SteveJohnson
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Voters Guide: Homewood-Flossmoor Park District

The Chronicle’s 2019 Consolidated Election Voters Guide: Two Park District candidates responded to our questionnaire, Steve Johnson and Brit Volini

HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR PARK DISTRICT COMMISSIONER CANDIDATES

6-year term (vote for 2)

Steve Johnson
  Steve Johnson
 

Education:

BS in Public Relations, Illinois State University, 1989
 
Occupation: 
Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer at CG Life, a 50-person marketing communications agency exclusively supporting the needs of global life science and healthcare clients.
 
Family: 
Wife, Mary Beth; daughter Hanna is a sophomore at Indiana University and Jack, a senior at H-F High School.
 
Incumbent: 
I’ve served on the Board of Commissioners for the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District for the past 12 years, serving as the president of the board from 2011 to 2013 and again from 2016 to the present.
Other elected positions: 
None
 
Most important issues:
Maintaining the legacy as one of the finest park districts in the nation in a fiscally responsible manner is the largest challenge facing the H-F Park District. Specifically, that means:
  • Ensuring that programs and facilities meet the recreational needs of our diverse communities.
  • Innovating and rethinking how we use the resources we have.
  • Recognizing the critical role the park district plays in creating a sense of true community for all H-F residents.
  • We must continue to evaluate, innovate and reimagine how we deliver recreational opportunities to our community in order to lesser the burden on taxpayers.
 
Previous commissioners created the H-F Racquet & Fitness Club, the H-F Ice Arena and Coyote Run Golf Course that provide recreational opportunities for our community and are a mechanism to generate revenue from guests from outside H-F to help fund additional programs and facilities here. In 2017, only 38% of the H-F Park District’s operating budget came from tax dollars. 
Goals:
My goals, if re-elected, are simple:
  • Continue to provide business and financial guidance to the executive director and the other commissioners to ensure H-F Park District remains a source of pride for all residents and park district employees. 
  • Complete long-range usage and business plans for the various revenue-generating facilities to ensure our community has access to the latest recreation options for years to come.
  • Continue to be a resource for the residents and taxpayers of HF
  • Stay out of the way of the true recreation and park professionals!
 


Linda Ojode
 
  Linda Ojode
 

Education: 
B.A., Finance, St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota
M.B.A DePaul University

 
Occupation:
Director, Consumer Marketing, BCBS of IL (HCSC parent company)
Family:
Spouse: Steve Ojode; children Sean, 8, and Brandon, 6.
 
Incumbent: 
No
 
Other elected positions: 
None
 
Most Important Issues:
There is an opportunity to build awareness and increase participation in the broad array of programs offered by the park district for members of our community that may not think programs exist for them or members of their household. This will help us also understand if there are program needs that are not being met. Driving engagement through participation will help build deeper roots and a stronger community.

As a wife and mother, I rely almost religiously on the variety of award-winning Homewood-Flossmoor Park District programs to educate, engage and empower not just our children, but everyone in our household.
 

Goals:
I believe the park district programs are a staple in the community – a way for members of the Homewood-Flossmoor villages to come together and connect on what we have in common. As commissioner, I will strive to continue to build on this sense of community and seek ways to strengthen our spirit of collaboration, by advocating for all to engage in the various programs the park district has to offer.  As a community we can do more together.
 

Brit Volini 

  Brit Volini
 

Education:

Sports Management, University of Minnesota, 2006
Physical Education K-12 and Health Education, Chicago State University, 2012
 
Occupation:
Girls Hockey Director – St. Jude Hockey Club;  previously, Hockey Director – H-F Park district., 8 years and Assistant Rink Manager – Park District of Franklin Park, 2 years
 
Family:
Husband, Vinny; daughter Frankie May, 2, and twin boys Vinny and Ernie, 5. 
 
Incumbent: 
No
 
Other elected positions: 
No
 
Most important issues: 
I’m a true believer in quality over quantity. H-F’s diversity in programming is incredible and one of the reasons the park district won the 2018 Gold Medal Award. However, it’s important that the quality of programs is strong, that staff is trained, positive, engaged and experienced. Continuing staff training is needed several times while employed with the park district. Along the same lines would be staff evaluations. A stronger emphasis on evaluations for part time and full time staff members is important.
 
Goals: 
I was employed by park districts (H-F and Franklin Park) for a decade and had a lot of interaction with commissioners. The support they provided always paralleled my performance. My why is simple, be the best support system for the H-F staff and H-F community. We have an excellent park district in H-F, but why stop there? Never stop improving!
 


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