Lunch with a Leader is a wonderful time to learn from a VIP in the community in an easy, laid-back way. This month we will be at Forest City Gear, hearing from Kika Young, president of Forest City Gear, and receive a tour of the factory.

Sponsored by IGNITE Young Professionals, part of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.

Kika Young is a native of the Rockford region and is a true loyalist to the area. Kika graduated from Rockford’s Keith School in 2004 and went on to attend Rockford University for her B.A. (2008) and then for her MBA (2009). All the while, she has been employed at the family manufacturing business in Roscoe—Forest City Gear. Forest City Gear is a manufacturer of custom medium and fine pitch gearing for a diverse industry segment with gears in everything from the Mars Rovers to prosthetic limbs and fishing reels. Kika was recently appointed president of the company.

Kika serves as the Vice Chair for the Employers Coalition on Health and is an active member within the American Gear Manufacturer’s Association and the Rockford Chamber of Commerce. She was a 2019 recipient of the Chamber’s “40 Leaders under 40” award in 2019 and received Rockford University’s “Outstanding Young Alumna” award in 2021.