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Esperanza Castellanos Deputy City Clerk, city of Evanston   Tell us about your journey into the profession: My journey into local government began during my undergraduate degree. I was about to graduate with my Bachelor of Arts in Nonprofit & NGO Studies when someone from the MPA program came to our class to discuss local… Read More about IAMMA Spotlight: Esperanza Castellanos, City of Evanston

2025 IAMMA Conference Join us for IAMMA's annual conference! It takes place Friday, April 11th from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at NIU Naperville (1120 East Diehl Road Naperville, IL 60563). We'll end our evening with an after-conference social at Old Town Pour House (Freedom Commons - Naperville).     Please take our Post Conference… Read More about 2025 IAMMA Conference

Nicole Aranas Deputy Village Manager, Village of Lombard   Tell us about your journey into the profession: I have always been interested in a career in public service and have been drawn to find purpose in work that directly helps people and impacts communities. My journey began with an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning. After… Read More about IAMMA Spotlight: Nicole Aranas, Village of Lombard

Josh Wray Director of Economic Development, City of Pekin   Tell us about your journey into the profession: I was a senior in college and planning for a future in academia. My thesis advisor was taking me to conferences and lectures, I was in the middle of research design and statistics courses, I was preparing… Read More about IAMMA Spotlight: Josh Wray, City of Pekin

CASEY BIERNACKI DEPUTY MANAGER, Village of WESTERN SPRINGS   Tell us about your journey into the profession: In 2011, I found myself without a summer internship while in the last year of pursuing an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Illinois in Chicago. I was unaware that a long-term career path for… Read More about IAMMA Spotlight: Casey Biernacki, Village of Western Springs

CALEB HAYDOCK Management Analyst, Village of East Dundee   Tell us about your journey into the profession: After working in movie production for 7 years, I decided to move to Chicago and earn a Master's Degree in Public Policy. I applied for the management intern program in East Dundee in August in 2023 and haven't… Read More about IAMMA Spotlight: Caleb Haydock, Village of East Dundee

BRIANNA BACIGALUPO MANAGEMENT ANALYST, CITY OF ST. CHARLES   Tell us about your journey into the profession: I’ve always had an interest in government and policy, but I wasn’t sure what my next steps would be after college. I ultimately landed a position as a legislative staff intern at the Capitol in Springfield focusing on… Read More about IAMMA Spotlight: Brianna Bacigalupo, City of St. Charles

COREY INCANDELA MANAGEMENT aNALYST, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY   Tell us about your journey into the profession: I attended St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin where I majored in Political Science. I had my first exposure to Public Administration when I took an Introduction to Public Administration class my sophomore year and… Read More about IAMMA Spotlight: Corey Incandela, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

MARISOL LEYVA Director of human resources & risk Management Village of bensenville   Tell us about your journey into the profession: My journey into the public sector has been both unconventional and deeply fulfilling. My career began in private sector marketing and communications, which provided a solid foundation in business and relationship building. From there,… Read More about IAMMA Spotlight: Marisol Leyva, Director, Village of Bensenville

Yates McLaughlin Management Analyst Village of Lincolnshire   2023-2024 IAMMA Intern Representative   Tell us about your journey into the profession: I started at a young age seeing family work in local government and instantly fell in love with public service. I vividly remember watching Veggie Tales while a Board Meeting was happening just a… Read More about IAMMA Spotlight: Yates McLaughlin, Management Analyst, Village of Lincolnshire