Paulette Zolicoffer: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Paulette Zolicoffer

City: Algonquin

Office sought: Board of Trustees, Village of Algonquin

Age: 42

Occupation: Director of Clinical Operations

Education: MBA, DBA (c)

Civic involvement: None listed.

Previous elected offices held: NA

Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing your community and how do you intend to address them?

Future and current projects occurring in Algonquin can potentially place business owners in jeopardy with losing revenues. For example, although the project for revamping downtown Algonquin was a great idea, before the project went underway, there should have been an arranged meeting with all the business owners due to less trafficking because of the construction. Communicating with the business owners and (1) finding out what their concerns are during this project and (2) congruently working out a diligent plan for the business owners would have been a better solution considering this project took an extended period time to complete. Businesses are reliant upon their revenues and any business on the main roads of construction that were already suffering at the least, could now potentially be going out of business. The goal for a project like this is to bring enlightenment back to the village as well as jobs to the community. If we don't communicate with all the business owners, this project would defeat half of its known purpose. Safety would raise another issue with the traffic flows while the construction projects are occurring on Longmeadow and Randall Road. Managing the traffic for the residents to travel safely is pertinent.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

My goal is to apply my efforts working for the people that live in the Village of Algonquin. I'd focus more on what the needs are for the people that reside in the village and put plans into action with all pertinent information provided within limitations. I'm working in the health care industry as the Director of Clinical Operations. I have earned my Doctoral (c) in Healthcare Administration. I'm certified in Six Sigma Black Belt in which this is one of the highest achievements in project management that has prepared me to apply great diligence at any type of organization, including governing. My project management and leadership experience, along with education has strategically prepared me to diligently restructure operations, work with planning infrastructures with managing to stay within budget and financial limitations and consistently measure out with great outcomes.

Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing actions and decisions with your village board or city council.

My leadership style is very authentic. I believe that everyone should work together as a team to provide great diligence to the community residents and business owners. I'm very proactive and I'm always willing to listen to great ideas and suggestions that will ultimately work in favor of the team and the community. Leadership is about being able to motivate, educate, persuade diligently on the "why" within reason and lead by example. I'd present different suggestions and also with items that are presented by the board as well, I'll ask questions to ensure that we are all consistent and in agreement with the overall expectations of the goal.

How would you describe the condition of your community's budget, and what are the most important specific actions the town should take to assure providing the level of services people want?

The Huntley Road from Randall Road to Sleepy Hollow Road project to reconstruct and widen Huntley Road on the section from Sleepy Hollow Road to Route 31 costs were estimated at $20 million. The Longmeadow project is expected to exceed $64 million. This money spent was not very reasonable in my opinion because it does not provide safety measures for residents and does not really take away from the real problems that we are having on Algonquin Road. We are in need of lights at one huge Algonquin Road cross way and this issue has been raised for a while, with the issue still being left unaddressed. There have been several accidents and still no response. The budgeted money can be used at a higher level to provide safety for the residents and long-standing operations for businesses in the community.

What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

I've worked in the health care industry for over 20 years and one of the specialties that I'm currently working in is behavioral health (youth and adolescents). Knowingly the concerns that have been raised in the schooling systems on gun violence and bullying, I'd like to structure out a program in the village that would provide a home and foundation for children and youth to have as a resource on how to deal with stressful situations. The problems that we are facing are not being addressed quickly enough in which there is much outrage in the community about student safety and student mental health. Another item would be is to find resources that would provide work study programs for students of the community. These programs would educate the students with on the job training experiences in their senior year and open up job opportunities for high school student graduates within the community. It also will add diligence with respectful relations for our community business owners and could possibly assist with labor expenses for business owners as well. Building a better Village means great mental, physical and emotional health for all.