Jacqui Podzius Cook grew up in Oak Lawn, then moved away after college to pursue a journalism career with The Associated Press in Indianapolis, New York and Cleveland. Jacqui  returned home in 1999, bringing her Hoosier husband along, to raise a family in Oak Lawn and continue working as a writer and editor. She has worked at the Daily Southtown, Chicago Tribune and Times of Northwest Indiana newspapers as well as in nonprofit communications.

Jacqui and her husband, Bob,  now have four great kids, two dogs and a goldfish! She believes Oak Lawn is a terrific place to raise a family, and is am passionate about keeping our town vibrant and interesting.