Michele Skryd and her family have deep roots in the City of Berwyn. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, Skryd moved to Berwyn in 1964. She attended Emerson Grade School, Morton West High School, and also Morton College in Cicero, Illinois. She and her husband have been married 30 years and have one son.

After her son became school age, Skryd reentered the work force and joined United Airlines. Her 20 plus year career with United has included an array of responsibilities. Skryd led and supervised a team on 115 International Association of Mechanics Union Customer Service Agents at O'Hare International Airport. She was a training facilitor and received a Corporate Award for Midwest Regional Customer Service. Skryd is a member of the Special Assistance Team (Crisis Management), and has served since 1988 as an on-sight family crisis counnselor. Skryd spent time in New York, and Pennsylvania assisting immediately after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Skryd has also volunteered her time and talent to Youth Crossroads, a non-profit organization specializing in individual and group counseling, around-the-clock emergency response services, delinquency prevention and after-school  programs, including youth mentoring, and leadership development. She is also a member of the Berwyn Women's Club, All Berwyn Committee, and a graduate of the Citizens Police Academy.

Elected to the Berwyn City Council on April 2, 2005, Skryd currently serves as Chairman of the Administation Committee and sits as a member of the Public Works Committee and the Licence and Taxation Committee. In the City of Berwyn, Skryd has promoted economic development by ensuring the integrity of the retail overlay and introducing the Illinois Main Street Program. She is currently working with the Berwyn Development Corporation to bring the "Artspace Project" to fruition. Artspace's mission is to create, foster, and preserve affordable space for artists and arts organizations. By creating this space, Artspace supports the continued professional growth of artists and enhances the cultural and economic vitality of the surrounding community.    

As an Alderman, Skryd has worked to create partnerships with legislators in Springfield. She has helped to secure grants and state funding totaling over $1 million dollars. Skryd lobbied State Senator Martin A. Sandoval and obtained $5.000 in grants for each of the 4th Ward schools - Hiawatha, Komensky, and St. Odilo.

Additionally Alderman Skryd has worked hard to enhance the lives of the residents of the 4th Ward by answering to the needs of the residents, business owners and local schools. She has installed speed humps, stops signs, school safety cameras, bike racks, and several new alleys. Skryd has waged war on the rat infestation and dogged the Burlington Northern Railroad to enhance the freight terminal fence by upgrading a blighted fence to an $80,000 wooden fence at no cost to the city. To ensure the safety of the neighborhood, Skryd works closely with Berwyn Police and Fire Departments collaborating on area concerns as they arise.