A standing-room-only crowd at the new Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum helped elect the new members of the Horizons Community Servies board of directors June 22. They were also introduced to a historic new group: the Horizons Community Leadership Council, made up of high-powered community, political and business leaders who will help Horizons create a vision for the agency and the community.
For more than a year, the agency has been researching potential new facilities to move to—and to possibly create a community center where other agencies and businesses also reside.
Horizons Executive Director Roger Doughty, Board Chairperson David Helverson and Vice Chair & Secretary Ann Perkins all stated how excited they were about the agency's future. Doughty noted with confidence that the agency is now out of debt and the board has authorized the creation of a reserve fund for the first time in the agency's 25 years.
Newly elected to the board were: Kristy Brumback, Dan Foy, Denise Foy, Mary Morten and Modesto "Tico" Valle. Treasurer is Thomas Ford, and members at large not up for election are Robert Bell, Bertram Cohler, Vernita Gray, Andrea Hamblin, Thomas Klein, Patrick Sheahan, Shelton Watson. Retiring after six years was Karen O'Heath, who was recognized for her service to the agency, especially when the past director stepped down.
The Horizons' CLC members are: James Alexander, Alan Amberg, Michael Bauer, Stuart Burden, Bonnie Burg, Lora Branch, Evette Cardona, C.C. Carter, John Chester, Michael Cook, Adella Crozier, Hon. John Cullerton, Christie Dailey, Vicky DiProva, Eileen Durkin, Hon. Sara Feigenholtz, Marcia Festen, Jerri Lynn Fields, Mark Ishaug, Art Johnston, Hon. Nancy Katz, Marcia Lipetz, Hon. Larry McKeon, Ellen Meyers, Mary Mittler, Brandon Neese, Dawn Clark Netsch, Mona Noriega, Renae Ogletree, Karen O'Heath, Frank Oldman, Hon. Harry Osterman, Michael Pleasants, Matthew Roberts, Julio Rodriguez, Hon. Carol Ronen, Eric Rosen, C. Michael Savage, Armando Smith, Joseph Sprague, Miranda Stevens-Miller, Richard Turner, David Wick and David Wilshire.
Volunteer Awards were also handed out at the event to: Julie Aimen, Tim Barnett, Allan Bolchazy, Mark Brown, Brian Callahan, Debra Daspit, Joe Flint, Rand Harris, Kelly Jones, David Kulawiak, Fred MacDonald, Judith Routh, and Doug Smith. The Volunteer of the Year honor went to Michael Cornicelli.
