About Colleen: I was born and raised in a suburb of Chicago. I met my partner while attending UIS for a degree in communications. I have a small consulting business that has allowed me to work with a variety of local businesses and organizations in Mahomet and in the CU area helping with marketing, branding, and social media. My full-time job is as an Event and Volunteer Specialist at Cunningham Children’s Home, helping advance the mission of a 125 year old child welfare agency. I have two children, Connor and Serenity, who keep life exciting and joyful. I love cycling around the community and am currently training to ride 300+ miles to help raise money for children’s cancer research. I’ve enjoyed seeing Mahomet grow during the time I’ve lived here and look forward to what the future holds.
- How long have you lived in Mahomet, what has your experience been like and why did you move here?
We moved to Mahomet in the spring of 2012 while pregnant with our first son, Connor. My husband, Andrew grew up in Mahomet and worked at the preserve at the time. The community and town reminds me of where I grew up and I love having a lake, preserve and hiking path in my backyard.
- If you or a family member has been working from home, taking classes remotely, etc… what is the greatest benefit?
At some time, everyone in my house experienced at home work/school during the height of the pandemic. We found it a blessing to be able to have the ability to do school and work remotely.
- How did you cope with the freezing temperatures we had in February 2021?
Luckily we were already in hibernation and quarantine, so aside from an extra pair of long underwear it didn’t seem too different from most of 2020.
- Did you or your family do any kind of winter activities, if yes what was it?
Since this winter was fairly mild with minimal snow, I was able to take more outdoor bike rides this winter season, making cycling a new winter activity of mine.
- What are your thoughts on the pandemic after having experienced it for a year?
People are incredibly resilient. It’s created change and adaptation to happen quickly and in every aspect of people’s lives. It showed many people what’s important and what we can live without. But I think we’ll see the total impact on people in the next five years.
- What’s the most important thing you have learned from 2020?
You can learn a lot about yourself and those around you during a pandemic. While everyone has had a different experience, it is an experience that an entire world is having at the same time. All in all 2020 was kind of a cancelled year for an entire world of people… that’s rather interesting.
- Do you have a bucket list? If yes, what are the top three items?
Live through a pandemic (recently added and checked). Ride my bike cross country or across another country. Take a waterfall tour of Guam.
- What’s your favorite time of the day and why?
In the spring I enjoy mornings and in the fall I enjoy sunsets. Spring is the start of new growth and morning a new day, fall is the conclusion of a season and leads into an evening of bonfires, hoodies, and hot cocoa.
- What’s your favorite book/tv/movie?
A Suitable Boy/ Harlots/Princess Bride
- What’s your definition/meaning of life?
That’s a big question that I think is answered in the last moments of a person’s life. However, my belief is that we should leave life a bit better than we found it.
