Monica Komasinski has come full circle. She is giving back in great lengths to the community that once gave so much to her. La Porte County gave her strength, spirit, and roots, and she has given La Porte County service, leadership, and family. She serves as the sole employee of Leadership La Porte County and works everyday to produce a powerful group of local citizens that will help this town prosper.
Komasinski was born and raised in La Porte County. She attended Rolling Prairie Elementary School and New Prairie Middle School and High School. She earned her degree in Communications with a focus in Public Relations and Advertising from Purdue University; she was a liberal arts girl with big dreams to leave Indiana and make her mark elsewhere. However, circumstances would keep her in La Porte after graduating, and whether you want to call it fate or luck, it is clear that this is where she belongs.
Komasinski had an interesting life experience that all should take note of. She was living at home with her parents and went out for a day of shopping with her mom who spotted a “Hiring Part-Time” sign in a retail window. Komasinski at first resisted her mother’s suggestion to apply; working in retail store was not her in her plans. However, she eventually caved in, applied, and got the job.
“I truly believe my career journey was predicated on keeping my options open and putting my best foot forward. From that job in retail, which was not what I wanted to do with my life, I actually met a human resources director in banking who ended up hiring me when she had an opening. That is really where my career in public relations and marketing began,” Komasinski explained.
Komasinski began in bank marketing, but after merger mania hit she reinvented herself and started to work for the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce.
“From there I built a love of non-profits,” she explained.
After working in the industry for a while she took Jim Jessup’s place at Leadership La Porte County three years ago as the company’s sole employee.
“My background in marketing and non-profits was the perfect foundation. I wear a lot of hats. I rely very heavily on partnerships, collaborations, and a volunteer board of directors. Day to day is always different. I am always using a new skill and overcoming a new challenge.”
There are days where she may be working with a group of adults, marketing, finances, or working with the youth division. It is a crazy job, but it is one that she loves. The non-profit mission is near Komasinski’s heart.
“Our mission is to inspire, develop, cultivate, and connect emerging and existing leaders to serve their community. What I love is that we don’t propose to have all of the answers, but we inspire them to dig deeper and encourage them to develop the skills that they are lacking. We cultivate a love of the community and then we connect them to other people within the community,” she explained.
Leadership La Porte County runs programs for different age levels and from these Komasinski has made many memories. She struggles to name a favorite, but at last decides on the transformations adolescents make through the program.
“The kids come in as sixth graders and are rather shy. But by the time they leave for eighth grade it is gratifying to see how confident, inspired, and passionate they are. I love that.”
Her job does not come without its challenges. Funding, as with any non-profit, is a constant obstacle the program faces. Additionally, apathy within the community is an issue.
“We have so many virtues and terrific things within the community, and you see so many people within the community that don’t want to engage and make this community all that it could be,” she explains.
Komasinski has worked to make La Porte all that it can be through various volunteer positions. At the moment she primarily focuses on her family and Leadership La Porte County, but in the past she served as PTA President, a mentor for Michigan City Area Schools, an Allocation Member for United Way, a Junior Achievement Classroom Volunteer, and a member of La Porte Jaycee’s.
Komasinski works to strike a balance between work and home. It is her number one priority, and she extends her experience in positivity, leadership, and love of the community to her two children.
“I try to make them the best that they can be. I am excited to see how they become as adults. I urge them to stay in this community as well,” she said.
She and her family have a deep appreciation for the area and nearly everything in the outdoors. They unplug from the chaos of daily life by heading up to their vacation home in Michigan- where family and nature comes before TV and phones. She adores the four seasons and could never leave that behind. Between kayaking and snow shoeing there is always some way to get outdoors.
“We are an area of terrific resources. We have Lake Michigan and a ton of stuff for people to do, especially for those who want to raise a family. There is a lot to offer.”
Komasinski plans to enjoy all the area has to offer, and does not plan on leaving anytime soon.
“I plan to stay at my job for as long as possible. I love my job. I would like to see this organization to remain stable, and I would like to lead that,” Komasinski closed.