Cathy Bayer-Eberle - MOST LIKELY TO BRIGHTEN UP YOUR DAY

Most days, you can hear Cathy Bayer-Eberle before you see her.

“I’m the loudest person I know… I have my mother’s laugh,” Bayer-Eberle said. “But brightening someone’s day can sometimes be equated to sheer volume – cranking excitement up to 11.”

Bayer-Eberle just started her new role at Crusader Community Health as communications and marketing manager after 10 years with Rockford Public School (RPS) District 205 as senior communications manager.

“If you can choose to be fun and loud and excited, why choose anything else? It’s fun to watch others be excited too,” she said.

“She looked for ways to infuse light, color and fun into her workplace,” said Meredith MacKay, a coworker at RPS. “She understood that if people were happy in their work lives, productivity and retention would reflect that.”

An assistant coach for the Guilford High School Girls Tennis team, Bayer-Eberle applies her positivity to the team as well.

“Being excited, happy and positive doesn’t mean you can’t be serious and take your work seriously,” she said. “Even if I’ve had a rough morning or if the work is going to be hard, I can show up for my team. There’s no better way to spend my time than being a positive role model for high school girls.”

Friends and family know this is true.

“She ensures everyone is invited to the conversation. She invites you to vent in her office without judgement. She openly invites everyone, not just those who seem like they might need it… She keeps things light, which is so refreshing.” said Kristina Reuber, another colleague.

“I’ll trick you into thinking we’re all fun and capable and cool. We can all be exciting to be around,” said Bayer-Eberle.