About BOI

Sergio (Bill) William Chionio is the CEO and Founder of Business Owners International. He is the son of Vera Chionio who named him after a freedom fighter she admired in her native country of Slovenia.  As a widow after WWII, his mother left war-torn Italy in 1952, with Bill, crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a refurbished WWII mine sweeper.  She arrived in the United States with a suitcase in one hand and 7 year old Bill in the other.  She taught herself English while attending night classes in medical technology and working full-time.  She taught Bill to value this great country, the principles upon which it was founded and the opportunities it offers for a life of freedom through the dignity of hard work.  Bill has built BOI upon these principles.  

Bill grew up in St. Louis, attended Chaminade Preparatory High School and St. Louis University. After teaching for a few years, he accepted a position working for corporate America in 1980, then started his own business in 1989. At that point, a good friend encouraged Bill to join an Owners Peer Group with him, however he was “too busy and had no time.”  His friend was persistent and sent him a great quote from Abraham Lincoln: “If I had three hours to chop down a tree, I would spend the first two sharpening my blade.”  This is another principle upon which he has built BOI. Take time to sharpen the blade and your work will be made easier and more efficient.  Bill joined the Peer Group and sold his business then focusing on building Business Owners International for business owners like himself.  

Bill has been married to Karen, his wife of 53 years, and they now live in Estes Park, Colorado where they enjoy the cool mountain summers, hiking and snowshoeing with their Black Lab, Gracie, traveling, and visits from their kids, five grandkids and friends.  

Julie Peden is the President of Business Owners International (BOI), bringing over 30 years of experience and a passion for innovation and excellence through relationship-building. Julie believes that relationships are the cornerstone of both business and personal success, and she brings this focus to her leadership at BOI.

Since joining BOI part-time in 2021, Julie has dedicated herself to growing the company through marketing, public relations, and member services. In 2024, she took on the role of President full-time, continuing her commitment to the organization’s growth and success.

Julie grew up in St Louis and graduated from William Jewell College in Kansas City with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and a dual major in Psychology. Her nearly 30-year nursing career includes experience ranging from small town hospitals to large healthcare industries, all of which had her in various leadership roles. In 2020, Julie moved back home where she joined healthcare provider Centene and played a crucial role in translating strategic goals into operational success, driving team performance, and maintaining effective communication between her team and senior leadership. Julie managed and mentored a large team, oversaw daily operations, and identified operational challenges and inefficiencies while simultaneously developing company-wide programs and monitoring her team’s key performance indicators. Julie attributes her success at Centene to her leadership propensity and strong relationship-building skills.

Beyond her professional achievements, Julie is dedicated to serving on the board of a local domestic violence shelter and volunteers with several foster care organizations. She is a proud single mom to two accomplished adult children: one recently graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the other currently attending Kansas State University.

In her personal time, Julie dotes on her three dogs, finds every excuse to see her children, spends time with friends, enjoys reading, and loves traveling.

Before joining Business Owners International, David graduated with honors from Maryville University of St. Louis. He worked his way through college at Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, where he worked in a leadership role developing strategic plans for Lowe’s to improve sales, customer service, and inventory management. David then spent two years as a Training Consultant with Dale Carnegie, St. Louis where he learned business-to-business communications and gained world-class human relations training. He joined BOI in 2009, chiefly concentrating on sales and growing the business. Today, he is the VP of Sales, co-facilitator of our Manufacturing Alliance, and Head Facilitator of our Pharmacy 360 Alliance. 

David and his wife of 20 years, Celeste, live in St. Louis, and are the proud parents of three great teenagers. David loves taking his family and their dog Levi on canoeing trips down the Current River and has always enjoyed the outdoors. He is a music lover and can play several instruments. His church is very important to him and he plays on their music team, is a Deacon, and teaches their men’s Bible study.

Celeste Bommarito Chionio is the Chief Operations Officer for Business Owners International. Since she started working with BOI in 2005, she has been instrumental in implementing and maintaining BOI’s various Mastermind Alliances, including Pharmacy, Manufacturing, and Senior Leaders. An administrative professional for eighteen years, Celeste’s widely varied role includes regular and effective communication with vendors, customers, and colleagues; collaboration with meeting venues to ensure successful meetings; bookkeeping/invoicing; and preparation and execution of all BOI Alliance meetings. 

Celeste holds a Bachelor of Science from Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis, Missouri, and is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Course as well as Psychological Associates’ “Q4 Leadership: The People Skills Advantage  Workshop.” 

Celeste has been married to her husband, David, for twenty years, and together they share three teenagers. When she isn’t working, Celeste enjoys traveling with her family, reading, cooking, and working on projects around the house. 

Kim Volk is the Creative Directer for Business Owners international. She joined the BOI team in 2023, working to update the company’s branding and digital marketing communications. 

Kim graduated from University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. Her career has spanned 15+ years, working as a designer and Creative Director for a wide range of brands, from local restaurants to global pharmaceutical companies. 

She lived in Chicago for most of her adult life, but returned home to St. Louis in 2020. She enjoys spending her time exploring St. Louis with her husband, toddler and many nieces. They enjoy hiking, traveling and anything outdoors.