Mundelein Park & Recreation District Commissioner Elected Vice-Chairman of Leading Statewide Association for Parks

Jesse Ortega, commissioner of the Mundelein Park & Recreation District, was recently elected vice-chairman of the Illinois Association of Park Districts' (IAPD) Board of Trustees.

As vice-chairman, Ortega will assist the association with its mission of advancing Illinois park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation, and special recreation agencies in their ability to preserve natural resources and improve the quality of life for all people in Illinois. He will work with the 19-member board to advise the association in providing service, research, advocacy, public awareness, and educational programs to its membership of 360 park, recreation, and conservation agencies and more than 100 affiliated business partners.

"Jesse has a wealth of knowledge that makes him an incredible advocate for parks, recreation, and conservation both locally and statewide," said Peter Murphy, IAPD President and Chief Executive Officer. "His enthusiasm for promoting a better quality of life through park district programs and services is unmatched, and I look forward to working with him to further the IAPD mission."

Ortega served as IAPD's Sergeant-at-Arms in 2019 and was elected as a trustee in 2020. He serves on IAPD's Honors and Resolutions Committee and the IAPD/IPRA Joint Distinguished Park and Recreation Accreditation Committee. He was elected to the Mundelein Park & Recreation District board in 2013.

Ortega is retired from Abbott Laboratories where he worked in Quality Assurance. He is an active member of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Men's Club, and Catholic Charities.

IAPD was established in 1928 and is the oldest state association for parks, recreation, and conservation in America. The association serves more than 2,100 elected park, recreation and forest preserve district board members who govern 360 agencies employing more than 67,000 individuals.

IAPD strives to improve Illinois' quality of life through park districts, forest preserves, conservation, and recreation agencies by establishing grants and other new revenue streams for park land, facilities, and services; educating the public about the positive effects parks and recreation have on communities; and meeting the problem of decreasing open space in Illinois.