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
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.
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.”
Michaelann Stanley
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, she developed independence and adaptability at an early age, attending numerous schools before graduating high school at just seventeen.
She 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.
Michaelann dedicated more than three decades to education in southern Illinois, teaching French, Spanish, Italian, speech, and global awareness at Herrin Middle School and Herrin High School.
Preserving Herrin’s Cultural Heritage
Since 2013, Michaelann 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.
Family and Community Legacy
Together, Rob and Michaelann have shared nearly 38 years of marriage and are the proud parents of two daughters, Megan and Mattie.
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.
