Carol Stream Park District to hire firm for director search
As Arnie Biondo completed his last day as Carol Stream Park District’s executive director on Wednesday, the park board already was moving forward to find his replacement.
At a special meeting this week the board agreed to hire an executive search firm to find a new executive director. Companies interested in the project will give presentations to the board on Jan. 20.
“We’re going to look for (a firm) familiar with the park district industry,” park board President Tim Powers said. “Our main concern is to find the proper person to run the park district. Until then, everything will flow just like it did with Arnie. We trust our staff implicitly and they have done a great job.”
Biondo, who has led the district since 1995, announced in December that he would step down this month to become executive director of the DuPage County Forest Preserve District. Biondo’s first day on the job with the forest preserve district is Jan. 13.
While the search is ongoing, Sue Rini, the district’s director of finance and administration, has been named acting director for executive actions such as approving purchases. Rini also will serve as acting liaison to the board.
Dannielle Wilson, a director of recreation, will fill in as board secretary.
“We still have no exact time frame to find a new director, but we’d like to get it done as quickly as possible,” Powers said. “We’re not going to rush until we find the right person.”