P E O P L E   &   P L A C E S

Bloomingdale Park District Names New Director

The Bioomingdale Park District has named Carrie Ann Haupert as its new executive director. She succeeds Steve Scholten, who served as executive director for more than 16 years. Scholten accepted a similar position at the Arlington Heights Park District in May.

Haupert, a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP), has been, since 2006, director of parks and recreation for the Village of Hinsdale. Under her leadership, the park and recreation department has experienced unprecedented growth, emphasizing community outreach and generating greater exposure for all village areas to increase agency revenues.

"Carrie has the experience, professional expertise and enthusiasm to build on the park district's foundation and lead us to leverage our strengths and enhance our community collaborations," said Mike Vogl, park board president.

Prior to joining the Village of Hinsdale, Haupert was superintendent of special facilities and community adult education/recreation coordinator at the Wheaton Park District. Earlier in her career, she was division manager of facilities and community recreation center manager at the Schaumburg Park District. She has been a member of numerous professional leadership committees of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. She received a B.S. in leisure studies (program management) and an M.S. in leisure studies (administration) from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

IAPD Hires Finance Director

Alan Howard is the lAPD's new finance director. He comes to IAPD from Regions Bank in Springfield, where he was a financial services representative responsible for the company's loan, deposit and investment growth; client consultations; and for managing the consumer loan department, branch procurement process and accounts payable. As IAPD finance director, he is responsible for the association's accounting needs, membership record retention and human resources functions. He received a B.S. in business administration with a minor in finance from Illinois College. Howard can be reached at ahoward@ILparks.org.

Nine Illinois Agencies Are Among the Gold Medal Finalists

Nine agencies from Illinois will vie for one of the top honors in the profession, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) and National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Gold Medal. Gold Medals honor communities throughout the United States that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition.

Five medals are awarded to local agencies each year. The 20 finalists are categorized by population served. The Illinois nominees fall into four categories.

Class II
The Pleasure Driveway and Park District of Peoria

Class III
Hoffman Estates Park District Arlington Heights Park District

Class IV
Carol Stream Park District Elmhurst Park District St. Charles Park District

Class V
Batavia Park District Vernon Hills Park District Sterling Park District

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New Leisure Service Supervisor Heads to Northbrook

Lacey McMahon is the leisure service supervisor at Northbrook Park District's Village Green Center. After graduating from South Dakota State University with a degree in public recreation, McMahon worked for the Waukegan Park District, planning adult programs and services. Coming to the Northbrook Park District, she switched to the youth sports area and is in charge of soccer, tennis, lacrosse, Park Fest concerts, velodrome cycle racing and winter facilities.

Pleasant Dale Park District Appoints
Marketing Communications Coordinator and Athletic Supervisor

Officials at the Pleasant Dale Park District have named Karla Olson as the agency's new marketing communications coordinator.

Olson brings a background of integrated marketing communications to this position. She is a former accoun assistant with Jasculca Terman and Associates, a public firm based in Chicago, and she gained additional experience by working in the public relations department of Navy Pier in Chicago and by interning in the community relations department of Lyons Township High School in LaGrange.

Olson earned her bachelor's degree in public relations with a minor in Spanish from Valparaiso University. She is currently pursuing a master of arts in public relations and advertising from DePaul University.

Tom Ludwig is the district's new athletic supervisor.

Ludwig is a former employee of the City of Neenah, Wisconsin, where he worked in the parks and recreation department. He also served in the sports and fitness and special project division of the Great Lakes Naval Station i Illinois and interned in Yokosuka, Japan, where he worked the aquatics division of the military community.

Ludwig earned his bachelor's degree in recreation management from the University of Wisconsin.

Dixon Hires Natural Resources Director

Dixon Park District has recently hired 2008 Aurora University graduate Peter Oliver as its director of natural resources.

His responsibilities include natural resource management, invasive species control, educational programs and overseeing the district's Lowell Park Nature Center.

Oliver holds a B.S. in biology and has interned with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

Sports Equipment Grants Available Through IAPD Affiliate

IAPD has teamed up with Good Sports, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides sports equipment for disadvantaged youth participating in park programs in the Chicagoland area. Good Sports encourages programs in need to apply for a grant by filling out the grant application form found on its Web site www.goodsports.org.

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Brian Corson

Amanda Hanson

Rachel Pozner

Anastasia Steinbrunner

New Hires at the Skokie Park District

Brian Corson was recently hired as network administrator in the Skokie Park District's business services division. His duties include network management, training, desktop support, migration planning, configuration, documentation, software upgrades, installation of new PCs and policy implementation. Corson previously served as a network engineer at ADSi in Hoffman Estates. He received his bachelor's degree in network management from DeVry University in Addison.

After having served as the part-time supervisor of the Skokie Park District's Skokie Heritage Museum since 2003, Amanda Hanson was recently named as the museum's facility manager. Her duties include office management and archiving, designing and arranging exhibits, developing and running museum programs and serving as liaison to the Skokie Historical Society. Hanson received her bachelor's degree in anthropology from Loyola University. She was named the district's part-time employee of the year in 2005.

Rachel Pozner was recently hired as a graphic designer in the district's marketing department. Her duties include conceptualizing, designing and producing print materials, including seasonal brochures, promotional materials, displays, print advertising and the district's Web site. Pozner has served as the district's part-time designer since 2006. She received her bachelor's degree in fine arts from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Anastasia Steinbrunner was recently hired as a program coordinator at the Skokie Park District's Emily Oaks Nature Center. Her duties include leading outdoor recreation and nature education programs for children and families and coordinating a summer camp for tots. Since 2007, Steinbrunner has served as a part-time naturalist at Emily Oaks. She received her B.A. degree from DePaul University in Chicago.

Des Plaines Park District Has New Accounting Manager

Amy Garbacz has joined the Des Piaines Park District as the new accounting manager. Her primary responsibilities include month-end accounting functions and managing the accounting department staff. Garbacz also serves on the safety committee and handles human resources. Garbacz is a graduate of Winona State University. She comes to the park district with more than eight years experience in all aspects of accounting.

Addison Hires New Aquatic and Facilities Supervisor

Missy Moulder joined the Addison Park District as the new aquatics and facilities supervisor this spring. She oversees the adult programming, facility and field rentals and the management of the district's outdoor pool and splash park. Moulder is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, where she earned a B.S. in preventative and rehabilitative exercise science. Prior to joining the Addison Park District team, she worked at Health Bridge Fitness Center in Crystal Lake.

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Daniel Tutskey

Stephen Golembiewski

Daniel Tutskey joined the Westmont Park District staff as the athletics coordinator in May. He oversees youth and adult athletics, as well as the skate park.

Tutskey majored in recreation management at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he received All American track honors nine times, was captain of four national championship teams, set numerous conference and school records, competed at the indoor and outdoor USA Track and Field National Championships, and was ranked in the top 100 in the world in the 100 meters in 2002 and 2003. He also competed for the United States Bobsled Team in 2004 and 2005.

Tutskey completed an internship with the City of Mesa Park and Recreation Department.

Stephen Golembiewski joined the district as the recreation coordinator earlier this year. He oversees the dance, adult and youth special interest programs and junior high before and after school programs, as well as the Ty Warner Spray Park and Backstop concession stand. Before he came to Westmont, he worked for the Park District of Highland Park.

Golembiewski majored in recreation and tourism with minors in adventure tourism and history at Winona State, where he graduated with honors. He completed an internship at the St. Charles Park District after graduation.

Kathleen Benson

Kathleen Altonji

The Glenview Park District recently hired Kathleen Benson as a recreational supervisor at the Glenview Park Center. Her responsibilities include oversight of special events, camps and birthday parties.

Prior to her work at Glenview, Benson was a special event and volunteer services intern at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, was involved with guest services at The Children's Discovery Museum and worked in guest services at the Chicago Field Museum. Benson graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor of science degree.

Kathleen Altonji is the district's new part-time volunteer coordinator. She recruits, screens, trains, coordinates and provides recognition for the district's volunteer force.

In addition to her position at the district, she is founder and president of Alt Events, a company that produces awareness and fundraising events for business and corporate entities, not-for-profits and others.

Altonji graduated from Marquette University a bachelor's degree in science.

Jim Cassidy has joined the South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation (SEASPAR) in Downers Grove as a recreation specialist. He is responsible for the coordination of recreation programs for hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, youth at risk and stroke patients.

Cassidy is a recent graduate of Illinois State University. He interned at the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association (NIRSA) in Crystal Lake, where he was responsible for the development, coordination, promotion, implementation and evaluation of a week-long camp for individuals with autism.

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Stacey Fedyski

Dana Hoffmann

Nicole Vickers

Ryan Himes

Stacey Fedyski has accepted a promotion to recreation supervisor II at the Geneva Park District. She is now in charge of supervising day camps, youth and teen programs, some special events, and the new before and after school program. Prior to her promotion, she worked as the athletic supervisor II for the past year and a half. She has a bachelor's degree in recreation management from Arizona State University and is a CPRR She previously worked for a YMCA in California, supervising day camps, before and after school programs and teen programs.

Dana Hofmann was promoted to the position of Peck Farm Recreation Center facility manager with the Geneva Park District. She is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the district's new 50,000-square-foot recreation center that is set to open in late September. Dana has worked for the district for eight years as the athletic supervisor and the Geneva Community Center facility manager. She received her B.S. in recreation management from Eastern Illinois University and is a CPRR

Nicole Vickers has been promoted to facilities supervisor for the Geneva Park District. For the past four years, Nicole was the aquatic/recreation supervisor and now will oversee the operations of the Sunset Fitness Center, the Sunset Pool and Stone Creek Miniature Golf course.

Ryan Himes is the new assistant manager and athletic supervisor for the Peck Farm Recreation Center. His responsibilities include scheduling, staffing and running various classes and leagues. Himes comes to Geneva from Lebanon, Ohio, where he served as youth and adult sports coordinator at the Ralph J. Stolle YMCA. Himes graduated from Miami University in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in education. Upon graduation, he served four years as a men's basketball assistant coach at Miami.

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