Mary Jo Larsen Arndt (Lombard)
     Founder
     Chairman Emeritus

Strengthening the Republican Party, involving and empowering more women in the political process, and building a better, brighter future for our children are just a few goals of Mary Jo Arndt.

She combines a successful business career with political volunteerism plus the busy life of a wife and mother of three daughters.  Currently she serves as a member of the Republican National Committee for Illinois. She was a member of the Arrangements Committee for the 2000 Republican National Convention and served on the Bush Small Business Advisory team during the George W. Bush Presidential campaign. She is a member of the National Board of Directors of Leadership America, a national not-for-profit leadership organization that recognizes, educates and connects accomplished and diverse women to increase their individual and collective impact globally.  She is a member of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly and serves as an advisor to the Illinois Minority Community Alliance.

She is Past President of the National Federation of Republican Women.  She was the first small business owner to head the National Federation. During her term, the 60-year-old organization engaged in strategic planning and developing strategies for repositioning for the future. She is a member of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), The National Association of Women Business owners (NAWBO), the Lombard Chamber of Commerce and a Management Associate of the American Animal Hospital Association.

A pioneer in efforts to increase opportunities for women in politics, government and education, Mary Jo actively works to expand the party’s base by bringing a diverse group of women into the political system.  In 1989, with strong support from the late Lee Atwater, she founded the Illinois Republican Committeewoman’s Roundtable, which successfully broadens the Party’s reach into new communities of women.  During his term she served as a member of the RNC Small Business Advisory Committee.

            Through the Roundtable, Mary Jo established the Illinois Lincoln Excellence in Public Service Series. This program, endorsed by the RNC, annually awards fifteen to twenty fellowships to women to study government and politics.  The goal is to increase the number of Republican women in national and state government and party decision-making positions. Her fondest dream is that qualified Republican women indeed will have a seat at the table.

            Mary Jo understands firsthand the importance of grassroots involvement.  From 1970 to 1998, she was a DuPage County, Illinois Elected Precinct Committeeman.  Mary Jo managed the first door-to-door voter blitz in Illinois that was the model for the national Republican program.  She also initiated the Surrogate Speakers Program for George Bush in 1988, the forerunner of the successful “Women Who Win” program.

             As a member of the Illinois Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women, Mary Jo served on the Working Group on Balancing Work and Family, which explored issues such as child care, elder care and pension reform.  President Reagan appointed Mary Jo to the President’s Commission on White House Fellows, and she was reappointed by President Bush. She represented President Bush as an observer of the Romanian Elections in May 1990.  Her government service also includes a U.S. Senate confirmed appointment to the National Advisory Council on Women’s Educational Programs during the Reagan Administration, where she served as chairman of the Women’s Educational Equity Act Committee and membership on the Advisory Committee to the Illinois State Superintendent of Schools.  She also served, by appointment of the Governor, on the Illinois Commission for the Celebration of the 75^th Anniversary of the 19^th Amendment.

            Today’s Chicago Woman has twice named Mary Jo a “Power Personality”- a woman making a difference in Chicagoland’s business and social environment.  The Foundation for Women’s Resources selected Mary Jo as one of 100 women to participate in Leadership America.  She is a member of the Advisory Board of Leadership Illinois.  The Gallup Organization selected Mary Jo as a “Visionary Leader for the 21^st Century” and awarded her a full scholarship to the Gallup Leadership Institute. A graduate of Northern Illinois University with a B.S. in Education, Mary Jo is a former teacher and newspaper columnist and today is the managing partner and hospital administrator of the Lombard Veterinary Hospital with her husband Dr. Paul W. Arndt.  Mary Jo considers her best achievements their three daughters, Dr. Kristi Arndt, D.V.M., Ed.M., Ph.D.; Kerri Arndt Roselli, M.P.A.; and Dr. Georgianne Arndt Ludwig, D.V.M. and four grandchildren.

            Mary Jo Arndt has truly been a pioneer in efforts to increase opportunities for women in politics, government and education.  As a member of the RNC, she brings her dedication, ‘power personality’ and vision to build and strengthen the Republican Party by reaching out to new generations of leaders.