People, Places & Things

People in the News ...

Ted Flickinger, Executive Director of the Illinois Association of Park Districts, has been elected Chairman of the Illinois Travel & Tourism Council (ITTC). ITTC is a coalition of organizations representing the entire tourism industry in the State of Illinois. The Council serves as a catalyst for generating and promoting tourism through education, research, public awareness and legislative advocacy. According to Flickinger, tourism is the number one growth industry in Illinois and has contributed more than a quarter of a billion dollars to other state programs since 1985. Tourism is the second largest industry nationwide.

Coal Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area has been named in honor of former Representative Richard "Dick" Mautino of Spring Valley. Mautino was a long-time friend to conservation and the Illinois park district system. He represented the area encompassing the site in the Legislature from 1975 until his death in August 1991. The site, to be called Mautino State Fish & Wildlife Area, is being opened to the public year-round. Purchased in 1991, it will be operated as a part of the Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park.

Five new members of the Northbrook Park District staff began their duties this spring and summer. Shawn Tresselt, who is working at the Sports Center Concessions, previously supervised the park district adult softball and youth soccer programs and coordinated the Northbrook Challenge Cup soccer tournament. Michael Vrentas, Recreation Supervisor, is responsible for training counselors, coordinating the park district's soccer program and organizing field trips for eight summer camps. Pat Sundstrom will assist in organizing the summer day camp program, flag and tackle football and junior high basketball program this year. Two summer interns are also in place: Christy Nixon from Eastern Illinois University and Sue Braubach from Roosevelt University in Chicago

Linda McCulloch has been appointed Superintendent of Finance and Personnel of the Palatine Park District. A Waukegan resident, McCulloch has served as Finance Assistant with the Park District for one year. Prior to her employment with the park district, she was employed in several management and financial positions, most recently with the certified public accounting firm of Veatch, Rich and Nadler. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Ohio State University.

Alicia A. Mentell has been appointed Superintendent of Recreation by the Waukegan Park District's Board of Commissioners. Mentell has more than 25 years of progressive supervisory and management experience in a variety of roles in the leisure services profession. She comes to the Waukegan Park District from the City of Denton, Texas, where she worked as Superintendent of Leisure Services since 1987. In her new position with Waukegan, Mentell will be responsible for the operations of the recreation department annual budget, staff, facilities and programs.

Bobbie Jo Moore has been appointed Public Relations Coordinator for the Illinois Association of Park Districts. A recent graduate of Illinois State University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in public relations, Moore has an in-depth understanding of media and public relations theory and experience in the public relations field. She will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive media relations plan for the association, assisting with new and existing public awareness events and campaigns and promoting public awareness opportunities to IAPD membership.

The Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation has welcomed three new staff members. Tern Buss, recreation specialist, graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science degree in therapeutic recreation. Wendy White has returned as Support Staff/Summer Camp Supervisor. She is a graduate from Central Michigan University with a degree in recreation and parks administration with a concentration in therapeutic recreation. Glen Barklow has been promoted to the position of Integration Specialist/Leisure Education Coordinator. He is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in recreation administration with an emphasis in therapeutic recreation.