Two leaders will step into their new leadership roles with the village of Oak Park as of Monday, taking the helm of the restructured Development Customer Services Department — which was also renamed — that village leaders is seeking to align with “industry standards.”
According to a village news release, Village Manager Kevin Jackson has tapped Emily Egan to be the director of the newly-titled development services department, with Brandon Crawford named deputy director of the unit.
Their leadership positions take effect Feb. 5, the release states.
“Emily, our Director, and Brandon, our Deputy Director, each possess the knowledge and skillset to hit the ground running and move us forward in a positive way. I am eager to work closely with this team as we elevate our ongoing work in this important area,” Jackson stated in the release.
Last year the Village Board approved changes to what has been known as the Development Customer Services Department, officials explained in the release. The revamp includes the unit’s name change and more, all of which is expected to be “in line with industry standards, are intended to foster an enhanced focus on economic development and vitality within Oak Park’s municipal government.”
The streamlined department will focus on economic development and vitality, development and permits, planning and urban design, and parking and mobility services, the release states.
The reorganization brings with it the creation of a standalone Neighborhood Services department, which will oversee code compliance, housing programs, grants management and have a revived focus on neighborhood and community engagement, and civic education and participation, according to the release.
“As we reorganize and look to build up this critical Development Services department,” said Jackson, “I am thrilled that we are doing so with such a strong foundation.”
Officials explain in the release that Egan is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and comes has “extensive experience” in municipal government. Since 2021, she has been director of community development for the village of Brookfield, working with tax increment financing district issues, code enforcement related to life safety and community service, and more. She was also, at one point, a village planner in Brookfield before leaving for a same-title position in Elmhurst — then returning to Brookfield.
Egan also served on the executive board of Visit Oak Park, the state-certified convention and visitors bureau for Western Cook County. And she has also been a trainer for other organizations’ plan commissions.
“It’s an honor to become a part of the dedicated and high-caliber team serving the Village of Oak Park,” Egan stated in the release. “I am excited about leading several critical and impactful projects and look forward to working closely with the community to achieve our shared goals.”
She hold’s a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University and a master’s degree in urban planning and policy from University of Illinois-Chicago.
Crawford has a “strong mix of experience” in both private and public sectors, according to the release.
Most recently, Crawford worked as a site development portfolio manager for social media giant Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook Inc.). In that role, he managed negotiations of development and economic/tax incentive agreements with different state and local jurisdictions to secure developmental rights. He also managed architectural, engineering and general contracting contracts that usually exceeded $200 million.
“I am honored and grateful to receive the opportunity to become part of the community and serve as the Deputy Director of Development Services,” Crawford stated in the release. “Oak Park represents everything a community can be when our actions support our intent. … I look forward to collaborating with everyone as we continue to advance the village’s initiatives in planning, development, economic vitality, mobility and so much more.”
Crawford is a former planner for the village of Glenview where he managed development projects through various regulatory commissions, including the Village Board. He is credited with updating Glenview’s comprehensive and affordable housing plans. He also performed zoning analyses for industrial, commercial and residential properties and facilitated public meetings as part of Glenview’s community engagement process, the release explains.
Crawford earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds a master’s degree in real estate investment and finance from DePaul University.
