Meet Michele Lewis.  She is a Marketing Manager with Health Alliance and loves Champaign-Urbana.

Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?

A: I love using my communications and marketing skills to help our community be healthy and whole.

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Champaign-Urbana?

A: Champaign-Urbana has been my home away from home my entire life. My parents grew up here, and I have a lot of family in both cities.

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Champaign-Urbana?

A: It’s hard to choose a favorite. It would be a tie between El Toro and Kofusion.

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Champaign-Urbana?

A: Outside of members of my family, that would have to be Dr. Ollie Watts Davis. She has an inspiring spirit and voice.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?

A: I want to visit the Holy Land, Turkey and Greece.

Q: What advice would you give to a crowd of people?

A: Every person’s path is different; so guard against comparing yourself to those around you. Find fulfillment in what you were designed to do, not someone else.

Q: What is something on your bucket list?

A: Road-tripping across the US on a photography tour.

Q: What current/former local business makes you nostalgic about Champaign-Urbana?

A: Aunt Sonya’s was my favorite restaurant and iconic Champaign-Urbana.

Q: What is something unique about Champaign-Urbana?

A: The diversity of our community. Being a campus town gives us such rich opportunity; the world literally comes to us in our students and faculty, and they bring such an awesome texture to our community.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?

A: I have lived in various places, but this is home for me. I am passionate about deepening my roots here in Champaign-Urbana.

Q: (Even for friends and family) what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you ?

A: I was in a production of Dream girls when I was in college.

Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?

A: Family and friends, Fighting Illini, and Orange and blue forever.

Q: If you have a full time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny?

A: Housekeeper.

Q: Over the past few weeks, where have you seen Champaign-Urbana “Stronger Together”?

A: Our support of our healthcare providers, community members making homemade masks for nurses and doctors, our places of worship giving back through food pantries and monetary resources.