Illinois Jaycees Honor Local Women as 2017 Illinois Outstanding Young Persons
The Illinois Jaycees has selected Addison resident Erica Wiegel and Inverness resident Heather Glaser as honorees of its Outstanding Young Persons of Illinois awards program. The Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) program annually recognizes young people throughout Illinois who excel in their chosen fields, endeavors and show a great commitment to their respective communities. Wiegel, 37, is being recognized in the category of Business, economic, and/or entrepreneurial accomplishment and Glaser, 32, is being recognized in the category of Humanitarian and/or voluntary leadership.
Wiegel is president of ARO Metal Stamping located in Roselle, IL. Within her first year of ownership, ARO Metal Stamping doubled sales and was certified as a minority-owned business and a Women Business Enterprise. The company is proud of its close-knit family environment. Wiegel is also Co-Owner and Treasurer of Wiegel Tool Works which was founded by her grandfather.
Wiegel encourages young women to become interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. She frequently speaks to school groups, Girl Scouts, and student clubs, and opens her business for plant tours so students can learn first-hand about careers in advanced manufacturing. She created the Erica Wiegel/ARO Metal Stamping Scholarship at Northern Illinois University which is awarded annually to a student pursing a degree in manufacturing technology.
Earlier this year, Wiegel received The Rose Mottl Leadership in Manufacturing Award for her outstanding contributions to advance the manufacturing industry. In 2016, she was named a Suburban Life Media Best Under 40 Honoree for her commitment to excellence in and out of the workplace. She also received the Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing "Making Manufacturing Matter" TMA Manufacturer of the Year Award and named a College of Engineering Technology Alumnus of the Year from Northern Illinois University. Wiegel earned her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Northern Illinois University.
"I am honored to receive the Jaycees TOYP Award in recognition of what can be accomplished with focus and hard work," said Erica Wiegel. "I will use this opportunity to increase young people's awareness of the great careers available in STEM and manufacturing."
Glaser serves as the Head Girls basketball coach at Immanuel Lutheran School in Palatine. Each year, she volunteers over 500 hours in the gym mentoring, coaching, and leading 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls. Under Glaser's tenure, Immanuel Lutheran girls' basketball team has won five of the past six state championships.
Glaser is an attorney at Lavelle Law, Ltd. located in Palatine, IL. Glaser is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association and the Women's Bar Association of Illinois. She volunteers as a certified mediator at Harper College. She earned her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law and is certified in Mediation and Litigation/Alternative Dispute Resolution. She earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in molecular and cellular biology.
"I am extremely honored to be named one of the Illinois Jaycees Outstanding Young Person of Illinois for 2017," said Heather Glaser. "Receiving this award inspires me to continue investing time in the hopes of making a positive impact in the life of every child I have the opportunity to coach."
The Illinois Jaycees will honor award recipients at a banquet on May 6, 2017 at the Wyndham Springfield-City Centre. The event is supported by friends and employers of the honorees, local Jaycee organizations, Illinois businesses and the Illinois Jaycees Charitable Foundation. Friends, local businesses and organizations can offer congratulations to the honoree and support the program by purchasing space in the banquet program. Additional Details can be found at www.iljaycees.org.
About
Leadership development through community involvement has been the basis of the Jaycees since its inception in 1920. The goal of the not-for-profit organization is to provide members a means to reach their full potential through networking and personal growth opportunities and is ideal for proactive young people, ages 18 to 40. Members enhance a variety of skills as they work together to plan and run civic and individual development activities in their home communities and chapters. Illinois is the largest Jaycee state in the United States. To locate a chapter nearest to you, email servicecenter@iljaycees.org.