Negocios Now is proud to present Latinos 40 Under 40’s Class of 2018. We’d like to showcase the 40 between now and March 7th, that’ll be the day of the event to celebrate and recognize these forty individuals, some of Chicago’s finest Latino professionals.
#20 – Lizzette Medina
A growing enterprise
Age: 39
Title: President & Chief Executive Officer
Name of Organization: Lizzette Medina & Co.
Lizzette knows landscaping. For nearly 20 years she worked alongside her father and says his leadership, values, and principles helped shape who she is today. In 2011, Lizzette started her own company, focusing on the public sector, and has led its growth to new heights. The firm has obtained municipal, state and federal contracts and is certified as a Minority Business Enterprise, Women-Owned Business Enterprise and State of Illinois Business Enterprise.
Last spring, Lizzette contributed the firm’s time and talents to the Chicago Flower & Garden Show where her team installed the landscape and floral design for “Emerald City,” a walkable garden inspired by the Wizard of Oz. Producers of the show have expressed that it was one of the most-photographed gardens of the 2018 show.
Lizzette believes that education is key for her firm’s future as well as the ever-evolving landscape industry. For this reason, she actively seeks educational programs that challenge her and her team to improve their skills and learn new developments. “This industry encompasses so much more than entry-level responsibilities,” she says. “It takes knowledge, skill, and expertise to build a strong foundation that will positively impact our employees, communities, and environment.”
Lizzette is a graduate of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Coaching 4 Growth, a program in partnership with the Illinois Tollway. Lizzette describes this as an incredible experience, one that has led the firm to recently be awarded contracts with the Tollway. The experience, partnerships, and connections she gained there are helping prepare the company to tap into new markets where she will create more job opportunities and take the company to a new level.
Lizzette is a 2002 graduate of East-West University, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Management and Operations. She’s also currently an intern of the U of I Extension Master Gardener Program, where she will further develop her passion and dedication to the landscape industry.
Words of Wisdom:
