Align4edu

Alignment Collaborative for Education - ACE

Awards

Robert (Bob) Malm recognized by the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce

Non-Profit Volunteer of the Year, 2024

Bob Malm, Alignment's 2024 Volunteer of the Year
Bob Malm, far left, is Alignment’s Volunteer of the Year

The Alignment Collaborative for Education (Alignment) nominated Bob Malm as one of the Elgin Area Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year at the annual Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce Thanksgiving recognition held on November 26, 2024 at Elgin Community College. Bob and his wife Carolyn have been role models of the community for over a decade.  Passionate about workforce development and community, Bob has worked tirelessly to ensure students and families have the resources needed to prepare for future economic and social success.

Bob began his service mindset in the military followed by years of service with the City of Elgin and later retiring to help the business community with workforce development.  During that time, Bob became a chief advocate of Alignment encouraging the community to invest in middle and high school students preparing them to graduate academic and career ready.  Bob continues in this leadership role and has for over five years served on Alignment’s Operating Board and currently chairs Alignment’s Educational Pathways A-Team.  Under his leadership, Alignment reached a milestone of serving over 10,000 students in 2024.  

Bob believes in the power of education to change lives and to shape the future prosperity of a community, the region, and the state.  It is befitting to be able to recognize Bob for the many contributions he has made to Alignment and the Elgin community.

William (Bill) Hoffer recognized by the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce

Non-Profit Volunteer of the Year, 2023

Alignment had the opportunity to name Bill Hoffer as the non-profit, Volunteer of the Year at the annual Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce. The event each year recognizes community leaders that significantly contribute to Elgin’s non-profit organizations. As the Hoffer Foundation website states “It’s not just plastics its personal”. Nothing could better describe Bill and the Hoffer Family’s commitment to the Elgin community. That commitment is evident in the raising and donation of millions of dollars to the community’s non-profit organizations, local charities, and families.  However, you could debate that even more important is the human investment.

The Alignment Collaborative for Education was fortunate and blessed to have Bill Hoffer as a founding member from concept to implementation. Now almost a decade later, this organization serves over 8,500 students a year with a 100% commitment from Bill that all students should have the opportunity to graduate academic and career ready.

You will find Bill at the annual Explore event visiting with 2,700 8th graders, and he is the first to open the doors to Hoffer Plastics to show high school students all the career opportunities available in the manufacturing industry. That work does not stop with the Alignment Collaborative. Bill has invested his leadership skills in growing Advocate Sherman Hospital to be a leader in providing world class healthcare. He, his wife Taffy, and his children continue to invest in the community’s children and youth as evidenced by the new Boys and Girls Club facility in South Elgin along with the YMCA, United Way, Habitat for Humanity, etc.

Bill believes in the power of education to change lives and to shape the future prosperity of a community, the region, and the state. It is befitting to be able to recognize Bill for those many contributions.

Larkin High School CTE Awards Day

Larkin High School seniors were recognized for their achievements while enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) courses including culinary, education, engineering and healthcare programs. Career and technical education (CTE) teachers had the opportunity to celebrate the students’ accomplishments as these seniors prepare to graduate on May 27, 2023 at the NOW Arena.  

Alignment’s executive director, Nancy Coleman, participated in the awards ceremony by providing the keynote address. Coleman praised the students for utilizing their high school experience to prepare for future careers where many of these students graduate with highly marketable skills and certifications. As Coleman asked students “What’s Next?”, she encouraged “seniors to take advantage of opportunities, set goals, and find a career that challenges you to showcase your best performance”.

Alignment wishes to recognize all U-46 career and technical education (CTE) teachers for their contributions to ensuring students have the opportunity to graduate academic and career ready. 

CTE teachers: Amanda Long, Healthcare; Diane Kriescher, Engineering; Aurora Scarpaci, Education; and Katie Thompson, Business.

Alignment Congratulates Bill Wright

Alignment Governing Board Chairman William "Bill" Wright has received the Mike Cassidy Commissioner Community Service Award

Alignment congratulates our Governing Board Chairman Bill Wright on this prestigious honor.

Daily Herald Article
Streamwood Park District, 1/27/2023 2:16 PM

The Streamwood Park District proudly announces Commissioner William “Bill” Wright has received the Mike Cassidy Commissioner Community Service Award from the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA). The award was presented to Wright during the All-Conference Awards Luncheon at the annual IAPD/IPRA Soaring to New Heights Conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago on Friday, January 27.

This annual award is presented to an elected official who has demonstrated the highest example of community service, personal integrity and ingenuity, and whose volunteer service to his or her community emulates the vision and voluntary efforts demonstrated by former IAPD Board President and longtime Commissioner with the Freeport Park District, Mike Cassidy, to improve the quality of life for those in his or her community.
Nominated for the award by Streamwood Park District Executive Director Jeffrey Janda, Wright has served as Park Board Commissioner for 15 years serving in a variety of capacities, including President, Vice President, Ethics Officer, and Committee Chairman.

Wright’s long list of accomplishments include the establishment of a Summer Reading in the Park program, which provides free lunches and early childhood learning activities for area youth, supporting area students through his leadership with Alignment Collaborative for Education, and leveraging needed funding for facilities, parks, playgrounds and educational opportunities through his relationships with local businesses, state legislators and other local officials. He even assists Santa Claus by filling in for him at local events in Streamwood during the holiday season.
Janda said Wright is the type of individual that not only gets involved but when he puts his mind to something, things get done.

“Bill is a man of many talents and abilities and is very passionate about finding the right solution that can bring significant cultural change and make an impact for years to come,” said Janda.
Wright also annually assists the Park District in coordinating and promoting its Hoosier Grove Barn and Brew event, which benefits the organization’s scholarship fund. The 2023 edition of Hoosier Grove Barn and Brew returns this May to the grounds of the award-winning Hoosier Grove Barn, 700 W. Irving Park Road. As usual, Wright is right in the middle of soliciting beer vendors and breweries to participate.

The Streamwood Park District congratulates Commissioner Wright on this honor and for his continued service to the residents of Streamwood.

Read the full article.

Alignment Named Elgin’s Non-Profit of the Year

Alignment Named Elgin’s Non-Profit of the Year
Alignment members accept award at the Elgin Area Chamber “High Five” Award Event on January 30, 2020

The Alignment Collaborative for Education was awarded the Elgin Area Chamber’s Nonprofit Award in recognition of Alignment’s work to measurably improve the Elgin community by creating partnerships between businesses and U-46 schools. Much of the community-wide work has focused on helping businesses offer educational experiences for students to demonstrate the link between their classes and possible career pathways.

Nancy Coleman told the community “The Alignment Collaborative’s purpose is to broaden educational opportunities that encourage our youth to experience academic, career, and personal success. In working together to raise student achievement, we build stronger schools that result in a stronger community.”

Elgin High School’s Welding Program Receives the Elgin Development Group’s Workforce Development Award for 2019

U-46 Welding Lab wins 2019 High Five AwardElgin Chamber hosts annual meeting, award ceremony Feb. 20th

Daily Herald, February 14, 2019

The Elgin Area Chamber’s annual meeting and High Five Awards Ceremony will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20 at Gifford’s Kitchen & Social, 2300 Bushwood Drive in Elgin. The event was rescheduled from Jan. 30 due to the extreme cold.

The event will combine the glitz and pageantry of the High Five Awards with the 111th annual meeting into one high flying and fun reception.

The event begins at 4 p.m. with networking until 5 p.m. followed by the program.

This brief program features the formal installation of board members: Nancy Abuali of Radius International; Ian Lamp of Lamp Construction; and Michael Wong of SmithAmundson.

It will be followed by a presentation of the Elgin Area Chamber and Elgin Development Group’s success stories for 2018 and concludes with the recognition of our High Five Award winning members and organizations who helped contribute to the chamber’s success in 2018.

The following awards will be presented:

  • Ambassador Award: Dr. Lee Plasmier
  • Small Business Award: Herb’s Bakery
  • Large Business Award: Motorola
  • Showcase Business Award: Newhaven Display
  • EDG Workforce Award: Elgin Area School District U-46 Welding Lab at Elgin High School
  • EDG Business Development Award: iHerb
  • Leadership Award: Mike Warren, ROI
  • Nonprofit Award: YWCA Elgin
  • Emerging Leader Award: Steve Kroiss, 79 Ratio
  • Partnership Award: WRMN Radio