Lisa Garcia, 2015 Woman of Power Award Recipient

​The SHARE Committee in support of Mutual Ground would like to thank all of our sponsors, contributors, dignitaries and guests who took part in helping us, not only present the 6th Annual Women's Power Lunch and the announcement of our 2015 Woman of Power award to a phenomenal woman in our community, but to help us exceed our goal in raising over $16,000 for Mutual Ground.  This would not have been possible without you.
Growing up in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood, Lisa Garcia learned a strong work ethic and sense of community. Her husband and former United States Marine, Carlos, also lived in the same neighborhood, where the two met before they were married. Shortly after they married they moved to Aurora and Lisa currently resides here today. Lisa is employed by R.C. Wegman Construction. 

Lisa lost her husband of 22 years suddenly to a stroke in 2011, and it was with the support and love of her family, in addition to her devotion to assisting others, that helped her through the grief. In eternal love for her deceased U.S. Marine veteran husband, she found her calling in helping and assisting fellow veterans whenever possible. She is a tireless advocate for the veteran population in the City of Aurora. Lisa serves on the Veteran’s Advisory Council as Vice Chairman and Treasurer. She was a key organizer and committee member for the City of Aurora being selected as the host of the Vietnam Moving Wall in 2013. She is an active member of the Fox Valley Marines Golf Classic Committee, the Aurora Independence Day Committee, the First Responders Appreciation Breakfast Committee, the U.S. Marine Jesse B. Vasquez Memorial Benefit Fund Committee, and the 4th Ward West Park Neighbors Committee in addition to volunteering as an usher at the Paramount Arts Theater in downtown Aurora. In her spare time, she provides assistance to the Aurora Navy League Council, the Fox Valley Marine Corps League, the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry, the Aurora Puerto Rican Cultural Council’s Parade, Fiestas Patrias Parade and the Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades in Aurora. Lisa is often called the "energizer bunny" or "spark plug" due to her never-ending passion and energy for helping those in the community. Through her extensive volunteerism and the love that she has for the people whose lives she has touched in the most positive way possible, her impact on the veteran community and on those most in need in the City of Aurora is unmatched.

Keynote Speaker

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Colonel Jill Morgenthaler (ret.) is a woman of many firsts. She was one of the first women to train as an equal with men in the inaugural Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program and one of the first to receive a four-year Army scholarship. She was one of the first female military intelligence commanders in the DMZ in South Korea and Germany (West Berlin), the first female battalion commander in the 88th Regional Support Command, and the first female brigade commander in the 84th Division.  After five years on active duty, she served for 25 years in the Army Reserves. Her operations included military intelligence in South Korea and West Berlin, disaster recovery during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, peacekeeping in Bosnia, evacuation of Kosovar refugees, and public affairs for Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition to two Humanitarian Service Medals, Colonel Morgenthaler received the Bronze Star for her leadership in Iraq in 2004 and the Legion of Merit for 30 years of extraordinary leadership performance upon her retirement in 2006.

As the first female Homeland Security advisor for the State of Illinois, Colonel Morgenthaler directed homeland security operations and provided guidance to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the Illinois Terrorism Task Force, the Illinois National Guard, and other agencies for the prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery from natural disasters and incidents of terrorism.

Today, Colonel Morgenthaler is an author, leadership expert and speaker, exhilarating audiences with tales of her famous stare down with Saddam Hussein and other examples from her 30 years of service.  She is an adjunct professor at Pennsylvania State University.

Colonel Morgenthaler has a bachelor of arts from Pennsylvania State University, a master of arts from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and a master of strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.  She is the proud mother of a son and daughter, and lives in the Chicago-area with her husband. 

Buy Her Best Selling Book On Amazon.com

Opening Remarks

Jeffrey K. Swallow, Ph.D. is Chairman and CEO of Magnetrol International, Incorporated. Swallow was invited to share with you the story of how his mother succeeded and became the owner and operator of Magnetrol, an 83 year old family owned and operated business. Under her management, Magnetrol grew to be a global leader in level and flow process control instrumentation. Magnetrol pioneered liquid level instrumentation for industrial applications in 1932 and continues to provide advanced measurement and control solutions across a wide product and technology portfolio. Magnetrol is headquartered in Aurora, Illinois with worldwide manufacturing facilities located in Belgium, Brazil, China, and the United Arab Emirates.

Photo Gallery

We are delighted you joined us this year!  As our gift to you, please click on the adjacent button for your complementary photo available for download. 

Thank You For Your Support 

The SHARE Committee in support of Mutual Ground would like to thank all of our sponsors, contributors, dignitaries and guests who took part in helping us, not only present the 6th Annual Women's Power Lunch and the announcement of our 2014 Woman of Power award to a phenomenal woman in our community, but to help us exceed our goal in raising over $10,000 for Mutual Ground.  This would not have been possible without you.