A press release from McHenry County College Board candidate Mike Smith is below, but let me remind candidates that if they would like to share their thoughts and/or background, such information should be emailed to calskinner2@gmail.com.
Mike Smith Running for Community College Board
Mike Smith
“I genuinely believe that MCC, as an institution should be the pride of McHenry County, and I look forward to contributing to the reshaping of a positive image of the college within the community,” Smith wrote.
“I recognize, as I enter the fourth year of my volunteer service to the College on the foundation board, that MCC addresses an extensive number of interests as diverse as the County itself, and it is imperative that it’s leadership understands the needs and perspectives of all stakeholders, from the students, to the faculty, administration and the taxpayers in order successfully govern.
“I believe that I can play an active role as a steward of the institution through participation in legislative advocacy for MCC, intelligent policy development and being a prudent fiduciary in the oversight of the college budget, and would consider it a privilege to serve the community and this college that I am so passionate about in that capacity.”
Mike is a 25 year resident of McHenry County, and currently serves as the President and Executive Committee Chairman of the Friends of McHenry County College Foundation Board of Directors.
He is entering his fourth year of volunteer service for the organization, having served as the Treasurer and Finance Committee Chairman of the organization prior to his current role as President.
Mike is also currently serving in a volunteer capacity for the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s office, having been appointed to serve on the Citizen’s Panel for the First Offender Program in McHenry County when the program originated in 2010. The First Offender Program provides accepted candidates, who have been charged with a first-time, non-violent felony, the opportunity to prevent that felony charge/conviction from being permanently entered onto their record.
Mike’s professional career in Financial Services originated in 1985, and he has worked with corporate retirement plans throughout his 26 year career as a Registered Investment Advisor, Management Consultant and Defined Contribution Plan administrative service provider. He had extensive stints with Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and the Management Consulting arm of Ernst & Young before becoming President of Plexus Financial Services, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm and Broker/Dealer with offices in Deer Park, Illinois and Dallas, Texas.
Plexus Financial Services, LLC, focuses on Financial Advisory and Co-Fiduciary services to Corporate Retirement Plans (Defined Contribution, Defined Benefit, Non-Qualified and ESOP plans).
He holds an MBA from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business at DePaul University in Chicago, and a BA in Management from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. He has industry designations as an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF), an Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst (AIFA), and an Accredited Retirement Plan Consultant (ARPC), while carrying multiple Securities Industry licenses (Series 7, 24, and 66).
Mike and his wife of 26 years, Erin, reside in the Village of Lakewood, and have 4 children, Brittani, Morgan, Rachel and Keith.