South Cook News

During its Feb. 7 meeting, the Tinley Park Village Board welcomed the owners of two village businesses as part of a monthly business spotlight program.

Monica Long, owner of Hears 2 Heal attended the meeting to be introduced by the board and to discuss her business. Hillgrove Tap owner Gordon Hallbeck was recognized but could not attend the meeting to discuss his sports bar business.

“I always knew that I wanted to teach,” Long told the board. “So three degrees later, all in nursing, I realized there were gaps in health care that could benefit from passionate, knowledgeable educators who knew a lot about nursing and could also help navigate like-minded compassionate care providers into the field of nursing to fill the gaps and care for the ill.”

Long told the board her business provides a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program and CPR training for area residents. The CPR certification programs are offered on weekdays, evenings and weekends to ensure availability for all careers and lifestyles.

A nurse for nearly 30 years, Long told the board that she enjoys sharing stories. She pointed out that she was encouraged to follow this career path by her mother and it quickly became her passion, so much so that she recently opened another location in Chicago and hopes to expand that program into the medical tech area.

Long noted that she opened the business almost three years ago—during the COVID-19 pandemic—amid a dire need for CNAs and help for the health care industry. She said her program runs for three days each week for eight weeks at a low tuition price, with free books and supplies included.

The next session kicks off in April, and students can contact Long for additional information.