Women in Management Fox Valley kicks off the new year on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, with Elena Ferrarin, senior writer for the Daily Herald.

The luncheon will be held at the Elgin Country Club, 2575 Weld Road, Elgin with networking at 11:30 a.m., luncheon and program at noon. Meetings adjourn promptly at 1:30 p.m. Cost is $22 for membersand $25 for nonmembers. Area women business owners and managers are welcome to attend this month’s presentation. Reservations must be made for attendance online at www.wimfoxvalley.org.

This month’s luncheon meeting is sponsored by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and member Cheryl Wendt, chief development officer of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.

Led by moderator and WIM member Nancy Guthrie, president of Business Matters in Elgin, Ferrarin will discuss her background in psychology and her journalism career.

Ferrarin is a native of Rome, Italy. She came to the United States to attend college, where she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brown University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Her first career was in social work as a case worker at a shelter for domestic violence and as a treatment coordinator for a foster care agency, both in Albuquerque, NM.

She then received her master’s in journalism and has been a journalist for the past 15 years. She first worked as a reporter for the Regional News, a weekly newspaper in Palos Heights, followed by five years as a reporter/assistant editor at Reflejos, a bilingual Spanish-English newspaper. Reflejos is the sister publication of the Daily Herald, as both are owned by Paddock Publications.

She has worked as a staff writer for the Daily Herald since January 2011, primarily covering the city of Elgin. In addition, she writes the page one Suburban Standouts column focused on outstanding youth. She was promoted to senior writer in November.

“Our WIM members are successful entrepreneurs, managers, and dedicated community volunteers,” said Ramona ‘Monie’ Burns, this year’s 2015-16 WIM Fox Valley president. “We look forward to hearing about Elena Ferrarin’s journey from Rome, Italy to the United States.”

Burns is owner of MoMo’s Concierge Services in Elgin, which provides harmony, security and freedom at home and work through a variety of personal and professional services.

“We look forward to an exciting year of speakers and topics that will enrich our members and their businesses,” Burns said. “We warmly welcome guests to attend our meetings to find out more about WIM Fox Valley.”

Upcoming speakers include: Retired U.S. Army Colonel Jill Morgenthaler on Feb. 11; the annual evening networking event on March 10; Britten Follett of Follett Educational Foundation on April 14; and authors Jerry and Phyllis Campagna on May 5.

WIM Fox Valley was founded in 1984. Members are comprised of business professionals and entrepreneurs in a wide range of categories. Area women are invited to join.  Visit www.wimfoxvalley.org.

SOURCE: WIM news release