Northbrook selects new village manager
Northbrook Village President Kathryn Ciesla and the board of trustees are pleased to announce their intention to appoint Cara Pavlicek as the next village manager at the June 22 board meeting.
Pavlicek brings more than 20 years of experience as a village manager/city administrator to the Northbrook leadership team. She has been the village manager in Oak Park since 2013.
Before that, she served as village manager in Downers Grove, city administrator for La Vista, Nebraska, and five years in increasingly responsible positions in the Des Moines, Iowa, city manager's office.
She has a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Washington and a master of arts in public affairs from the University of Iowa.
"Cara Pavlicek has the leadership skills, experience in economic development/redevelopment, focus on community engagement, and the professional demeanor we are seeking to lead our Village staff and to work effectively with our elected body and community," Ciesla said.
During her tenure in Oak Park, Pavlicek has played a key leadership role in multiple redevelopment processes in the downtown, which has resulted in more than $300 million in new private investment.
"I am incredibly honored that Village President Ciesla and the board of trustees have selected me to join the Village of Northbrook as its next village manager. I believe Northbrook is an exceptional community, and I look forward to working with a talented group of village staff who have a long-standing commitment to providing great public services," Pavlicek said. "I can't wait to be a partner with the president and village board to advance the community's goals alongside all stakeholders."
Northbrook has had only two village managers in the past 30 years. Rich Nahrstadt, who is retiring this summer, has served the village for more than 30 years, including the last 13 as village manager. "Northbrook has been extremely fortunate to have a leader of Rich's caliber, and we are indebted to him for his service to our community," Ciesla said.
This spring, the village reached out to the community for input on the qualifications and experiences desired for the next village manager. More than 200 residents responded to an online survey; they were also invited to virtual public forums to provide their input. Virtual stakeholder meetings were held with the business community, nonprofit community, and other units of local government.
After a national outreach for candidates, the village received 48 applications for the position and conducted interviews in June.
"We are very excited to start this next chapter in Northbrook's history," Ciesla said, "and look forward to welcoming Cara Pavlicek to our organization and community."