Women of Distinction winner Marcy Piekos ‘brings it all together’ at helm of Leadership Greater McHenry County

Marcy Piekos knows the movers and shakers throughout McHenry County. She’s helped shape them, watched them blossom in confidence and take on leadership opportunities.

In her role as the executive director for Leadership Greater McHenry County, she has gotten to know some of the most interesting and influential members of the community. She works with people ranging from presidents of banks and nonprofit organizations to educators, small business owners and corporate managers.

“We help people realize how they can intersect as they learn about the community,” Piekos explained. “It’s an 11-month immersion to learn about one’s self and about the community.”

For 14 years, Piekos has overseen the program where individuals can develop their leadership skills as they gain a deeper knowledge into the county, with topics including leadership, government, education, public safety and healthcare.

“Most come to LGMC and they say, ‘I had no idea what I didn’t know.’ It’s a very big awakening,” Piekos said.

Piekos is the among 11 honorees of the Northwest Herald’s 2024 Women of Distinction Awards. The recognition highlights women in McHenry County, nominated by their peers, friends and loved ones, who provide leadership in their fields of expertise, serve as role models and mentors, advocate positive social change or give back to their community through time, talent and resources.

Piekos said individuals enter the Woodstock-based Leadership Greater McHenry County program eager to learn, nervous about the road before them and a bit in awe of those around them as they humbly wonder if they belong in the same cohort with their fellow accomplished individuals. Piekos said by the end of the first programming session, the group has bonded.

She understands the value of the program, as she was a participant starting in 2007 and completing the course in 2008. She went through the LGMC program while serving on the Woodstock Community Unit District 200 school board.

“It was truly the greatest learning experience and worth it,” Piekos said. She ran for the school board compelled to help the community understand the district’s needs, and she served nine years.

“It’s a dedication I never would have anticipated, but I am glad I did it,” she said.

Education is at the heart of Piekos' career. Prior to joining LGMC, she spent 17 of her 33 years at United Airlines working in leadership and education programming for crews, focusing on safety. She also taught noncredit courses at McHenry County College and Elgin Community College in leadership development and communication skills.

Eight years ago, Piekos guided delivery of the Youth Leadership Program at LGMC, in which one student from each of the county’s 16 high schools is invited to take part in a leadership development program. It is similar to LGMC Core, the adult program, starting with an interview process to select the candidates.

“We are so thrilled with the caliber of students that go through LGMC,” she said. The impact of the students who have completed the course, she added, can be seen in their involvement in their schools and the greater community, volunteering with local organizations, serving as youth voices on nonprofit boards or participating in the county’s peer jury program. Piekos said it’s been exciting to see the students return to McHenry County after college and see the continued impact in the area.

The ability to grow and learn as a LGMC participant can be directly tied to the work Piekos has done in curating the program, said Jessica Rizza, a graduate of the 2022 LGMC class.

“Marcy really helps you to focus on yourself, to slow down as you learn and develop as a leader,” Rizza said. “LGMC is such a wonderful program, and Marcy brings it all together.”