Raymond K. Ochromowicz is the Executive Director of the St. Charles Park District, St. Charles, IL.He came to St. Charles following a year as Executive Director for the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District, Park Ridge, IL, and 23 years as Executive Director for the Bolingbrook Illinois Park District. Under his leadership his agencies received the NRPA Healthy Community Award (2003), National Gold Medal Award (1980, 1999), National Recreation and Park Association and the National Sports Foundation (1999), NRPA Best Benefits (1994, 2001, 2002) and the KUDOs Award as Best Communicator, National Recreation and Park Association, an unprecedented eight times (1997-2008).
From 1987-93 he was Director of Parks and Recreation, Burbank Illinois Park District. He has also taught part-time at the College of St. Francis and Moraine Valley Community College.
Ochromowicz has been active in the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, serving on the nominations and elections committee, state conference committee (chair), awards and recognition committee, issues task force, public awareness committee, sports and athletics committee and the board of directors. He has also been active in the South Suburban Park and Recreation Profession Association, the Western Illinois University Alumni Recreation Association, the National Recreation and Park Association, and the Will County Environmental Task Force. He has served on the Board of Regents and has taught for North Carolina State University's Supervisors Management School from 2006 through 2010. He has also been active in his community's Rotary Clubs including all of their leadership capacities.
Ochromowicz has made a number of presentations at the IPRA-IAPD State Conference, in addition to a number of other professional organizations. As an individual he has received Academy's President's Award (2010), the IPRA Prestigious Fellow Award (2003), the Award of Excellence, Bolingbrook Park District (1997), the Meritorious Service Award, Illinois Park and Recreation Association (1997), the Distinguished Alumni Award, Western Illinois University Park and Recreation Alumni Association (1997 & 2010), the Paul Harris Fellow, Bolingbrook Rotary Club (1997), the Literary Award, Illinois Park and Recreation Association Administrative and Finance Section (1996), the Professional Recognition Award, Illinois Park and Recreation Association (1995), and the Professional of the Year, National Park and Recreation Association, Midwest Region (1995).
He received his B.S. degree from Western Illinois University, with a major in Recreation and Park Administration. He has also attended the Illinois Park & Recreation Professional Development School, the NRPA/North Carolina State University Administrative Management Forum and the NRPA/North Carolina State University Business Institute for Park & Recreation Professionals. [updated 03/12]