Leader Luncheon
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Reception 11:00 a.m. - Luncheon 11:45 a.m.
Leader Luncheon is the signature event of the YWCA Elgin, held annually to honor deserving women for their outstanding accomplishments and raise funds to support the YWCA Elgin’s work. Leader Luncheon 2024, supported by Title Sponsor The Schrieber Group, will occur on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
The YWCA Elgin is honored to have Linda Siete, former Reflejos Newspaper General Manager, as the 2024 Keynote Speaker and Elisa Lara, RN, of the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) Health Care as the 2024 Leader Luncheon Honorary Chair.
Registration for the Leader Luncheon is open, and seats/tables are selling quickly. Reserve your seat today!
Meet the 2024 Leader Luncheon Nominees
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Cristina Colunga Ramirez
ARTS
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Carole A. Medal
ARTS
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Katrina Syrris
ARTS
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Maria Borrero Véaz
BUSINESS/PROFESSIONS
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Gloria Ma, MD, PhD
BUSINESS/PROFESSIONS
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Linda Ramirez
BUSINESS/PROFESSIONS
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Shirley Sadjadi, Esq.
BUSINESS/PROFESSIONS
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Kimberly Wagner, EdD
BUSINESS/PROFESSIONS
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Karla Jimenez
COMMUNICATIONS/TECHNOLOGY
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Theresa Gajewski
COMMUNICATIONS/TECHNOLOGY
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Leslie Wolko
COMMUNICATION/TECHNOLOGY
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Lori Brandes
EDUCATION
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Tish Calhamer
EDUCATION
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Dr. Alison Douglas
EDUCATION
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Adriana Lopez Landa
EDUCATION
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Amber Peters
EDUCATION
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Karla Rojas
EDUCATION
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Francine Romero Rivera
EDUCATION
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Jamie L. Mosser
PUBLIC SERVICE
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Karla Rojas
PUBLIC SERVICE
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Detective Beth Sterricker
PUBLIC SERVICE
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Shirley Bassett
RACIAL JUSTICE
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Julie Hyun Kane
RACIAL JUSTICE
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Lore Baker
SOCIAL SERVICE
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Marlene Daubert
SOCIAL SERVICE
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Rev. Dr. Felicia LaBoy
SOCIAL SERVICE
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Dianha Ortega-Ehreth
SOCIAL SERVICE
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Rocio Robledo
SOCIAL SERVICE
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Karla Rojas
SOCIAL SERVICE
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Adriana Trino-Pujals
SOCIAL SERVICE
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Lisa Luangsomkham
VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY SERVICE
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Magdalena Perez, PhD
VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY SERVICE
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Myeshia Sanders
VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY SERVICE
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Robin Seigle
VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY SERVICE
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Claudia C. Serrano
VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY SERVICE
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Betsy Yurisich
VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY SERVICE
Sponsorships
Leader Luncheon is YWCA Elgin’s primary fundraising event. Funds from the event are used to develop and expand programming and advocacies for women and families’ economic self-sufficiency with a clear commitment to the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women.
Click here for more information about sponsorship levels.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 TITLE SPONSOR - $5,000
LEADER CIRCLE TABLE SPONSORS - $1,350
Gold Star Sponsors - $500
Silver Star Sponsors - $250
Betty & Steven Rauschenberger
Dana & Gary Vierck
Elizabeth Hoeft
Fox Valley Interior Design
James Hill Enterprises, Inc.
Jim & Pam Katalinich Eggum
Linda and Steve Knight
Circle of Friends Sponsors - $100
Andrea Fiebig
Dr. Clare M. Ollayos, Chiropractic Physician
Donna Anderson
Garry Hojnacki
Gwendolyn Rowe Gage
Jessica Lee-Cole
Kathleen Rusniak
Marc Thayer
Marge Haefliger
Maureen Manning
Nancy Coleman
Nancy Rohr
PR Strategies & Communications, Inc.
Sue Whitworth
The Law Office of Melissa Barbosa-Guzman
Vincent Construction Inc.- Remodeling/Renovation
2024 Leader Luncheon Speaker Linda Siete
Linda Siete, former General Manager of Reflejos Publications was born and raised for many years on the East Coast of Texas. Linda migrated to Chicago in 1975. Work-life started with a family-owned business, which exposed her to sales, marketing, and an extremely multicultural environment. Early on, diversity and understanding the importance of what different cultures offered were part of growing up. Arrival in Chicago introduced her to the national retail industry, working first at Saks Fifth Avenue, then running her own clothing store and finishing her retail stint with Sears. Her roles started first in sales, then as a buyer, and then into promotions and advertising. Her promotion and marketing background led her into an advisory role within the Illinois political arena. "Candidates learned they needed bilingual flyers to effectively reach all those attending their parades." which led Linda to Reflejos 23 years ago.
Linda's understanding and appreciation for cultural differences and what they bring to communities and companies made her role as General Manager of Reflejos a perfect fit. Growing up in such a diverse environment showed Linda how people willing to break down barriers can learn from each other and create socially enriched communities. This focus drives much of what Reflejos does through editorial content and Linda's involvement within many communities. "Beginning a conversation with someone different than oneself can open us up to a world of growth and opportunity. It helps us understand each other instead of fearing each other."
Reflejos, which celebrated its 34th year of publishing this year, has been under Linda's leadership for the past 17 years. During her leadership, Reflejos won over 65 national honors for many of the outstanding special sections and editions she developed to assist the Latino community, specifically in the areas of health, education, and finance. In 2018 and 2019, garnered Reflejos national recognition as the #1 Outstanding Weekly Bilingual Publication out of over 200 publications serving Latino communities throughout the United States. "By maintaining even certain content in a bilingual format, Reflejos stories can then be shared by all members in a household, which helps blend language and culture."
In 2002, she and her team began the annual 'Reflecting Excellence' awards to recognize non-profits, educational institutions, and local companies for their services to the Latino community. The event allows those in our Latino community to 'thank' those offering services and support. This event has also brought names such as Roberto Garza of the Chicago Bears, Rosa Salazar Arenas, Univision's award-winning Mexican screenwriter, Disney actress Julia Vera, Illinois State Senator Cristina Castro, and in 2018, Illinois Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguenetti – the highest-ranking Latina in the history of Illinois - to speak to students, business owners and community leaders on staying focused to achieve their dreams and to offer students especially, the opportunity to meet one on one with successful role models from their culture. The culmination of this event now has been using sponsorship dollars to offer $1000 scholarships to nominated Latino student leaders, as Linda believes that today's students are the leaders of our Latino community tomorrow. "We need to invest in our future by investing in theirs."
Linda works with several organizations, offering an avenue to reach the Latino population, such as Centro de Information, Elgin Hispanic Network, Club Guadalupano, St Joseph's Church, Palatine Opportunity Center, Mano a Mano, Administer Justice, Waukegan 2 College, the Elgin Police Department, the Lake County Opioid Initiative, the Elgin Symphony, and CASA Kane County. Linda has served on the Board of Directors for the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce and Family Bridges out of Oakbrook. She has served as a Regional Director for NAHP - the National Association for Hispanic Publications, and is a past member of Elgin's governing board for their 'Alignment Collaborative in Education'’ She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Ecker Center and the Gail Borden Library Foundation. "Through community involvement, I've learned so much and enjoyed connecting people so they can share their talents."
Linda received her Associate's Degree from Elgin Community College and holds her BA in Business Management from Judson University. Centro honored Linda in 2014 with their Community Service Award, the Elgin Hispanic Network honored Reflejos as the 2014 Organization of the Year, in 2015 the Elgin Community College Foundation honored Linda with their 'Lasting Impact' award for contributions to ECC and the Elgin community, in 2018 the Elgin Chamber of Commerce recognized Linda with their 'Community Partner' Award, and the Northwest Hispanic Chamber of Commerce presented Linda with their Certificate of Appreciation for 'Latino Advocacy' during their 2018 Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. In 2019, The International Salsa Congress awarded Linda their 'Keeper of the Flame' award for keeping cultural awareness alive and well in the suburbs of Chicago.
In 2022, Linda was honored by Centro with the William Castillo Humanitarian Award, and in 2023, the Chicago Latina Expo Organization honored her with their Cultural Ambassador Award.
During the past few years, with the continued growth of the suburban Latino market, Linda has been speaking frequently to businesses and organizations on ways to incorporate and better understand the importance of inclusion and ways to embrace diversity, which benefits their businesses and the whole community.
"Each of us is here to lend a hand and support each other; it's how we make our world better for all of us."
2024 Leader Luncheon Chair Elisa Lara
Elisa Lara has been a nurse for VNA Health Care for approximately 18 years. She has served as a clinical coordinator and nurse outreach and has assisted with COVID-19 services at the VNA.
Elisa obtained her Associate in Science and Arts at Elgin Community College (ECC) and began her nursing career at ECC, receiving her LPN (License Practical Nursing). She later attended Northern Illinois University, earning her RN and BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) degrees.
As a nurse, she’s worked in several area hospitals, including Kishwaukee Community Hospital, Alexian Brothers, and St. Alexius. While working as a nurse in hospital settings, she realized the many needs within the Latino community, and she wanted to be a part of helping to meet those needs.
For the past 18 years, she’s been employed by VNA Health Care in their community health centers, where she’s been able to both help meet those needs and advocate for the Latino community. Giving back to the community has always been a driving force in her life, now so more than ever.
In addition to her work as a nurse, Elisa is currently involved with many organizations and events in Elgin. Host for Al Dia Con Elisa in the Elgin community that has grown in the last five years.
She is a Board of Trustee for the Gail Borden Public Library, a member of the Board of the Elgin Hispanic Network, a member of the City of Elgin’s Human Relations Commission, on the Board for the Latino Treatment Center, and contributes her time and energy and is a member of Knight Riderz Triathlete group.
Her curricular activities include doing triathlons, marathons, cycling, and dancing whenever possible.