Michael Clark, CPRP, MBA is presently the Executive Director for the Batavia Park District in Batavia, IL. Batavia Park District serves a population of approximately 25,000 residents in a western suburb of Chicago along the beautiful Fox Valley River corridor. He has an under graduate degree from Illinois State University and also earned his MBA from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. Mike graduated from several professional schools including Revenue Sources Management School and the Executive Development Program from Indiana University. As an active member of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) for the past twenty years he served as President in 2001. Mike has served on the IPRA Board of Directors and the Great Lakes Regional Council. Mike serves on the American Park and Recreation Society (APRS) Board of Directors and is incoming President of APRS. He has also served on the Indiana University Executive Development Program Board of Regents. Mike was Chairman of the IPRA Certification Board from 1993-96 and served as President of the IPRA Facility Management Section where he was the first Chairman of the Facility Management School of the Midwest. Mike has also been active nationally serving as President of the American Park and Recreation Society in 2007-08. Mike was honored by the IPRA as a recipient of the Meritorious Service Award in 2002. In 2004, he was awarded Distinguished Alumni Award from Illinois State University, and in 2005 the Rotarian of the Year for the Batavia Rotary Club. In 2008, under his direction Batavia Park District was named a Finalist for the National Gold Medal Award. He has spoken at various state and national conferences and has authored several articles in both state and national industry publications.

Michael says:

"Being active, involved and committed within the state association has created a network that has accelerated my career path and made me more resourceful to serve our community better. "