HerrinFesta Italiana introduces 2026 Grand Parade Marshals. Rob and Michaelann Stanley are lifelong contributors to the fabric of southern Illinois, each bringing a unique path of service, education, and community involvement that has left a lasting impact on the Herrin area. Together, they represent a shared commitment to family, culture, and community that spans nearly four decades.
Rob Stanley grew up in Carterville, where his early years were spent exploring the outdoors, hunting fossils in abandoned strip mines, and developing a fascination with the natural world that would shape his life’s work. Those experiences led him to pursue geology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees, with an emphasis in organic geochemistry.
For more than 20 years, Rob has worked as a Senior Professional Geologist and Project Manager with CWM Company, Inc., focusing on the investigation and cleanup of petroleum and other pollutants in soil and groundwater across southern Illinois. His career has been dedicated to protecting land and water resources and supporting environmental health throughout the region. He is a licensed Professional Geologist in Illinois and a Certified Professional Geologist through the American Institute of Professional Geologists, and he maintains involvement in several professional organizations.
Beyond his professional work, Rob has remained deeply connected to the Herrin community. Since relocating to the area after college, he and Michaelann have been members of First Evangelical Presbyterian Church. In recent years, Rob has also embraced a unique and meaningful role—continuing the tradition of “Herrin Santa.” What began as an unexpected opportunity has grown into a cherished way to give back, as he spends each Christmas season greeting children, visiting homes and events, and helping create lasting memories for families throughout the community.
Michaelann Stanley’s life has been shaped by a spirit of adventure, resilience, and a deep commitment to education and cultural connection. Raised in a family that moved frequently across the country—throughout the southeast and eventually settling in Illinois—she developed independence and adaptability at an early age, attending numerous schools before graduating high school at just seventeen.
After beginning her college education at Tennessee Technological University, she made a life-changing decision to move to Paris, France—an experience that broadened her worldview and strengthened her passion for language and culture. She later continued her education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in French and Spanish with teacher certification and a Master of Arts in Linguistics. She also pursued a two year immersive study at the Alliance Française in Paris where she worked as a governess.
Michaelann went on to dedicate more than three decades to education in southern Illinois, teaching French, Spanish, Italian, speech, and global awareness at Herrin Middle School and Herrin High where she was awarded the Illinois State Board of Education’s Those Who Excel Award. She also co-taught Italian with Sandra Colombo for twenty years at John A. Logan College and was the only public-school Italian teacher south of Chicago. Her influence extended far beyond the classroom, as she sponsored student organizations, led educational travel experiences throughout Europe and inspired generations of students to travel and engage with the wider world.
Her connection to Herrin deepened through her work preserving and celebrating the city’s cultural heritage. Through a university grant project, she and her students conducted oral-history interviews documenting the stories of Herrin’s Italian families, gaining a deeper understanding of the traditions, cooperation, and community spirit that define the town. Since 2013, she has served as coordinator of Herrin’s Sister City relationship with Cuggiono, Italy, fostering international connections and cultural exchange. In recognition of her work, she received the Sister City Service Award from the City of Cuggiono in 2025.
Continuing her commitment to community engagement, Michaelann founded the Herrin Heritage Club in 2023 and authored Herrin Heritage: More Than Spaghetti and Meatballs, further preserving the stories and traditions that make Herrin unique.
Together, Rob and Michaelann have shared nearly 38 years of marriage and are the proud parents of two daughters, Megan and Mattie. Their lives have been enriched by travel, lifelong learning, and opening their home to others, including hosting international guests and an exchange student from France.
Their story is one of dedication—to their professions, their family, and the community they call home. They are honored to serve as this year’s Grand Marshals and remain deeply grateful for the relationships and experiences that have shaped their lives in Herrin and throughout southern Illinois. They will be honored at the Mayor’s HerrinFesta Annual Banquet May 19 at the Herrin Civic Center.
