Northbrook Park District Hires New Executive Director

Northbrook, IL—The Northbrook Park District has hired a new executive director, only the fourth in its history.

Molly Hamer—the executive director for the park district in Geneseo, IL, which is near the Quad Cities—was approved by the Northbrook Park District's board Monday. Hamer will take over for Mindy Munn, the district's head of finance who has been the interim director since the spring. Rick Hanetho, the district's previous director since 2008, left at the end of March to become the executive director of the Arlington Heights Park District.

“Molly’s success at Geneseo Park District—from operations, to administration, to strategic planning—and her lifetime of experience in parks and recreation are significant assets as we pursue our new Master Plan here in Northbrook,” Michael Schyman, president of the Northbrook Park District Board of Commissioners, said in a statement.

Under Hamer, the Geneseo Park District approved its first master plan and completed a $6.5 million pool project, which opened in May.

Hamer will be moving to Northbrook next month, and her first day in her new role will be Sept. 6.

"I look forward to working in Northbrook, and to building relationships that will help us continue to have a positive impact on our community through parks, facilities and programs that enhance the lives of our residents," she said in a statement.

Hamer comes to the district with 30 years of parks and recreation experience. Along with serving as the Geneseo Park District executive director since 2007, Hamer was on that agency's board for 10 years. Before coming to Geneseo, she worked for the Schaumburg Park District for 11 years, including four years as its recreation superintendent.

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