David Stewart

Account manager, Coca Cola; Mayor, Village of North Utica Working toward growth for the Illinois Valley

Not many people can say they now help run the village they grew up in. David Stewart, who has served as the mayor of North Utica since 2017, makes that elite list.

“I went to grade school at the former Utica Grade School, which is now our village hall,” he said. “I have lived in Utica my whole life. I have never wanted to leave. I live in a small, quiet community where we all know each other and have friendly conversations. I can’t imagine ever topping that.”

After graduating from LaSalle-Peru High School, Stewart studied business administration at Illinois Valley Community College. During high school and college, he worked at Sears in Peru and became a marketing manager there.

“In 2006, I started working for Coca Cola as an account manager, and I am still employed by them with the same position,” Stewart, who is now 38 years old, said.

As mayor, Stewart envisions growth for Utica and the entire Illinois Valley and works to ensure that the village keeps what makes it special as it grows. He is especially proud of the fact that North Utica successfully applied for the Rebuild Downtown and Main Street grants they applied for.

“I strive to work closely with my village board to help make Utica successful. My job is to ensure that both residents and businesses are happy within our community. I strive to make sure that Utica has the small-town charm feel while continuing to grow our business base,” he said. “Success is all about communication. Being engaged with the board of trustees, the residents of Utica, and the business owners is vital. I envision Utica only growing in both population and new business development.”

Jessica Strauch

Owner, Jessica Strauch State Farm Agency

Being a team-building leader

Jessica Strauch spent her high school years working hard as a three-sport athlete at LaSalle-Peru High School. She then attended and graduated from Illinois State University, majoring in political science and minoring in legal studies. She began working as a legal assistant but later accepted a store manager opportunity so she could move back home to be closer to her family.

“While working in retail, I really wanted to do something where I could run my own business and give back to the community that I grew up in. That’s when I was approached with this amazing opportunity to open up my own State Farm agency,” she said. Now, I get to be back home with my family, run a small business, give back to the community, and help members of this amazing community with their insurance needs. In my free time, I coach softball. It’s a dream come true.”

Strauch, who is 30 years old and living in Ladd, said she learned valuable lessons as a high school athlete that she still uses today, including time management, how to be a leader, and the value of motivating others.

“It’s important to motivate with not only words but actions too. Show you appreciate your team or employees because appreciation does make a person work harder for you,” she said. “I’ve experienced it being a business owner, a coach, a player, and an employee.”

Strauch is highly involved in the community as a member of Peru Rotary, IV Leads, and Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I help coach softball at LP as well as a travel softball organization, Aftershock. I am a sponsor for Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp, Peru Little League Softball, Peru Little League Baseball, LaSalle Peru Township High School Athletics, Bowl for the Cure event at the Super Bowl, the Taste of the Illinois Valley, Challenge Day at LPHS, Trick or Treating in the Park, the TBM Avenger Air Show, and many other community events,” she said.

Katrina McQuilkin

Owner, Mac Chiropractic Finding her calling the hard way

Katrina McQuilkin found her professional calling in a very unusual way.

“I was in my senior year of college, triple majoring because I am an overachiever, when I started passing out three to four times a day. In downtown Chicago, that is really bad. I fell downstairs. I was hit by bicyclists. I was robbed. I sustained so many traumas the ER frequently questioned me as to whether I was being abused. My life came to a complete standstill,” she said.

Her health issues radically changed her life. She couldn’t drive, had to move back in with her parents, and had to drop out of school.

“My doctor told me, at age 21, to go on disability because there was no hope for me. After about six months, my friend invited me to nutrition night at her chiropractor’s office. I knew nothing of chiropractic but was so excited to just get out of the house that I jumped at the opportunity,” she said.

While talking to her friend’s chiropractor, she learned her neck could be causing her issues.

“I was skeptical but was willing to try anything at that point. After a month of care, I went from passing out three to four times a day to once a week, and with continued care, it went away completely,” she said. “It turns out that the curve in my neck was going the wrong direction and put so much pressure on my spinal cord that I would pass out.”

McQuilkin, who is now 35 years old and living in LaSalle, decided to become a chiropractor, graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic, and moved to the Illinois Valley.

“I feel my biggest professional accomplishment is that I built my business from the ground up to become a successful, patient-centered practice where my patients know that they are not just another number, but a member of the Mac Chiropractic family,” she said.

Heather Milus Owner, Kelley Cawley Boutique From Barbies to a boutique

Heather Milus, who grew up in Seatonville, knew she had a passion for fashion early on in her life.

“From spending hours dressing Barbie dolls to pretend fashion shows with friends, fashion has always been a big part of my life and something that I have always been drawn to,” she said.

After graduating from Hall High School, she studied fashion business at Columbia College Chicago. When she graduated, she received an offer from Kelley Cawley to work at her boutique as her first full-time employee.

“I had no idea where it would end up taking me, but I immediately knew I had found something I could do forever,” Milus said. “In October of 2022, I became the owner of Kelley Cawley Boutique. Although the years go by fast, it’s truly amazing what can happen over time.”

“It was June 2009 when I started working alongside Kelley full-time. I was fortunate enough to be able to see the business through her eyes for 13 years and learned how to operate and grow a business in all aspects,” she said. “This has given me so much knowledge and insight to what it takes to be a successful business owner, and I am confident those experiences will be vital as I move forward with growing the Kelley Cawley brand.”

Milus, who is 36 years old and living in Peru, married Zach Milus in 2011, and they have two children, Morrison and Monroe. She is happy with her decision to return to the Illinois Valley after college.

“There is something about the familiarity and community that I genuinely missed while living in Chicago,” she said. “I think living a simple life is extremely underrated. I love living in the IV because it makes me feel like I can slow down and enjoy life at a slower pace. We have a true sense of community here.”

Amanda Weygand-Zehr

Owner, Open Space Art Gallery and Studios

Opening a space for everyone

When Amanda Weygand-Zehr graduated from Illinois State University with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, she wanted to bring her skills back to the Illinois Valley and open a space where every other artist could be creative as well.

Weygand-Zeher, 36, who grew up in Naplate and has lived in Ottawa since high school, did exactly that when she became the owner of Open Space Art Gallery and Studios in Ottawa.

“It’s giving people a place where they can feel safe to express themselves and show their work,” Weygand-Zehr said. “I’ve been to places where I felt like my art was too weird to be shown. When you feel that way, you don’t create or express yourself.”

“If you have a community that is open to letting people express themselves, we’re going to have art all over the place. People like coming to towns and cities that are colorful and have murals and paintings everywhere,” she said. “It’s also really good for mental health and relieving stress.”

She was an art teacher at Marseilles Elementary School but resigned to put her efforts into Open Space and serve as the administrator of The Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund.

“I would love to see Open Space grow into a bigger space with more ways for us to bring art to Ottawa,” said Weygand-Zehr. “I envision a maker’s space where we can teach ceramics, photography, painting, woodworking, sculpture making, and more. I want to continue to grow the understanding of art and bring more community art to our town.”

“I am most proud of growing and fighting for our Third Friday Artisan Market. I started the market inside Open Space, CatsEye, and City Folk in 2019,” WeygandZehr said. “It started slow, but I knew that it would grow. This year we had the biggest attendance to date. The event is so inclusive and fun for everyone.”