Bobbi Baehne graduated as a nontraditional student from MCC in 1995 with a degree in business. Today she has a successful digital marketing firm, Think Big Go Local.

McHenry County College awarded three former students its Distinguished Alumni Award on May 4.

Besides preparing students for a four-year college, MCC aligns with McHenry County businesses and industries to help the students get the needed skills and credentials to find rewarding careers in the county.

MCC believes it’s important to give to students what they need to stay in the county, so that they will ultimately contribute back to this county. The three recipients took what they learned at MCC and launched their careers in McHenry County.

Bobbi Baehne graduated as a nontraditional student from MCC in 1995 with a degree in business. Today she has a successful digital marketing firm, Think Big Go Local. She offers people courses and counseling on managing social media for their businesses. She saids that it “always feels good to be acknowledged for the impact you are making in the community. But it’s the work, the volunteering, the process of making a difference that drives me.”

Find out more about Baehne and Think Big Go Local on her Facebook Page, @thinkbiggolocal.

Renee Blitek graduated from MCC in 1996 with an associate’s degree in business and a small-business specialist certificate. She opened her own business, Renee’s of Ridgefield Flower Shop, in 1997.

Since then, she’s worked with world renowned designers and earned a MCC Floral Design certificate.

Besides running her own business, Blitek is an adjunct instructor at MCC. She shares her horticulture knowledge in Floral Design classes and nonfloral-related horticulture classes. Blitek community service includes It’s All About Kids Pediatric Cancer Organization, Arden Shore Children’s Services, and FFA and 4-H competition judging.

Rich Tobiasz has two careers: fire chief at Spring Grove Fire Protection District and organic vegetable and fruit production on his Spring Grove farm.

Tobiasz holds several degrees, including a bachelor of science in fire science, an AAS degree in registered nursing, a fire science officer certification from MCC, and a University of Illinois Master Gardener. Rich spend 28 years as a Registered Nurse, 40 years as a paramedic, and 42 years in fire service. Still, gardening is his longest career.

He began gardening with his Buscia (grandmother) when he was only 3 years old. Tobiasz is an adjunct instructor at MCC for fire science/EMS since the early 1980s. He coaches junior football, and umpires for Little League, and he’s an IHSA Official for basketball, football, baseball, and girls softball. He also teaches new master gardeners and shares his organic gardening expertise at various speaking engagements. Tobiasz is also a professional storyteller, frequently spinning tales at the Bliss Wine and Gifts in Wauconda.

The distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the accomplishments of MCC alumni who make a positive impact on the community in McHenry County and beyond. Past recipients include Ryan Blum, a trade assistant at International Trade Administration, Dr. Nick Kachiroubas, a DePaul University instructor, and John Cain, CEO at Scot Forge. The award recipients are MCC’s way of recognizing how they serve as educational stepping stones toward students’ successful careers.