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Gratitude on our journey - by Jenny O'Brien


This post has nothing to do with the studio, and everything to do with using my platform on social media and my position as a business owner in St. Charles…to recognize a woman who was so instrumental in the St. Charles community for 20+ years. Kathy Loubsky. Kathy passed away in November, and was my boss at the St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau (which is sadly no longer as of last year). She was the Executive Director of the CVB for around 20+ years (my memory isn’t as good as it used to be since so much has filled my brain since then – but something like that!)  

She hired me in 2006 and truly changed my life as far as my career goes. I was a few years out of college and wasn’t happy in the job I had been in for the 2 1/2 years after college as it didn’t fulfil my career goals. I still remember clear as day coming home from my interview and thinking how badly I wanted that job! If I remember correctly, she called to offer me the job before I even went to my second interview with the sample group tour itinerary I was asked to make…but if you know Kathy….well, that was Kathy! She was always so excited about everything and everyone. Sometimes so excited that she would leave her car on for hours in the parking lot at the office….one of my favorite memories! She was similar to me in that we always have “too many tabs open” in our head 😊 I remember I used to feel like not everyone understood her….and I think I too feel that same feeling every day!

This incredible woman deserves acknowledgement for all her time and dedication to St. Charles; I have been thinking about this for months. Her shoes could never be filled; she was one of a kind. I know I speak for so many others in the St. Charles community and the Illinois Convention and Visitor Bureaus that would agree with me. She was one of the most passionate women I have ever met. Still to this day. She was so passionate about this community and telling any and everyone about why St. Charles was THE place to be. And then there was Scarecrow Fest….her baby! She lived and breathed that festival, and I miss those years of when her flair and love radiated off every part of that event. People often referred to her as the “scarecrow lady” and I remember when I became the Scarecrow Fest coordinator in my last year there…a vendor referred to ME as the “scarecrow lady.” I thought wow, I’ve really made it 😊 It was an honor to be passed the torch.

I have always been so grateful for the opportunities she gave me, as well as her wisdom. Which have 100% contributed to my success as a business owner. The opportunities I had and tools I was given are too many to list! When I started my studio in 2012, my end goal was always to end up in St. Charles because of how much I had grown to love this town. In 2015, I met that goal be obtaining the space we are in today.

Kathy always believed in in and embraced my ideas, and most of all taught me so much about this community. I didn’t grow up in St. Charles, but because of my 6 years at the CVB I developed a true love for this town and all the people that are a part of it. So many business owners I work with now and events we are part of, I first met or was part of during my time at the CVB.  I fostered so many great relationships because of that job. I love this town and all it stands for – and that is all in thanks to Kathy and my career at the CVB.

Even things like the St. Pat’s parade….pffft….I’ve been doing that since long before the studio! I even have a photo somewhere of Molly the studio dog as a truly “wet dog” after a rainy parade she was in. Because you know…she used to be the “St. Charles Pet Travel Specialist.” Yes, that’s right!

Kathy had retired from the bureau when I left to pursue my dream in 2012, but was always one of my biggest cheerleaders when I saw her.

For all of my studio families, you actually may have seen her at the studio, recital, or competition as her granddaughter danced here up until last summer.  She was EVERYONE’s biggest cheerleader. And hearing her continually say how proud she was of me, was such a full circle moment for me. I always made sure to thank HER for the part she played in where I am today. Bossin’ ain’t easy…but she taught me so many of the things I strive to be in a leader.  

I still have this card hanging in my office that she gave me last year. When I found out she only had a few days left in November, I wrote her a card thanking her for all she did for me and the opportunities she gave me that forever changed the course of my life. It makes me teary eyed thinking about it again. That was definitely the first time I had written a card to someone who was dying. It was overwhelming but I was also grateful to be able to put it in writing so someone could read it to her, even though I had told her before.

I got to spend the afternoon today with a former colleague from the CVB, and it made me realize even more how important every stop on our path is. And the people on that path. Those 6 years of experience promoting this amazing town, and the strong women I worked with in our small office….helped pave the next part of my path that led me to where I am today. Truly. After Kathy’s memorial mass today, I drove past our old office for old times sake fighting back tears….and my right ear started ringing so incredibly loudly. Thank you for the sign, Kathy. I will forever be grateful for your wisdom, passion, and love for the St. Charles community that you instilled in me.


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