Carl Cannon retired from the U.S. Army as a Senior Drill Sergeant. During his military career, Carl distinguished himself in the ranks of the Military Police and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. After the military, he became a Correctional Officer at the Pekin Federal Correctional Institution, which was near his hometown of Peoria, IL. While at the Pekin Prison, he was nationally recognized as the Selective Placement Program Manager of the Year in 2000. Carl later became the Supervisor of Youth Outreach and Intervention for the Peoria Park District. In 2007 he launched the High School ELITE Program where business leaders and volunteer professionals teach jobs training in area high schools. In 2011, he introduced the ELITE K-8 concept. And, in 2012 he developed ELITE RE-Entry to give ex-convicts the skills and mindset to get and keep a job. Carl lives in Peoria, IL with his wife, two married daughters and grandson.