Join us as we celebrate the wonderful year WIM had. The evening will include a dinner at the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation (a private members only foundation) with wine and a silent auction with all proceeds supporting our scholarship through the Elgin Community College Foundation.
The meeting is sponsored by the Elgin Community College Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that funds donations to advance learning.

WIM Fox Valley welcomes Lisa Stamos, founder and owner of Quintessential Media Group, at its meeting on Thursday, April 13, 2017.
Stamos is the founder and owner of Quintessential Media Group in Barrington, a media company that produces and distributes content for the communities of the greater Barrington area. Prior to starting QMG, Stamos owned and operated McHenry County Woman Newspaper, serving McHenry County from 2003 to 2006. Prior to a career in publishing, Stamos was in sales and sales management in a variety of technology industries. She is the mother of two young adults, and lives in Barrington. 


This month’s meeting is sponsored by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, now in its 66th season. The ESO has been named “Orchestra of the Year” for an unprecedented number of four times by the Illinois Council of Orchestras (1988, 1999, 2005 and 2016) and the Elgin Image Award in 2010. http://www.elginsymphony.org/

WIM Fox Valley welcomes Paula Amenta, Managing Director of Community Engagement and Legislative Affairs, Elgin Community College, who will speak about her personal journey of “Women Inspiring Women” at its meeting on Thursday, January 12, 2017.
In January 2005, Amenta sat listening to her dying friend, Claudia, tell passionate stories of her missionary work in Zambia. Amenta’s decision to honor Claudia’s memory by traveling to Zambia was frustrated until a cancer survivor she never met provided the missing link.
In 2009, Amenta traveled 8,000 miles to Zambia to volunteer at Camp Life, a summer camp for orphans. One of the girls in her camp group stood out on day one: 12-year-old Beatrice Banda. Today Beatrice attends Elgin Community College and lives with Amenta and her husband, Francis. This is a story about stepping off onto your journey, finding your life’s calling, and the women who inspire you along the way.
 
The January meeting is sponsored by WIM co-founder Pat Szpekowski, APR, president of PR Strategies and Communications in Elgin. With its 30th anniversary this month, the firm has rebranded its name from PmS advertising, inc. to reflect its award-winning public relations, photography, graphic design and writing services which have successfully spotlighted the stories and events of local, regional and national clients.

WIM Fox Valley was founded in 1984. Members are comprised of business professionals, entrepreneurs and volunteers in a wide range of categories. Area women are invited to join.  To register for the January Luncheon - click here.

WIM Fox Valley is pleased to present Jeff Swoboda, Elgin Police Chief, who will speak about his journey in law enforcement and the successes and challenges facing his department today, at its meeting on Thursday, November 10, 2016.

Jeff Swoboda has served as Elgin’s Chief of Police since April, 2010. He joined the department more than 20 years ago, service as a ROPE (Resident Officer Program of Elgin) officer, working his way up to leading each of the department's three bureaus as deputy chief.

Swoboda, who lives with his wife in Elgin, earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Aurora University and a master's in law enforcement administration from Western Illinois University. He also holds a certificate of graduate studies in public administration from Northern Illinois University and an MBA from North Central College. 



This month’s meeting is sponsored by attorney Janet Ellingson, Law Office of Janet Ellingson, located in Elgin. For over 25 years, Ellingson has provided quality legal services to clients in the Fox Valley area, including Kane County and neighboring counties. She concentrates in general litigation and a number of practice areas including divorce/family, real estate, elder law and wills and trusts.

The luncheon will be held at the Elgin Country Club, 2575 Weld Road, Elgin with networking at 11:30 a.m., luncheon and program at noon. Meetings adjourn promptly at 1:30 p.m. Cost for members is $22.00 and non members - $25.00. Area women business professionals are welcome to attend. Reservations must be made for attendance no later than Tuesday, November 8, 2016 online through EventBrite.
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WIM Fox Valley is pleased to present Jill Card, who will speak about her unexpected path to founding the Jeans and a Cute Top Shop stores, on Thursday, October 13, 2016. An added bonus will be a fashion show highlighting today’s sought-after casual fashion trends.

The luncheon will be held at the Elgin Country Club, 2575 Weld Road, Elgin with networking at 11:30 a.m., luncheon and program at noon. Meetings adjourn promptly at 1:30 p.m. Cost for members is $22.00 and non members - $25.00. Area women business owners and managers are welcome to attend this month’s presentation. Reservations must be made for attendance online through Eventbrite.



Card has a B.A. in Advertising and Communications from the University of Illinois – Champaign.  She used her marketing and communications skills during her 10 years in the Private Club industry, where she held positions as a Membership Director for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Club and received extensive sales training from the parent company – Club Corporation of America.  After 2 years, she went on to the Mid-Day Club, a member-owned, private Chicago luncheon club.  Member recognition and exceptional customer service were always at the forefront as she remained responsible for the club’s special events, membership sales, and marketing promotions.  She authored the club’s 100 year anniversary book, as well.  She left the private club industry after 10 years to stay home with her two boys, now 16 and 19.  

In 2006, on a whim, Card worked for Ann Taylor, a retail women’s clothing store in Wheaton Town Square.  She grew quickly in the Ann Taylor Corporation and credits her part-time job was a pivotal stepping stone towards becoming an entrepreneur.  

Jeans and a Cute Top Shop was created to be the kind of shop that Jill had always hoped to find.  She loved Ann Taylor’s style, but knew that it did not fit the everyday lifestyle of most women she knew, including herself.  She spent years in search of the perfect fitting pair of jeans which took her to New York, where she still couldn’t find what she was looking for.  

With the support of her husband, who told her to wear “jeans and a cute top” on their first date, she followed this unexpected path to Jeans and a Cute Top Shop.  She now has three Jeans and a Cute Top Shops located in Wheaton, St. Charles, and Downers Grove.  Jill works the floor of one of her shops every day, and is committed to her gratifying mission of changing the world for women one great fitting pair of jeans at a time.  

“Our goal at WIM is to inspire women in our community,” said Ramona ‘Monie’ Burns, this year’s 2016-17 WIM Fox Valley president. “We look forward to hearing Jill’s entrepreneurial story and of course, seeing the fashions.”
Burns added, “We look forward to an exciting year of speakers and topics that will enrich our members and their businesses. We warmly welcome guests to attend our meetings to find out more about WIM Fox Valley.”

Upcoming speakers include: 

• November 10 - Elgin Police Chief Jeff Swoboda; 
• December 8 - Book Review Panel (You are a Badass: How to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life by Jen Sincero);
• January 12 - Paula Amenta, Elgin Community College/personal Zambia volunteer efforts; 
• February 9 - Kathy Hurt, Plano Molding/Caboodles; 
• March 9 - Michelle Santucci, Little Mac Boutique; 
• April 13 - Lisa Stamos, Quintessential Barrington Magazine; 
• May 11 - evening dinner celebration/McGraw Wildlife.

WIM Fox Valley was founded in 1984 as the Northern Fox Valley Chapter of Women In Management. It has successfully grown and now transitioned to membership comprised of all women business professionals and entrepreneurs in a wide range of categories. Area women are invited to join.  For more information visit www.wimfoxvalley.org
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WIM Fox Valley kicks off its new year of speakers on Thursday, September 8, 2016 with State Senator Karen McConnaughay of the 33rd District-Illinois.

The luncheon will be held at the Elgin Country Club, 2575 Weld Road, Elgin with networking at 11:30 a.m., luncheon and program at noon. Meetings adjourn promptly at 1:30 p.m. Cost for members is $22.00 and non members - $25.00. Area women business owners and managers are welcome to attend this month’s presentation. Reservations must be made for attendance online at ...
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Sponsor for this month’s meeting is Ramona “Monie” Burns, owner of MoMo’s Concierge Services in Elgin. The company provides harmony, security and freedom at home and work through a variety of personal and professional services. 

Senator McConnaughay is the Minority Spokesperson for the Senate Transportation Committee. She also serves as a member on the Education, Energy & Public Utilities, Revenue and Financial Institutions Committees. Additionally, she serves on the Committee on Restorative Justice, Higher Education Commission on the Future of the Workforce, the Committee on Pension Investments, as well as the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR).  Senator McConnaughay also sits on the EFAC (Education Funding Advisory Committee), the committee charged with proposing a state education funding system that provides adequate, equitable, transparent, and accountable distribution of funds to school districts.

She also currently serves on the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Executive Committee. Prior to her election to the Illinois State Senate, Karen McConnaughay served as the County Board Chairman of Kane County from 2004-2012 where she achieved remarkable success in lowering spending and reducing the size of government while bolstering accountability, efficiency and transparency. 

Under her leadership, Kane County invested in the improvement of public transportation and safety, completed construction of the Stearns Road Bridge Corridor, constructed a new county jail, initiated the strengthening of emergency response services and replaced the county wide finance system.

Senator McConnaughay has resided in St. Charles for nearly three decades as a parent, small business owner and grass roots activist.  She and her husband, John, can often be found spending time with their three adult children and grandchildren.

“Our WIM members are successful entrepreneurs, managers, and dedicated community volunteers,” said Ramona ‘Monie’ Burns, the 2016-17 WIM Fox Valley president. “We look forward to hearing state Senator McConnaughay
and her experiences in Springfield.”

Burns added, “We look forward to an exciting year of speakers and topics that will enrich our members and their businesses. We warmly welcome guests to attend our meetings to find out more about WIM Fox Valley.”

Upcoming speakers include: 

• October 8 - Jill Card, owner Jeans & a Cute Top; 
• November 10 - Elgin Police Chief Jeff Swoboda; 
• December 8 - Book Review Panel (You are a Badass: How to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life by Jen Sincero);
•  January 12 - Paula Amenta, Elgin Community College/Zambia volunteer efforts;
•  February 9 - Kathy Hurt, Plano Molding/Caboodles; 
• March 9 - Michelle Santucci, Little Mac Boutique;
• April 13 - Lisa Stamos, Quintessential Barrington Magazine; 
• May 1 - evening dinner celebration/McGraw Wildlife.

WIM Fox Valley was founded in 1984. 
Members are comprised of business professionals, entrepreneurs and volunteers in a wide range of categories. Area women are invited to join.  To Register for this event click..   To Learn more about WIM FOX VALLEY - click here
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WIM Fox Valley celebrates Cinco de Mayo with Mary Camacho of Elgin, a member of one of the first Mexican families to arrive in Elgin. The meeting will be held on May 5, 2016 at the Elgin Country Club, 2575 Weld Road, Elgin.  Networking begins at 11:30 a.m., luncheon and program at noon. Meetings adjourn promptly at 1:30 p.m. Cost for members is $22.00 and non members - $25.00. Area women business owners and managers are welcome to attend this month’s presentation. Guests are warmly invited to attend. Reservations must be made for attendance online no later than Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at noon at www.wimfoxvalley.org

This month’s meeting sponsor is WIM member Michelle Charron, branch manager, First American Bank in South Elgin. 

Led by moderator and WIM member Nancy Guthrie, president, Business Matters in Elgin, Camacho will discuss her family’s rich history in Elgin, a community she has worked and volunteered since the age of ten.

Camacho will recall many of the significant events in her life when her mother and father Jack and Rita Camacho came to Elgin, where her father formed the first Elgin Mexican band, which expanded into an orchestra and the first folkloric dance group.  As a child she became active in the Club Fiesta and the Club Guadalupano, formed by the first Hispanic families in Elgin.  In addition to volunteering, the Camacho family owned the first Elgin Mexican restaurant and grocery store.

She was educated at St. Joseph’s Elementary School, St. Edward High School and Elgin Community College in Elgin.

Camacho currently is a volunteer, project docent and spokesperson at Gail Borden Public Library; a member of the ECC youth Leadership Academy Student Candidate Interview Team; Elgin Political Action Team, Gifford Park Housewalk Docent; and the Citizens for Council Manager Form of Government.

She has won numerous awards, including, City of Elgin Fire Department Fire Chief’s Citizen’s Award; YWCA Elgin Leader Luncheon Myrtle S. Gerberding Public Service Award; Elgin Community College Foundation Board Lasting Impact Award; Centro de Informacion Y Progreso Community Service Award, and the Altrusa Woman of the Year Award. 

“Mary is currently writing the history of the Spanish-speaking people of Elgin covering the years from 1910 to 1949,” said Ramona ‘Monie’ Burns, this year’s 2015-16 WIM Fox Valley president.  “We look forward to hearing about Mary’s vast experiences of being part of the Elgin Hispanic community.”

Burns is owner of MoMo’s Concierge Services in Elgin, which provides harmony, security and freedom at home and work through a variety of personal and professional services. 

WIM Fox Valley was founded in 1984. Members are comprised of business professionals and entrepreneurs in a wide range of categories. Area women are invited to join.  For more information visit www.wimfoxvalley.org