Meet Laurie & Kelly

Laurie Wilhoit

Laurie currently serves as a Trustee on the Ela Township Board. She has served as the chair of the Health and Wellness Committee, currently chairs the Community Center, and is co-chair of the Highway Department.

She serves on the Board of Directors (and is a Past President) of Caring Women’s Connection, a local 501c3 all-volunteer organization that helps Lake County, Illinois, women and children in need.

Her previous experience includes serving as a board member of the Lake County Board of Housing and Community Development, Marketing and Communications Manager of Historic Downtown Long Grove, Volunteer/Liaison with the Long Grove Economic Development Commission, Board Member of the Braemar Homeowners Association, Board Member of the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce, member of the Ela Township and Long Grove Historical Societies.

In her free time, she enjoys watching Chicago sports and walking her dogs, Zoey and Tito.

She has a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Northern Illinois University. She believes in serving her community, continuous learning, and sharing her experience and connections to get things done.

Kelly Zegler

Prior to her 16 years at BMO, she held marketing leadership roles at Discover Financial Services and Accuity, now LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

Kelly has served as a Lake County election judge since 2020. 2024 is the third tax season Kelly has worked as a volunteer tax counselor with the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program, which provides free tax assistance to taxpayers over age 50 with low—to moderate incomes. Prior to volunteering with the AARP Foundation, Kelly held a similar role with Ladder Up, supporting low-income households. She also volunteers with the Lake Zurich Styrofoam recycling program.

As a new biking enthusiast, she can often be seen riding to, from, and through Long Grove or Cuba Marsh. She also appreciates the top-ranked Ela Area Public Library(5-Star Winner as ranked by Library Journal) as it supports her love of reading and passion for travel.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from Roosevelt University. Kelly looks forward to further engaging with and serving the community.

Testimonials

  • I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Kelly Zegler for over 10 years. Over the years she has proven to be a trusted and collaborative colleague, an empathetic leader, a supportive friend and mentor. She is a dedicated professional with incredible attention to detail, in both crafting communications as well as fiduciary responsibilities and record keeping.

    Jill Hankee, Marketing Director, BMO Capital Markets

  • Kelly and I have been friends since middle school. Even from a young age, she consistently demonstrated genuine compassion, integrity, and natural leadership abilities. Her decision-making is grounded in fairness and honesty, earning her the respect and trust of those around her. I am confident Kelly will bring the same integrity and leadership to Ela Township as a Trustee, making a positive impact on the community.

    Michelle Pace

  • Laurie is an amazing partner in business and community .  She is dedicated to everything she does, and it has been an honor to work with her over the last 10 years.  Laurie has worked with the Historic Downtown Long Business Association for many years to help revive the brand. Her passion for the community is exemplary, and she doesn’t quit until the goal is achieved.  Her appreciation for community service and what it does for local communities is what I appreciate the most.  Laurie will always be there in a time in need. 

    Ryan Messner

    President Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association

  • As a Board member of Caring Women's Connection, I've been fortunate to work under Laurie's leadership during her six years as President and now as a fellow Board Member. She is extremely dedicated to her community. She is passionate about helping local businesses thrive as well as providing for those less fortunate. And she has a continuous supply of super-creative ideas to make those things happen!

    Katherine Lobo, Caring Women’s Connection board member

  • I have volunteered with, worked with, and participated in events with Laurie for over 25 years. Her unwavering commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and genuine compassion are second to none. She has demonstrated that she is a person who strives for perfection, using her skills to ensure every task is done with care and precision. Beyond her dedication to getting things right, she is always  open to exploring all options for solutions.  Her heartfelt care for helping others and love of her community makes her the ideal choice to be the strong voice for the residents of Ela Township.

    Chris Rowe., Casten Body Shop, past Clerk of Wauconda Township

  • I have worked with Laurie Wilhoit on many projects and she is: a true example of a stellar and caring citizen. Laurie volunteers unmeasurable hours to help many local causes and usually takes a leadership roll to keep all the volunteers  engaged and working together. She is extremely smart and inclusive plus makes any job you are working on together on a lot of fun.  All residents of Ela Township  would be very fortunate to have Lauries skills and kindness in service of our community. I am a big fan.

    Jill Davis long time resident Kildeer, Il

  • I have had the honor of serving with Laurie on a charity board for many years and she is the definition of servant leadership and making a difference. Her care for and dedication to our community is inspiring!

    Danielle Boreczky, Hawthorn Woods

  • My experience working with Laurie Wilhoit is in a not-for-profit group. She has excellent leadership skills, is easy to collaborate with and gets things done in a very timely manner. I also know her as a go-getter who works tirelessly for her community. She is a dedicated contributor who is flexible and shows compassion for others

    Joy Little, Caring Women’s Connection board member

  • I met Laurie years ago through the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce where she worked at the time. She wore many hats there and was always welcoming and willing to help out or connect people if she saw there was a mutual benefit. She has always been very community-oriented, with a big heart for helping locally, as shown by her dedication to Caring Women’s Connection, which benefits women and children in need in Lake County. Laurie will bring new ideas and vibrancy to the Ela Board leadership with a solid knowledge base from her time as trustee. I look forward to voting for her!

    Chris Geimer, Chris Geimer Design

  • I’m proud to support Laurie in her campaign for Ela Township Supervisor. Laurie is one of the most kind, thoughtful and dependable people I’ve ever met. She approaches every challenge with intelligence, compassion, and a genuine desire to make things better for everyone. Whether helping a friend in need or tackling complex issues, Laurie is someone you can always count on. She listens carefully, considers every perspective, and follows through on her commitments with unwavering dedication. Her leadership is exactly what is neede—someone who cares deeply about the community and works tirelessly to serve its best interests.I have no doubt Laurie will bring her integrity and thoughtfulness to every decision she makes. I wholeheartedly support her and encourage everyone to vote for her!

    Marian Ward, owner, Within Reach in Long Grove, small business owner

  • Laurie Wilhoit would make a wonderful Ela Township Supervisor. She demonstrates strong leadership within the community through various philanthropic and networking endeavors and is very supportive of the small business community, which, as a small business owner, I deeply appreciate. The best thing about Laurie is her warm personality-she CARES!

    Stacey Adams, Lake Zurich business owner

  • I strongly recommend Laurie Wilhoit for Ela Township Supervisor. I remember when she became a trustee for Ela Township. My thoughts were they were lucky to have her on the board. I met Laurie about 13 years ago when I became involved in CWC, Caring Women’s Connection. Soon after we met, she became president, and we worked together on successful key initiatives. Laurie’s leadership style is collaborative and inclusive, bringing out the best in everyone. Other key factors that make her a successful leader are Integrity, creativity and dedication to the needs of her constituents. These attributes make her the ideal candidate for Ela Township Supervisor.

    Joanne Pence, former resident of Long Grove

  • I had the opportunity to meet Laurie when I joined Women in Networking of Lake Zurich in 2023.  She made me feel welcome from day one and now I’m lucky to serve on the board with her.  She is a true leader and always willing to help.  She always goes above and beyond what her role calls for.  It’s been a pleasure getting to know her!

    Colleen Rapp, Hawthorn Woods Resident