Sheila's leadership began in 1999 when she was appointed by then-Mayor Stricker to the Fire and Police Commission. She later became the Dir. of The Fire and Police Commission for the State of Illinois. 

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Sheila's other awards and positions have included: Illinois Fire and Police Commission's Doc Wilson Award, member of the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership, chosen by then-Senator Obama to serve on the selection commission for US Military Academies, held the Senior Advisor and Director of External Affairs position for former Lieutenant-Gov Sheila Simon, and served as a Village of Matteson Trustee for eight years, where she was liaison for the Economic Development Committee and various other committees.

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In 2017, Sheila received the paramount leadership role, being elected the first African American Woman Mayor of the Village of Matteson. Sheila successfully balanced the Matteson budget and elevated the village's bond rating from delisted junk bond status to the present highly rated AA-. Mayor Sheila's initiatives also included the attraction of major businesses: Amazon, Sam's Club e-commerce, Chick-fil-A, Holiday Inn Express renovation (former Country Inn and Suites), Holiday Inn renovation (soon to be a Marriott branded as Delta), Central Trucking, RL Trucking, Belle Tire, Aldi expansion, Humane Society, Manheim Auto expansion, full Auto Mall, Crow Logistics (behind Menards), Matteson Orthodontics, Belle Tire, 4front Ventures (largest facility of its type in Illinois), Pete's, and much more.

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Infrastructure improvements of Lincoln Highway resurfacing, Cicero intersection improvement, full subdivision street resurfacing, and other completed, ongoing, and coming soon projects.

Sheila is a member of the Southland Regional Mayoral Black Caucus and, serves as a Board of Director for the Cook County Land Bank. Sheila is Vice-President of the South Suburban Mayors and Manager Association (SSMMA), First Vice-President of the Illinois Municipal League (IML), and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.

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Some notable awards include Amazing Women 2024, History Makers 2024, Notable Black Leaders 2022 - Crain’s Chicago Business, Distinguished Alumni 2021 – Governors State University, Distinguished Alumni 2021 – Roosevelt University, Women of Excellence 2019 – National Foundation for Women Legislators, Women of Excellence 2018 - Chicago Defender, Women of Excellence in Politics 2017 - Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and Elected Official of the Year 2017 – Chamber 57. 

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Sheila has a B.A. (Governors State University) and a Master's Degree (Roosevelt University).