BACC's Outstanding Women Leaders to be honored Sept. 22

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce Women's Biz Net will honor four local women leaders during the chamber's fifth annual Outstanding Women Leaders Awards Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at Biltmore Country Club, 160 Biltmore Drive, North Barrington.

Tickets to the luncheon program are $45 and can be purchased online at www.BarringtonChamber.com.

The 2022 OWL recipients are Monica Gurgiolo of Kelleher & Holland, LLC, the OWL recipient for Professional Excellence; Betsy Wintringer of Barrington Youth & Family Services, the OWL recipient for Nonprofit Leadership; Jessica Green of Courageous Community, the OWL recipient for Community Impact; and Kyle Kick of BStrong Together, the OWL recipient for Mentorship and Education.

"Our communities are better and stronger as a result of the contributions of these Outstanding Women Leaders," said BACC President/CEO Suzanne Corr.

"OWL women serve as role models. They are breaking barriers and setting the bar high for their accomplishments professionally and to the community. They have meaningful stories to share and are examples to follow."

The OWL Awards were created by the BACC WBN Council to recognize women for their inspiring work in one of four categories: Community Impact; Mentorship and Education; Nonprofit Leadership; and Professional Excellence.

The 2022 Class of OWL Recipients have dynamic records of community service and professional achievements. They are:

• Monica Gurgiolo, an attorney and CPA with Kelleher & Holland, LLC, who is recognized by her peers and colleagues as a leadership force in the industry.

She managed her own practice focusing on estate planning and administration, business creation and acquisitions, as well as other matters of business operations, such as succession planning, tax compliance issues, shareholder agreements, operating agreements and buy-sell agreements, before joining the K&H team.

Gurgiolo serves in numerous leadership roles for several professional associations, including WealthCounsel, the Northwest Suburban Bar Association, and the Northwest Suburban Estate Planning Council, where she was co-president in 2020 and continues to serve on the board of directors.

She has dedicated hundreds of hours to pro bono work for community organizations.

• Betsy Wintringer is executive director of Barrington Youth & Family Services, a community-based, nonprofit social service agency dedicated to building healthier families by providing counseling and preventative programming to children, teens, couples and families.

Their approach focuses on supporting the social, psychological and emotional well-being of those they serve. With a growing need for mental health support, Betsy spearheaded the organization's move to its own building to provide an inviting environment for families in need.

During COVID, Wintringer managed to shift the services of BYFS into high gear as they dealt with a skyrocketing demand for counseling, guidance and mental health support in our community. From depression and peer mentoring to issues related to parenting, substance abuse or life transitions, Wintringer and her team helped ensure that the agency continues to do the heavy lifting of keeping our community strong.

• Jessica Green is co-founder, along with the Rev. Zina Jacque, of Courageous Community. The program hosts a series of speakers and topics designed to build a community unafraid to explore the sometimes uncomfortable, but necessary, conversations we must have as neighbors and strangers to build a more inclusive future where everyone belongs.

The series has brought national speakers covering a range of topics to the Barrington community.

This year, Green is helping launch a new "Belong" campaign, rallying community groups, organizations, and local business and governmental leaders to create an open and welcoming community for all who come to the Barrington area.

Green is a third-generation family member serving the Duchossois Family Foundation. She has worked with the Interfaith Youth Core, Music Blocks and the Chicago Leadership Council for Upwardly Global.

• Kyle Kick is executive director of BStrong Together, a coalition of community groups, educational entities, health care organizations and community members that work together to coordinate, communicate and plan programs and services throughout the Barrington area community, with the mission of enhancing the health and well-being of our children and youth.

A former elementary school teacher, Kick brings her experience in nonprofit leadership, volunteer management, curriculum development and social media experiences to the ever-expanding mentoring and education services of BStrong.

BStrong was created from the merging of three former organizations in the Barrington area - Barrington LEADS, HERE in Barrington, and LINK. Kick and her team at BStrong plan speaker events, host Conversation Circles and parent coffees, and other educational opportunities for parents and community members.

She helps develops programming for youth of all ages. She has expanded their newsletters and website resources to help build strong families.

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce's Women's Biz Net is a network of women empowering women. WBN offers monthly meetings and programs that bring relevant topics, networking opportunities and a forum for building relationships that can enhance your business aspirations and enrich your life.

The monthly meetings are dedicated "to gather professional women to inspire, enrich, empower and benefit from the unique talents of extraordinary women."

For information, contact the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce at (847) 381-2525 or visit www.BarringtonChamber.com.