Alumni Spotlight: Karen Drew, JCHS Class of 1990

Joliet Central High School alumna Karen (Stamm) Drew ('90) exemplifies the spirit of giving, having recently donated formal dresses to the Joliet West High School Prom Dress Collection. Drew is an entrepreneur who was raised in Joliet and loves to give back to her community. She is the proud co-owner of ASK Dress Boutique, located in Shorewood, Illinois.

Drew attended Cathedral of St. Raymond School and graduated from Joliet Central High School in 1990. While at Joliet Central High School, Drew was involved in National Honor Society, Class Committee, and Student Council. She also served as the Assistant Captain of JV Poms/Cheer and the Captain for Varsity Cheerleading.

Reflecting on her time in high school, Drew said, “I feel I had many great teachers at Joliet Central. Mr. Dispensa inspired me because he gave me the first ‘C’ I ever received, and he taught me that not every class is going to come easy, so you need to work hard if you want to be above average. Mrs. Mott inspired me because she was my NHS sponsor, and I so enjoyed our conversations. She was always a positive person. Madame Burke inspired me because of the patience she showed us even when we were struggling and at our worst.”

After graduating from high school, Drew attended Northern Illinois University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Human & Family Resources. She went on to work for Cornerstone Services for many years before opening ASK Dress Boutique in January 2017.

Drew said, “The skills I learned at Cornerstone, the people I worked with, the people I provided services to, all helped me to become the businessperson I am today. There are many different kinds of people in the world, ALL are important and deserve to be treated kindly and with respect. It was difficult to change direction in my professional life, but I loved what I did at Cornerstone and I absolutely love owning the Boutique.”

As the Co-Owner of the Boutique, Drew’s job responsibilities include bookkeeping and finances, ordering of merchandise, pricing merchandise and entering data into the computer system, sales and ensuring customer satisfaction. Drew adds, “My number one responsibility is making sure the customers have a positive experience. I want my customers to feel special in an environment that is welcoming. I want my customers to feel appreciated for shopping local and shopping small.”

Drew’s hard work has not gone unnoticed. ASK Boutique has been recognized as One of Will County's Best Clothing Boutiques in 2017, 2018, and 2019, as well as the Joliet Chamber of Commerce Retail/Consumer Business of the Year 2019.

When asked what advice she would give to current students, Drew said, “The connections you make now are going to make a difference in your life in the future. Be involved in school. Communication is important. Learn to look people in the eyes during conversations and listen to what they say. We can learn so much from other people. As you plan your future, be open to the possibility of change. Your first path may be fulfilling, but there may be another path that gives you something positive in a whole other way. Hard work does pay off.”