WIM Fox Valley welcomes Jill Card, owner of Jeans and a Cute Top Shop
WIM Fox Valley will welcome Jill Card, who will speak about her unexpected path to founding the Jeans and a Cute Top Shop stores, on Thursday, Oct. 13. An added bonus will be a fashion show highlighting today's sought-after casual fashion trends.
The luncheon will be held at the Elgin Country Club, 2575 Weld Road. Networking will begin at 11:30 a.m., luncheon and program at noon. Meetings adjourn promptly at 1:30 p.m. Cost is $22 or $25 for nonmembers.
Area women business owners and managers are welcome to attend this month's presentation. Reservations must be made for attendance online at www.wimfoxvalley.org.
Card has a bachelor's degree in advertising and communications from the University of Illinois-Champaign. She used her marketing and communications skills during her 10 years in the private club industry, where she held positions as a membership director for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Club and received extensive sales training from the parent company, Club Corporation of America.
After 2 years, she went on to the Mid-Day Club, a member-owned, private Chicago luncheon club. Member recognition and exceptional customer service were always at the forefront as she remained responsible for the club's special events, membership sales, and marketing promotions. She wrote the club's 100th anniversary book as well. She left the private club industry after 10 years to stay home with her two boys, now 16 and 19.
In 2006, on a whim, Card worked for Ann Taylor, a retail women's clothing store in Wheaton Town Square. She grew quickly in the Ann Taylor Corp. and credits her part-time job was a pivotal stepping stone towards becoming an entrepreneur.
Jeans and a Cute Top Shop was created to be the kind of shop that Jill had always hoped to find. She loved Ann Taylor's style, but knew that it did not fit the everyday lifestyle of most women she knew, including herself. She spent years in search of the perfect fitting pair of jeans which took her to New York, where she still couldn't find what she was looking for.
With the support of her husband, who told her to wear "jeans and a cute top" on their first date, she followed this unexpected path to Jeans and a Cute Top Shop. She now has three Jeans and a Cute Top Shops located in Wheaton, St. Charles, and Downers Grove. Jill works the floor of one of her shops every day, and is committed to her gratifying mission of changing the world for women one great fitting pair of jeans at a time.
"Our goal at WIM is to inspire women in our community," said Ramona 'Monie' Burns, this year's 2016-17 WIM Fox Valley president. "We look forward to hearing Jill's entreprenuerial story and of course, seeing the fashions."
Burns is owner of MoMo's Concierge Services in Elgin, which provides harmony, security and freedom at home and work through a variety of personal and professional services.
Burns added, "We look forward to an exciting year of speakers and topics that will enrich our members and their businesses. We warmly welcome guests to attend our meetings to find out more about WIM Fox Valley."
Upcoming speakers include: Nov. 10 with Elgin Police Chief Jeff Swoboda; Dec. 8 with a book review panel ("You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living An Awesome Life" by Jen Sincero); Jan. 12 with Paula Amenta, Elgin Community College/personal Zambia volunteer efforts; Feb. 9 with Kathy Hurt, Plano Molding/Caboodles; March 9 with Michelle Santucci, Little Mac Boutique; April 13 with Lisa Stamos, Quintessential Barrington Magazine; and May 11 with evening dinner celebration/McGraw Wildlife.
WIM Fox Valley was founded in 1984 as the Northern Fox Valley Chapter of Women In Management. It has successfully grown and now transitioned to membership comprised of all women business professionals and entrepreneurs in a wide range of categories. Area women are invited to join. For information, visit www.wimfoxvalley.org or call Monica Bucek, membership co-chairwoman, at (847) 214-7258.