Some honors catch you by surprise. Others stop you in your tracks. And then there are those rare moments that make you reflect on the path you’ve walked, the people who shaped you, and the purpose that has guided your steps.
Receiving the Distinguished Service to Society Award from Elmhurst University in 2019 was one of those moments.
When I walked across that stage years earlier to receive my MBA in 2015, I never imagined I would return so soon, not as a student, but as an honoree. To say I was humbled would be an understatement. To say I was grateful wouldn’t even come close.
This award recognizes alumni who demonstrate the mission of Elmhurst through excellence in service, in society, in the marketplace, in professional roles, and in leadership. The words themselves carry both weight and responsibility. And standing there, hearing my name called, I felt both deeply.
Because service has always been the heartbeat of my life.
From the Battlefield to the Classroom
Before Elmhurst ever entered my story, the U.S. Army shaped me. I served as a Captain and was among the very first women to serve in combat during the Gulf War, a distinction I carried with pride and a sense of duty. As part of the leadership team for a PATRIOT Missile System Battery, I served with soldiers whose courage, grit, and resilience still inspire me today.
I learned leadership in the desert long before I taught it in a classroom.
But Elmhurst became the place where I translated those skills into a new kind of service, one grounded not in military command, but in human development. While earning my MBA, I found a community that valued purpose, ethics, and impact. It felt like a natural extension of the life I had lived, and the life I was building.
When I joined the Elmhurst faculty as an adjunct professor in the Business Department, I discovered a new format for leadership: shaping future leaders. There is nothing like watching students find their voice, their confidence, and their ability to create change in their organizations. It’s coaching in its purest form, and I was hooked.
Service Evolves, Leadership Expands
By the time Elmhurst informed me I had been selected for the Distinguished Service to Society Award, my life had expanded into several roles that aligned with my mission to help people grow.
Through Avail Consulting, I coach leaders and teams, helping them unlock stronger communication, deeper trust, and greater performance. Whether it’s an executive team navigating change or a new leader stepping into their first big role, I get to serve as their guide, a role I cherish.
I continue to volunteer, especially in organizations that shaped me:
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- The American Legion
- And proudly, the Girl Scouts, where leadership for young women truly begins
And earlier that same year, I became the first female Grand Marshal of the Elmhurst Memorial Day Parade. That honor still gives me chills. Walking the streets of my adopted hometown, representing veterans past and present, reminded me just how powerful a life of service can be.
So when Elmhurst called my name for this award, it felt like a beautiful thread weaving together the chapters of my journey: soldier, student, educator, consultant, community leader.
Why This Award Matters So Much to Me
There are awards that honor accomplishments, and then there are awards that honor values.
This one is the latter.
Elmhurst’s Distinguished Service to Society Award isn’t about career success. It isn’t about titles. It isn’t about recognition. It is about living your mission, consistently, courageously, and with purpose, in a way that lifts others.
It celebrates people who serve not because they have to, but because they choose to.
When I think of service, I think of the soldiers I led in the Gulf. I think of the students who look at me and see a mentor they can trust. I think of the leaders who step into their strength through coaching. I think of the community organizations driven by volunteers who want to make the world better.
Service isn’t about one moment.
It’s about a lifetime of moments.
Small ones, big ones, quiet ones, brave ones.
And this award reminded me that every one of those moments matters.
A Legacy of Leadership Through Service
Looking back, receiving the Distinguished Service to Society Award wasn’t just an honor, it was a validation of the mission I carry forward every day: to help others grow, lead, and thrive.
Whether I’m teaching in a classroom, facilitating a workshop, coaching executives, or volunteering, my purpose remains the same:
To inspire, encourage, and strengthen the people and communities around me, through leadership rooted in service.
Elmhurst University played a meaningful role in shaping the leader I am today. To be recognized by the institution that helped refine and expand my impact was nothing short of extraordinary.
And as I continue to serve, in business, in education, and in the community, this award sits on my shelf as a reminder of one important truth:
When your life is grounded in service, your leadership becomes a gift to others.
