Behind the Scenes: Meet the Downers Grove Magazine Team

Our goal at Downers Grove Magazine is to feature stories about you. But as we head into our fifth year of publishing, we peel back the curtain and give you some insight into this team and why these individuals dedicate their time and energy to the publication.

They have researched, interviewed, and written about a variety of topics. Now it is time for them to share their stories.

 

In the spring of 2019, I approached Scott Jonlich, Owner and Publisher of Hinsdale Magazine, regarding starting a local publication for our community. Although a transplant from Michigan (and downtown Chicago), I felt immediately at home here.

After quitting the corporate rat race to stay home with my three children, I dove headfirst into being part of the community, and all it offers. As a professional volunteer, I served as a President and Board Member of the Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club and PTA President and Board Member for my elementary school to name a few.

Whether coaching out on the fields through the park district or serving on committees for District 58, I met so many organizations and individuals.

Although I continue my volunteer efforts as President of the Downers Grove Swim & Racquet Club and District 58 Education Foundation Board Member, my primary focus has turned to doing something I truly love.

Connecting our readers with our community. The faces you see in our magazine are our neighbors, friends, teachers, law enforcement officers, and business owners – to name a few.

I often joke that we are not Time or Newsweek magazines, but kidding aside, I am vested in this community and want to showcase all we have to offer, one issue and one story at a time. Downers Grove is special. It is a gem. And it is my home.

 

I began my journey in the publishing industry when launching Hinsdale Magazine in 2011. Although our footprint and reach has continued to grow and thrive throughout the years, including the launch of Downers Grove Magazine in 2019, our goal remains the same.

Hinsdale Magazine Group prides itself on producing engaging content, including local news, events, and profiles of unique individuals and businesses.

As the company expands through various digital and social media platforms, I am proud to expand the outreach of our portfolio of magazines to ultimately increase comprehensive coverage of communities in the western suburbs.

Congratulations to the writers, photographers, contributors, and advertisers on the success of Downers Grove Magazine. We look forward to showcasing this amazing community for the next five years. And thank you to the readers who have had such a positive response to our publication and stories.

 

Downers Grove has been my home for nearly 20 years, and I have worked within the community even longer teaching various English and journalism courses at Downers Grove South High School.

My passion for writing and reporting initially took root when I was a journalism student at the University of Illinois, and when Downers Grove Magazine was getting started, I jumped at the opportunity to serve on its editorial staff.

Since then, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many interesting, giving, strong, and talented people, and it has been an absolute honor to help bring their stories to our readers.

 

I like working for Downers Grove Magazine because I love this town! I am proud of it. I grew up here and have made a lifetime of wonderful memories here. My husband, Glenn, and I chose to move back here to raise our three children, Rory, Maeve, and Kathleen, because we wanted this to be their town.

There is something very solid about Downers Grove. It’s a place that can be counted on for an excellent education, caring friends and neighbors and a strong sense of community.

The best part of this job is the opportunity to interview people and capture their stories, while making new friends in the process.

 

I am fortunate to have various roles with Downers Grove Magazine and can give back and support the community through my work.

Not only do I get to put my love of writing into action, but I also get to meet and see various businesses to help them reach their marketing objectives through the partnership opportunities we offer. My favorite story to date, on Young Hearts 4 Life, is one I have a personal connection with.

At the age of 18, open heart surgery saved my life. The opportunity to write about an organization that detects heart problems and has saved so many teenagers’ lives was indeed an honor.

 

My husband and I relocated to downtown Downers Grove from Ukrainian Village after the publishing company I work for went fully remote in 2014.

We were looking to move someplace with independently owned restaurants, accessibility to the city, and walkability. In Chicago, I freelanced for Mindful Metropolis Magazine. I was drawn to the local feel it had and the creativity a smaller organization offered.

I began at Downers Grove Magazine in July 2022, and it has allowed me to combine my passion for design with community connection. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to make our town’s publication something to be proud of.