Livingston a diva of not-for-profits

Lisa Livingston, 28, is the director of event services for the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. And for her, working with not-for-profit groups and volunteers is where the action really happens.

"I read recently that there are over 3,000 not-for-profit groups here in DuPage County alone," Livingston said. "Clearly, the things that happen here in the county would never be possible without them."

A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Livingston attended Waldorf College before transferring to the University of Iowa where she earned a degree in English with a minor in business. Five years ago, she moved to Naperville where she continues to live and work.

Since her high school days, Livingston said she has groomed herself for work like what she does today professionally as a member of the chamber.

"In high school, I knew that I wanted to become an event planner, and I focused all of my extracurricular activities and internships around that," Livingston said. "... When the opportunity at the chamber came along, I knew that this was the place for me. There was room for growth within the organization and an opportunity to learn, grow and pursue my career as an event planner."

Five years into her job, Livingston describes her work as "a wonderful experience" that has included the opportunity to meet many executive directors of not-for-profit groups and board members. Her work, Livingston adds, "has opened up a lot of doors, and I've been able to expand on things and have taken advantage of the many opportunities I've had."

"As an employee of the Chamber of Commerce, we're a not-for-profit group ourselves, and so we're able to work with these other groups and show them how they need to be run like a business," she said. "We understand the problems they have because we have many of those problems, too."

Living in Naperville, she says, brings "a sense of amazement to me everyday" given the wealth of organizations here and the vast number of volunteers.

"I talk to my family and friends back in Iowa about this or that organization and things they can do to get involved, and they've never heard of half the things I talk about," she said. "There's nothing like the 'Young Professionals Group' and the networking here just amazes me."

Livingston admits one of her favorite times of the year is coming, and not because there'll be snow or presents. She works actively with the Naperville Jaycees, serving as a member the last 4.5 years, and the culmination of the annual food drive is about to take place.

"I have been involved in many different ways, including the board of directors, committee chairman, committee member, and a volunteer for several of the events that the Jaycees put on each year," she said. "The Jaycees work with the food banks and the Loaves & Fishes group, and one of the most rewarding things is seeing that food go to people during Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's one of the best times of the year."

Livingston's resume also includes volunteering at several other events on behalf of the Jaycees, including Naperdays, Ribfest, Oktoberfest and others. She also been a volunteer volleyball coach at SS Peter and Paul Church for several years, and now has her eye on helping young girls.

"Most recently, I have pursued a program put on by NCO Youth & Family Services called WINGS, or Women Involved in Girls' Success," she said. "This is a mentoring program for adolescent females. I am very excited to meet my mentee and hope that I can be a positive influence, help her to develop skills, and learn to make the choices that will help her in life."

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