Koch services marks 25 years

Owner too busy to celebrate

Jill Koch, owner of Koch Creative Services Inc. in Grayslake, is marking 25 years in business, but she is too busy to celebrate.

With 50 clients and basically handling the business by herself, she has to keep working.

"There's nothing planned, I'm too busy. I guess I'm going to update my Web site," said the entrepreneur who started the public relations and graphic design business in 1983.

The company handles direct mail and prepares brochures and newsletters. It also designs logos and Web sites. And, of course, it does press releases. At her Web site, www.kockcreative.com , Koch offers to "deliver design solutions that capture the message and the essence of your organization."

"I do everything myself. But there are great people I can call on when needed," she said.

Koch, who went to Lake Zurich High School and the College of Lake County, graduated in 1978 from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in arts management.

While in college, she held a variety of jobs including working as a cashier at a doughnut shop in Mundelein where she ate "a lot of free doughnuts," and also in the box office at the Lincolnshire Marriott Theatre.

Before starting her business, Koch worked in public relations for Paramount Theatre in Aurora, Indiana Repertory Theatre in Indianapolis, and the Highland Park Park District.

But she had always wanted to be her own boss, even if it meant a company of one.

"I'm happy that I did what I did, opening my own business," said Koch who served on the Grayslake Park Board and volunteered to handle publicity for the Grayslake Farmers Market.

Among her clients are the Presbyterian Homes with locations in Lake Forest, Evanston and Arlington Heights, the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce, the Lake Bluff Park District, an architectural firm in Lake Forest and three law firms including two in Lake County. She also designed a 48-page brochure for NiceRink, an ice rink manufacturer near Genoa, Wis.

Among her design work, she seems to take great pride in having designed the logo for Hainesville.

"The sign is 5-feet by 5-feet on Route 120 at the entrance to the village, You can't miss it," she said of the logo which is graced with water plants.

Happy clients, Koch said, are her best resources because she gets more customers from word of mouth and referrals.

"I love my clients and love to work with them. They let me into their lives," she said happily.