Longtime Glenview Parks Supervisor Wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Submitted by the Glenview Park District

Cheryl Deom, the superintendent of special facilities at the Glenview Park District, was awarded the 2015 Robert Artz Lifetime Achievement Award on Friday, January 23 by the Illinois Park and Recreation Association.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to only one IPRA member each year and is the top recognition for distinguished parks and recreation service in the state. To receive the award, the recipient must have had a lasting impact and created awareness of the importance of parks and recreation among his/her peers and in the community.

Deom has spent her entire 39-year career devoted to the Glenview Park District with passion, unwavering dedication and integrity. Deom started with the district in 1976 as a Recreation Supervisor, two years later was promoted to becoming the first community center director when the park district obtained Rugen School located previously at Swenson Park. At the age of 27, she was the youngest employee to be promoted to superintendent in the district’s history. She successfully served in this role for three different executive directors, providing stellar leadership as part of the administrative team and by being a great division team leader for both the special facilities division and recreation/museum division.

Late last year, she announced her retirement from the Glenview Park District in May, 2015.

IPRA presented Deom with the Lifetime Achievement Award based on her leadership, character, energetic passion and dedication for parks and recreation and serving her community. She exemplifies the best of servant leadership and a compassion for relationships with her employees, board members, customers, residents and intergovernmental partnerships.

Deom has accomplished so much throughout her career at the Glenview Park District. Serving as a superintendent since 1981, Deom oversees the strategic direction of and operations for two golf courses, an indoor tennis club and the ice center. She recently led a team constructing The Prairie Club, which features a new, state-of-the art golf course clubhouse and four lighted paddle tennis courts. The Prairie Club received the 2014 IPRA Facility of the Year Award.

Deom is a leader who is passionate about inspiring the future leaders in the parks and recreation field. She developed the district’s internship program and has spoken to national and state audiences about the topic. Cheryl was instrumental in helping to develop a mentoring program for IPRA and is an active member of the Western Illinois University Alumni Association – serving twice as its president.

Throughout her career, Deom has been recognized many times for her unwavering dedication to the parks and recreation field. She has chaired numerous IPRA committees and has served on the IPRA Board and the NSSRA Board. In addition, Deom has received the following accolades in addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award:

• James Berousek Award 2004 – Distinguished Alumnus Award from Western Illinois University.
• Outstanding Young Person of America
• IPRA Recreation Section – Recreation Recognition Award

“This award represents the outstanding leadership that Cheryl has provided for almost four decades to the field and to the development of our future parks and recreation professionals,” said Chuck Balling, executive director of the Glenview Park District. “Cheryl has made remarkable contributions to the Park District and Glenview community. She will leave a long-lasting legacy having greatly improved and expanded services for all of our residents.”