WIM to feature certified life and health coach and certified hypnotherapist Connie Jo Holmes who will note the the importance of goal setting and creating a vision board during the virtual ZOOM meeting.​

Thursday, January 14, 2021
Noon to 1:00pm.
No fee for the meeting for WIM Fox Valley members; $5.00 for guests who are welcome to attend.
Click Here to Register.

Holmes will offer her specialized expertise as a mindset mentor helping individuals align their mind, body, and spirit to live a balanced and renewed life in home, heart and career. In addition, her 30 years of corporate managerial and leadership experience supports her expertise with self-leadership, personal organization, life planning, and strategic goal-execution.
She has specialized training as an anxiety and panic specialist and in removing negative emotions and limiting beliefs. With this specialized training, she is able to help her clients reset themselves for a life of confidence and momentum. Coaching self-acceptance and confidence is the foundation for all Holmes does, including her business name, BU2BFULL, Inc., and her book titled, “Be YOU to be Full: Learn the Art of Self-Acceptance for a Life of Confidence and Fulfillment.”

This month’s meeting sponsor is the Melissa Meyers State Farm Agency in Elgin, which specializes in personalized insurance plans. Meyers and her team are truly a one-stop shop when it comes to insuring an auto, motorcycle, home, condo, renters, boat, small business, and life insurance needs.

WIM Fox Valley (WIM) welcomes Kane County Judge Elizabeth Flood who will give an interactive presentation of “You be the Judge” during the virtual ZOOM meeting on Thursday, December 10, 2020 from Noon to 1:00pm.

No fee for the meeting for WIM Fox Valley members; $5.00 for guests who are welcome to attend.

​Click Here to Register.

​Judge Flood began her law career in 1995 with the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office as a criminal prosecutor.  During her 8 years in the criminal division, she prosecuted in every criminal courtroom, including traffic, misdemeanor, D.U.I., and felonies. Flood then transferred to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s civil division, where she represented county officials and employees in state and federal courts in cases involving election law, employment law, personal injury, property damage, and federal civil rights litigation.  She was able to argue before the Illinois Second District Appellate Court and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. 
 
 In 2013, Flood was appointed as an Associate Judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit, Kane County, Illinois, where she has presided over traffic and misdemeanor cases, bond call, orders of protection, and forfeiture hearings.  Since 2016 she has been assigned to the Family Division.  In October of 2019, Judge Flood was appointed by unanimous vote of the Illinois Supreme Court to be a Judge in Kane County.  
 
Flood received a B.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois College of Commerce and graduated cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law. 

WIM Fox Valley (WIM) presents executive coach and national speaker Linda Deering Dean during the virtual ZOOM meeting on Thursday, November 12, 2020 from Noon to 1:00pm. No fee for the meeting for WIM Fox Valley members; $5.00 for guests who are welcome to attend.

Click here to register.

Deering Dean has over 35 years of experience in healthcare clinical, operational and executive leadership.  She has a passion and ability to deliver outstanding results for service, quality, safety, engagement and finance.  In her most recent role as President of Advocate Sherman Hospital, she led the organization to significant improvements and national recognition, including: 
patient engagement increased from 40th to 90thpercentile; employee engagement improved from the 50th to 90th percentile; physician engagement improved from the 45th to 85th percentile; 
serious safety events decreased by 85%; and operating margin moved from 0% to +8% .
 
She has served as a national speaker through her participation in the Studer Group.  In this role, she fulfills her passion for improving work environments for leaders, employees, partners and customers while improving operational results.  

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​This month’s meeting sponsor is Joy Symonds, co-owner, Symonds-Madison Funeral Home in Elgin. Proudly veteran and family-owned, Symonds-Madison Funeral Home has served Fox Valley families with compassion and excellence for over 90 years.

WIM Fox Valley (WIM) presents leading during a crisis with guest speaker Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain at its virtual ZOOM meeting.

Thursday, October 8, 2020
Noon to 1:00pm.

No fee for the meeting for WIM Fox Valley members; $5.00 for guests who are welcome to attend.
To register, please click here.

Sheriff Hain states, “Law enforcement leadership historically follows standardized training and policy adherence. When we encounter times of uncertainty and there is no road map to follow, dynamic and agile thinking is essential to keep a workforce positive and engaged while ensuring our communities needs are met on a 24/7, basis.”

This month’s meeting sponsor is Brittain’s Oil Express in Elgin which offers a variety of quality services to assure optimum vehicle maintenance for individuals and businesses.

​Rieke Office Interiors (ROI) and president Melissa Kehl will host WIM Fox Valley (WIM) at its offices on Thursday, March 12, 2020 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at 2000 Fox Lane in Elgin. 
 
Cost for members is $25.00 and non-members $28.00. Area women in business are welcome to attend this month’s evening networking presentation. Reservations can be made by clicking here.  Walk-ins are always welcome!
 

WIM Fox Valley (WIM) welcomes ​Kristen Hutchinson and Stephanie Szewczyk, co-founders of STRONG self(ie), as its speakers on Thursday, February 13, 2020.

The lunch meeting will be held at Emmett’s Brewing Co. at 128 West Main Street in West Dundee with networking at 11:30 a.m., luncheon and program at noon. Meetings adjourn at 1:00 p.m. Cost for members is $25.00 and non-members $28.00. Area women in business are welcome to attend this complimentary month’s presentation.

To register for the event, please click here.
 
Hutchinson and Szewczyk will share the reason they started their business and its success since its launch in 2017.
 
STRONG self(ie)is a subscription and gift box company strategically aimed to empower girls, and encourage them to embrace every moment of growing up. The season subscription boxes are filled with inspirational products designed to better connect parents and their daughter/s.  The STRONG self(ie) subscription gift offers a way for a mom, dad, grandparent, stepparent, aunt or uncle, to recognize and meaningfully celebrate the girls in their lives.

​This month’s meeting sponsor is Michelle Santucci, a Circle V Level Achiever with Rodan + Fields in Elgin. Rodan + Fields is a personalized skincare service created by Stanford-trained Dermatologists, Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields. 

​This is a joint event lunch meeting with Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce "Women in Business."

WIM Fox Valley (WIM) kicks off the new year with nationally recognized trainer, speaker and coach Suzanne Ness, President and Co-founder of Forward Effect Coaching, who will present “Answering the Call: strategies for making 2020 your best year yet" on Thursday, January 9, 2020.

The joint event lunch meeting with the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce “Women in Business” will be held  at The Haight, 166 Symphony Way, Elgin.

Click here to make reservations.

In her topic on planning, Ness notes that setting goals and making plans starts with a strong vision. Join Ness as she shares strategies designed to help you achieve your goals and bring your vision to life.
Ness is a small business owner, certified coach, and elected public official. In this talk, she will share some of her own strategies toward achieving results, answering your own “call,” and having a great year! Ness is the. She has led hundreds of sessions in a variety of organizations throughout North America. As an ICF certified coach with a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management, she continues to train, coach, and empower workforces and organizations, specializing in all aspects of communication, leadership, presentation skills and team building. She is adept at connecting with others and inspiring the power of learning.
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She has served on the Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce board and is an online Adjunct Professor for the School of Business at Purdue University Global. She also developed a Young Leaders Coaching and Mentoring program for Teens at Dundee Crown High School. She is married, has two college age daughters, a stepson, a granddaughter, and lives in Crystal Lake IL. She is an avid reader, runner, and traveler and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

​This month’s meeting sponsor is Pat Szpekowski, APR, president of PR Strategies & Communications, Inc./PmS advertising, inc. in Elgin. A co-founder of both WIM Fox Valley and the Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce Women in Business organizations, Szpekowski provides award-winning public relations, custom creative graphic design, and candid event photography for businesses and not for profit organizations.

WIM Fox Valley welcomes executive coach and national speaker Linda Deering Dean, RN, MSN on Thursday, December 12th.

The lunch meeting will be held at Emmett’s Brewing Co. at 128 West Main Street in West Dundee with networking at 11:30 a.m., luncheon and program at noon. Meetings adjourn at 1:00 p.m. Cost for members is $25.00 and non-members $28.00. Area women in business are welcome to attend this complimentary month’s presentation. Reservations can be made by clicking here or walk-ins are always welcome!

In her topic of “leading for life”, Deering Dean will present how leadership is a function, not a position. The topic will cover leadership skills, such as: to get different results, the process must change; people must behave differently; and a leader’s job is to make sure that required behaviors are being done in all circumstances.
 
Deering Dean has over 35 years of experience in healthcare clinical, operational and executive leadership.  She has a passion and ability to deliver outstanding results for service, quality, safety, engagement and finance.  In her most recent role as President of Advocate Sherman Hospital, she led the organization to significant improvements and national recognition, including: patient engagement increased from 40th to 90th percentile; employee engagement improved from the 50th to 90th percentile; physician engagement improved from the 45th to 85th percentile; serious safety events decreased by 85%; and operating margin moved from 0% to +8%.
 
Linda has served as a national speaker through her participation in the Studer Group.  In this role, she fulfills her passion for improving work environments for leaders, employees, partners and customers while improving operational results.  

​This month’s meeting sponsor is Joy Symonds, co-owner, Symonds-Madison Funeral Home in Elgin. Proudly veteran and family-owned, Symonds-Madison Funeral Home has served Fox Valley families with compassion and excellence for over 90 years.

WIM Fox Valley (WIM) will hold its annual complimentary guest luncheon on Thursday, November 14, 2019 featuring local Latino Film Festival founder and editor Margarita Mendoza.The lunch meeting will be held at Emmett’s Brewing Co. at 128 West Main Street in West Dundee with networking at 11:30 a.m., luncheon and program at noon. Meetings adjourn at 1:00 p.m. Cost for members is $25.00 and non-members $28.00. Area women in business are welcome to attend this complimentary month’s presentation.   Please click here to make reservations.
Mendoza of Elgin is an experienced journalist and public relations professional. She is a translator, and the editor of the international award-winning Spanish language monthly newspaper, El Observador, for the Catholic Diocese of Rockford.
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In 2012, Mendoza launched and has directed the Latino Film Festival Elgin. Several years ago she started the Latino Film Festival Aurora. She is featured in the book series Today’s Inspired Latina, founded by Jackie Camacho-Ruiz.

She is also a director of Colombia Hoy and edits the Panamericano Hoy, a Spanish language newspaper focused on optimistic news.

She and her husband Enrique reside in Elgin and are the parents of three daughters. In 2007, Mendoza graduated from the Elgin Leadership Academy. She studied at the Universidad Autónoma De Occidente, in Cali, Colombia, a Master in Organizational Communication; graduated from Social Communicator/Journalist; and has a Political Science, Certified.

Sponsor for this month’s meeting is member Melissa Davidson, CPA, of Davidson Pargman and Company LLC. Davidson takes pride that her firm provides a total commitment to building one-on-one relationships with each individual client. Services include a variety of financial, tax, and advisory needs.
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​White, a mother of  3 children, is also a student and a welder. She is trying to show everyone that it is never too late to follow a dream, no matter how different it may be. She’s a trendsetter and is paving the way for women everywhere to see there is a need for them in the trades. 
 
She recently graduated from Elgin Community College with 2 certificates: one in Basic Vocational Specialist in Welding and Basic Vocational Specialist in MIG Welding. She also earned a 3G and 4G certificate in MIG welding and graduated with high honors. 
 
White was recently chosen to be on the cover of Elgin Community College’s Inspire magazine and has been included as part of a special publication in the national magazine “The Welder” along with 3 other women. She has excelled in the field and is currently employed with JN Machinery in East Dundee. White is still pursuing her education and has gone back to gain her Associates in Applied Science in Welding Fabrication Technology.

The lunch meeting will be held at Emmett’s Brewing Co. at 128 West Main Street in West Dundee with networking at 11:30 a.m., luncheon and program at noon. Meetings adjourn at 1:00 p.m. Cost for members is $25.00 and non members - $28.00. Area women in business are welcome to attend this month’s presentation. 
​Please click here to make reservations.
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Sponsor for this month’s meeting is Faith Clark, CLU, financial representative of Northwestern Mutual in Schaumburg. Her financial services practice focuses on spreading financial literacy and empowering women to be financially successful.