Experience, Leadership and Commitment
  for WILL COUNTY BOARD

Resumé • Family Photos • Why Run? • When Elected • Political Experiences • Organizations • Education • Employment • Community Services



Why Run?

As your Current County Board Commissioner, I feel like after one term I have only begun helping the citizens of Will County. I want to take the knowledge that I have learned and continue to offer my skills and expertise in the development of policy and overseeing the budget to keep brining down the tax rates here in Will County. In the last four years I have worked hard on many committees and attended many meetings day and night to ensure that the citizens of Will County were being represented.

 When Elected

I plan to work in the development of an Advisory Board comprised of members from the main taxing bodies here in Will County to include: The Cities, Park Districts, Forest preserve, school districts, and other taxing bodies. I would also like to see members of the community be included on this Board. First Board Agenda item-Address the impact of growth and its effect on the entire community.

I also plan to maintain visibility with “Open Door” policy for the community. I will remain proactive in legislative and community issues related to District 4, and be sensitive to Community Needs.

Political Experiences

Will County Board Commissioner 2002 - Present

Will County Forest Preserve Commissioner 2002-Present

I have worked on projects that have also brought millions of tax dollars back to northern Will County including one of the finest Dog Parks in the State at Whalon Lake. Also at Whalon Lake in the spring of 2007 construction will begin on Phase 2 – the lake itself. Whalon Lake will provide the citizens of Will County and opportunity to fish, boat and one of the few places in northern IL where you will be able to dive.

Wheatland Township Republican Organization Department of Professional Regulations Illinois Coalition of Counseling Associations

Organizations

Professional Counselors Licensing and Disciplinary Board Illinois Rehab Counseling Association Grassroots Committee of DuPage County Illinois Rehabilitation Association Counselor Licensure Task Force

Education

B.S. - Special Education, Western Illinois University
MS - Rehabilitation Counseling, Illinois Institute of Technology
Cert.- Family Therapy Certificate, Illinois Juvenile Research, U of I Circle

Community Services

Employment

Jan 1980 to Present
The MENTA Group

Director or Communications - 1998 - Present

Responsible for internal and external communications for the Menta Group Responsible of the overseeing of marketing and sales projects for Electronic Learning Environment INC, a company partnering with the MENTA Group. Develop professional training programs on the use of technology as a tool for creating “engaged learning” units.
Coordinate and present at local, state, national, and international conferences on the use of technology in schools.

Principal of Aurora Community School - 1996 -1998

Responsible for the day-to-day operations of a community alternative school program for high-risk students.
Appointed by the Executive Board, made up of the superintendents of Aurora Districts 131, 129 and Indian Prairie District 204 and Mayor of Aurora. It was my duty to supervise curriculum development, staff training, student programming and all other day-to-day operations at ACS.
Authored, supervised and implemented a technology grant through the Juvenile Justice Commission. This grant allowed us to receive the first Electronic Learning Environment lab in the State of Illinois. This lab helped reduce behavior issues and increase student and teacher productivity.

Director of Transition - 1993 - 1996

Responsible for the development and implementation of the School to Work programs. Supervised staff for a variety of projects related to the development of community classrooms.

Developed community classrooms in a variety of businesses around the Chicago land area.

Jan 1983 to 1992

Institute for Behavioral Services - A group of psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation counselors and education specialists providing a wide range of services to organizations and individuals.

Rehabilitation Counselor - January 1987 to December 1992

Worked with both disabled and non-disabled adolescents and adults that required rehabilitation services, case management, vocational and career counseling, interest and aptitude testing, job hunting and retention skills, family therapy, group and individual counseling.

Provided in service and training programs for schools and businesses.

Therapeutic Tutor - January 1982 to December 1987

Worked with adolescents who have learning or motivational problems, coordinated educational information from home school, worked with a clinical case worker in teaching the parents how to better work with their children.

Jan 1993 to 1998

Career, Education, and Management Consulting - President

Provide consulting and clinical services to a variety of organizations, schools, families and individuals. Developed the program Directions: Adolescence in Transition - This program assists families and organizations in their quest to provide experiences and skills for young adults to better prepare for their movement from adolescence into adulthood.

Dec 1979 to Sept. 1988

Special Education Services (A Member of the Menta Group®) - An alternative school system for students with severe behavioral and emotional problems, who provide a complete range of educational services.

Classroom Teacher - December 1979 to August 1984 - I was responsible for all academic programming for 15 to 20 students with severe behavior and emotional disabilities.

Head Teacher - September 1980 to August 1982 High School Department, responsible for the supervision of high school teachers along full classroom duties.

Work Study Coordinator - September 1981 to August 1984 Responsible for the development and implementation of both in-house and community employment programs.

Vocational Director - September 1984 to August 1988 Responsible for supervision of all in-house and community employment programs. Author and implementer of JTPA grant, staff training, and hiring.

June 1987 to August 1987

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago - A comprehensive rehabilitation hospital working with individuals with severe physical disabilities.

Rehabilitation Counselor Hired for consulting during a summer project. Responsibilities included vocational testing and evaluation, assessment of test data, career counseling, development of vocational rehabilitation plan, job matching, adjustment counseling, employer contact and return to work planning. Worked with a medical team to determine post trauma abilities and residual physical functions related to employment.