Groeper named WIM Fox Valley president
Michelle Groeper of Elgin, executive director at Tails Humane Society in DeKalb, has been named as the 2017-18 president of WIM Fox Valley, a women's business organization in Elgin providing professional development and business education scholarships and mentoring opportunities for area women.
Groeper has been involved in animal welfare as a volunteer, board member, manager and director for nearly 17 years. She also worked in corporate America for over 12 years at a large direct marketing firm and in the purchasing department for an international grocery store chain.
She joined WIM Fox Valley (formerly known as Women in Management) in 2014 and was most recently the board secretary. Groeper also volunteers with the Kane County State's Attorney Office, Elgin Police Department and is the president of the Illinois Animal Welfare Federation.
“I am honored to lead this established professional organization,” said Groeper. “Since my involvement with WIM Fox Valley, I have been inspired by our speakers and presentations and impressed by the caliber of our members and their eagerness to support and collaborate with one another. I look forward to our new WIM year and what we will accomplish to grow our scholarship fund with the Elgin Community College Foundation.”
Members of the WIM Fox Valley board of directors include: Ann Louis, Louis Consulting, president-elect/membership; Tracey Carlstedt, First Federal Bank, treasurer; Monica Bucek, Elgin Community College Foundation, secretary; Kyla Duwel, Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, and Cheryl Wendt, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, scholarships and raffles; Joy Symonds, Symonds-Madison Funeral Home, and Trish Glees, TG Consultants Inc., programs; Pat Szpekowski, PR Strategies and Communications, publicity and communications; and Melissa Davidson, Porte Brown, operations.
WIM Fox Valley was founded in 1984 as the Northern Fox Valley Chapter of Women in Management, which was part of a national organization at the time. In 2015, it was established as WIM Fox Valley - Women Inspiring Mentoring, whose mission is to promote the empowerment of members through networking, education, development, encouragement and mentoring.
WIM Fox Valley meets the second Thursday of each month, September through May, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for networking, lunch and speaker programs at the Grumpy Goat Tavern, 875 Sports Way in Elgin. Guests are welcome.
Upcoming speakers for 2017 include: state Sen. Cristina Castro on Sept. 14; Wendy Brandt of Zenn Diagram on Oct. 12; attorney Tempia Courts on Nov. 9; and the holiday party Dec. 7.
For more information and reservations, visit wimfoxvalley.org.