By Cynthia McFarland
Serving her community is second nature for Laura Michalski
Laura Michalski
Positions I’ve held: CEO of a community health center in Salt Lake City providing health and dental care for the homeless. Ran Chicago non-profit offering affordable housing to homeless. Ran free health center in Chicago for 15 years. Present: Executive director of The Community Foundation of South Lake County (CFSLC)
My greatest professional achievements: Expanding services to have a mobile medical unit when I was in Utah. It was a first for that health center. A lot of people didn’t have transportation to the health center, so we met people where they were.
Awards: I received the Excellence in Administrative Leadership Award from the Association of Utah Health Centers and the Award for Collaboration and Innovation from the Homeless Service Providers in Utah. I was also one of Utah Business Magazine’s 30 Women to Watch. In addition, I was Provider of the Year for the Campaign for Better Health Care in Illinois
What motivates me: Making sure that the community I live in has access to the services they need. Most of my adult life has been one of service.
My greatest personal achievement: Skiing down a black diamond hill.
Unusual job I had: Working at the medical examiner’s office for two years after college.
Four words that best describe me: Adventurous. Loyal. Compassionate. Funny.
Favorite Florida vacation destination: The Keys. I’ve been coming to Florida for vacation my entire life and have fond memories there with my family.
Area I want to explore: The Everglades. I’ve heard great things about the conservation going on there.
In my spare time you’ll find me: Riding my bike trying to keep up with Larry, an avid cyclist! Cooking and trying to recreate the food I eat in other countries when traveling.
Pets: Larry and I have five cats, all rescues, two with special needs. They’re our “fur children.”
Words I live by: Gratitude and appreciation. I always recognize that we have different opportunities. We need to take advantage of them and appreciate them.
Fun fact: I was the choreographer for the Illinois Junior Miss program for two years right out of high school.
Tell us!
Tell us!
Tell us!
"I fell in love with words early on and knew from fourth grade that I wanted to be a writer,” says Cynthia McFarland. A full-time freelancer since 1993 and the author of nine non-fiction books, her writing has earned regional and national awards. Cynthia lives on a small farm north of Ocala; her kids have fur and four legs
