“Our American dream is now well underway”
Meet Cathrine Louise Lynnerup, Leadership Consultant for Pontomos in Chicago and the new Secretary for the Midwest Danish-American Chamber of Commerce.
Cathrine Louise Lynnerup was born in Greve, Denmark, a suburban city 19 miles south of Copenhagen where she lived until she finished the Gymnasium (equivalent to high school). At 19 years old, she travelled the world of South, Middle and North America and she felt very comfortable here in the USA.
“My husband got an internship at The Danish Consulate General in 2004/5 and it was a great opportunity for us to experience the US once again,” says Cathrine. “This time it was Chicago for nine months and two months in New York City, Manhattan. Back in Denmark, while I was working as a consultant, we started applying for Green Cards in the Diversity Lottery that the American State had at that point in time and won. We will celebrate our 5 year anniversary in Chicago this coming May. Our American dream is now well underway.”
Since Cathrine completed her master’s degree, her main focus has been on consulting. From now through June 2013, she is holding Monthly Leadership Workshops at the Swedish American Museum in Chicago. “I love being a leadership consultant because of the realizations and the improvements that my clients experience,” says Cathrine.
In addition, as the new secretary in the Midwestern Danish American Chamber of Commerce, Cathrine sees her primary role as a facilitator for professional networking activities in the Danish/American community. “When we come together, we can be a force in driving business initiatives,” says Cathrine. “And sometimes it is just fun to enjoy a good lunch with people who appreciates the Danish smørrebrød and maybe an akvavit if the occasion calls for it.”
Cathrine also keeps busy in her local community. “I mentor a 16-year-old girl from the Near West Side of Chicago,” says Cathrine. “We have been working together every Wednesday for four years as a part of ‘Cabrini Connections’. She is in High School at Rowe Clark and the goal is to get her to College. It is a long and difficult road, but each year we get a little closer. When she finishes high school, she will have earned enough goodwill points for us to travel to Copenhagen, which is a very big dream of hers.”
Cathrine also sits on the Associate Board of “Illinois Action for Children” where she does her best to promote and fundraise for the young children in less fortunate environments. “School readiness is key and I am deeply committed to the power of education,” says Cathrine.
Cathrine keeps close contact to Denmark. “Both my parents are Danish, born and raised in Aalborg. My family lives in Denmark, but they come and visit and I go back to visit them as well,” adds Cathrine.
For information on the individual upcoming Leadership Workshops, which include a light healthy meal, please contact Cathrine at Pontomos in Chicago at phone (773) 314-6218 or e-mail: cathrine.lynnerup@pontomos.com
