Board of Commissioners
The Hoffman Estates Park District is governed by seven elected commissioners, representing the recreational needs of the community for four-year unpaid terms. Park Commissioners have the power to levy taxes within prescribed limits, establish or change Park District policies, sign agreements, award contracts and possess all of the powers similar to those of a board of directors for a public corporation. The Park Board also hires an Executive Director to manage the day-to-day affairs of the Park District. The Executive Director hires professional staff to assist in managing operations. The Executive Director also works to keep the board of commissioners informed of the happenings within the Hoffman Estates Park District.
Contact our Board of Commissioners
To email a Commissioner, click on the name by their picture at heparks.org or you can call 847-781-3633.
Board Meetings
Board Meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday each month at 7:00 PM in the Triphahn Center Board Room. View our schedule, agendas and minutes.
Get involved! Become a Community Representative
Standing Committees are comprised of up to five residents (community representatives) and two Park Commissioners appointed by the Board annually. District staff submit monthly reports and recommendations for purchases to the Standing Committees on a monthly basis. Once each report is received, reviewed, and subsequently approved by the Committee, the Committee then makes its recommendation to the full Board during the monthly Board meeting. Community Representatives do not vote as members of the full park board.
Are you a Hoffman Estates resident and interested in becoming a Community Representative? Standing Committees are comprised of up to five residents (community representatives) and two Park Commissioners appointed by the Board annually. District staff submit monthly reports and recommendations for purchases to the Standing Committees on a monthly basis. Once each report is received, reviewed, and subsequently approved by the Committee, the Committee then makes its recommendation to the full Board during the monthly Board meeting. Community Representatives do not vote as members of the full park board. Interested in serving on a committee? Submit a Community Representative Questionnaire to cflynn@heparks.org outlining your qualifications and why you are interested in serving on a committee.
Board of Commissioner Members
Rajkumari Chhatwani, President
2019-Present
Chair – Executive Director Review Committee
Raj was appointed President in June 2023, to fill the office left vacant by Patrick Kinnane, who had been appointed as a Trustee with the Village Board. Raj has served on the board since May 2021 when was elected to the Board of Commissioners. Prior to being elected, she was appointed to the board in 2019, to fulfill the unexpired term of Commissioner Mike Bickham through May 2021. Prior to her appointment as Board Commissioner, Chhatwani served, since 2015, on the HEParks Board as a Community Representative on the Administration & Finance committee.
Active in the financial industry for 22 years, Chhatwani brings business and finance insight to the Board of Commissioners. She holds a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from DePaul University and a PhD in Psychology from Barkatullah University. Her professional achievements also include a Psychology Publication relating to Cognitive Styles and the Family Environment.
As a resident of Hoffman Estates for 22 years, Chhatwani enjoys HEParks community events, fitness classes and spending time outdoors with her family. She also serves the local and global community through her work with organizations including The Kiran Anjali Project, The Sindhi Association of Metropolitan Chicago, and Live Out Loud.
Robert Kaplan, Vice President
2015-Present
Chair – Buildings & Grounds Committee
Robert Kaplan is Vice President of the Park Board. He has previously served as President and Treasurer. Prior to his election in 2015, he was a Community Representative with the Park Board for 10+ years. Robert has served on all committees of the Park Board: Administration and Finance, Recreation, Buildings and Grounds, and was on the Forward Planning Committee that worked on the 2014-2019 Comprehensive Master Plan.
Robert and his wife Shannon have resided in Hoffman Estates since 1991 and have two grown children, Jacob and Claire. They have participated in and enjoyed the Park District’s many programs including preschool, art classes, boys and girls team sports, adult fitness and the golf course. He coached football, baseball, softball, basketball, and soccer while his children were participants in those programs.
Robert is a local attorney, having an office at the Heritage Bank Building in Schaumburg. He has an MBA from Roosevelt University, is active in the local bar association, and is a current board member and past president of the Beth Tikvah Congregation in Hoffman Estates. Robert also serves as a trustee on both the Friends of HEParks Foundation and the Illinois Association of Park Districts.
Pat McGinn, Treasurer
2013-Present
Chair – Administration & Finance Committee
Pat McGinn was elected in April 2013. He previously chaired and vice-chaired the Recreation Committee and was Chair of Administration & Finance Committee. His first involvement at the park board level was as a Community Representative for the Administrative & Finance committee. Prior to this, he was actively involved with the HE Parks for over 15 years as a volunteer coach for the in-house soccer, basketball, and baseball programs. Afterward, he continued on by coaching several girls’ travel soccer teams and also ran the Hoffman Estates girls’ feeder basketball program for four years. Professionally, Pat was in the sporting goods industry for almost 30 years including companies such as Nike International, Wilson Sporting Goods, and Maurice Sporting Goods in Northbrook.
Linda Dressler, Assistant Secretary
2021-Present
Chair – Recreation & Facilities Committee
Liaison – 50+ Committee
Linda, her husband, Wayne, and their three sons have lived in Hoffman Estates since 1994. Linda holds a bachelor’s degree in Management from Northeastern Illinois University. She has been a realtor since 2007, working with RE/MAX Suburban in Schaumburg since 2015. Linda is an avid member of her community, believing that if everyone gave back in some way – the world would be a better place. She has been involved with the Hoffman Estates Park District as a Community Representative since 2012. In 2018 & 2019, Linda brought grants to the Park District through the National Association & The Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS which culminated into Chino Gardens for our residents and new equipment at Community Park. She is also currently involved with the Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce, the Mainstreet Organization of Realtors, Illinois & National Association of Realtors, Women’s Council of Realtors both state and local chapter, the North West Housing Partnership, Operation Homefront and School District 54 Partnership. She is looking forward to the next four years working with the Park District in the capacity of Commissioner.
Keith Evans, Commissioner
2007-2015, 2017-Present
Vice Chair – Administration & Finance Committee
Liaison – Village Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Keith Evans rejoined the Park Board in May 2017. Previously, Keith served two consecutive Commissioner terms, from 2007 through 2015, including 3 years as Board President, among other leadership positions. Keith and his wife Sue have been residents of Hoffman Estates since 1986. Keith became involved with the park district as a sports coach for their four children. As a board member for travel soccer, he began attending committee and board meetings to represent the club’s interests. Later, he became a Community Representative, where he served on all the sub-committees. Keith is the owner of a local independent insurance agency, Key Financial Insurance, and has worked in the industry for over 30 years. He is an active member of the Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce and Schaumburg Business Association and has served on the boards of both organizations. He served as board chair of the HE Chamber. He is also a member of the HE Village Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee and can often be seen riding throughout the village on his bike.
Marc A. Friedman, Commissioner
2021-Present
Vice Chair – Recreation & Facilities Committee
Marc was appointed to the board in 2021. He ran uncontested for the unexpired two-year term in the April 6, 2021, Consolidated Election and was elected to the HEParks Board of Commissioners in May 2021 . He was re-elected in April 2023 to a four-year term.
Previous to his appointment as a Board Commissioner, Friedman served the HEParks community as a volunteer Community Representative on the Buildings & Grounds Committee for ten years.
As a resident of Hoffman Estates since 1987, Friedman has been active on most of the baseball diamonds, soccer fields and basketball courts within the district. In 1989, he began his relationship with HEParks, coaching baseball, basketball, and soccer for his son, Aaron. Since then, he has received numerous HEParks “Best of Hoffman” awards, the 2009 HEParks Volunteer of the Year Award, and a Great Citizen Award by the Village of Hoffman Estates. In October 2017, he was recognized statewide with the Good Sportsmanship award by the Illinois Association of Park Districts. Friedman can be found most weekends on a baseball field or basketball court as he continues to coach both sports; playing golf at the Bridges of Poplar Creek Country Club, or walking around the local parks with the family dog, Rosey.
Outside of HEParks, Friedman serves on the Board of Directors of Beth Tikvah Congregation in Hoffman Estates and on the board of the Palatine Community Baseball and Softball organization. He is currently the Vice President of Service Insurance Agency in Schaumburg.
Chris MacGregor, Commissioner
2023-Present
Vice Chair – Buildings & Grounds Committee
Chris was appointed to the board in August 2023, filling the seat vacated by Patrick Kinnane, who had recently been appointed Trustee with the Village Board. Prior to his appointment as Board Commissioner, MacGregor served the Park District in a volunteer capacity as a Community Representative on the Recreation & Facilities Committee, beginning in 2020.
MacGregor and his wife are eleven-year residents of Hoffman Estates and reside on the west side of town. He is an avid disc-golfer and purchased his home in part to be near the course at Black Bear Park. MacGregor has consulted not only HEParks, but other park districts as well in designing disc golf courses. MacGregor is also a member of the Ian Fleming Foundation, where he and his son donate their time restoring old vehicles used in James Bond films.
Employed in the field of user experience design, MacGregor brings his research and design skills to the Park District. He hopes to better understand the community and turn those findings into opportunities to better serve the residents.
Craig Talsma, CPA, CPRE, Executive Director, Board Secretary
Craig Talsma began his career in the park and recreation field in 1991. He joined the Hoffman Estates Park District in 1997 as its Director of Finance and Administration. He was named Deputy Director in 2012 and became Executive Director in May 2018. Talsma holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois, Urbana Business School, and he is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He is a graduate of the National Recreation and Parks Association’s Director School and is certified as a parks and recreation professional executive (CPRE). He serves on the board of the Park District Risk Management Agency (PDRMA), the board of the Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA), and he also serves as a trustee on the Friends of HE Parks foundation.
