During its Annual Conference held September 8-10 in Springfield, the Illinois Government Finance Officers Association reflected upon and celebrated a number of "firsts" during the past year. Outgoing President Leonard Flood (Finance Director, Village of Lombard) cited just a few of the many firsts for IGFOA:

• Hiring the first full time Executive Director for the Association.

• Awarding the first certification under the Certified Government Finance Officer program to David Jepson, now retired Finance Director for the Village of Mount Prospect. To date, fifty-four individuals have applied for certification since the program's inception in 1995. Mr. Jepson was the first to successfully complete all examinations and present the appropriate credentials of education and experience required for certification.

• Increased participation in the Illinois Municipal League Conference by way of sharing an exhibitor's booth with the Illinois City Management Association and presenting two conference sessions.

• Established the first IGFOA committee onTechnology and Communication to examine how changes in technology will alter the way the association, as well as its members, communities and businesses communicate with one another.

• Held its inaugural Illinois Public Finance Law seminar in May.

During the Annual Business Meeting held during the conference, IGFOA members elected new officers for 1996-97:

1996-97 Executive Board-
Illinois Government Finance Officers Association
President: Richard Schnuer, Finance Director, City of Champaign; President-Elect: Stan Helgerson, Finance Director, Village of Carol Stream; Vice President: Spiro Hountalas, Finance Director, Village of Morton Grove; Secretary: David Cook, Director Finance & Human Resources, Village of Hinsdale; Treasurer: Gary Szott, Finance Director, Village of Bloomingdale; Member-at-Large: Mary Dankowski, Deputy Village Manager, Village of Park Forest;

Member-at-Large: Jeff Rowitz, Director of Finance, Village of Northbrook; Member-at-Large: Miriam Shabo, Finance Director, Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District; Associate Member: Sherry Lauterbach, Manager, Friedman Eisenstein Raemer Schwartz; Past President: Leonard Flood, Finance Director, Village of Lombard.

Executive Board Members representing chapters include: Downstate Chapter Representative: Ronald Hill, Finance Director, Town of Normal; Chicago Metropolitan Chapter Representative: Hilda Ingebrigsten, Finance Director, Village of Elk Grove Village; South Metropolitan Chapter Representative: Beverly Sterrett, Finance Officer, Village of Sauk Village. •

October 1996 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 27