Michelle grew up in the suburbs of Dallas.  Her and her sister were daughters of Michael Werle, a retailer and real estate investor and Deborah Werle (nee Webb) a hospital x-ray technician.  After attending high school and community college in Dallas, Michelle moved to Chicago where she continued her education at DePaul University.  She first worked for iWorks an early internet startup, in the early 2000s   She met her husband Ed and they raised their two children in the Bucktown neighborhood, on the north side of Chicago. 

 

In 2001, she became Vice President of Operations at Computers for Schools, a public/private partnership that worked to put corporate donations of computers into Chicago Public Schools and City of Chicago Back to Work Programs.  Michelle was also instrumental in launching and running an ex-offender program partnership with the City of Chicago to drive computer literacy and skill development for those re-entering their communities after rehabilitation.   

 

Since 1994 Michelle has held an active role in both her community and in grass roots politics.  Her start came when she supported and volunteered as part of the congressional campaign of Dick Armey.   From 2009 to 2012 Michelle was president of the Friends of Holstein Park, a community advisory organization in Bucktown. 

 

In addition to this and raising her family, Michelle has since 2007 run a successful real estate business.  Her investment firm has not only provided affordable housing in the Bucktown neighborhood but has been careful to maintain and rehabilitate original housing stock to ensure that the color and character of the Bucktown neighborhood remains. 

 

Michelle is excited by the prospect of serving her community in a new and higher profile position, bringing much needed change and investment to the Office of the Cook County Clerk, and working to re-establish politics that serves the citizens of Cook County.