Two residents stepped forward to fill vacant seats on the Homewood Public Library Board of Trustees. Tom Nowak and Catherine Uecker were selected from a list of candidates who applied for the two spots. They were sworn in as trustees at the Nov. 15 meeting.
Public Library Board of Trustees, swears in
new members Catherine Uecker and Tom
Nowak at the Nov. 15 meeting. (Photo by
Marilyn Thomas/H-F Chronicle)
Two residents stepped forward to fill vacant seats on the Homewood Public Library Board of Trustees.
Tom Nowak and Catherine Uecker were selected from a list of candidates who applied for the two spots. They were sworn in as trustees at the Nov. 15 meeting. Nowak and Uecker will serve until May 2019. They are filling two seats that were vacant after the last election.
Nowak is now and has been a financial analyst consultant and has served as a chief financial officer for the American Medical Association Foundation. During his career, he has spent 16 years working for nonprofits. He also is an adjunct professor of finance and business corporations at DePaul University.
Nowak received a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Illinois and a master of business administration (MBA) from DePaul University. He is a certified public accountant (CPA).
He hopes to put his financial experience to use on the board. This is not his first volunteer role. Nowak has been a volunteer tax preparer for AARP, is active in a running club and has run 13 marathons. He has been an aid station captain for the Chicago Marathon coordinating the efforts of 250 volunteers.
Uecker comes to the board with experience as a librarian. She works as a librarian in the Special Collections Research Center at the University of Chicago Library. The center is responsible for rare books, manuscripts and university archives. Uecker also worked at the library at the Art Institute of Chicago and in special collections at the University of Michigan.
She has a bachelor’s degree in history from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in museum studies from the University of London in England, and a master of library and information science from the University of Illinois.
“I believe libraries are essential for a strong community,” Uecker said. “I will work to keep (Homewood’s) as strong and vibrant as it is now.”
Nowak and Uecker join board members George Bouchie Jr., Jacoba Ward, Adrienne River and Percy Harris. Member Patricia Smith’s resignation was accepted Nov. 15. The board expects to name a new board member at its January meeting.