Melissa Owens

Committed to Public Education

I am a lifelong resident of Illinois, born and raised in Elmhurst. After graduating York High School, I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in economics from Augustana College in Rock Island IL. I returned to the Chicagoland area after graduating college; my husband and I have lived in Bartlett for the past 24 years. We have one son at South Elgin High School.

Professionally, my husband and I owned a successful small business for 23 years in Roselle, IL. In that capacity, I oversaw all administrative and financial functions of the business, including budgeting and financial reporting, payroll and HR, marketing, and customer support. In 2016 we merged with another local company, allowing me to retire my position with the company. For the past four years, I have enjoyed working in the community as the Coordinator for the Volunteer Program for the Community Crisis Center in Elgin. 

I began volunteering in U-46 in 2010 as a member of the Community Advisory Council, serving as co-chair of the Special Education Committee (5 years), Council Vice-Chair (1 year), and Council Chair for two years. I continue to serve on several planning and fundraising committees within the community, including the School District U-46 Educational Foundation and the Basket Brigade of Suburban Chicago. In addition, I am currently pursuing a graduate degree in environmental biology from Miami University in Ohio, and I spend some of my free time volunteering with various local habitat restoration projects. 

 

Hard at work at Elgin's 2020 Hope for the Holidays.

Weekend afternoon at the pumpkin farm.

Visit to the South Carolina beaches.

Taking in a South Elgin High School Friday night football game.