woman ILLINOIS VALLEY
September 2021
COFFEE TALK How this Wyanet woman entered the business world with a coffee trailer
ALSO: n How a Peru businesswoman
lost 90 pounds n Entrepreneurial advice from
Illinois Valley businesswomen n How one local businesswoman
survived and thrived after a personal loss
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How IPL Laser Treatments Reduce Brown Spots and Red Vessels on the Face If you are bothered by brown spots or tiny red vessels on your face, you need to read on! We asked Dr. Norris at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa what her favorite treatment was to make the skin all one color again and her answer was an IPL laser treatment (also known as Photofacial). We then asked her questions about this fascinating laser treatment so our readers can decide if it is right for them. What is the best way to treat brown spots and red vessels on the face? “When a patient comes in to see me complaining of brown spots on the face caused from sun exposure or unsightly red vessels on their face, I almost always reach for my IPL (Intense pulse light) laser. An IPL laser is a collection of different wavelengths of light, some of which are attracted to dark pigment, and some are attracted to small blood vessels. When I direct the light energy at one of these targets, the target closest to the surface of the skin absorbs the energy and is destroyed. Often patients have many layers of brown pigment and red vessels under their skin that they have accumulated overtime, so it can take a few treatments to get to a point that they are satisfied. When you are exposed to intense heat or UVA/UVB light you tend to create more dark spots and more red vessels. After an initial series of IPL laser treatments, patients in my practice often come for touch-ups in the winter to clean-up the “mess” from summer sun exposure.” Is it painful and is there downtime? “The best way to describe the sensation of a laser pulse is that it feels like a warm rubber band snap. It is tolerable with our device that has a freezer system built into it. After the IPL laser treatment, patients look and feel mildly wind burned. We apply ice, cold air and hydrocortisone cream after the treatment so any redness they may have is usually gone in an hour or so. When the pigment (brown spots) under the skin is destroyed they work their way out of the skin over the next 14 days which can look like tiny bits of dirt on the face. Occasionally when we destroy a blood vessel, it can leave a purplish hue for a week or so. It is important that patients avoid direct sun exposure and retinol products 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after this laser treatment.”
Before and After 3 IPL laser treatments. Who is a good candidate for IPL Laser treatments? “Patients who wish to have a reduction in brown spots and/or red vessels on their face, do not have dark skin and are not tan from sun exposure or tanning bed exposure are the best candidates. We tend to do these treatments most in the fall, winter and spring in Illinois when we are not exposed to intense sun and our skin is at our lightest shade. This is the safest way to do Laser treatments.” What are the possible side effects of this treatment? If this treatment is done on a patient with dark skin or sun-tanned skin, it can cause areas of hypopigmentation (white spots) that can be permanent. Essentially the laser cannot tell the difference between brown skin and the brown spot that we don’t want. This is also not the best treatment for patients with melasma which is brown patches on the skin caused by pregnancy, hormones, medication or intense heat exposure. When you come in for your IPL laser consultation, we help you determine if you are a good candidate for IPL Laser treatments by using our skin imaging system and measuring the pigment levels in your skin with our melanin index reader. Chemical peels or microneedling can be a good alternative for patients with darker skin or melasma. One of the most sought-after side effects of IPL laser treatments is mild skin tightening that is seen due to heating up the deeper layers of the skin. Everyone likes that side effect!” If you are intrigued by IPL laser treatments to reduce brown spots and/or red vessels on your skin, call Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa for your consultation with Dr. Norris or to schedule your procedure.
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2 September 2021 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
An Issue Dedicated to Illinois Valley’s Women-owned Businesses
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A few years ago, when I was a copy editor at the Bureau County Republican, the managing editor used to talk about all the ideas she had for businesses. She was confident her business ideas were golden. Occasionally, she would tell me she should apply for a spot on the show Shark Tank. She never did apply, though, and one day she arrived at work absolutely deflated because she found out one of her business ideas was already a success – for someone else. How many of us have had great ideas and waited too long to make them happen? How many of us would be successful businesswomen if we only gave ourselves permission to try? The women you’ll see in this issue of Illinois Valley Woman magazine have had great ideas – and they’ve gone for it with every fiber of their being. They’ve pursued their dreams and learned a lot along the way. They’ve agreed to let us tell their stories in this magazine in the hopes that they can inspire someone else to gamble on themselves. And, more than that, these businesswomen are sharing their best hard-earned advice, hoping to make someone else’s path a little easier than theirs was.
So, whether you have hundreds of employees who call you boss or you’re the non-paid CEO of your own household keeping everything in order, there’s valuable information in this issue that you can put into practice. Although I love all the issues we produce of this magazine, this one was extra special for me. The ladies you’ll see on these pages opened their hearts to tell their stories. They truly want other women to succeed. You’ll hear how one woman, Laura Loch, finally decided to put as much care and effort into her health as she did into her business. That’s allowed her to make a life-changing transformation. You’ll meet Katlyn Sanden and learn about how she successfully pursued a business idea her husband initially thought was crazy. And you’ll learn about Tami Thomas-Leonatti’s amazing comeback after a personal loss nearly sidelined her family business. Their inspiring stories might be the nudge you need to pursue whatever goal you’ve had in the back of your mind. As women, we all can learn from and lean on each other. I hope this issue sparks something in you, as it did for me. Best wishes, Shannon Serpette Niche editor
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | September 2021 3
Contents
Illinois Valley Woman 426 Second Street La Salle, Illinois 61301 (815) 223-3200 (800) 892-6452 www.newstrib.com
Illinois Valley Woman Book Club 5 Our analysis on The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward.
Publisher Dan Goetz
Rising from the Ashes 8
Tami Thomas-Leonatti went through a personal crisis while learning how to become a top-notch businesswoman.
MOO-ve Over, Mom Guilt 12
This Wyanet woman found a way to create a family-friendly business that fits into her schedule and priorities.
Niche Editor Shannon Serpette sserpette@shawmedia.com
Regional Advertising Director Jeanette Smith jmsmith@shawmedia.com
Writer Shannon Serpette
A Life-changing Transformation 16
Businesswoman Laura Loch put her health first – and dropped an amazing 90 pounds.
Local Women in Business Share Their Advice 22 On the cover: Although her husband thought she was crazy when she proposed opening a coffee on wheels business, Katlyn Sanden proved that her idea was good when Cows Coffee became a success.
Photographer Shannon Serpette Designer Liz Klein
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est. 1851
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Ey re Wa rd
ys al an Our
In My Book
is a on d n The a Jetset s by Am ter
D
o you ever think you have a book absolutely pegged just by the description on the back? When we selected The Jetsetters as this issue’s book club pick, we thought it would be a lighthearted romp full of cruise ship intrigue, humor, and light family drama. What we got was much different than that. The Jetsetters introduces us to 70-yearold Charlotte Perkins and her three adult children, Cord, Lee, and Regan. Charlotte wins a contest that allows them all to pack up their bags and go on a 10-day cruise together. Sounds fun, right? When you’re in a dysfunctional family like this one, it’s not that simple. Without giving away too much in case you haven’t read it yet, here’s what we thought of this New York Times bestseller. JEANETTE SMITH, REGIONAL ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Jetsetters is set up to be an enjoyable book as one of the main characters, Charlotte, See CLUB page 6 A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | September 2021 5
Club
like the book – there was an enormous amount of dysfunction. But FROM PAGE 5 for me, while this is not the type of book I would normally willingly The book we’ll be writes a steamy essay to win a read, I still liked it. I wouldn’t put discussing in the next “Jetsetters” Mediterranean cruise it on my home bookshelf and reissue of Illinois Valley and decides to bring her estranged read it at any point, though, like adult children with her. I thought I would with many of my other Woman is “This Won’t End it would be entertaining to read books. I’ll probably donate my Well” by Camille Pagan. about a dysfunctional family in a copy to my local library. To have your thoughts and “Love Boat” type of setting, but for While the dysfunction in The observations on this book me, it was a chore to finish it. Jetsetters was depressing at times, published in our next Illinois I think the progression of the I thought it accurately portrayed Valley Woman magazine, email storytelling and the predictable family dynamics. How you can be sserpette@shawmedia.com by drama from the unlikeable charso close with a family member at November 15. Please include your acters didn’t work for me. Maybe one point in your life, and then, bename and city of residence along it jumped from the past to the fore you know it, there’s a big emowith your comments, and make present too much? Maybe it was tional distance between you. And sure to let us know why you liked too much dysfunction for my while many of the characters did or disliked this book. And if you taste? Overall, I kept waiting for make a lot of bad choices, I didn’t have any future book suggestions, it to get better, but in the end, I dislike them. I was still rooting for we’d love to hear them. was just happy it was over. them to succeed and find a way to become a tight-knit family again. SHANNON SERPETTE, NICHE EDITOR And as someone who has been parts about life on a cruise ship I understand why Jeanette didn’t on several cruises, I loved that the felt authentic.
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Rising from the Ashes Tami Thomas-Leonatti of LaSalle, a successful businesswoman in the Illinois Valley, shared the ups and downs of owning her own business. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Tami Thomas-Leonatti went through a personal crisis while learning how to become a top-notch businesswoman Story by Shannon Serpette
T
ami Thomas-Leonatti of LaSalle is living proof that it’s possible to make lemonade from lemons. This businesswoman faced a crippling personal loss but refused to give up. She dug her heels in, put in the work, and emerged as a true inspiration. Thomas-Leonatti took a break from her busy schedule to share her story with Illinois Valley Woman in the hopes of inspiring other female business owners who are facing obstacles and doubting their next move.
8 September 2021 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
A DEVASTATING LOSS Quality Care Cleaning, Thomas-Leonatti’s full-line janitorial service business in Ottawa, opened in 1996 when she and her husband, Tom Thomas, took a gamble on themselves. “My friend and I were working together and thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to work for ourselves and not punch a time clock anymore?’ We worked together in an office setting. See ASHES page 10
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Tami Thomas-Leonatti’s Busy Schedule By Shannon Serpette
Do you ever dream about starting a business but think you don’t have the time to dedicate to it? Tami Thomas-Leonatti is an example that women bosses can have it all if they have proper time management and are in touch with their priorities. She has a successful career, gives back to her community, and still has time for family and friends. She has answered our questions about everything she packs into her schedule and how she does it. Q. WHAT BUSINESSES DO YOU OWN? A. Thomas-Leonatti: “Quality Care Cleaning, a full-line janitorial service taking care of all cleaning needs for commercial clients only. T&L Janitorial Supply, a janitorial supply company that offers a full array of cleaning chemicals, paper products, trash liners, and about anything you could need for your supply needs. We sell to commercial clients as well as to the public. Illinois Valley Radon Mitigation, we install mitigation systems to rid your home of radon to bring it to a safe level below 4.0.”
Q. DO YOU ALSO VOLUNTEER IN THE COMMUNITY? A. Thomas-Leonatti: “I have served on the Board of Directors for The Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, served as President and Vice President for The Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, served as President and Vice President on the Board of Directors for Easter Seals of LaSalle County (now referred to as Starved Rock Center for Children), served on the Foundation Board for the Youth Service Bureau, served on the Perfectly Flawed Board of Directors, and finally one of my most proud accomplishments, co-founding The Black and White Ball for Easter Seals. I believe in giving back to the community that supports you ten-fold.”
Q. HOW LONG IS YOUR TYPICAL WORKDAY? A. Thomas-Leonatti: “Ha! All day. Seriously, 6 a.m.-?”
Q. WITH MORE THAN ONE BUSINESS, HOW DO YOU FIND TIME TO FIT IN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO IN ONE DAY? A. Thomas-Leonatti: “You don’t and can’t fit it all in, and you learn after time, that’s okay. There is always tomorrow. I have amazing support staff that helps me, and they keep me on track when needed.”
Q. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU FEEL OVERWHELMED? A. Thomas-Leonatti: “I usually talk my problems or my overwhelming pressures out to someone. I talk to my husband, office manager, Dad, my son, and a friend. Once you verbalize it, you will find that it’s not as overwhelming as you felt.”
Q. HOW DO YOU STAY ORGANIZED – WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ORGANIZATIONAL METHODS AND TIPS? A. Thomas-Leonatti: “A good old-fashioned paper calendar, none of this iPhone calendar for me. However, I have started to find the need to have Alexa remind me to leave for certain appointments.”
Q. WHAT DO YOU MOST LIKE ABOUT BEING YOUR OWN BOSS? A. Thomas-Leonatti: “I get to decide where my time and energy go every single day. I meet amazing people every single day, and there is NEVER one day the same. It’s a blessing.”
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | September 2021 9
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ANNETTE BARR
Tami Thomas-Leonatti (center, back row) is surrounded by her family, which includes her husband Greg (second from left), Greg’s daughter Jane, whom Tami has adopted (far left), her son Tommy (far right), Tommy’s fiancé Desiree (second from right), her bonus granddaughter Cierra (front left), and her grandson Lyle (front right). The whole family got together to celebrate Lyle’s first birthday in August.
Ashes
started their venture. Things went well with their business, and Thomas-LeonFROM PAGE 8 atti’s husband, Tom Thomas, handled much of the operations while she I was doing payroll/HR, and she was helped with the books. Then in 2003, doing accounts receivable. So, we Tom, who had cancer, went into the thought, let’s go for it,” Thomas-Leonatti hospital for a stem cell procedure. said. “Everyone thought he was coming “We came up with a name, placed back,” she said. “Then he took a turn an ad in the newspaper, because that’s for the worse.” what you did back then, with my home In a shocking turn of events, he phone number. I’m pretty sure the ad ended up dying of sepsis in the hospiread ‘Residential or Commercial.’ Well, tal. Reeling from the emotional trauma our first call was Value City in Ottawa, of losing her beloved husband and hava commercial job,” she said. “It reing an 11-year-old son to tend to and quired equipment and a loan, so this help through his loss, Thomas-Leonatti was when my girlfriend decided she quickly realized just how dire her situwas going to bow out, and my husband ation was. and I ran with the ball.” “I knew nothing about the business,” With a loan for $1,800 from the First she said. “And we didn’t have a lot of National Bank of Ottawa, the couple life insurance.”
10 September 2021 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
To add to her heartbreak, her son wanted to know if they would have to move out of their house. That’s something she’ll never forget because it was one of her lowest moments – having to tell her son, who had already had his world turned upside down, that he would probably have to leave his home as well. Without knowing how to bid a job or handle many of the ins and outs of the business, Thomas-Leonatti had to figure things out – and fast. “We had a really big contract kicking off,” she said. Her husband had died on Dec. 18, and the new contract with the National Guard in Marseilles was supposed to start on Jan. 1. She had to call the client and explain that she’d be unable to honor that contract as she tried to get up to speed on things and handle her husband’s affairs. Her client, whose kindness and understanding she still remembers and is grateful for, asked if she’d be ready if he gave her some extra time. She agreed, still not quite sure how she’d pull it off, but knowing she had to try. “My goal was to keep my son in our family home,” she said. “And I did it.”
She spent a lot of time and energy on generating income, ensuring all costs were covered, and handling challenges as they arose. Slowly but surely, she figured the business out, and, more than that, she made it grow. Despite her setbacks, she’s managed to create and open two additional companies as well – T&L Janitorial Supply, which she opened in 2014, and Illinois Valley Radon Mitigation, which she started in 2017 and now has her son running. Thomas-Leonatti’s close friend Ashley McGrath, an Illinois Valley businesswoman who owns Essential Massage in Ottawa, admires her for everything she’s been able to accomplish. “Tami is a one-of-a-kind businesswoman. Her work ethic and attention to detail are huge in owning three successful companies,” McGrath said. “She cares about her employees and her accounts to the point of going out of her way at any time of the day and night to do whatever she needs to do. She is so hands-on and bids all her accounts still to this day personally after 25 years. That shows a lot right there.” Thomas-Leonatti said it’s a great feeling to know she fulfilled her desire to give her son a good life after HITTING HER STRIDE When she took the reins of the com- his father died. “My son has a company that he can pany, Quality Care Cleaning had 12 run that I created for him,” she said. employees. Today, it has more than 80. McGrath said she knows how much But in those early years after her husband died, Thomas-Leonatti had no it means to Thomas-Leonatti to have idea she’d be successful. To get started, her son by her side, working in their she remembers she tore her husband’s family business. “I love the fact that Tommy runs the briefcase apart, looking for any scrap of Radon Mitigation Company because paper or scribbled note that she could they get to work hand-in-hand together use to help figure out the business. By reading all of his papers and notes, she on something that his mom and dad was able to get a clearer picture of the started when he was so young. Tommy does a great job and is following in Taway he ran the business. mi’s footsteps for sure,” McGrath said. “I taught myself how he thought,” Despite all she’s been through, Thomshe said. as-Leonatti has managed to thrive, But it wasn’t easy, especially since both professionally and personally. she had her son to raise on her own. “Now, after going through all that, I “There’s so much guilt being a single don’t think there’s much that can scare parent,” she said. “At first, it was very rough. There is no comfort zone when me,” she said. “I wouldn’t change a you own your own business.” thing about my life now.”
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | September 2021 11
Katlyn Sanden whips up a specialty coffee from her Cows Coffee on Wheels trailer. Cows Coffee has pop-up days at various communities, serving at festivals, private events, cattle shows, and fairgrounds. She’ll show up anywhere that needs good coffee.
MOO-ve over, mom guilt This Wyanet woman found a way to create a family-friendly business that fits into her schedule and priorities Story and photos by Shannon Serpette
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ever doubt the ability of a mom to come up with a creative solution when she’s trying to do what’s best for her family. Katlyn Sanden’s successful business, Cows Coffee, came about from her maternal need to find a way to provide for her family while still being there for them.
“I came up with the idea of Cows Coffee when I was home with my sick 9-month-old daughter. I was really struggling with what it meant to be a ‘working mom’ trying to juggle all the things – work, home, and family,” Sanden said. That dreaded mom-guilt was hitting her hard –
12 September 2021 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
something many women who have both jobs and children can understand. “I was tired of feeling guilty when I’d have to leave the office early to pick up my daughter from the babysitter and vice versa, when I’d have to drop my daughter off at the babysitter to go to work,” Sanden said. “The
guilt consumed me, and it wasn’t fair to me, my family, or my employer. That’s when I knew something had to change. I wanted to spend more time with my daughter but also be able to contribute financially to the family’s income.” That’s when she had a lightbulb moment, thinking about how much she loves coffee and remembering the lack of good coffee at cattle shows when she was younger. “If you wanted coffee, you’d have to drive to the nearest Starbucks, which usually was on the opposite end of town. I remembered all the times we took our own drip coffee maker from home, and people would flock to our pen in the morning just for plain, black coffee,” she said. “Then I thought how cool would it be to change show day for good and bring quality coffee directly to the show barn?” From that brainstorming session, the coffee wagon idea was officially born.
“My mom actually came up with the name ‘Cows Coffee’ (which stands for ‘Coffee On Wheels’), and it stuck,” Sanden said. Next up, she had to convince her husband that it was a good idea – and that didn’t happen right away. “I remember telling my husband about it in the combine when it was just an idea. He thought I was crazy. Then I cried because I thought it was a really good idea and was crushed he didn’t think it was going to work,” she said. “And, at the time, that was my beacon of hope, as I was trying to figure out the whole ‘working mom’ thing. I hit the brakes a bit and prayed a lot. I mean, this was a huge, life-changing decision to up and quit my secure job with health insurance, benefits, and bonuses to go out on my own with something I’ve never done before. Was I crazy?” Things started to fall into place for Sanden as she continued to consider her idea.
“After that, God just kept opening doors, and I just walked through them. He’d place the right people in my path. People who knew coffee. People who knew espresso machines. People who knew food trailers. It was all meant to be,” she said. “My husband eventually came around to my idea as he saw it start to take shape. Now he can make you any latte you ask for.” She did all the groundwork for the business in 2018 and officially opened for business in August of 2019. Her first day of business was a pop-up event with Little Moo Boutique in the former Manlius Oil parking lot. Little Moo Boutique, located just outside of Kewanee, is owned by her friend, Jami Rieker, who has a trailer she pulls around to events to sell clothes. Rieker said Sanden identified a real need in the community with her See COFFEE page 14
Katlyn Sanden’s Cows Coffee on Wheels food truck tours all around Bureau County and sometimes outside of the county, popping up in a different spot on any given day, such as this event on Sheffield’s Street Eats nights.
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | September 2021 13
Coffee FROM PAGE 13
coffee trailer since the area doesn’t have many coffee shops. “I think it’s a very unique idea, especially in the rural area we’re at,” Rieker said. Sanden still remembers how nervous she was before her first event. “The night before, I couldn’t really sleep. I remember being so excited and nervous all at the same time. I actually told people it felt like the night before my wedding. I knew something amazing was about to happen but wasn’t quite sure how it was going to go,” she said. “Turns out, aside from marrying my husband, this has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The people showed up that day, and it was so surreal to actually be getting paid to serve my coffee creations. There were even some people I didn’t know, so I thought that was a total win.” Going to an event is about a lot more than just making a quality cup of coffee. Sanden does a great deal of work on the day of any event, like pulling the trailer down the road, parking it and making sure it’s nowhere near a fire lane or taking up customer parking, and doing her set up. “My biggest challenges
would definitely be weather-related. I have gotten stuck driving in a pretty bad storm, and I remember praying the whole way home. I couldn’t see the road and couldn’t see to pull off the road. Then when I turned down our road, a huge tree had fallen across the road. It was terrible,” she said. “I also got stuck serving in a pretty bad storm, and it was terrifying. I thought my helpers were going to get electrocuted or my trailer would blow away. We watch the radar religiously, and each time these storms popped up, they weren’t on the radar until they were. Nobody saw any of that coming.” Navigating a sizable trailer isn’t always a great time either, but Sanden has learned to roll with the punches and adjust her game plan as needed. “When I first started and the slightest thing would go wrong like electrical issues, parking issues, or whatever, I’d totally freak. But now, I’m learning to roll with it better. A few weeks ago, the only way out of my designated parking spot was to drive through a narrow alley. I literally had an inch on each side of my trailer and claustrophobic me was not ok, but we handled it,” she said. Aside from Mother Nature and the occasional issue, there are plenty of
14 September 2021 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
positives about Sanden’s business. “There are so many things I love about it. I love that I can include my girls in my work,” she said. “I love that I can pick my own hours. I love most of the people I get to meet through this. I’ve met some pretty great small business owners that are dreaming big and achieving all their dreams.” “I love that when I go to work, I’m usually working with a friend and trying out new coffee concoctions for the next seasonal menu,” she added. “It’s all just so great, but being able to include my girls in my work has been the absolute best. Just because they may not be serving at every single event, they’re definitely there behind the scenes helping me stock the trailer, clean the trailer, and even sampling some coffee.” Sanden has expanded her family since first conceptualizing her business -- now she has two daughters, ages 3 and 1. She hopes they’re learning more lessons than just how to make a great cup of coffee from watching her. “I know they don’t see it now, but I really hope I’m instilling in them the confidence to chase their own dreams someday,” she said. “I hope I’m showing them how to create a life they love.”
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A Life-changing Transformation Businesswoman Laura Loch put her health first – and dropped an amazing 90 pounds Story by Shannon Serpette When you run a business, you’re faced with seemingly never-ending to-do lists and obligations. That can lead to some long days, and you realize you don’t have the time or energy to put yourself first. But that can be a mistake. As a businesswoman, your best asset is you, and you have to treat yourself as such, Laura Loch, the owner of Loch Countryside Kennel in Peru, realized. When her weight began worrying her, she knew it was time to take action. “I have a heart of gold. I asked myself, ‘If I am treating customers and their dogs well, why can’t I show the same love to myself?’ I’d never taken out the time to do this for me,” she said. So, what happened when this boss lady put her own health and well-being near the top of her priority list? She lost 90 pounds. WATCHING HER WEIGHT CREEP UP While growing up, Loch didn’t have any weight problems and never thought about what she was eating. “I was a skinny child,” she said. “I’m not meant to be big.” At 5’3, she was always at a healthy weight. Her first experience with unwanted weight gain came, as it does for many women, with motherhood. “I gained weight when I had my son,” she said. “I was 18. I went from 140 to 200 pounds. From there, everything spiraled.” When she ate, Loch rarely felt full,
16 September 2021 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Laura Loch has much more energy now than she did when she was 268 pounds in this picture.
adding that she could eat all day long. But her intake of calories really ramped up when the pandemic meant See LOCH page 18
Laura Loch slipped into her old jeans to celebrate her recent weight loss and to appreciate how far she’s come in her weight loss journey. PHOTO BY SHANNON SERPETTE
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | September 2021 17
Laura Loch, who has lost 90 pounds through diet and exercise, hops on her elliptical machine or treadmill five days a week. PHOTO BY SHANNON SERPETTE
Loch
FROM PAGE 16
she was staying at home most of the time. “When quarantine started, I just kept eating more,” she said. She had a sudden, frightening realization when she stepped on the scale and saw 268 pounds one day: She realized she was 32 pounds away from 300 pounds. That hard reality had her scared for her health.
18 September 2021 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
“I was terrified. I did feel almost like I was getting arthritis in my legs. My lower back was constantly hurting me,” she said. She had succeeded at weight loss before – losing 60 pounds two times, but both times, she gained it all back and then some. “Yo-yo dieting is extremely unhealthy,” she said, adding that she knew she didn’t want to do that again. “I thought if I could just even lose 10 pounds and keep it off.”
Loch, who is now 47 years old, knew she had her work cut out for her because she was trying to lose weight at an age when many women start gaining weight due to menopause or perimenopause. Loch also wasn’t interested in going on a meal delivery plan or having gastric bypass surgery. “I told myself, ‘I have to shrink my stomach by myself,’” she said.
15-minute walks, with no incline, on her treadmill in the second month. Ignoring the little voices in her head that said she would gain the weight back again, she kept her eyes on the prize – her ultimate dream goal of a 100-pound weight loss. As she kept making progress, she kept upping the ante with her workouts. “One day I said to myself, ‘What if you went on an incline (on the treadmill)?’” she said. MAKING IT HAPPEN So, she started incorporating inclines First, Loch defined her expectations, to work out harder. By month six, she setting a small initial goal of losing those added light arm weights. She’s thrown 10 pounds, and she pinpointed her motielliptical workouts into the mix, too. She vation, which would serve as her inspirais also constantly moving around and intion on the tough days. teracting with the dogs she cares for and “I’m not trying to be skinny. I want to tries to find some time occasionally to be at a healthy weight for my height. I swim in her backyard above-ground pool. don’t want a heart attack,” she said. “My sole focus is cardio,” she said. When she started her diet on June But she knows it’s important to take 18, 2020, she knew that her best bet at some rest days to allow her muscles to success would be from a combination of recover and to avoid burnout. watching her portion sizes and getting ex“I do not work out on the weekends at ercise. She knew time would be an issue. all,” she said. As a businesswoman running a busy kennel, Loch doesn’t often have days off, WHAT SHE EATS generally working seven days a week. Loch said she’s often asked what her When time allowed, usually before she daily eating schedule is like by curious started work for the day, she would hop people who have noticed her weight loss. on her treadmill and do what she could “Your breakfast is your most importthat first month. ant meal,” she said. “I don’t think I could even walk ten Her typical breakfast is one cup of minutes on that treadmill,” she said. Cheerios, with a half cup of milk, a half “Working out doesn’t come naturally for of a mini box of raisins, and one teame. You have to start slow.” spoon of wheat germ. Some days, she’ll Whenever she would get winded or change it up, eating granola and four want to quit, she would think about how prunes instead. some people are in a wheelchair and For lunch, her meal might be an would desperately love the chance to be apple dipped in creamy peanut butter walking on the treadmill she was comor a pouch of tuna along with a small plaining about. bowl of berries. “I told myself, ‘You have your legs, use For dinner, she’ll eat whatever evthem,’” she said. erybody else in her household does, By trying to keep an attitude of gratibut she is mindful of the portion size. tude about what she did have rather than There are no second helpings unless focusing on the negatives of her new life- it’s a weekend. And snacking between style, Loch soldiered on. meals is something she no longer does. When that month was up, Loch was “I have cut out all snacks,” she said. thrilled to see she had lost 12 pounds. For some people, snacks can ward “I was ecstatic,” she said. off overeating later in the day, but for Encouraging herself to keep building Loch, snacks just make her want to eat momentum and pushing herself, Loch See LOCH page 20 went from doing 10-minute walks to
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | September 2021 19
Loch
FROM PAGE 19
more. Instead, she rewards herself one day a week. “I do have a cheat day on Saturday,” she said. As for alcohol intake, as a social drinker who generally stops after one drink, Loch said she doesn’t waste many calories there. She might have a glass of wine or an amaretto stone sour once a week as a treat. As a self-professed carbohydrate lover and former evening snacker, Loch said the evenings are the hardest time of the day for her. “I eat so clean that I want that sugar,” she said. When she has a sugar craving at night, she’ll chew on a single gumball. It will give her just enough sugar to keep her from snacking and to power through her craving. THE IMPACT OF LOSING WEIGHT Now that she’s gone from a size 24 to a size 14, Loch said she has never felt better. “I have never felt more energetic in my entire life,” she said. Her husband, Charlie Loch, has noticed her increased energy, too. “The biggest thing I see is her energy levels. They’ve increased tremendously,” he said. “I’m very proud.” From a physical standpoint, Loch’s joints feel better, and she can tell her fitness level has increased dramatically. She’s able to handle hard, long, heavy cardio workouts now, including threemile workouts at a high incline on her treadmill – a big improvement over her first 10-minute walk that left her winded. Loch has more confidence than ever because of her weight loss, and although it wasn’t the motivation for losing weight, she feels much better about how she appears when she looks in the mirror now. She also enjoys helping other people lose weight – she’s had many people contact her over social media to ask how she’s managed to lose and keep off the pounds. She welcomes those inquiries because she 20 September 2021 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
This before and after photo of Laura Loch’s weight loss journey continues to motivate her on days when she’s not feeling like watching what she eats or exercising.
remembers how overwhelmed she was when she started her weight loss journey. One of the people she’s motivated is her best friend, Deb Mathey of Oglesby. “She’s remarkable. For the last seven years we’ve been friends, she’s struggled with her weight,” Mathey said. “She put her mind to it (losing weight), and she did it. It’s amazing. It’s like The Biggest Loser show.” Loch’s weight loss has so inspired Mathey that she asked her how she did it, including what she ate every day to make it happen. “I wrote down everything she told me,” Mathey said, adding that she intends to use that advice to lose some weight herself. Loch has continued to lose weight even though she’s faced some heartbreaking challenges – she has a son with autism, her husband was in a terrible car accident, and her mother died on Dec. 14, 2020. “When she passed away, I wanted to give up on my weight loss. But I told myself my mom wouldn’t want me to give up,” she said. “There were a lot of odds stacked against me. I feel so proud of myself.” Although she’s reached 90 pounds, Loch isn’t done yet. “I do have an ultimate goal, which is to lose 100 pounds,” she said. “And if I can do this, anyone can.”
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A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | September 2021 21
Local Women in Business Share Their Advice By Shannon Serpette Every established, successful businesswoman in the Illinois Valley area can still recall those thrilling but scary first days when they were nervous about opening their own business. To help other women who are starting a business or are still thinking about it, some local businesswomen shared their best advice for those just beginning their journey as their own boss.
“Treat your employees the way you wish former bosses treated you, and no job at your business is beneath you to do.” – Greta Kelly, owner of Spoons Restaurant and Bar “As long as you are ready to put everything, all your heart and soul, time and dedication into running your own business, and surround yourself with people you love as your family, it will seem like you’ve never worked a day. Do it and enjoy.” – Lynn Cawley, owner of Studio 718 Hair Salon in LaSalle “My advice to anyone wanting to start a business is just do it. Take the first step. You don’t need to have it all figured out when you start. Just start. It’s that simple. I didn’t have it all figured out when I first started and still don’t, but that’s what’s so beautiful about being an entrepreneur. You’re always evolving. And pray a lot. It’s amazing to look back on my journey and see exactly where God had His hand. If you believe in your dreams, don’t let anyone tell you it’s a dumb idea.” – Katlyn Sanden of Wyanet, the owner of Cows Coffee 22 September 2021 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
“To women just starting a business, it’s important to be decisive in your decision-making. Each day is different in your responsibilities as a business owner – be diligent in solving problems and challenges along the way. In doing so, you will have more time and resources to grow your business. Let everyone know what you’re doing. Everyone should know which industry you are going into and exactly what you are doing. People around us are usually our first customers, and it is an easy way to kickstart your business. You want to make sure you are the first person that comes to mind.” – Tami Thomas-Leonatti, the owner of Quality Care Cleaning of Ottawa, T&L Janitorial Supply, and Illinois Valley Radon Mitigation
“I would say don’t give up. I was an unknown in this town. I had to gain the trust of people. If you put in everything you have, you will succeed.” – Laura Loch Loch, the owner of Loch Countryside Kennel
“Make sure you do your homework before pursuing an idea. A business plan is a very important tool in the planning process. A strong leader surrounds themselves with an excellent support team. With passion and determination, your business can be successful.” – Melanie Malooley-Thompson, the owner of Malooley CPA “Be decisive in your decision-making. Each day will be different in your responsibilities as a business owner. Be diligent in solving problems and challenges along the way. Focus on the areas in which your company creates value and makes your customers happy. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Julia Cain, the owner of Flowers by Julia
“My biggest advice is even if someone tells you no (about a business idea), at least try it. Even if you fail at what your dream was, it’s just not your time yet.” – Denise Boggio, the owner of Boggio’s Orchard and Produce
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Woman | September 2021 23
St. Margaret’s Center for Holistic Health & Wellness COMING SOON to Princeton
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The mental health and wellness of our community is just as important to us as physical health and well-being. At St. Margaret’s, we strive to help people live their healthiest life. That sometimes means helping people to heal and restore their hearts and minds – not just their body. .M
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To help meet the needs in our community, St. Margaret’s, in partnership with Arukah Institute of Healing, will soon be expanding behavioral health services to our area, including LaSalle, Bureau, Putnam and Marshall Counties.
Some Services that Will • Counseling • Psychiatry • Primary Care • Crisis Therapy • Group/Family Therapy
To deliver a fast response in a crisis, the new center will also provide on-demand mobile services 24/7 to help individuals in mental health or substance abuse crisis in their homes, schools, places of work or other public spaces. Watch for more information on the development of these services by following St. Margaret’s Health - Spring Valley on Facebook or visiting us online.
Healing for a Better Future. In Partnership with:
aboutsmh.org 24 September 2021 | Illinois Valley Woman | A NewsTribune Publication
