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From wedding receptions and anniversary parties to baby showers and life celebrations, we offer you the perfect space to make new memories.

Prairie View Reception Center has been helping the Central Illinois community celebrate and honor all of the events that shape and define their lives since 2003.


YOU HAVE OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION

At Prairie View Reception Center, you’ll receive personal attention planning, coordinating and executing the details of your event. You can rely on our friendly event staff for all of your needs; we help you manage it all. We want your event to be like no other and a truly unforgettable experience.


WE BRING VISION TO YOUR LIFE

Our uncomplicated, versatile and comfortable event space can accommodate up to 320 seated guests and can be transformed into a variety of styles to help you create an event you and your guests will remember.

No matter what you’re planning, our comprehensive event planning options, will ensure that when it comes time for your event, we’ll have everything covered for you.


Meet Our Team


Our hospitality-trained team offers event planning consultation to design a custom experience and provide guidance for a seamless event and provides on-site facility, and event management to ensure that no detail is overlooked.


Lesa Schaive
Reception Center Specialist

Lesa Schaive was born and raised in Springfield, Illinois. She joined the Butler Family of Organizations in 2002 as a Hospitality Associate. Lesa worked for over 17 years in the hotel industry, including the Holiday Inn East in Springfield and The Holiday Inn Conference Center in Decatur, where she held a variety of positions from Human Resources Director to General Manager. Lesa has been active in the Hospitality and Culinary Arts Program at Lincoln Land Community College and served as an adjunct instructor for more than 13 years.  

Retiring from the State of Illinois in December 2018, Lesa transitioned within the Butler Organization to her current role as the Reception Center Specialist at the Prairie View Reception Center. 

Lesa remains active in the community, serving on the Board of Directors and the Selection Committee of the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame. She will end a four-year term as President in June 2020.  She volunteers and enjoys her role as a hostess to the reigning Illinois State Fair Queen and is involved with the Miss America organization acting as hostess and guide to the reigning Miss Illinois. 

Her interests include shopping, traveling, staying active, and leisure time poolside.


Dianna Jones
Reception Center Specialist

Dianna Jones was raised in Springfield, Illinois. She has worked the last 22 years for the State of Illinois, working in graphic design and office coordination. She has played a primary role in training conferences and staff training seminars including: logistics, planning, preparation, correspondence, and implementation.

Dianna joined Prairie View Reception Center in 2021. Here, she can put her passion for serving others and her organization skills to great use. She loves getting to know our client’s families and becoming invested in their story while also guiding them through the planning process. She finds it rewarding to be a part of bringing joy to people’s lives on their important days and an honor to be a part of an organization committed to serving others.

Dianna is very involved in her church. She volunteers in many capacities and also serves in a secretarial role.

Dianna enjoys spending time with her family and those who have adopted her as their “Aunt DiDi,” making specialty cakes for family birthdays, and teaching others how to budget their finances.



Denny Pryor
Reception Center Specialist

Bio Coming Soon



IN REMEMBRANCE

Joe Gragg

Joe served as a bartender for many years at Prairie View Reception Center. His cheerful demeanor was an added bonus for anyone hosting an event at the facility—everyone left as a friend of Joe’s.

In addition to his service to the reception center, Joe also owned his own construction company, worked for and retired from the Village of Chatham after 20 years, and started his own lawn care and snow removal business.  

Joe died unexpectedly on November 22, 2020. We will miss witnessing the joy he brought to others and his friendship.