SURPRISE! President Obama Drops in on OPC Site
President Barack Obama stopped by the site of the Obama Presidential Center earlier this summer, and based on the reactions shared by the workers he spoke with, the memory is one they will treasure for a lifetime.
The president’s visit was hush-hush to all but the senior leadership of Lakeside Alliance. So, when workers were pulled away from their tasks, ushered into a tent and looked up and saw “44” walking in wearing a yellow safety vest, they were genuinely shocked.
“I was completely surprised. I didn’t even know he was coming,” said Dana Wennerberg, a technical engineer on site. “I got a phone call from my supervisor about an hour before…and when he walked in, it was just crazy.”
It was the first time President Obama had been on the site since the Center’s groundbreaking last fall. He thanked everyone for their hard work and was impressed by the progress made in just a few short months.
“For us to be able to pull together workers of every background…to get that kind of experience for them to be able to see that this is not something that is done for this community, but rather the community is part of building it, that’s going to set an example and raise the bar for projects in the future.”
Haley Sandman, an assistant engineer, recalls events progressing very quickly that June day, from “he would be on site” to “we might see him from far away” to “they said we could meet him.”
“I think it was honorable that he took the time to meet and talk with the Lakeside team, the people responsible for building and managing this portion of his legacy,” Sandman said.
Sandman added she appreciated the president’s sense of humor as he joked about loving Chicago in June but also being willing to come back in January. “The president came across as extremely down-to-earth and approachable with how he spoke and his proximity to everyone. I thought that was honorable considering his level of visibility and the role he has played in the world.”
Erin Cullen, a project executive, was tipped off about Obama’s visit the day before but sworn to secrecy. However, even without the element of surprise, she was still blown away to meet the president.
There was one thing the president said that really resonated with her, she added. “He’s a beautiful speaker and I remember he said, ‘Too many times we focus on the people that talk the most and not those who do the most.’ That was impactful.”
Intern Maliq Cherry was impressed that President Obama made sure to pronounce his name correctly, and reflected, “I’m still a bit in awe when I talk about it sometimes. How many people can say they met President Obama?”
Later that day, when Cherry shared the news with his grandmother, he said she teased, “Wow, you’re getting to be more important than me.”
Cherry said, “My family told me they’re proud of me and to keep doing what I’m doing.”