Where were you born and raised? I was born in Evanston, Illinois. After a year, my family moved up to Northbrook, where we lived for 5 years before settling over in Glencoe, where I lived until leaving for college.

Where did you go to school? I attended Boston College, where I majored in both History and Political Science. I also have a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs (MPA) from Indiana University’s School of Public & Environmental Affairs (SPEA). 

What about your family? My wife Kathy and I will be celebrating twenty years of wedded bliss next month. We have four kids: Hugh, 18, a freshman at Miami (Ohio); Gretchen, 17, a junior at Homestead; Mary Bridget, 14, an 8th grader at Lakeshore; and Doug, 9, a 3rd grader at Donges Bay. 

What was your first job? When I turned 16, I began working for the local park district as a lifeguard at Glencoe Beach, along the shores of Lake Michigan. It was a lot of responsibility at a relatively young age. I continued to work with the park district in a variety of positions through high school, college and graduate school, and this early exposure to working on behalf of the community, combined with my academic interests in history and government, profoundly influenced my decision to pursue a career in public service.

What are your hobbies? In my spare time, I enjoy reading, exercising, scouting, playing hockey and visiting Door County. I wish I had the time to play more golf, but with four active kids, that’ll have to wait.

Final parting thoughts: Life is a gift, and it does move fast. I try to make each day count, and to give my best to others - be it family, friends, co-workers, the community or those who are less fortunate. 

By James Petersen

“When was the last time you did something for the first time? When was the first time you did something for the last time?” Those questions are tacked to the wall of my office. I have, at certain times in my life, received odd bits of wisdom; they all end up on the wall. A cartoon acquired at my first job depicts a sign on a muddy road warning: “Choose your rut carefully. You’ll be in it for the next 18 miles.” My editor had given it to me. When I would complain about a certain task, he would say: “How you deal with boredom may be the most defining of character traits.”

That became one of my core principles: One should always be on a learning curve. It helped that my job demanded discovery. As a writer, I explored new topics every month. The rut I chose lasted 40 years.

And then it disappeared.