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By Brent Hoffmann, 2005

Like many of us, Alina – a certified public accountant with KPMG LLP — works remotely.  “On March 17^th of 2020, I packed up my files, took the pictures of my husband and two kids off the desk, and left the Loop office for home,” said Alina.  “Although I have been able to work remotely, it’s also been the busiest of times in keeping my family healthy and safe.  COVID’s also had implications from a tax and financial perspective for my clients.  So, the pandemic has made a lasting impression on us all.”

Despite the pandemic, Alina’s continued to lead river tours, most recently in November of 2021.  “Over the past few years, I’ve given tours mostly in the fall, because that works well with my work and family responsibilities,” she added.  “I work in the tax group that focuses on clients that are heavily invested in the real estate industry.  Some of the properties I talk about, such as the Apple store, on the river are owned or operated by KPMG clients.  And Walsh Construction is the general contractor on one of my favorite buildings, the new Salesforce Tower at Wolf Point.

Philippines

“Recently, I had tourees from Spain on my boat,” continued Alina. “They said that their English wasn’t good, but they were able to understand what I was saying because I speak slowly with good enunciation.  I’m proud of that feedback because I grew up in a household where Tagalog, the language of the Philippines, is the primary language.  My parents, who emigrated to the U.S. in 1970, are fluent in English as their second language.  I know that it helps to speak slowly and clearly to make sure everyone can understand.  So, I conduct my tours as if I were having a conversation with the tour-takers, in ways they can easily remember.”

Alina grew up in Glenview and commuted to DePaul University, where she earned a double major in accounting and finance.  “I became a docent because I wanted to broaden my knowledge of Chicago’s history and architecture,” she said.  “My husband Sean and I have relatives and friends from out of town, and they’d always ask questions about the city and its buildings.  They assumed that, because we live near the river at 405 N. Wabash, we would know.  Which was a terrible assumption, since rarely do locals really look at our skyscrapers unless a tour guide reminds them to do so.  So, I looked into becoming a docent after going on a CAF River Cruise.  When I was interviewed for the training, I made a short presentation about John Wellborn Root.  Much of the attention goes to Daniel Burnham, so I wanted to turn the spotlight on John Root.  It worked.  I certified as a docent in 2012, and our docent class is excited to celebrate our 10-year anniversary this year.

An Efficient Tour

“I used to give the Historic Skyscrapers and Modern Skyscrapers tour, but now, with two kids and work, I had to give it up because of my limited time.  The River Cruise is my ultimate favorite since it’s very comprehensive.  Some would call it an ‘efficient’ tour that allows me to tell a lot of Chicago stories in just 90 minutes.  I’m not involved as much as I would like, but I hope to increase my tour hours and involvement in the coming years as the kids get older.

“In the pre-COVID times, I was on the Enrichment Committee,” she continued.  “I had a wonderful time planning docent-only events in Chicago, including a tour of the Woman’s Athletic Club on North Michigan Ave. and the condos of Renelle on the River, next to the Trump Tower.  I also support CAC through a KPMG program that makes grants to its employees’ favorite nonprofit organizations.  I applied in 2021 and a $500 grant was made to the Center.  I plan on applying for another grant in hopes of CAC receiving $1,250 in 2022.”

Beyond Docenting

When not leading tours, working from home, and juggling family responsibilities, Alina enjoys jogging and traveling.  She’s run the Chicago half-marathon, Soldier Field 10-mile, Shamrock Shuffle, and other local races.  She said, “before the pandemic hit, we visited Los Angeles and went on a modern skyscraper walking tour that included the Walt Disney Concert Hall designed by Frank Gehry.  In 2021, we took the kids to Alaska and had a wonderful time exploring the wildlife, visiting bird and bear sanctuaries, and hiking up close to glaciers.  We also went to Tahiti and enjoyed being beach bums and eating fresh-caught seafood.  In the fall of 2022, we’ll go on a ship cruise to Israel, Greece, Italy, and France.  We’ll end in Barcelona, Spain, and take in Antoni Gaudi’s breathtaking Basilica de la Sagrada Familia church.”

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