Barrington's Marie Hansen receives young leader award
Barrington's Director of Development Marie Hansen was named Myron Calkins Young Leader of the Year by the Lake County branch of the American Public Works Association.
The award recognizes those who have demonstrated an initial commitment to the profession and show potential for future growth within the association, officials said.
Hansen, 31, first worked as a civil engineering consultant for a firm in Lake County, then was hired by Barrington in 2017 as village engineer. She was promoted to her current post in October 2019.
Hansen said she enjoyed working with municipal clients and was excited to explore the public side of the profession when the Barrington job became available. Her department manages permitting, engineering, building, planning and zoning, and capital improvement projects.
The best part of the job is working with village employees and the village board, Hansen said.
"I am so fortunate to work in a collaborative team environment where the staff and board are so knowledgeable, thoughtful and supportive," she said.
The hardest part can be working to address issues with limited resources, she said.
"Being involved in the American Public Works Association has been a really wonderful way to expand my professional network and work with others in similar positions across the Chicagoland area. We are often able to share ideas, resources or lessons learned, and assist each other in finding solutions."
Barrington earned two more awards from the Lake County branch of APWA.
The Flint Creek Dreamway restoration project was named project of the year in the category of environmental improvement under $5 million.
The project is a collaboration between the village, Barrington Area Unit District 220 and the Barrington Park District to restore and revitalize Flint Creek in the area between Langendorf Park and Hart Road. The project includes removing invasive species, particularly trees, and installing native plants.
The association also gave the village a service improvement award for its recent implementation of electronic permit processing.