Professional Management Key to Quality of Life in Illinois Communities

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new video produced by ICMA, the International City/County Management Association (www.ICMA.org), highlights how professional local government managers contribute to the quality of life in the Illinois communities of Lake County and the villages of Glenview and Woodridge.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120816/DC58690LOGO)

"A Lovely Place to Call Home" features elected and civic leaders reflecting on the value professional local government managers bring to their communities. They include:

• Eric Alwin, Building Commissioner, Village of Woodridge
• State Representative Jim Durkin, 82^nd District
• David Stolman, Chairman, Lake County Board
• James Duffy, Commissioner, Woodridge Park District
• Mike Adams, Executive Director, Woodridge Park District
• Susan McNeil-Marshall, Library Administrator, Woodridge Public Library
• Marvin Bembry, pharmaceuticals industry
• Michael Knight, Winchester House Advisory Board
• Bob Patton, President, Glenview Park District
• Kerry Cummings, President, Village of Glenview
• Larry Carlson, owner, Carlson Company
• Katy Rush, Village Administrator, Village of Woodridge

The interviewees share their pride in their communities, and describe how community members and elected officials work with professional managers to create communities they're proud to call home.

Professional managers

• Work together with elected officials to meet high standards, resulting in a high quality of life.
• Ensure that governments are well-run, transparent, and accessible.
• Create an inviting environment for businesses.
• Have the financial skills to manage community resources well, so they can maintain core services even during tough economic times.
• Ensure that all voices in the community are heard and taken into account in decision-making.
• Innovate and always look for ways to do things better.

View the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaUkPXPmjBU&feature=plcp).

The video is a component of Life, Well Run (www.LifeWellRun.org), ICMA's campaign to raise awareness of the contributions professional local government managers make to cities, towns, and counties across the United States, building communities we're proud to call home.

Woodridge, Glenview, and Lake County are three of five pilot communities across the country to be showcased by ICMA in the Life, Well Run campaign.

About ICMA
ICMA, the International City/County Management Association, advances professional local government worldwide. The organization's mission is to create excellence in local governance by developing and fostering professional management to build sustainable communities that improve people's lives. ICMA provides member support; publications; data and information; peer and results-oriented assistance; and training and professional development to 9,000 city, town, and county managers and other individuals and organizations throughout the world.  The management decisions made by ICMA's members affect millions of individuals living in thousands of communities, from small villages and towns to large metropolitan areas.

SOURCE ICMA