® Steering Committee since 2012 serving as Vice President until 2014 when elected as President. He is the Manager of Information Systems in Kankakee School District 111 and works with both Skyward® Student and Finance. Kankakee migrated their Finance side in March 2025, and Student side in Summer 2025.
Student/Finance
Qmlativ
Stephanie Kaack is the Data Coordinator for Manteno CUSD No. 5. She started as a Middle School/Technology Administrative Assistant in January 2010, then moved to her current position in July 2013. Manteno has a combined Skyward® database and migrated from SMS 2.0 to Qmlativ in July 2020. Stephanie has been a member of the IL Skyward® Steering Committee since January 2016.
Finance
SMS 2.0
Arlissa Holford is a System Analyst for Peoria Public Schools where they use both Skyward® Student and Finance. Arlissa has been a member of the Steering Committee since January 2015.
Finance
Qmlativ
Dr. R.J. Gravel has served as Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, then Deputy Superintendent for Glenbrook School District 225 since July 2016. R.J. has been a member of the Steering Committee since 2019 and serves as the Finance Sub-Committee Chair. He is the Co-Treasurer of the IL Skyward® User Group.
Student/Finance/IT
Qmlativ
Scott Anthony is the MIS Manager for Consolidated High School District 230 in Orland Park, IL. CHSD 230 uses both Skyward® Student and Finance. Scott joined the Steering Committee in January of 2012 and has served as the Finance Sub-Committee Chair. He has been serving as the Student Sub-Committee Chair since February 2019. District 230 migrated from SMS 2.0 to Qmlativ in June 2023.
Student/Finance
Qmlativ
Liz Boyles is the Director of Information Services for Troy Community Consolidated School District 30C. She has been with Troy 30C since July 2010. Troy 30C has been using Skyward® Finance and Skyward® Student since Spring of 2014. Her district migrated from SMS 2.0 to Qmlativ Summer 2022. They will be migrating their Finance side in October 2025.
Student/IT
Qmlativ
Eric Barringer is the Director of Technology at Clinton CUSD 15. CUSD 15 uses Skyward® Student and Finance. Eric has been a user of Skyward® since 2006. He has been a member of the Steering Committee since 2019 and serves as the IT Sub-Committee Chair.
Student/Finance
Qmlativ/SMS 2.0
Rob Beck is the Executive Director of Technology at Troy. He has been a Skyward® Student and Finance user since 2014. Rob joined the Steering Committee in January 2023. In his previous district, Rob went through the ERP Qmlativ migration in April 2024, and Student Qmlativ migration in July 2024. He is currently leading Troy's ERP migration.
Finance
Qmlativ
Matt Birdsley is the Director of Finance for Sterling Public Schools and has previously served as a Principal and Director of Curriculum & Instruction for Sterling Public Schools and has been a member of the Steering Committee since 2024. Matt has used Skyward® as a Teacher and Administrator for over 20 years and led Sterling Public Schools during their migration to Skyward® Business & Student Qmlativ in June 2024.
Finance
Qmlativ
Christy Kelson is the Business Manager at the Regional Office of Education #17 serving DeWitt, Livingston, Logan, and McLean counties. She has been a user of Skyward Student, Finance, and Human Resources SMS 2.0 since 2009 while employed at Olympia CUSD #16. In 2019, she transitioned to ROE #17 where she primarily utilizes Skyward® SMS 2.0 Finance and Human Resources. They migrated to Qmlativ in October 2024. Christy joined the IL Skyward® Steering Committee in February 2024.
Student
Qmlativ
Sandy Lakosil is the District Application/Data Specialist at Community High School District 218 in Oak Lawn, Il. CHSD 218 has been using Skyward Student SMS 2.0 since 2009. Sandy joined the IL Skyward® Steering Committee in February 2023. Her district migrated from SMS 2.0 to Qmlativ in June 2024.
Student
SMS 2.0
Abe Loveless has been on the Steering Committee since January 2014. Abe has presented sessions on Data Manipulation and Automation for both the annual IL Skyward® User Group Conference and the annual Skyward® iCON conference.
Student/IT
SMS 2.0
Gerry Mattix-Wand is the Director of Technology at East Alton-Wood River H.S. District. He has been a Skyward® Student and Finance User since 1996. Gerry served as the User Group Treasurer from 2015 to 2023.
Student
SMS 2.0
Dr. Nathan Miller is the Assistant Principal for Student Operations at Grant Community High School D124 in Fox Lake, IL. D124 uses both Skyward® Student and Finance. Nathan joined the Steering Committee in February 2023. His district will be migrating to Qmlativ Summer of 2026.
Student/Finance
SMS 2.0
Jennifer is a former Skyward® employee and steering committee member. She returned to the IL Skyward® Steering Committee in June 2025.
Finance
Qmlativ
Christine Zollinger is the District Accountant for Polo Schools. She has been a Skyward® user since 2006 while working for previous Illinois and Wisconsin School Districts. Christine joined the IL Skyward® Steering Committee in February 2019.
Brent is the Skyward® Consulting and Support Manager for Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee and has been with Skyward® for 19 years. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. Brent is a Registered Certified Public Accountant for the state of Illinois and a member of the Institute of Management Accountants.