Each year, Ireland Network Chicago honors an individual who has made significant and sustained contributions to the Chicago Irish community with the IN Spirit Award. This Award expresses our profound gratitude and appreciation for an individual’s incredible service to the Irish community.
It is our great privilege to honor Dolores Connolly with the 2025 IN Spirit Award!
Dolores Connolly was born and raised in Longford, Ireland. She attended Loreto College, Mullingar before receiving her International Certification in Early Childhood Education from Association Montessori Internationale, London in 1976. Her quest for travel and adventure was answered when Alcuin Montessori School of River Forest, Illinois, came to Ireland to recruit her to work at their school in 1979.
Over time, Dolores’ professional ambitions changed and so too her career path. She started her corporate career with AOE / Danka Corporation, a global technology company. Over fifteen years, she worked through the ranks to become Regional Vice President.
In the late 1990’s Dolores joined her husband Dan, founder of Sterling Engineering Companies to support the company’s strategic plan to expand their service offerings. In 2002, she was appointed CEO of Sterling Engineering and Sterling Staffing Inc., a position she holds to this day. Currently operating in 25 states, with 500+ employees and annual revenues of $50+ million dollars.
Sterling Engineering recently expanded their operations in the European market opening EMEA Headquarters in Ireland, with offices in Dublin and Galway. This new venture is driven by Sterling’s global client demands to expand their world class engineering and specialized technical recruiting services beyond North America.
From Dolores’ early days volunteering with the Simon Community (an organisation striving to end homelessness in Ireland) to teaching inner city children in Dublin, service to the community has been a constant thread throughout her life. Her passion for social justice, equality and education for all is at the core of her philanthropy focus. This has driven much of her civic engagements and commitments over the years. As a Board Member for Concern Worldwide US, civic engagement is not just a role but it is a testament to who Dolores is and what she stands for.
Dolores is proudly involved, and an active member of a number of organisations:
Concern Worldwide. Executive Board Member since 1999
International Women’s Forum, Chicago. Member since 1998
Chicago - Galway Sister Cities Committee. Member since 1995
Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Presidents Circle, USA. Member since 2001
Women Minority Business Enterprise,(WMBE) Chicago. Member since 2013
Irish Books, Arts and Music (iBAM!) Award, Person of the Year, 2018
Chicago Mother Jones Statue Committee 2021
Today, Dolores and her husband Dan live in Lincoln Park, Chicago. She credits him for his constant faith in her capabilities and ambitions. His unwavering support has allowed her to break glass ceilings throughout her career. They enjoy a life of adventure together while balancing their work and philanthropic endeavours both locally and globally.
