ECC communications officer earns national community college honor

• Toya Webb, chief marketing and communications officer at Elgin Community College, was selected as a 2018 40 Under 40 honoree by the American Association for Women in Community Colleges. Webb accepted her award at the association's annual breakfast and awards ceremony in Dallas on April 29.

The American Association for Women in Community Colleges' 40 Under 40 award recognizes outstanding female leaders under the age of 40 who are known for being difference makers, game-changers and movers and shakers at the community colleges they serve. Webb was one of 40 women from across the nation to receive the award.

As chief marketing and communication officer, Webb leads an award-winning team of 20 experienced professionals in ECC's marketing and communications department, which consists of four areas; marketing, communications, web services and print services.

• Liz Smith, president of Schaumburg-based Assurance, will co-chair the American Heart Association's 2018-19 Chicago Go Red for Women campaign. Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association's national movement to end heart disease and stroke in women.

Smith takes on the role with a personal goal to not only raise more awareness of heart disease risk among women, but to get employers more involved in cultivating healthier workplaces that support employee health and happiness.

Smith and Assurance have been involved with the American Heart Association for three years.

• Two-time Oakton Community College graduate and 2014 Oakton Distinguished Alumni Award-winner Timothy Panfil will deliver Oakton's May 15 commencement address.

Panfil is currently the Elmhurst College director of enrollment management for graduate studies. He has been a part of the state's higher education landscape since 1993, working in admissions, enrollment management and marketing for several colleges and universities in Illinois.

A former Maine East High School high-honor student, Panfil earned associate degrees in pre-engineering and electronics and computer technology from Oakton in 1988 and 1989, respectively. He continued his education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, earning a Bachelor of Science in marketing in 1991, followed by an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management in 1997. As a member of the Oakton Alumni Council, Panfil also plays an active role in serving Oakton alumni.

• Submit your 'Neighbors in the News' items to Norrine Twohey at ntwohey@dailyherald.com.