HR0476 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0476 LRB095 12311 KXB 37081 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dr. Jim Czerwionka of Good Shepherd Manor for a job well done; and

WHEREAS, In 1993, the GSM Board picked Dr. Jim Czerwionka from a group of highly qualified candidates to lead Good Shepherd in what was to become the largest sustained building, staffing, and major fund raising efforts in the Manor's history; through his leadership two Intermediate Care Facilities, 13 CILAs, and a state of the art infirmary have all been added to the facilities; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Czerwionka led the construction and acquisition of fourteen group homes to provide individualized, community based treatment; he worked with State and local government to gain a water and sewer grant of $208,000; he led the development of a community-based sheltered workshop as well as employment in the community for residents; he led the charge in identifying and addressing the rapidly increasing needs of an aging resident population through the construction of a specially designed Alzheimer's Group Home and a 7,000 square foot Infirmary; he increased the Manor's operational budget from $2 million to $7 million and increased the staff from 60 to 170; he maintained and supported appeals and fundraising activities to generate over $1 million annually; and he established the Shepherds Endowment Society; and

WHEREAS, Prior to coming to Good Shepherd Manor, Jim Czerwionka had an admirable career history with a long list of achievements in treatment centers, hospital administration, higher education, and professional associations; he has held board positions and leadership roles, worked aggressively in program development and planning, guided large scale building and renovation programs, led regulatory compliance and quality control initiatives, and has been an active leader in public relations, fundraising, research, staff development and training, and fiscal and facilities management; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Czerwionka was the executive director for the Larkin Center for Children and Adolescents in Elgin, director for the Nachusa Lutheran Home for Children, and a department head at Pritzker Children's Hospital in Chicago; he holds a Doctoral Degree in Psychology from Northern Illinois University, a Masters of Education in Special Education and Rehab Counseling from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Science in Child Development and Child Care from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Bachelors in Philosophy/Education from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary; and

WHEREAS, He has held faculty positions at a number of faculty positions including the Arthur J. Audy Detention Center in Chicago; College of St. Francis, Joliet; Sauk Valley College, Dixon; Roosevelt University, Chicago; and at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais; he has also been an active community leader over the years, playing key committee and leadership parts in a number of organizations including the Lions, Knights of Columbus, and currently, the Bradley/Bourbonnais Rotary Club, where he has held roles including Youth Exchange Officer, International Chair, Club President, and Foundation Chair; and

WHEREAS, His wife, Marcia, is a school teacher; they are parents to three children, Bridgette, John, and Lori, and the grandparents to two grandchildren with a third to arrive very soon; Jim grew up in Chicago and was enrolled in the Catholic seminary system before transferring to a career in social ministry; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Jim Czerwionka has held an active leadership role with the Rotary District #6450 where he has worked actively with the group study exchange program at the district level; he is currently the district assistant governor, and will assume the role of district governor for the 2009-2010 term; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dr. Jim Czerwionka of Good Shepherd Manor for a job well done and wish him continued success in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Jim Czerwionka as a symbol of our esteem.