Title: Development Director
Company: Milestone Inc.
Location: Rockford, Illinois, United States
Arles Hendershott Love, development director at Milestone Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in broadcasting and nonprofits.
Demonstrating resilience and the ability to adapt to changing conditions, Mrs. Love first built her career in the broadcast world. She began as an anchor, reporter and producer for WTVO, part of the Nexstar Media Group, in 1979. Quickly showcasing her potential in the field, Mrs. Love moved on to the role of news director and community relations director at WIFR in 1983. Committed to that position for more than 20 years, she was one of the only women given news director responsibilities during this time frame, which remains a noteworthy accomplishment for her.
Following the events of 9/11, traditional broadcasting went through a number of major changes, leaving Mrs. Love as one of the last old-school managers still active in the industry. After WIFR was acquired by a new owner in the early 2000s, her position — a unique hybrid of corporate and station-level work — was eventually phased out. At this point, she recognized that she would be better off reinventing herself and finding a new direction rather than looking for another job in broadcasting. Moreover, she felt a desire to find work that could make a stronger impact on the world, an instinct that turned her eye toward the nonprofit field.
Since 2005, Mrs. Love has served as the resource development director at Milestone Inc. Founded in the 1970s, this nonprofit has become the largest provider of services for individuals with developmental disabilities in northern Illinois. Mrs. Love was excited to discover that many of the skills she developed working in news broadcasting fit naturally into the needs of her new line of work. Her research and writing capabilities allow her to quickly match projects with funding opportunities, while also understanding how to tell the story of those projects in a way that appeals to potential volunteers and donors. Mrs. Love notes that being a woman in broadcasting also instilled her with resilience, to which she attributes much of her success. She is deeply proud of being able to turn that resilience and success toward fundraising to support people in need.
Mrs. Love’s performance in the field was born of her academic journey. She earned a Bachelor of Science in communications, graduating with honors from Illinois State University in 1979. Subsequently, Mrs. Love completed master’s coursework in broadcast management at the University of Missouri in 1990. She is certified as a nonprofit consultant, a development executive and a nonprofit executive through the National Association of Nonprofit Organizations & Executives.
Noted for her achievements across multiple fields, Mrs. Love has been celebrated with numerous accolades. Among others, she was presented with the Leadership Award from the Ken-Rock Community Center in 1980, the Presidential Award of Honor from the Rockford Jaycees in 1986, the District Award from the Zonta Public Relations Campaign in 1990, the Leader Luncheon Award from the YWCA in 1991, the Crime Stopper of the Year Award by the Rockford Area Crime Stoppers in 1996 and 2000, the Award of Merit from the Illinois Public Health Association in 2000, the Distinguished Service Award from the American Heart Association Inc. in 2000, and the Volunteerism Award from Lifescape Community Services in 2009. In 2024, Mrs. Love was inducted into the Illinois State University Broadcasting Hall of Fame, which she considers a major milestone in her professional life. That same year, she was recognized through proclamations from the governor, House of Representatives and Senate of the state of Illinois, as well as from the Rockford, Illinois, city council.
In addition to her career, Mrs. Love enjoys traveling, photography, dog training and competing in dog sports. She remains dedicated to her work with Milestone Inc. for the foreseeable future and hopes to continue making a positive impact on the lives of those in need.
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