“A career in public service is challenging, rewarding and fast paced. It is an honor to work with the dedicated elected and appointed officials who serve their communities with distinction.”
“A career in public service is challenging, rewarding and fast paced. It is an honor to work with the dedicated elected and appointed officials who serve their communities with distinction.”
Chicago Office:
100 N. Waukegan Road
Suite 211
Lake Bluff, Illinois 60044
847-234-0005 info@pargroupltd.com
Heidi J. Voorhees, President
Heidi Voorhees joined The PAR Group in 2001, became its President in 2006, and is currently working on both executive search and general management consulting assignments. Prior to The PAR Group Ms. Voorhees had 19 years of management experience with local governments, including the Villages of Wilmette and Schaumburg, Illinois, as well as the City of Kansas City, Missouri.
From 1990 to 2001, Ms. Voorhees served as the Village Manager for Wilmette, Illinois, one of Chicago’s notable residential suburbs. During her tenure, Ms. Voorhees focused on delivering high quality services and responsiveness to the community, streamlining administrative and management functions and building strong teams among the organization’s 200 employees. Ms. Voorhees also worked closely with community leaders to address issues on diversity, multiculturalism and racism. And, under her leadership, the Wilmette village organization established a collaborative budget process, formalized its long-range capital improvement program, and developed financial policies that led to the achievement of a AAA bond rating for the community.
During her tenure as Village Manager for Wilmette, Ms. Voorhees was active in regional governmental organizations as well, serving as the Program Services Chair and the Utilities Regulation Chair for the Northwest Municipal Conference, which represents the interests of 48 municipalities in northern Illinois. She also served as co-chair of the Chicago Metropolitan Mayors’ Caucus Task Force on Electric Reliability, an organization influential in improving electric service and reliability throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.
Ms. Voorhees instructs law enforcement executives in the Executive Management Program on management, community relations, and organizational culture at Northwestern University. She is also is an Instructor for the university’s Master’s degree Program in Public Policy and Administration, and was previously an instructor at Northwestern’s Center for Public Safety.
Ms. Voorhees has served on the Boards of Directors of numerous professional associations including the Chicago Metropolitan Managers’ Association and the Illinois City and County Management Association. In 1999, she was selected to participate in the Leadership Greater Chicago Program and has been an active Rotarian for 16 years. She is currently President of the Board for the Family Service Center for Wilmette, Glenview, Kenilworth and Northbrook.
Ms. Voorhees earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Illinois State University and holds a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University where she was a fellow in the Eli Lilly State and Local Government Fellowship Program. She was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus by the school in 1998.
