Kathleen Cassens, Director of Planning and Development
for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, and Sandra
Whitmore, Superintendent of Leisure Services, Northbrook
Park District, were recently elected to membership in the Ameri-can Academy for Park and Recreation Administration.
*** Ronald H. Dodd was recognized by his alma mater with the Luther college Distinguished Service Award for his service to the college and the church, contributions to his community, and accomplishments in professional and personal life. Dodd is the Director of Parks and Recreation for the Joliet Park District and has been an adjunct faculty member of the department of recreation administration at St. Francis College, Joliet, since 1992. A 1964 Luther graduate, he earned the Master of Science Degree at the University of Illinois-Champaign in 1975. Dodd has worked for the Chicago Park District, Dallas Park and Recreation Department, and Park Ridge Recreation & Park District. He is a past president of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, the American Park Recreation Society, and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. *** The Collinsville Area Recreation District has appointed Mark E. Badasch to the position of Executive Director. Badasch is a graduate of Indiana State University with a B.S. in Recreation. With more than 20 years of experience in recreation and park management, Badasch has worked for the Clark County Park District, Pekin Park District and Roxana Community Park District. ***
Sixteen Rockford Park District staff were honored by their
peers for exceptional job performance, outstanding innovation,
creativity on the job, and/or notable service to the District's
staff, community or citizens. They include:
*** The law firm of James, Brooks, Adams & Tarulis has announced that Bruce Edward Garner, formerly with Botti, Marcinaccio & Tameling, Ltd., has become associated with the firm. Gamer will engage in civil litigation. ***
Thompson Dyke & Associates, Ltd., announces the association of Bradley V. Swanson and R. Gordon Leedy, Jr.,
ASLA. Swanson is a landscape designer and recent graduate
of the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana with a
Bachelor's Degree in Landscape Architecture. He is in the land
planning division of the firm, which specializes in land planning, landscape architecture and real estate consulting.
***
The Illinois Park Law Enforcement Association has announced the new officers and directors for 1995:
*** 54 * Illinois Parks & Recreation * November/December 1994
Michelle Meadows has been appointed Public Relations/
Marketing Supervisor for the Northbrook Park District. She
will play a major role in researching community needs and developing strategies for disseminating park district information.
Formerly employed by the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation
Department, Meadows will coordinate the flow of information
from the business community to the park district.
•••
Elmhurst Park District has announced two staff promotions.
Don Chapman is the new Manager of Courts Plus health, sports
and fitness center. Chapman is a former physical education
teacher and has 11 years of managerial experience at area fitness and sports centers. He has a Master's Degree in Physical
Education from Northern Illinois University.
••• The Niles Park District welcomes Sandy Dixon as their new Recreation Program Supervisor. Dixon has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation from Southern Illinois University and five years of programming experience. Her primary areas of responsibility will include preschool, summer camps, special events, trips, dance, crafts and general programs. ••• Jocelyn M. Whitfield has joined the Streamwood Park District staff as Facility Coordinator at the District's Hoosier Grove Bam. She is responsible for marketing the facility, developing programming for residents and supervising special events held at the 100-year-old barn. Whitfield, a communications graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, has more than 10 years experience in the marketing field and has worked for Allied Buying Corporation in Chicago, A.B. Dick Company, and the U.S. Navy Recreation Command at Great Lakes Training Center. •••
Carol Keithly has been named Superintendent of Human
Resources for the Peoria Park District. She has worked as the
Human Resources Manager for the district since 1987 and, as
Superintendent, will administer all aspects of the Human Resources Division including acting as Affirmative
Action Officer. Keithly holds a Master's Degree in Counseling and
Human Development Services and a Bachelor's Degree in English. She has served as a part-time faculty member
in Psychology at Illinois Central College and worked earlier at Bradley University and First Federal Savings and Loan Association
of Peoria.
•••
The Champaign Park District recently appointed Randy
Barnhart to the position of Tennis Program and Facility Supervisor. He will be responsible for the indoor tennis facility
and outdoor tennis program. Barnhart has been with the Park
District since 1990.
••• Rita Trainor is the Elmhurst Park District's new Director of Business Services. Prior to her appointment, she served as Financial Manager to the Elmhurst Park District Board Commissioners for several months. For the past 10 years, Trainor worked for Centel (Spring) Corporation in Chicago and has also worked for Coopers and Lybrand accounting firm in Chicago. Trainor is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant. Her degrees include a B.S. in Accounting and BusinessAdministration and M.S. in Accounting from Illinois State University. ••• Illinois Parks & Recreation * November/December 1994 * 55
Don Wirth to Retire as City of Evanston Director
Richard Grodsky Named as Replacement
After twenty-four years of service, Don Wirth, Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry for the city of Evanston, has announced his retirement effective March 1,1995. Wirth is the third Director in the history of the City. Prior to his career in Evanston, Wirth served as Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Brookfield, Wisconsin for eight years, from 1962-1970. Among Wirth's accomplishments in Evanston: construction of two new community centers; construction of an ice arena; development of a community theatre; major additions to two community centers; development or redevelopment of most of the nearly 80 parks in the city; development of a district park; redevelopment of two other district parks; construction of an ecology center and completing development of an arboretum; adaptation of an elementary school into a cultural arts center; completion of lakefront master plan that included construction of a full-service beach; rehab of the lagoon and lagoon park building; construction of a beach building; development of a power boat facility and parking lot; and rehabilitation of two lakefront park buildings. Programs developed or expanded during Wirth's tenure included school-based after-school and night programs; free recreation and arts programs in parks; programs for special populations; sports and social programs for all ages in the community centers. Wirth will continue to serve the City on a consultant basis, in addition to exploring opportunities in the private sector. City Manager Eric Anderson named Richard Grodsky, current Superintendent of Recreation, as Wirth's replacement. Grodsky will oversee a department budget of approximately $6,000,000 which includes maintenance of 28,000 parkway trees and over 80 parks totalling more than 280 acres; a complete recreation program; an ecology center; the Noyes Cultural Arts Center; four recreation centers; total lakefront operations and numerous other facilities and services. Grodsky has been in the field since graduating from the University of Illinois in 1977. He has held positions at various park districts, including the Park Ridge, Morton Grove, Dundee Township and Chicago park districts. * 56 * Illinois Parks & Recreation * November/December 1994
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