Read about the Kilted Classic Committee members who joined Chicago Scots Reciprocal Membership program. Enjoy travel benefits in Scotland. Are you Scottish by birth, heritage or inclination?
Joey Guzzardo discovered his passion for the game the Scots invented later in life. An avid golfer for the past 10 years, he is excited to be a new member of the Kilted Classic Golf Committee and hopes to play a round or two in Scotland in the years ahead.
Although Joey is Italian and Swedish by heritage, he is ‘Scottish by inclination’ because he loves Scottish history, works for a Scotsman, and believes in the Scottish values of education, equality and enterprise. He even has a kilt!
Joey was introduced to Chicago Scots through the Highland Games. When he saw an advertisement for the Highland Games in 2008 he told his wife, Amy, they should go. He loved the movie Braveheart as a kid and from his first introduction, Joey was fascinated by the authentic, cultural experience the Games offers. He and Amy became regular attendees long before Joey joined Sterling Engineering and long before they had Colin, age 11 and Bryn, age 10, who have grown up attending the Games, too.
When Joey was doing a career search for a sales job with an engineering recruiting firm, the more he looked at Sterling Engineering, the higher it rose on his top 10 list. By the time he was ready to interview, Sterling was at the top of the list. At that time, Joey didn’t know that Sterling’s founder Dan Casey, hailed from Dumbarton, Scotland. Or, that Dan was on the governing board of the Chicago Scots. What he did know was that Sterling’s benefit package was second to none. He was motivated by Sterling’s values of inclusion and equality and the opportunities employees had to flourish and grow. Sterling has been an ESOP company with a global reach since 2013, but valuing employees and offering exceptional benefits has been at the heart of its culture since doors opened 55 years ago.
Those values align with Joey’s own desire to give back and create value for others. Joey was glad to join Chicago Scots Reciprocal Membership Program with the National Trust for Scotland. He knows his family will enjoy the history lessons that will be included in the member magazines they will receive 3x annually. Although he wasn’t born into a Scottish family, Joey feels that Scottish culture welcomes everyone, and he has embraced it wholeheartedly.
Outside of work, Joey is passionate about giving back to his community. He and Amy volunteer regularly at their church. They look forward to attending the next Highland Games June 13-14, 2025 at the DuPage County Fairgrounds. Joey’s family value the opportunity to engage with the Scottish culture. Joey hopes to visit Scotland with his family one day, and plans on playing on its historic golf courses.
Joey is pleased to be representing Sterling Engineering as Sponsors of the Awards Dinner the 23rd Annual Kilted Classic Golf Tournament.
Every year at our Scottish Festival & Highland Games, the Chicago Scots feature a family or an organization as our Honored Clan. This year, to recognize and celebrate its’ strong Scottish roots, our Honored Clan is Rotary International. We are proud to announce that Rotary International’s Scottish President, Gordon McInally has agreed to lead our Parade of Tartans at 12:30 p.m. Gordon will also receive the Salute to the Chieftain from the Massed Pipe Bands at approximately 6.30pm on Saturday, June 15, 2024.