Events

The field of healthcare is ever changing and MTA Member Townships respond to this by offering services utilizing a number of different models and structures. Join Janet Stachula, RN, Community Health Nurse from Schaumburg Township, Kristen Smith, RN, Community Health Director from Hanover Township and Alicia Vodicka, RN, BSN, Health Service Director and Colleen Grant Schumann, Supervisor, from Palos Township as they discuss how they serve the public in their townships utilizing direct staff and/or community partnerships.

Janet Stachula has been a nurse for 40 years. Her career has allowed her to serve in many areas of nursing including orthopedics, IV therapy, endoscopy, home health and hospice. Currently she has served as the Community Health Nurse of Schaumburg Township for 5 years. In this role, she provides health screenings and programs at the Township.

Kristen Smith is a Registered Nurse with 17 years of experience in various healthcare settings including women’s health, medical/surgical nursing, and community health nursing. She has been the Community Health Director for Hanover Township for 11 years. Kristen has her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Rockford University. She is passionate about preventative health, patient education, and ensuring residents have access to quality and affordable healthcare services.

Join fellow MTA members on May 1 to advocate for issues important to our townships. We will meet at Arlington’s (210 Broadway, Springfield) at 11AM for lunch and to receive a legislative update from the association’s lobbyists. We will also review the day’s itinerary. Attendees will receive a briefing packet and lanyard ID. Following lunch, we will walk over to the capitol for meetings.

That evening, MTA will host a dinner at Saputo’s (801 E. Monroe Street) at 7PM for attendees.

The registration fee for Capitol Day is $75 per person. Online registration is required, register online here.

A limited block of hotel rooms has been secured at the Wyndham Springfield City Centre (700 E. Adams Street) for May 1 at a discounted rate of $121. Members can call 217-789-1530 and mention “MTA” or “Metropolitan Township Association” when making a reservation. Reservations can also be completed online here. Rooms must be reserved by April 9 to receive the discounted rate.

A draft itinerary of meetings will be shared with registrants in April. Due to the fluid session schedule, attendees are asked to be flexible as to changes in meeting times.

Join us for a half-day seminar discussing how to create the future of local government services. Registration and continental breakfast begin at 8:30 AM with the training beginning at 9:00. Tickets are $35 each. Event registration is online here.

The Problem: A centuries-old orthodoxy rules over the daily affairs of local government decision-making and service delivery. Local government orthodoxy, a belief system that honors the present moment over cost-effective change and public-centered innovation, allows its adherents to apply the next big thing so long as it’s consistent with the organization’s culture and approved by its hierarchy. Local governments are more likely to preserve and protect the status quo, not directly challenge or change it. Consequently, the future is beholden to present mindsets.

The Solution: In this fast-paced, interactive, and content-rich seminar, Peter Burchard will explore the essential history of self-government – a concept that now impedes intergovernmental cooperation, cost reduction, and innovation. Importantly, Peter will present a model(s) that can enable local governments to improve their efficiency and effectiveness and thereby make it possible for lower-cost service delivery and more meaningful intergovernmental cooperation.

This seminar is divided into three parts: Part 1: Innovating the Innovator. Part 2: A Model Local Government Organization. Part 3: Cooperation – not Consolidation.

Peter Burchard is the past village manager in Hoffman Estates and city manager in Naperville. After thirty years in local government, Peter pursued his other passion as the chief operating officer of inVentiv Medical Management in Augusta, Georgia. Returning to Illinois, Peter taught local government innovation and ethics at Northern Illinois University. Peter also started his own multi-sector consulting firm, where he focuses on executive coaching and organizational improvement.
Peter’s experience includes six years as a board member (three as chair) of a Chicago area hospital, board member of the Suburban Law Enforcement Agency, instructing Chinese delegations in American government (pre-pandemic), elected to the National Honor Society for Public Administration, a Public Service Education Fellow, and past Treasurer of the NIU Foundation. Peter is writing a book on how to improve and innovate local government governance and services.

Last Year, the General Assembly made changes to the laws governing Notaries Public in the State of Illinois. This includes additional requirements around record keeping and other matters. Attorney Brian Armstrong of Luetkehans, Brady, Garner & Armstrong, LLC will present on these changes and present a brief overview of all laws impacting notaries.

Brian joined Luetkehans, Brady, Garner & Armstrong in 2000 and is a partner. Brian represents various governmental entities and officials both as general counsel and in litigation, including municipalities, counties, townships, road districts and other public bodies. Brian advises such bodies on their authority and obligations under their respective governing statutes, negotiates and drafts contracts and intergovernmental agreements, drafts policies, resolutions and ordinances and advises them on proper procedures. Brian also regularly represents governmental entities and officials in litigation in state and federal courts, and has co-authored chapters on defending public entities and officials in civil rights cases and tort cases.

Brian graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with Honors in 1991 and received his law degree with Honors from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1996.

Brian is the co-author of a practice guide on the tort liability of school districts, has contributed to a practice guide on the civil rights liability of governmental entities and is published in the area of insurance coverage law. Brian and his wife have resided in Wheaton, Illinois since 1996.

The DIET that works- Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity in Townships

No two townships are the same- from its residents to its landscape. For a township to successfully serve, it is important that leadership and staff understand who resides and engages with the township, to better understand and address the needs of the community. This training provides an introduction to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with a focus on understanding why it really matters, providing simple activities to get started, and removing potential barriers that exist from simply not understanding the intention of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the local level. Attendees will leave with some tools and strategies for assessing, training, and building the foundations for an inclusive township experience.

Melissa Williams, DM has decades of management and process improvement experience in a variety of settings. Her professional career has touched on social work, government, juvenile justice, K-12 special education, and higher education. Starting in social work, she observed early on the rewards of strong organizational leadership- and the problems that arise without. A passion for customer service excellence honed over time and she transitioned to administration striving to create a work environment that both focused on data-informed decisions and emotionally intelligent leadership. Dr. Williams interests and expertise include developing diversity, equity, and inclusive (DEI)-minded work environments and training focused on education and training, mentoring, and generally supporting effective and inclusive organizations.

Over time, her passion for scholarship and practice became centrally focused on helping management effectively improve processes and delivery of services. Recently, Dr. Williams returned to the public sector working as the Administrator for the Township of Schaumburg. A self-proclaimed sci-fi nerd, she resides in Hoffman Estates, IL and shares in the joy of parenting 2 boys and 3 dogs with her partner, a K-12 Special Education Instructor. She looks to continue her service, engaging in research and consultation with inclusive leadership focused on improving performance and efficiency. Dr. Williams is a proud alumna of both traditional and nontraditional education. Her Bachelor of Science, granted by the University of Michigan, focused on civil rights and sociology. She then went on to receive her Master of Arts from the University of Chicago, in Social Service Administration, in the evening program for adult learners. This allowed her to work full time as a Special Education Case Manager for over 500 students in Chicago Charter Schools. Dr. Williams then achieved her Doctorate in Management from the University of Phoenix, while working full time for the State of Arizona and raising two toddlers.