Elsa Monroig Named FBG’s 2025 Employee of the Year

FBG Facility Services is proud to recognize Elsa Monroig from the Quad Cities District as our 2025 Employee of the Year. With nine years at FBG and a career rooted in education, mentorship and service, Elsa exemplifies the values of honesty, integrity, loyalty and dedication that define FBG’s employee owners.

Elsa serves as a role model for professionalism and accountability for her fellow coworkers at Lake Zurich Schools. Her calm demeanor and steady judgment make her a trusted resource for both coworkers and leadership, especially in challenging situations.

One recent example of Elsa’s initiative occurred during a winter weather event when snow quickly turned to ice. While her Program Manager, Eduin Cartagena, was tied up in an extended meeting, Elsa took action. She reached out to all Day Porters to ensure walkways were safe, organized ice removal and made sure ice melt was applied where needed. Her quick thinking and leadership helped protect students, faculty and staff in the district.

Elsa is bilingual and plays a vital role in supporting new employees who face challenges with spoken or written English. She assists with onboarding, helps new hires complete required employment paperwork and translates company documents when needed. She is often the go-to person when team members are unsure how to handle difficult situations, bridging communication gaps with patience and care.

Her journey to FBG is as remarkable as her service. Elsa grew up in Arecibo, a small town in northwestern Puerto Rico, where “everybody knows everybody.” She spent 30 years as a teacher, instructing students from kindergarten through university level. Her academic background is extensive, with two master’s degrees, one in Curriculum with a minor in Spanish and another in Christian Neurotheology. She also holds certifications in neurolinguistics, business communication and theater.

Elsa with Eduin Cartagena, Program Manager at Lake Zurich Schools.

In 2013, Elsa moved to the continental United States when federal funding for Puerto Rican universities declined. She initially planned to continue teaching but soon realized her spoken English needed improvement for a U.S. classroom setting. This led her to explore new opportunities, bringing her to FBG.

Today, Elsa’s role covers many areas of district operations. She supports interviews and onboarding, assists with Day Porter operations, performs cleaning duties and helps with administrative tasks. She credits much of her growth to the mentorship and training she received from team member Gloria Salinas and her Program Manager, Eduin Cartagena.

What keeps Elsa at FBG is more than just the work. She is deeply motivated by a desire to help Hispanic employees adapt to life in the United States. Drawing on her background as an educator, she helps others understand cultural norms and job expectations. She sees herself as a bridge between cultures, guiding others toward stability and success.

Elsa’s book, “Sentimientos en Papel, Dichos del Alma”, is available on Amazon.

Outside of work, Elsa is a passionate reader, writer and painter. She calls herself a “monster reader” and writes daily, capturing ideas, reflections and experiences. She has published a Spanish-language poetry book on Amazon titled Sentimientos en Papel, Dichos del Alma (“Feelings on Paper, Sayings of the Soul”) and is currently working on a second book she hopes to publish next year.

Elsa is also a proud mother and grandmother. She has one daughter and two grandchildren who live nearby in Illinois.

Feedback from clients and leadership continues to reflect the impact Elsa has on her team and the accounts she supports. Her ability to manage complex situations, work with diverse personalities and remain steady under pressure makes her an invaluable part of the Quad Cities District and the entire FBG organization.

Elsa Monroig’s story is one of resilience, learning and service. Her dedication to her coworkers, her community and her own growth truly embodies what it means to be FBG’s 2025 Employee of the Year.