Meet Jacqueline Micelli of ChainLinks Bike Shop in Rogers Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Micelli.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jacqueline. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am currently a rising senior at Loyola University Chicago, originally from South Bend, IN and Reno, NV. While I say Indiana, I identify fully with my Northern Nevada roots. While home you can usually catch me in Tahoe, embracing the sun or carving waist high powder on my skis. When it came time to apply for colleges, my two requirements were city life and opportunities to travel, both of which LUC afforded me.

Freshman year at college was rough, I was and remain unlike a “normal” Loyola student. I wasn’t from a big city or Illinois for that matter, I dressed differently, I often had pink hair, I spent most days in the gym, and I was comfortable adventuring alone. Upon returning from winter break in 2015, I knew I needed to find my place at Loyola otherwise I would be transferring. Like any normal broke college freshman, I sought out organizations, clubs and work to occupy my excess time that wasn’t spent studying or exploring every vintage store in the city. With my first summer in Chicago quickly approaching, I quickly pursued a better reason to stay than just possibly the worst summer course offered at Loyola, Organic Chemistry. In prep for the summer, I was hired in March 2015 at ChainLinks as a Shop Associate, now over two years later I am President of ChainLinks. As if handling 18 credit hours and a full time job at ChainLinks wasn’t enough, I became a certified spin instructor and teach about 3 classes a week per semester at Halas Recreation Center. I will graduate Loyola with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in management.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Stated before, I was hired at ChainLinks in March 2015. I worked up until the last day I was in the US, before traveling to study in Rome, Italy for an entire semester. Upon returning, I was promoted to Shop Manager and then to President in July 2016. My path was linear, but there were bumps in the road. Managing a full-time class load and two jobs is not an easy task for starters. My promotion to interim President was immediate and unexpected, I was Shop Manager one day and the next day it was “this is your business and you have a month to prove you’re capable.”

I understood the implications of the job; I knew the shop operations to a T and I was always just simply good with numbers and math, but I was a biology major at the time. I had never taken a business class in my life. I was effectively useless when looking at a consolidated financial break down; I asked my advisor to explain depreciation to me a multitude of times over the month. I had very little knowledge of excel. I hadn’t a clue in marketing. Rental bikes were missing, our operating system needed renovation, my team shrunk by one person. That month to prove myself was slowly dwindling. I had one month to learn my entire business compared to my counterparts who had been in the role for 5 months already. Despite the setbacks, I was determined to prove myself. I wanted this job and I knew dedicating most of my time to learning the business in and out would have me promoted from interim President to President. I am grateful for the stress; it pushed me to dive in head first and adapt my management style to better the company and myself.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about ChainLinks Bike Shop – what should we know?
ChainLinks Bike Shop is at Loyola Limited business; Loyola Limited is a strictly undergraduate student-run enterprise at Loyola University Chicago. ChainLinks, a not for profit organization, was established in 2011 as the nation’s first student-run bike shop. The shop idea originated when a group of students approached Loyola Limited for a more sustainable model for their bike sharing club.

ChainLinks is not only a full maintenance shop, but owns a fleet of 60 rental bikes that can be rented for daily up to academic year long rentals. ChainLinks is located on Loyola’s campus in Rogers Park, allowing for service to Loyola and the greater Chicagoland area. ChainLinks maintains a small team of 4-5 employees each year; all team members are fully trained mechanics and have completed a full eight-week training course to provide optimal maintenance on customer and rental bikes.

While I maintain a huge passion for cycling, bikes are not the reason I love ChainLinks. ChainLinks continues to set the standard at Loyola Limited for community engagement; our team regularly volunteers at events in many Chicago neighborhoods offering free bike maintenance, knowledge and service. ChainLinks has partnered with the Chicago Public Schools Alternatives Program, Catholic Charities and now CPS Sullivan High School to provide jobs to students. This summer specifically, we will be employing one student through Catholic Charities and one from Sullivan High School. Our program focuses on professional development and mentorship between team members and the students. I have worked closely with 4 students in the past two years; my leadership skills broadened when put in charge of students with very different backgrounds compared to the Loyola students I have supervised.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Honestly, can one answer this question without mentioning their parents? My parents rock; they are always my biggest supporters. My Dad has been in upper level management since before I was born. I used to go to work with him every day during the summers; we definitely share our management and leadership styles. My Mom is basically a super mom. My dad traveled a lot, so my mom kept up the house, the yard and took care of me and my older two brothers, which I can honestly say was probably harder than my Dad’s job. They consistently challenged me, encouraged me to seek opportunities and do well in school. I would not be at Loyola University Chicago and then ChainLinks without them.

Every single one of my coworkers and work advisors has impacted my success and ChainLinks’ success in some way. Loyola Limited’s two graduate student work advisors, Sean Connolly and Paityn Korner gave me the opportunity to work in my current position. For the past year, they have effectively allowed me to take the business in a community engagement based direction to promote environmental awareness and social justice in the Loyola and Chicago community. My fellow executive members have all solidified my ability to work successfully on a team. I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive group who constantly pushes me to think creatively, question our ideas and pursue innovated solutions.

While all my employees have exhibited an extreme amount of dedication for the job, a previous employee and my greatest friend, Lanie Shuba, is quite possibly the best thing that has come out of my time at ChainLinks. Lanie has witnessed every bit of stress I have endured, lots of tears, and many successes in school, work and my personal life. She strengthened ChainLinks engagement as previous Director of Community Engagement and brought life to the shop. 

Pricing:

• Daily Bike Rentals $36
• Weekly Bike Rentals $60
• Monthly Bike Rentals $120
• Summer Special Bike Rentals $220
• Tune-Up $75
• Flat Fix $15
• Brake Adjustment $10

Contact Info:

• Address: 1100 W Sheridan Road
  Chicago, IL 60660
• Website: chainlinksluc.com
• Phone: 7735082440
• Email: chainlinksloyola@gmail.com
• Instagram: chainlinksluc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChainLinksluc/
• Twitter: ChainLinksLUC
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chainlinks-chicago

Image Credit:
Alexandra Platt and Nicholas Coulson

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