Someone You Should Know: Lotz loves life
Jessica Lotz loves life. Wearing many hats, the O’Fallon woman is a full-time mom, to her youngster Ryan, 5, and holds various positions with local civic organizations.
Volunteering for standing committees, ad-hoc committees, chairmanships and local events are some of Lotz’ personal endeavors, “because I want to be surrounded by business leaders with a heart for service.”
“I think others see me as a go-getter, which is true to an extent, but honestly, I want to take advantage of the access to people who have been serving their community for decades,” she said.
Acting as current president of the O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce, has kept Lotz on her toes with multiple weekly events like ribbon cuttings, business after hours and business over breakfast, and will continue to as a long-standing member of the board of directors for over nine years.
“The last four I’ve been an elected officer, first vice president, and now president,” Lotz said. “I remember when Becky Henry, the then executive director, called me to ask if I’d serve on the board, I thought, ‘I think Becky has the wrong person,’ I just couldn’t imagine that the chamber leadership would willingly accept a 25-year-old business rookie among its ranks.”
Even though her term as president of the local chamber of commerce ending next month, Lotz said it doesn’t have her bummin’ because it just means she can siphon her energy into other organizations that she also finds meaningful and community focused.
Lotz said she’s most proud of several programs the chamber has added in recent years. The Young Professionals Group (YPG) is another recent addition she helped spearhead, but despite being in its infancy, Lotz said the camaraderie amongst the members is fantastic. I’m really looking forward to watching YPG develop and become a source of confidence and value for this diverse group.
“Starting out in business or changing industries can be very intimidating and lonely, so we coordinate a group where young professionals can network and interact with others who may be in the same season of life as themselves,” she said. “Recently, we had Illinois Distric 12 House Representative Mike Bost-R come talk to the group, and it was very engaging.”
Just when you thought, Lotz couldn’t possibly have the time, or the energy to do more — think again, it doesn’t stop there. She is also a board member for the American Cancer Society Regional Leadership Board of St. Clair County, and the assistant coordinator, O’Fallon Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS). As the community events chair for ACS, Lotz assists with coordinating local fund-raising events. The Regional Leadership Board is a newly organized group, and she said the leaders who serve on the board are fantastic.
“They’re creative in their approach and committed to helping those in our community who battle cancer,” Lotz said. “I’m very thankful to be a small part of a team that is making a big difference.”
Professionally speaking, Lotz has a background in healthcare administration.
“I served as the Director of Operations for Family Physicians of O’Fallon for 13 years,” Lotz said.
While my responsibilities included budgets, personnel, hiring physicians and support staff, and oversight of each department, she said she most enjoyed, and became very good at, accounts receivable management.
“The challenge of ensuring a clean claim went out through efficient processes and technical finesse energized me,” she said.
Resigning in 2011 with the arrival of her son, Lotz said she felt very strongly about raising a family as a stay-at-home-mom, and can’t imagine doing anything else at this point. Her husband, Dr. Craig Lotz, is a clinical psychologist with Memorial Hospital, which allows Lotz to still feel connected to the healthcare field.
“I’m often asked if I miss working a paying job, and right now I don’t. I love my life,” Lotz said. “One minute I’m blowing bubbles on the porch with our now-five year old and the next, I’m reviewing financial statements in preparation for a board meeting.”
She said it’s “very fulfilling.”
As assistant coordinator for O’Fallon Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), I help organize and run a group of more than 75 local moms.
“It is such an incredible international ministry that provides moms with physical, emotional and spiritual support,” Lotz said. “Although the socialization and fellowship is important, we also do service projects.”
It’s not always planning and business with Lotz, as she and her family are geocaching fanatics, mainly on the weekends, or while they’re traveling.
“It’s a hobby we began before Craig and I started our family as a means to ignite healthy living, but because it is so much fun and a family-friendly activity, plus it keeps us outside and exploring, we go out several times a month hunting for caches.
She said geocaching takes you places you probably wouldn’t have visited otherwise.
For someone who doesn’t know her, Lotz said she would describe herself as very organized and involved — but, don’t forget the ear-to-ear smile she seems to always embrace.
Lotz’ lifeline lately has been her Apple watch. “I’m also a technology junkie,” she said. “I rely on it so heavily to keep me organized and on track throughout the day.”
Although the digital world has helped keep her head screwed on, in a matter of speaking, she said she still employs her handy dandy calendar and snail mail, a.k.a. postal mail.
“I still use a paper-based calendar. I tried going electronic, but there’s just something about having the paper right with the entire month easily viewable,” Lotz said.
Meet Jessica Lotz
Q: Do you have words to live by?
A: “Where you sit determines your perspective.” It helps me understand why others act and react differently to situations.
Q:Whom do you most admire?
A: My dad, Dr. Dave McCarthy. He’s a visionary in medicine and has the courage to take the path less traveled, which inspires me.
Q:If you could spend time with a famous person, past or present, whom would it be?
A: Peyton Manning. Even as the greatest quarterback of all time, Peyton is very humble and gracious.
Q: What is the last book that you read?
A: “The Best Yes,” by Lysa Terkerust.
Q: What irritates you most?
A: Running behind or being late. Even when it’s out of my control, I really dislike not being on time for scheduled events.
Q: What would people be most surprised to know about you?
A: I actively trade in the stock market. I buy and sell stock and options.
Q: When they make a movie of your life, who would play you?
A: Reese Witherspoon
Q: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what would you have with you?
A: A Bible, my family and the NFL channel.
This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 2:33 PM with the headline "Someone You Should Know: Lotz loves life."