PEOPLE AND PLACES

Dodd and Flickinger Receive University of Illinois Honors

Ronald H. Dodd, executive director of the Joliet Park District, and Dr. Ted Flickinger, executive director of the Illinois Association of Park Districts received Joseph J. Bannon Practitioner Awards from the Department of Leisure Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. The awards, given April 18,1997, at the Department's 31st Annual Awards Banquet, are presented to practitioners who display innovation in community service and support of the field of parks and recreation at both the state and national levels. Dr. Joseph Bannon served as Head of the Department of Leisure Studies for 16 years. Dr. Bannon is especially recognized for his contributions to scholarship and teaching in the areas of planning, problem solving, and public park and recreation administration.

Doud Retires After 40-year Career

Joe H. Doud, executive director of the Northbrook Park District for the past 30 years, retired on April 30, 1997, after 40 years of service to the park and recreation profession. Doud graduated with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Recreation from the University of Iowa in 1957, securing his first job as playground coordinator and recreation supervisor for the Iowa City Playground and Recreation Commission. He was director of parks and recreation for the city of Bettendorf, Iowa, from 1959-1967.

Doud is a longstanding member of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the American Park and Recreation Society (APRS). He has greatly contributed to these organizations as a student, speaker, instructor, and chairman. He has served as president of Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) and APRS. As past president of APRS, he was integral in its reorganization, focusing on the park and recreation field becoming more specialized and in improving services to its members. He chaired the Board of Regents of the East and West Revenue Resource Management School and the National Professional Golf Management School. He served as the first chair of the reorganized IPRA Professional Development School. He was a member of the Great Lakes Regional Council and served as a member of the NRPA Board of Trustees.

Doud has been a recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the APRS Distinguished Fellow Award in 1996. He also received the NRPA C-BM Branch Professional Excellence Award as well as the Great Lakes Professional of the Year Award. He was also named to the "Who's Who Among Outstanding Business Executives." In 1996, the Northbrook Park District won the National Gold Medal Award, and Doud has the distinct honor of administrating the first park district in the nation to receive accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies for management, programming, and operational proficiency. Joe and his wife, Betsy, are moving to Florida.

Edward W. Harvey was recently named the executive director of the Northbrook Park District. Harvey has been employed by the Northbrook Park District since 1988. Formerly the superintendent of parks and properties for the district, he was responsible for park and facility maintenance, site planning, construction, capital improvements and risk management. Prior to his experience in Northbrook, he was director of operations for Champaign Park District for ten years and superintendent of operations for Urbana Park District for seven years. He has a bachelor of science in Recreation and Park Administration from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and also received his master of science in Leisure Studies from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

Maurice Thomas was hired as recreation supervisor responsible for youth programming for the Fox Valley Park District. After graduating from East Aurora High School, Thomas studied at Aurora University and graduated from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in Communications and Political Science. Thomas previously worked as a Community Youth Outreach Specialist for the city of Aurora Sports and Youth Activities Department.

Susan Hoster-Suggs joins the Bolingbrook Park District as business manager. Previously, Hoster-Suggs was the finance director for the Orland Park Fire Protection District since 1984. She has a bachelors degree in Public Administration from Lewis University and is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association and Illinois Municipal Treasurers Association.

Thompson Dyke & Associates, Ltd., recently announced the election of Peter T. Dyke as president of the firm, which was established in 1981 and specializes in urban planning, land planning, golf course design developing, zoning, open space planning, park planning and landscape architecture. Thompson A. Dyke, AICP, ASLA, founder of the firm, will serve as chairman of the board and continue to provide planning and project advisory services. Theodore Johnson, AICP, ASLA, was named executive vice president. Gordon Leedy, Jr. ASLA, was appointed vice president.

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PEOPLE AND PLACES

Kim Pieper was hired as fitness manager for the Bolingbrook Park District. Pieper was the fitness center supervisor for the Lisle Executive Fitness Center for the past three years. She has a bachelor's degree in Physical Education from North Central College and more than ten years of fitness management experience.

AnnMarie Fauske was appointed the manager of the Kane County Forest Preserve District's Events and Cultural Center. Fauske, of Aurora, brings an extensive background in marketing. She has worked for the Paramount Arts Centre, the North Island Centre and Copley Theater, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago. A graduate of the Illinois State University in Normal, she is past president of the PRSSA.

Shelley A. Johnson joined the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association (NISRA) as superintendent of recreation, bringing with her more than 14 years of experience in therapeutic recreation. A graduate of Illinois State University (Normal), Johnson recently served as manager of special recreation for Northwest Special Recreation Association. A certified therapeutic recreation specialist, she's also current treasurer of the Illinois Therapeutic Recreation Section of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association.

Angela Teply joins the Fox Valley Park District as community relations coordinator and is responsible for promoting the park district programs and facilities. Teply is a graduate of the University of South Dakota, where she earned a bachelors degree in Mass Communication. Previously, she was the business and marketing manager for the Norris Theatre in St. Charles.

Gabriel Fonseca is the aquatics supervisor for the Fox Valley Park District. Fonseca majored in Communication and minored in Recreation at Central Missouri State University. He comes to the park district from the Department of Parks and Recreation in Kansas City, Mo., where he held the position of community center supervisor. Fonseca has also held positions with the city of Liberty, Mo., as aquatics supervisor and also in the private sector for a commercial water park. Oceans of Fun, of Kansas City.

Letters to the Editor This year at the IPRA conference I had the privilege of receiving significant recognition from IPRA and the membership. At the time I was greatly surprised and certainly humbled by this action. After a few months of thinking about it, it is still somewhat overwhelming, considering our agency also was awarded the National Gold Medal Award and we are celebrating our 20th year anniversary. Incredible —what a super year! What occurred to me first was my wishes that my father could have lived to be pan of the celebration. But, immediately after that, I could not help but realize how blessed I have been with an incredible staff and an exceptional Board of Trustees. None of my accomplishments could have happened without their support and often their involvement. Susan Balling, my assistant and associate for the past 20 years (herself an IPRA 1997 Meritorious Award winner) is unequivocally the most gifted professional I have ever met. Her commitment to parks and recreation, people with disabilities and community service is without peer. No words can express my thanks. I am often reminded how fortunate NEDSRA is to have such talented professionals on our staff. Lonna Converso, Flynn Vance and Lisa Deets are simply the best! The recreation staff of Lori Gorden, Craig Culp, Karen Cerveny, Matt Corso, Deb Frey, Nell Fleming, Donna Allen, Glenn Knoblock, Jamie Brooks and Tony Os are just an incredible team of professionals. They have vision and they have commitment to make things happen. We all work together, and with the extremely capable talents of our office staff Shelley Sandner, Liz Grillos and Helene Coletto, we really feel privileged to work with each other. I also know how fortunate we are to have such a great board of trustees. This board understands our mission and is committed to our vision. If I had to say one thing about the board members, it would be that they care! The NEDSRA board and staff work as a team and it is because of this oneness of purpose, this ability to focus, that we have been so successful. The people we serve are the basis for our motivation and this gives us the spirit to excel. In dosing, I would like to thank you, all the membership of IPRA, the leadership of IAPD, and key IAPD and IPRA staff who have continually been supportive and creative. I could have done nothing without my fellow professionals in both associations. You have taught me so much and given to me for so long. I hope that in some way I can repay your thoughtfulness by mentoring new professionals and giving back to the great field of parks and recreation. Thanks again to the super board and staff of Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association. — Lawrence S. Reiner Executive Director Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association

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