Recently, Heidi’s grandparents retired and transitioned the business to Heidi’s parents, Rich and Amber. They’ve significantly increased production and doubled the employee headcount in their tenure. As TPS moves towards its fiftieth anniversary, Heidi has maintained a ring-side seat and paid close attention to her family’s triumphs and struggles, gaining a solid understanding of business management. Ultimately, she recognizes the hard work and sacrifices required over the past half-century.

“I’ve always seen my family work really hard to keep a business afloat. To keep it maintained and growing at all times. I’ve seen that hard work. I feel that using that same hard work will get me a lot further in life than working a nine-to-five job just to get along,” says Heidi, who is no stranger to hard work.

She was recently named an Illinois State Scholar by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Awarded to approximately the top ten percent of Illinois high school graduates, state scholars are selected annually based on standardized test scores combined with sixth-semester class rank.

When asked to reflect upon the award, Heidi recognizes a fundamental need to be recognized. This realization will take her far as she manages her own employees one day. Heidi shares that “Being named an Illinois State Scholar is an honor. Basically, validation that my effort actually meant something. It’s not just about getting the grade but getting acknowledged and getting honored for trying hard enough to get the grades.”

She adds that her success can “show younger people that if you try, not just in school, but in all aspects of life, you’ll be rewarded for giving it your best.”

While Heidi’s grades are impressive in their own right, she also works at Total Printing Systems and as a waitress at a local restaurant. Through these experiences, she recognizes how small, day-to-day interactions can impact others. She wishes everyone could spend time working in a customer-focused role to gain similar respect and appreciation for customer service.

Heidi is also in the process of closing on a home and will likely be a homeowner before the printing of this issue. While she realizes that homeownership isn’t typical for a high schooler, she credits her parents’ lessons on the value of a dollar and her brother’s examples as two powerful influences. Her brother became a ward alderman at age eighteen and owns multiple rental properties at age twenty.

“My brother shaped me into who I am because we were so close at a younger age and continued that closeness as we grew. He’s really inspiring because he has a lot of passion and feels strongly about what he thinks. He’s just an incredible person, and I think he’s probably my biggest role model.”

With such rich life experiences and a multi-dimensional group of interests, it’s no wonder Heidi is weighing her options. She plans on spending next year working through her general studies at Lake Land Community College as she considers pursuing options as diverse as owning rental properties, opening a restaurant, or learning to become an electrician.

“I think I could be happy anywhere. I could make a home and a business anywhere I found myself,” she shares with calculated confidence. Regardless of where she goes or what she does, I think it’s safe to assume she’ll be her own boss.

“…if you try, not just in school, but in all aspects of life, you’ll be rewarded for giving it your best.