Anna Marie Kukec has been a business and technology writer for the Daily Herald since 2000, covering everything from Fortune 500 companies to family-owned businesses.

She also has extensively covered residential foreclosures throughout the suburbs, and her "The Dream Foreclosed" project on that subject won first place in public service from the Illinois Associated Press Editors Association, the Chicago Journalists Association's Sarah Brown Boyden Award in public service, first place from the National Federation of Press Women, first place in the Illinois Woman's Press Association, and meritorious achievement from the Chicago Bar Association Herman Kogan Awards.

Kukec also was part of the reporting team for "Our Uncertain Times" project about the impact of the recession that earned third place in the 2009 Illinois Associated Press Editors Association Excellence. She has been an occasional guest on ABC 7 and WGN Radio.

Kukec began her career as a reporter, columnist and section editor for the Daily Southtown Economist, now called SouthtownStar newspapers in Chicago's South suburbs.

In 1989, she became a speechwriter and public information officer for the Illinois attorney general's office, serving under Democrats and gubernatorial candidates Neil Hartigan and Roland Burris as well as Republican Jim Ryan. In 1995, she became a staff reporter for the American Bar Association, where she covered bar associations and various legal cases nationwide.

During those years, Kukec also has written freelance articles for the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and other publications.

She has been listed in past editions of Who's Who in the Media and Communications, Who's Who in the Midwest, and Who's Who of American Women. She was honored with the 1985 Woman of the Year Award, presented by Evergreen Park High School. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Chicago Headline Club, where she had served on various committees and as a vice president, secretary and board director.

Kukec earned a bachelor's degree in mass communications/journalism from St. Xavier University in Chicago. She is married and lived in Elk Grove Village before moving to Chicago. Follow her on Facebook and LinkedIn and as AMKukec on Twitter.