Longtime Forest Preserve District Leader Retires

KANE COUNTY, IL — After 18 years as the executive director for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, Monica A. Meyers is looking forward to shifting from leading operations of the forest preserve district to working in a more unofficial capacity as a volunteer.

Meyers said she’s looking forward to being in the preserves as a volunteer and also plans to travel and spend time with family and friends. Her last day in the office will be Dec. 29.

Benjamin Haberthur has been chosen to take Meyers place. Haberthur was formerly director of natural resources for the forest preserve district.

Last week, the forest preserve commission took time during a meeting to publicly acknowledge her work on the district’s behalf. President Christopher W. Kious read aloud a resolution of commendation.

The resolution lauded Meyers’ various accomplishments, including: oversight of four successful land acquisition and preserve improvement referenda — investments that more tripled the district’s land holdings to 23,173 acres; skillful application for grant funding that afforded the District millions in additional dollars to make conservation, education and recreation dollars stretch further; construction of professional work facilities for all district departments; earning Illinois Distinguished Agency Accreditation status — the first forest preserve district in Illinois to achieve such recognition; and, managing countless projects including preserve openings, trail expansions, creation of Big Rock Campground, Creek Bend Nature Center, and a recent multi-million redesign of Settler’s Hill Golf Course

After Kious finished reading the resolution, Meyers received a standing ovation from the commission as well as staff and members of the public.

“My time at the district has been my favorite part of my entire career,” Meyers said. “As a kid, I grew up next to a state park and I was always outside. I went to college in the mountains, where I received my degree in parks and recreation management. My career started in active-recreation management, but I always wanted to be involved in conservation and outdoor recreation. I feel this is what I was meant to do. I’ve been blessed to be a part of this great organization."

In looking back on her career, the biggest changes she saw were the growth in the forest preserve district's land holdings, the increase in administrative standards as well as staff specialties and how the forest preserve district has shifted to meet the needs of the community, she said.

"You don’t see the changes year to year, but when I look back to the early 2000s, there are major differences,” she said. “Building a good team throughout the whole organization is what I’m most proud of. One person can’t take credit for all of this. You put a qualified team together to accomplish the goals set forth by the commission. Everyone working together is what makes that happen. I’ll miss the people and the relationships that have been developed."

Kious said the forest preserve district would miss having Meyers as its executive director.

“Monica has always been very generous with her time and energy," he said. "Her pleasant, personal demeanor and can-do spirit has been inspiring to us, the board members, the volunteers and staff, alike. She has been, quite simply, fun to work with."

He said when Meyers started, the forest preserve district managed about 7,000 acres of land and has more than 23,000 acres.

"It wasn’t just growth but a strategic acquisition of natural areas that were important to preserve our natural history in Kane County," he said. “Her keen negotiating and no-nonsense analytical skills have served the forest preserves well. The district has had a strong advocate in business and in budgeting. She has made informed decisions and forged agreements that have significantly improved the district over the years."

He also said the relationships she formed outside of the forest preserve district — with professionals, statewide officials and workers with other forest preserve districts and park districts — has helped the forest preserve district of Kane County grow.

"You can see the positive results in every area of the forest preserve district from having her lead the district for almost two decades," Kious said "Her contribution of time and talent leaves us in a very good position, as she moves on to the next phase of her life, and we move this organization into the future."