Kenilworth is set to have a new village manager with the hiring of Katarzyna “Kathy” Thake.
Village trustees approved Thake’s selection at their July 15 meeting. Thake, currently the deputy village manager in Niles, is scheduled to start her new role on August 26.
“I am honored and humbled to have been selected as the next village manager,” Thake said in a statement. “I look forward to working in collaboration with the Kenilworth Village Board, staff and community.”
Kenilworth officials tapped Thake from a pool of 28 applicants, according to Village President Cecily Kaz.
“Throughout the process, Kathy proved that she has the skills required to be an exceptional village manager in Kenilworth,” Kaz wrote in an email. “She has a great track record of successful projects and hands on experience in many aspects of village administration that are well matched to what she will see in Kenilworth. She’s a natural leader with a desire to engage directly with the community to achieve positive outcomes.”
As part of her initial contract, Thake will have a base $185,000 annual salary that is set to run through May 2025 when Kaz’s term expires. She will oversee 17 full time employees plus other part time and seasonal workers. The Village Board will then consider extending her contract after the next village presidential election.
In Niles, Thake has worked on several prominent projects including remodeling of the Niles Village Hall and Emergency Operations Center plus an effort for the village’s iconic Leaning Tower structure receiving a National Register of Historic Places designation. She also presided over a $29 million dollar Capital Improvement Plan, according to village documents.
“Kathy’s combination of talent, institutional knowledge and broad municipal experience have made her an invaluable asset for the Niles organization. Kathy’s leadership skills and proven ability to collaborate with staff, elected officials and the community will make her a great success in her new position,” Niles Village Manager Joe La Margo said in an email. “Personally, Kathy has been a vital resource for me since day one of my tenure here in Niles. Although she will be greatly missed, it’s always a moment of joy and pride to see a valued colleague progress in their career and reach new levels of leadership.”
Thake will take over daily operations of the village with a population of approximately 2,500 residents, where she now be overseeing several initiatives including the lakefront improvement project at Kenilworth Beach that is scheduled to run through 2025, Kaz noted.
“This project is currently in design development, with some early construction anticipated later this fall,” she wrote. “There are also several efforts underway as part of our commitment to revitalizing the Green Bay Road business district. Under Kathy’s leadership, we will soon roll out a new Façade Improvement Grant Program and finalize plans for much needed improvements to parking, pedestrian safety and streetscape beautification within the corridor.”
Kaz added the village is planning for a comprehensive zoning assessment, the first review of its zoning code and procedures.
She has never worked in Kenilworth and thus will be getting acclimated to a new environment. Glencoe Village Manager Phil Kiraly walked down a similar path in 2013 when he took over in that community.
“The most important thing you do when start a position like that is to commit to learning before acting,” Kiraly said. “You have to sit and meet, dialogue and learn from and communicate with people who have awareness of the organization and the traditions of the community and what is important to the community and makes it the place that it is. You have to absorb that before you ever contemplate anything that needs to change and how things need to be redone and what your process is going to be versus your predecessor.”
Kenilworth has been searching for a permanent village manager to replace Patrick Brennan, who took a similar position in Northfield earlier this year.
Since Brennan’s departure, Dawn Wucki-Rossbach has been serving as acting village manager. She is expected to serve as a consultant between August 26 and 30, Thake’s first week in Kenilworth.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
