The McHenry County Conservation District is pleased to announce the hiring of Elizabeth S. Kessler to fill the position of Executive Director for the District. The MCCD Board of Trustees unanimously approved her appointment at the May 6, 2006 public board meeting. Kessler was selected from a field of 30 candidates, after an extensive search by the Board of Trustees assisted by the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD).
Following an anticipated start date of mid-June, Kessler will have the responsibility for the overall management and performance of the District, which includes personnel, administration, budget, finance, public relations, programming, land acquisition and preservation. “We are very fortunate to have Elizabeth joining our team,” said MCCD President Martha Carver. “She has a proven track record of steadfast leadership, business acumen, customer service, community relations, and environmental stewardship. We are looking forward to having her help us carry out our mission and vision for McHenry County.”
Kessler comes to the District with over two decades of experience working in the public sector managing parks, recreation and conservation areas, facilities, and programs. Kessler has worked for the Skokie Park District for the past eighteen years and as the Superintendent of Recreation she has led an award-winning agency through its renaissance period of extensive repositioning, redevelopment, and growth. Kessler was responsible for the overall operations and administration of a variety of facilities including the Emily Oaks Nature Center and Woodland Wander Inn, Skokie Heritage Museum and Log Cabin, the Explor-it-orium for Art, Science and Imagination, Devonshire Cultural Center, Oakton Community Center, Tot Learning Center, Fitness First Health Club and the Weber Leisure Center as well as the oversight of a diverse array of programs, community partnerships, and services. Kessler facilitated numerous cooperative partnerships between local municipalities, school districts, not-for-profit agencies, and corporations and served as the Chairman for the nationally recognized and award winning Skokie Festival of Cultures.
During her tenure, the Skokie Park District received the 1997 National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Gold Medal for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Management, American Camping Association (ACA) Accreditation, Park District Risk Management Association Accreditation (PDRMA) and the Illinois Distinguished Agency to name a few prestigious recognitions.
Kessler has personally been recognized with numerous professional awards for her outstanding leadership and entrepreneurial spirit including the Illinois Park and Recreation Association’s Professional Recognition Award (2001), President’s Award (2000), Meritorious Service Award (1999), Al Hattendorf Professional of the Year (1997) and Young Professional of the Year (1992).
Kessler currently serves as a Professional Trustee representing the Great Lakes Region for the National Recreation and Park Association and served as the 2003 Chairman of the Board for the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. In this role she has advocated for conservation issues, open space preservation, and funding for essential programs such as the Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the Open Space Land Acquisition Development (OSLAD).
Kessler has extensive experience in strategic planning, public policy, finance, marketing, human resource management, recreational programming, developing private/public partnerships, in addition to natural and cultural resource management and preservation.
Kessler attained a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Park Administration with Honors from Illinois State University in Normal, IL and a MBA with Distinction from Keller Graduate School of Management, Chicago. She currently resides in Mundelein, IL with her husband Ken and sons Christopher (16) and Andrew (12). During her leisure time Kessler enjoys country western line dancing, camping, canoeing, fishing, cross country skiing, biking, horseback riding and snowmobiling with her family.
Kessler is enthusiastically looking forward to working with the McHenry County Conservation Board, staff and community to continue the District’s mission of preservation, education and recreation. “My passion is conservation and I am excited to be joining a team of talented and dedicated professionals that assist others in building personal relationships with the natural world,” said Elizabeth Kessler.