Western Springs village manager recognized by association

Western Springs Village Manager Ellen Baer was honored in early June by the Illinois Metropolis/Council Administration Association (ICCMA).

She was one of seven nearby directors the ICCMA honored with its once-a-year Provider Award together.

“It was a surprise to be nominated and this sort of an honor to win the award,” Baer said.

Amongst the other winners were being Sharon Peterson, Countryside’s Deputy Town Clerk and Assistant Metropolis Administrator.

Baer mentioned she was specifically honored to gain this yr due to the fact the award had been renamed in honor of Greg Bielawski, longtime village manager of Carol Stream and recent college member of the College of Iowa.

“He dedicated his existence to municipal govt,” she reported noting the Bielawski was also honored with Life time Achievement Award this yr by the ICCMA.

Baer, and her fellow Services Award winners, are being honored for their work as a founding users of the Legacy Task, a group in its 11th year advocating for gals in area government.

“The group’s objective is to aid one yet another and offer extra instructional prospects for ladies in federal government,” Baer claimed.

The Legacy Job hosts conferences, gives networking alternatives, and conducts webinars to help gals in municipal authorities.

“Over the many years I have played different roles in the Challenge, which include serving on its Board,” she reported. “We’re fortunate to have it. Early in my vocation I did not have that variety of help.”

That profession has spanned 29 year in community company, all of it in municipal authorities in Illinois.

Baer’s earlier assignments have bundled serving as Assistant Village Supervisor in Lombard, Assistant Village Supervisor in Orland Park, and interim village Supervisor in Orland Park for virtually a person yr. Baer had been the Director of Administrative Expert services in Western Springs considering the fact that 2017 in advance of becoming named village manager in 2021.

Baer grew up in Downer’s Grove and at present life there with her spouse and a few small children.

She graduated from Benet Academy and did her undergraduate get the job done at Lewis University, wherever she majored in Political Science and General public Administration.

Baer also retains a Masters in General public Administration from Northern Illinois College and has 29 yrs of knowledge in municipal govt.

When Baer changed the retiring Ingrid Velkme in September 2021, she then indicated that her most urgent fast issue was overseeing assignments relevant to the Village’s infrastructure.

“We have various projects likely,” she claimed. “They’re very, really big assignments.”

Baer said that the jobs bundled both equally streets and drinking water providers and bigger funds paying out on infrastructure.

“I persuade people today to go to our web page,” she stated, incorporating that the information could be observed below “important links,” which would include things like links to village design.

Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.