JPF Elections 2018

Every year we elect representatives of the membership to serve two-year terms on the nine-member Jefferson Park Forward Board of Directors. Each year, half of the Board seats are up for election. This year, the following seats are up for re-election:

• President
• Treasurer
• Two (2) at-large director seats

The Candidates

President – Ryan Richter*

Ryan Richter is running for re-election as President of JPF.

Bio

• Ryan grew up in Jefferson Park during childhood and settled here with wife and two daughters since 2009.
• Ryan is an urban planner with expertise in transportation planning in the public and private sectors. He has worked for or consulted with CTA, Metra, Pace, the Regional Transportation Authority, the Illinois Tollway, Amtrak and numerous other public transportation agencies. Ryan’s expertise is in the relationships between transportation and land use and is particularly knowledgeable on transit-oriented development and neighborhood planning processes.
• Co-Founder and President, Jefferson Park Forward
• Member, 45th Ward Advisory Committee
• As President, Ryan oversees the nine-member JPF Board of Directors. He:
  • Presides over JPF Board of Director meetings and JPF General Meetings
  • Member: JPF Bylaws, JPF Community Development, and JPF Marketing Committees.
  • Built and maintains the JPF website, www.jeffersonparkforward.org
  • Organized the JPF Beer Event
  • Manages outreach for and press for JPF
  • Volunteers in a variety of capacities for numerous JPF events, small and large

Statement of Interest

I would like to run for re-election as president of Jefferson Park Forward. It has been an honor to work with my neighbors and friends to build this organization from the ground up starting in 2015 and to see it through to what JPF is today. I believe there is still unfinished business that I would like to see from JPF and myself. I’d like to grow our brand and awareness, to schedule more events, to promote and market local businesses and to participate to an ever greater degree in events that promote the neighborhood. Events like Jeff Fest, our own Jefferson Park beer, our pub crawl, the happy hours, bowling events and picnics. I would like you to consider me based on my past leadership and passion for the future of this great organization.

Treasurer – Katie Hoy Stratton

Katie Hoy Stratton is running for Treasurer of JPF.

Bio

• Katie has lived in JP for 5 years
• A stay-at-home mom to three daughters, Katie was previously a Special Education Teacher at a therapeutic day school for 10 years, working with high school students with emotional and developmental disorders
• Member, JPF Social Committee

Statement of Interest

I am excited to be a part of Jefferson Park Forward because I enthusiastically support its vision and goals of a thriving and pedestrian-friendly downtown area, and connecting neighbors from across the area with one another to engage in important local issues. As a member of the Social Committee, I have helped plan some of the events that help to bring people in the area together. As Treasurer, I would like to continue that work, with a specific focus on developing more family oriented events and activities to further support the mission, vision, and goals of JPF.

Director – Heidi Osterhout*

Heidi Osterhout is running for re-election for JPF Director.

Bio

• Heidi is a designer/creative art director and has worked at Fortune 100 corporation, major ad agencies, Chicago start-ups, designing everything from desktop and mobile apps, logo design, ads,
•  brochures, annual reports, leading and creating branding identities for new products and services.
• Heidi’s design and marketing skills are frequently seen on Jefferson Park Forward including the name itself, logo design, Facebook social media cover images, letterhead design for official communications, posters, postcards and stickers, and a beer label for a lucky member brewer.
• Having a professional image, by design, is just one reason why Jefferson Park Forward came out roaring. Maintaining a cohesive and consistent visual persona has aided JPF stature as a neighborhood group, city wide.
• 25+ years resident of Jefferson Park
• Founding member, Jefferson Park Forward
• JPF Attractiveness & Livability Committee member
• JPF Marketing Committee member
• Lead Twitter campaigns to poke Metra/Union Pacific to clean-up
• Neighborhood trash clean-ups
• Neighborhood gardening efforts
• Open House Chicago volunteer
• Old Town School of Folk Music volunteer
• Chicago Green Festival volunteer

Statement of Interest

I wish to state my interest in a continuing role as Board Seat Member of JPF because I believe there is an organizational growth shift to navigate as JPF approaches the 5 year milestone.

I represent a demographic that is easily forgotten: that person who comes to Jefferson Park for transportation access, rents and eventually decides to invest in the community and purchases a home. New renters are going to come to our neighborhood. I’ve been there, I know what it’s like. How will we welcome all to this community?

Living in Jefferson Park since 1990, I have a long-time commitment to the community and Jefferson Park Forward, continuing to invest time, physical labor, professional marketing and creative expertise, and shopping local to enhance Jefferson Park and support businesses.

We’ve only just begun. And I ask for your vote to continue.

Director – Maggie Daly Skogsbakken

Maggie Daly Skogsbakken is running for JPF Director.

Bio

• Maggie born and raised on the NW Side and has lived in JP for 10 years
• Co-Chair, JPF Marketing Committee
• Member, JPF Social Committee
• Mom of two, Media Marketing Manager for Pace Suburban Bus, and involved in various non-profits

Statement of Interest

A strong community includes people who are engaged and contribute to the growth of business, art, and entertainment in their neighborhood. Jefferson Park Forward creates opportunities for residents to do just that. I would like to serve on the Jefferson Park Forward Board of Directors to support the organization’s efforts to connect, inform, and advocate for neighbors. I believe being a JPF Board member will provide more opportunities to help revitalize Jefferson Park and support diversity and inclusiveness in our community.  My past experience as a Board member for the non-profit This is Me, Inc., a young girls empowerment organization, spiked my interest in community involvement. Supporting the organization and their commitment to the success of Chicagoland girls was a genuinely rewarding experience. I hope to offer that same support to JPF by using my experience in marketing, design and communications to further the work of past leadership and to support Jefferson Park’s valuable resources, including our parks, libraries, and schools. Thank you for your consideration.

Director – Robb Van Hook**

Robb Van Hook is running for JPF Director.

Bio

• Robb has lived in JP for 7 years
• Co-Founder and Treasurer, JPF
• Member, JPF By-Laws Committee
• Member, JPF Fundraising Committee (now part of Social Committee)

Statement of Interest

As a founding board member of JPF, I’m committed to seeing that the vision of the organization remains clear. I will not be seeking re-election as Treasurer, but would like to continue my work with fundraising and supporting the arts as a board member.

Under my dutiful watch, the coffers grew by 500%!!!  Or so…

*incumbent

**Robb Van Hook is the current JPF Treasurer. He is opting to run for an at-large director seat.

The Ballot

President (Vote for one)

• Ryan Richter

Treasurer (Vote for one)

• Katie Hoy Stratton

Director (Vote for two)

• Heidi Osterhout
• Maggie Daly Skogsbakken
• Robb Van Hook

Note that only JPF Regular Members in good standing (i.e. currently paid) can vote. Voting must be done in person and not by proxy at the Annual Meeting on September 20, 2018.