Glen Ellyn mom wins award for work with suburban kids
Kate Cozzani of Glen Ellyn surrounds herself with her six children, teaches other kids, coaches even more kids - and wouldn't have it any other way, she said.
Cozzani is the founder and owner of The Giving Tree Family of Schools in Batavia, Forest Park and Elmwood Park, which offers day care and education for more than 200 children. She recently received the 2015 Hedy M. Ratner and S. Carol Dougal Legacy Award from the Women's Business Development Center during the organization's annual Early Childhood Education Entrepreneurship Expo in Chicago. The award was based on her work with local children and her contributions to the organization's Early Childhood Education Entrepreneurship Program.
"Watching children grow and learn keeps me young," said Cozzani, 42.
She was born in Pennsylvania and raised in New Jersey. Her mother was an elementary school teacher and young Kate went to the same school where her mother taught.
"She was the kind of teacher who stayed after hours to prepare her classroom," Cozzani said. "We were always around the school after hours. When I was old enough, I baby-sat and then worked summer camps. In college, I coached high school and middle school sports as well as swim lessons at a local health club in Pittsburgh."
After Cozzani married, she moved to Chicago and taught at a Chicago Public School on the South Side. After she began having children of her own, she focused on day care and developing her own company.
She and her family later moved to Oak Park and established The Giving Tree, first in Forest Park, then Elmwood Park and then Batavia by 2010. She also founded and co-owns the Illinois Allstars, a competitive cheerleading gym in Addison.
"There's a moment when kids learn something new. It's like a spark that happens, and they are so excited the energy lights up a room," she said. "That's what keeps me doing what I do."
Schaeffer a premier volunteer
Glenview resident Michael Schaeffer, executive managing director/regional manager for Cushman & Wakefield of Illinois, was recognized as the Appraisal Institute's July Volunteer of Distinction for Region III. The institute is a national professional association of real estate appraisers. Schaeffer is chairman of the Chicago Chapter's Candidate Guidance Committee, and has served on the chapter's Membership Admissions, Development and Retention Committee. He also received the Chicago Chapter's Exceptional Leadership Award. He also is a member of the Northwest Illinois Council Eagle Board of Reviews for the Boy Scouts of America.
Outlet director on board
Emily Zimmermann is the new director of marketing and business development for Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora. She comes at a time when the mall is reaching its final stages of a multimillion-dollar expansion that will, by late August, make it the largest outlet shopping destination in the Chicago market. Zimmermann comes from a similar role at the St. Louis Premium Outlets in Chesterfield, Missouri.
FastTracks
Sue Markgraf, founder and president of Mundelein-based GreenMark launched a new website at www.greenmarkpr.com ... Attorney Heather L. Glaser of Inverness has joined Lavelle Law Ltd., a Palatine-based law firm. ... Katie Dolan Dix, owner of Capannari Ice Cream of Mount Prospect, said her shop was recently named in Saveur.com's "Top 5 Mail Order Ice Creams," featuring their five favorite click-and-ship ice creams for the summer.
Fred Edmond, president and chief operating officer, and John Benson, chairman and CEO of Frankenmuth Insurance were on hand to congratulate Joy Thompson, president of their the commercial lines division of the Weiss Insurance Agency Inc. in Wayne. Weiss was honored as a Preferred Plus Partner, for the third consecutive year by the Frankenmuth Insurance in Michigan. Weiss has been with Frankenmuth since 1999.
William Matjasich, a 17-year industry veteran, has been appointed as the administrator of Presence McAuley Manor, a long-term care facility in Aurora. ... Michelle Y. Hoskins joined Itasca-based First Midwest Bank as executive vice president and chief human resources officer. ... Lee Anne Patterson has been appointed as vice president of sales and marketing at StealthCo Inc., a subsidiary of Wellness Center USA Inc., in Schaumburg.
Industry veteran Lori San Pietro is the new manager of business development at Kiva Recovery, a resource for addiction treatment in Vernon Hills. Kiva Recovery helps individuals and families struggling with alcohol abuse, substance abuse and drug addiction.
Raymundo Armendariz has been promoted to the newly created position of director of operations/special projects at Hilco Merchant Resources in Northbrook. ... Jennifer Wenckowski was named VISA Manager and Daniel Kristiansen was promoted to director of web and mobile at Consumers Credit Union in Waukegan.
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