Foundation Board of Directors

Vice-President
John Schuette
Schuette Food Consulting, LLC

John Schuette is the President of Schuette Food Consulting, LLC. He has 35 years of experience working in food R&D with Quaker Oats and PepsiCo as a Research and Development Director. Mr. Schuette led a team of food science professionals in developing new technologies for the Quaker/Tropicana/Gatorade division of PepsiCo. He brings extensive leadership experience to the Foundation Board serving in various roles for the Chicago Section of the Institute of Food Technologists (CSIFT) including election to the Executive Committee for a three-year term. He was also honored with the PepsiCo Chairman’s Award in 2016. Mr. Schuette earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Math from MacMurray College and his Master of Science in Organic Chemistry from Northwestern University.

John is a Woodstock resident who comes to the Foundation Board with a strong desire to help MCC students succeed.

Secretary
Ann Schirk
Foglia Family Foundation

MCC alumnus Ann Schirk (Cary) is the foundation administrator at the Foglia Family Foundation, which provides financial support to those in need of education or medical help. She has spent more than 30 years working for Sage Products and the Foglia Family Foundation.

Ms. Schirk volunteers with Special Spaces, an organization that facilitates dream bedroom makeovers for children ages 2-19 with cancer, and also with the Young at Heart Senior Animal Shelter in Woodstock. Previously, she served on the Alexian Brothers (now Amita Health) Behavioral Health Committee.

Treasurer
Richard Payson
Con-Agra Foods, retired

Rich Payson recently retired as the Director of Finance at Con-Agra Foods. He has 38 years of corporate accounting and finance experience at organizations such as the Charles Bruning Co., Quaker Oats, and PepsiCo. Mr. Payson has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Drake University and an MBA in Finance from DePaul University.

He and his wife Debbie reside in Cary. They enjoy taking walks, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. He has two sons, Dan and Mike; two daughters-in-law, Cara and Ali; and one granddaughter, Lydia Jane.

Erin Boerman
Snap-on

Erin Boerman is the Human Resources Manager at Snap-on Tools in Crystal Lake. She has 20 years of HR experience and is a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) as well as a  Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP). Ms. Boerman is a graduate of Johnsburg High School, a McHenry County College Alumni, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. She and her husband live in Johnsburg with their daughter.

Cole Breese
365 Equipment & Supply

Cole Breese is the director of operations at 365 Equipment & Supply, the equipment, and supply division of Pepper Construction Group. He has more than 13 years of commercial contracting project management and operational leadership experience. He played an instrumental role in the development of 365 Equipment & Supply which began in 2015.

He obtained his Bachelor of Business degree in Finance from Western Illinois University. He and his wife reside in Huntley with their three daughters.

Monica Castillo
Home State Bank

Monica Castillo is the Senior Vice President and Trust Officer at Home State Bank N.A. She began her career in the banking industry in 2013. Prior to her banking career, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Northern Illinois University and worked for 11 years as a paralegal. Monica is a leader in the community and serves on the Board of Directors of CASA (court-appointed special advocates for children) of McHenry County. She proudly volunteers her time making a difference with the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Harper College Advisory Committee for the Legal Studies Program, the Community Foundation of McHenry County, and the Education to Empowerment scholarship and mentoring program at McHenry County College.

Melissa Cooney
Zukowski, Rogers, Flood, and McArdle, retired

Melissa Cooney recently retired from being an attorney at the law firm of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood, and McArdle. She has a juris doctor degree from the University of Illinois and over three decades of legal experience primarily focusing on estate planning, trusts, and guardianship issues. Melissa serves as a board member for The Land Conservancy of McHenry County and has also worked with the Family Health Partnership Clinic and the Community Foundation of McHenry County. Since 2016, she has been an appointed member of the Illinois Supreme Court’s Committee on Character and Fitness. Recognized as a "Leading Lawyer" since 2012, she has received numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Service Award from the McHenry County Bar Association. Melissa is also committed to community service, offering pro bono legal assistance to those in need. A longtime resident of Woodstock, Melissa enjoys reading, traveling, and cheering for the Chicago Cubs.

Linnea Kooistra
Kooistra Farms, LLC

Linnea Kooistra and her husband Joel owned and operated Kooistra Farms for over 40 years where they worked as grain and dairy farmers, retiring in 2023 from active farming. Linnea served for many years as the media spokesperson for Dairy Management, Inc., and has been a frequently featured speaker in support of agriculture in both local and national media.

She currently serves as the Chair of the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals and is the Board President of the Family Health Partnership Clinic. She is also a member of the McHenry County Historical Society, P.E.O. International, and serves on the Mega Grants committee for the Harvard Community Education Foundation. Linnea has received numerous awards, including being named an Illinois Master Farmer by Prairie Farmer Magazine and a Woman of Distinction by the Northwest Herald.

Linnea and Joel live in Woodstock and have two children and two grandchildren. Her interests include travel, hiking, reading, and the arts.

Alexa Malouf
Home State Bank

Alexa Malouf is the Assistant Vice President at Home State Bank. Over the past four years, she has worked as a credit analyst, then in commercial lending. As a first-generation student, Ms. Malouf earned her Bachelor of Arts in finance from the University of Iowa in 2016.

Malouf serves as the Treasurer and Board Member with On Angel’s Wings, Inc. and participates in the BLINGS Group and on the Monday Night Football Fundraising Committee with the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband, Christian, live in Crystal Lake.

Christopher Merrell
MBI

Christopher Merrell is the Chief Technology Officer at MBI Staffing in Woodstock. He is a graduate of the Illinois Police Officer academy and previously worked as a police officer. He received a Bronze Star for his achievements in the military and a Lifesaving Award from his police department. He has numerous Information Technology (IT) certifications, including A+ and the IT Strategic Vision Program. Chris is excited to make a difference in the local community that MCC serves. Chris lives in Woodstock with his wife, Deanna, and daughter, Kiera.

Mary Miller
Miller Verchota Certified Public Accountants

Mary Miller, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), is the co-founder of Miller Verchota Certified Public Accountants. She earned her bachelor’s in accounting/business from Columbia College and has more than 40 years of experience in the industry. She is an active member of the Illinois CPA Society, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.

Mary is a past president of the Rotary Club of Crystal Lake Dawnbreakers and a past treasurer of the Rotary International District 6440. She earned a Trustee Emeritus title after serving two terms as a Board Trustee of MCC. Mary is a past treasurer and board member of the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce and Crystal Lake Chamber.

Laurie Retzlaff
The State Bank Group, retired

Laurie Retzlaff graduated from McHenry County College in December 2002 with an Associate of Science degree. She went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, majoring in Human Resources at Roosevelt University. After gaining some foundational HR experience at a Fortune 100 company, she returned to McHenry County and joined the team at The State Bank Group in Wonder Lake as a certified human resource professional. Laurie retired as Vice President of Human Resources from The State Bank Group in 2019.  She was recognized as an MCC Distinguished Alumni in 2021.

Laurie has volunteered in the community throughout her life via school programs, scout leadership, Phi Theta Kappa, the Illinois Bankers Association, and Leadership Greater McHenry County. She has served on the board of Stateline SHRM (the local chapter of the National Society for Human Resources Management) as Treasurer and President.

Christopher Schmidt
Stryker Medical

Christopher Schmidt is the Senior Director of Manufacturing at Stryker Medical in Cary. He has been with the company for more than 20 years, providing leadership in a variety of customer service, marketing, and manufacturing roles. Mr. Schmidt has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Columbia College of Missouri-Crystal Lake Campus and an Associate of Science from McHenry County College.

Mary Catherine Schultz
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital

Mary Catherine Schultz, RN, BSN, is the Cardiac Telemetry Manager at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington. She has worked in healthcare for over 20 years. At Good Shepherd, she currently serves as Co-Chair of the GreenTeam where she facilitated the opening of a community garden. She is also a representative on the Nurse Advocacy Council and is a member of the Northern Illinois PSA CPE Professional Advocacy Group.

Mary Catherine received her Bachelor of Nursing Science from the University of Phoenix and is currently working toward her Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in safety and quality. She and her husband, Bill, live in Cary. They have three children, Catherine, Jack, and Sarah, and a boxer named Maeby.

Dr. Corey Tafoya
Harvard Community Unit School District 50

Dr. Corey Tafoya (Harvard) is the Superintendent for Harvard Community Unit School District 50. He completed his Doctor of Education from the University of Northern Iowa. He is an experienced educational leader with a demonstrated history of achievement as a principal and superintendent in the school districts. He completed the Leadership Greater McHenry County program in 2009.

He is currently serving as the vice president of the United Way of Greater McHenry County Board and also volunteers with the Woodstock Christmas Clearinghouse and the Harvard Community Education Foundation.