Park District Announces Selection of the Next Executive Director

 The Des Plaines Park District has announced the selection of their next Executive Director by the Park Board of Commissioners. Mr. Don Miletic, the current Superintendent of Business & Golf Operations, was appointed to a newly created position of Assistant Executive Director at the Park Board meeting on June 18. “The Park Board has taken a proactive approach to the succession process, which is clearly in the best interest of the District. We are very pleased that Mr. Miletic has accepted the new position, and we’re confident that this will provide the District with the consistently fine leadership we have all come to expect,” said Park Board President Joe Weber.

Mr. Miletic was selected following a year-long search conducted by the Park Board, after current Executive Director, John Hecker, indicated to them in June of 2012 that he planned to retire in 12–18 months. “The position of Assistant Executive Director is fairly common in park districts around the state,” said Hecker, “and the Board felt that a clear line of succession was important to establish so our staff, as well as the residents of Des Plaines, could feel comfortable that their Park District has a solid plan for transition to a new administration.” Mr. Hecker has now announced his intent to retire in June 2014, after a 36-year career in Parks & Recreation. Mr. Miletic assumes his new position effective immediately, and will continue to handle his current responsibilities while working more closely with Mr. Hecker over the next 12 months. “In the coming weeks and months, I will be assessing how best to assign the many varied areas of the Business & Golf departments to both current and new staff,” Miletic said, continuing “I’m excited to have the opportunity to help craft the future of this great Park District.”