Husband and wife Jack & Marlene Shales describe meeting at Elgin High School. Jack worked for Illinois Hydraulic Construction Company before starting his own construction company, Seagren Shales, which is now Shales McNutt. Marlene was a nurse who also served two terms on Elgin’s City Council. Her father worked for the Elgin National Watch Company, as many Elginites did before it closed. They believe in giving back to the community which they have done through participation in United Way and in offering scholarships to nursing students at Elgin Community College.