The city of Elgin’s efforts to boost the number of women holding government leadership roles will be recognized by the YWCA Elgin at its annual awards luncheon next week.
According to the YWCA, 69 of the city’s 154 managerial positions — about 45% — are held by women, a fact that’s deserving of the YWCA’s Corporate Award, which will be presented at the Leaders Luncheon Awards being held May 9, at the Seville in Streamwood, officials said.
The award will recognize the city for recruiting and retaining females in leadership roles. Among the women now heading departments who were promoted from within the government ranks are Police Chief Ana Lalley, Chief Financial Officer Debra Nawrocki, Human Resources Director Gail Cohen, and Parks and Recreation Department Director Maria Cumpata. Assistant City Manager Laura Valdez-Wilson was also promoted internally and the majority of the city manager’s staff is female.
“Women play a major role in carrying out the policies set by Elgin’s city council,” luncheon chair Rebecca Hardekopf said in the release.
YWCA president Julia McClendon said the city is impressive in their dedication to advancing women within the organization.
“There is a pathway,” McClendon said. “You never see pathways for women to get ahead once you get to a certain level. They went beyond just women advancing in their careers, they are advancing women into leadership roles.”
City Councilwoman Rose Martinez said the city has made significant inroads in the last five years, but it’s not just because the hiring and promotion of women has been a priority. It’s because the city has made good hires and the employees have been deserving of the promotions, regardless of their sex, she said.
“To me, it’s more about the quality of the individual,” Martinez said. “And I think what we have right now is great quality, people who have been there for many years.”
YWCA officials also recognized city efforts to bring more women into the public safety and public works departments, which traditionally have been overwhelmingly male. In addition to the chief, two sergeants and 14 officers in the police department are women.
Elgin’s public works department has five engineers, three of whom are female.
The event’s keynote speaker is Jane Blain Gilbertson, president and CEO of Blain’s Farm and Fleet.
To buy luncheon tickets or for more information, call 847-742-7930 or go to
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