EXPERIENCE | Ann Tennes for Mayor

As Skokie’s Director of Communications & Marketing (1998 to 2023), Ann led impactful projects that strengthened community connections, including:

Created Skokie’s “Know Your Neighbor, Know Your Community” program in 2009. Over the course of three years nearly 100 Skokie residents opened their homes to hundreds of their neighbors for coffee meetups to learn about each other and their communities.
- This program was awarded a $150,000 grant from the Chicago Community Trust.
- Each coffee was attended by senior Village staff and local elected officials.
Organized free Community Spaghetti Dinners in Skokie in 2016 and 2018.
- These were held at each of Skokie’s three fire stations and the Public Works building, with all Skokie residents invited to attend.
- Nearly 400 residents attended and learned more about Skokie and their neighbors.
- Food was provided by Skokie restaurants.

As Skokie’s Director of Communications & Marketing (1998 to 2023), Ann led efforts to enhance the Village’s profile, attract new businesses, support economic growth, and foster a vibrant, connected community.

Served as a founding board member and executive committee member of Chicago’s North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau, which promotes tourism and economic growth in Skokie and nine other North Shore communities.
Led marketing for the Skokie Chamber of Commerce and created a short-term marketing plan to boost membership and improve community engagement in 2018.
Served on the Wednesdays on the Green formation committee from inception through 2020.
Served on the committee that created the annual Downtown Skokie Trick-or-Treat event in 2010, which continues to the present day.
Chaired Skokie’s Economic Development Commission’s Marketing and Community Branding Subcommittee with local business leaders, which helped develop the Village’s 2017 Economic Development Plan.
Leveraged steep discounts on CTA advertising and created a comprehensive regional advertising campaign to promote Skokie on CTA buses, trains and station platforms in 2016 and 2017.
In the early 2010s, organized two “Dine-Arounds” for Illinois Science + Technology Park and other downtown Skokie employees, which offered entertainment and tasting portions from Skokie restaurants, to promote the Village’s downtown restaurant scene.
Worked with Village staff from Public Works, Engineering, Economic Development and other disciplines to identify downtown Skokie revitalization objectives, and then created an action plan to market downtown Skokie and beautify downtown. The plan was implemented from 2010 to 2015 utilizing Tax-Increment Financing funds.

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Ann served on Oakton College’s Board of Trustees for 12 years, including two terms as Board Chairman, where she advanced academic excellence, expanded programs, fostered community partnerships, and supported student success.

Created a Village of Skokie Excellence in Government Management Scholarship at Oakton College in 2007, which provides funds annually to a Skokie resident who is an Oakton student.
Chaired the inter-disciplinary committee that hired Oakton President Joianne Smith.
Initiated the policy change requiring Oakton and affiliate groups to hold all banquets and other off-campus events at in-district venues.
Initiated the practice of approving tuition increases in two-year increments to give students time to plan ahead.
Supported expansion of certificate training programs, including cannabis industry-related certificates.

Ann served as Board Member (2019 to 2024) and Board Chairman (2023 to 2024) of the Skokie Community Foundation Board.
In her time there, she:

Developed an Oakton College/Skokie Human Services Workforce initiative in 2020 that leveraged funding from the Skokie Community Foundation, the Village and other area nonprofits to provide scholarships for more than 30 unemployed or underemployed Skokie residents to complete short-term certificate training programs at Oakton.
Created a partnership between the Skokie Community Foundation and Education Foundation Serving Students of Niles Township, which has increased the total grant awards to Skokie education initiatives for the last two years by more than 55% each year.
- Recent projects include:
  - School District 73.5’s International Library.
  - A vocational training initiative for special needs young adults
  - Increased services - including child care support - for adult
    English language learners.

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As Skokie’s Director of Communications & Marketing (1998 to 2023),
Ann led efforts to enhance the Village’s eco-friendly profile, attract new businesses, and support economic growth while prioritizing environmental sustainability.

Helped develop Skokie’s Environmental Sustainability Plan to reduce community-wide Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 35% below 2020 levels by 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The plan was adopted in 2022.
Developed the “Clean, Green Skokie” litter-clean up program, led the litter task force and developed an anti-littering poster contest for school children in Skokie.

As the Assistant Director of Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook
(1992 to 1998), Ann:

Developed numerous sustainability education initiatives in the early nineties, including:
- School waste audits that helped schools determine the largest sources of waste and develop waste reduction and recycling strategies.
- Teacher trainings that provided educators with hands-on lessons on waste reduction and recycling that they could use in the classroom. Teachers received continuing education units from the Regional Superintendent’s Office for participating.
- Commercial recycling education programs that helped businesses learn how to reduce waste and develop recycling programs.

As a Skokie resident, Ann:

Organized and participated in neighborhood litter cleanups with the Skokie Community Foundation.

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As Skokie’s Director of Communications & Marketing (1998 to 2023), Ann enhanced the Village’s profile, fostered community connections, supported economic growth, and led public health outreach, including wellness initiatives and critical communications during health emergencies.

Led communications outreach during COVID-19 pandemic, working 7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day from early March through July 2020 and again from early January through mid-March 2021 to:
- Make sure Skokie residents received much-needed information.
- Assist seniors and residents with scheduling Village-administered vaccination appointments.
Developed “Skokie Spirit Shines Through” campaign in 2020 as a community touchstone during this difficult time, enlisting the Skokie Community Foundation as a partner to raise more than $60,000 in funds to help Skokie residents with economic hardships.

As a Skokie resident, Ann:

Volunteered at weekend vaccination clinics for Skokie children.
Co-founded the Skokie Tennis Association (STA) in 2015 following a conversation with local realtors regarding the need for more adult recreation leagues in Skokie.
- The STA is an official Skokie Park District Affiliate and provides affordable, social tennis opportunities for Skokie residents 18+.
- Each year, approximately 80 members from Skokie and nearby communities play outside several times a week from May to September and also dine in Skokie restaurants, purchase fuel and other items, thus contributing to our local economy.

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As Skokie’s Director of Communications & Marketing (1998 to 2023), Ann enhanced the Village’s profile, fostered community connections, supported economic growth, and led public health outreach, including wellness initiatives and critical communications during health emergencies.

Developed the “Many Cultures, One Community - Keeping Skokie Safe initiative” with Skokie’s Public Safety Commission to strengthen neighborhoods and improve community safety (2014-2017). As part of this initiative:
- Skokie police officers went door-to-door, visiting residents in multi-family neighborhoods, discussing public safety, and recruiting block captains to ensure strong communication between neighborhood residents and the Skokie Police Department.
- Street lighting was assessed and amplified.
- Skokie Public Works sent crews to make repairs.
- Residents had the opportunity to learn about resources available in the community and meet with representatives from:
  - Skokie Public Library (Skokie Library Bookmobile)
  - Skokie Park District (Hosted hotdog dinners)
  - Skokie Health and Human Services Department (Shared resources)
  - Local nonprofits
Led the Community Review of the Skokie Police Department Use of Force Policy in concert with the Public Safety and Human Relations Commissions (2020-2021).
- In this role, Ann:
  - Brought in representatives from 16 community groups, including the NAACP, Skokie United, Lorel Park Action Network, Skokie School PTAs, Niles Township Clergy Forum, and more, along with Skokie Police representatives.
  - Led virtual community discussions.
  - Drafted the final report with the subcommittee.
- The final report was presented to the Village Board and
  - Included recommendations on training, community engagement, and transparency, in addition to use of force.
  - Led to the creation of Skokie’s Police Use of Force Review Board.
- Supported Skokie’s new Police Use of Force Review Board by:
  - Assisting with the selection of members after an open community application process (2021).
  - Working with its members in 2022 and 2023 to develop Skokie’s first report on use-of-force incidents resulting in injury or complaint.
Worked closely with Fire and Police Department administrators to develop messaging and community outreach in response to tragic events or criminal activity in the community. At times, Ann was tapped by these departments to assist school districts with event response.

THE EXPERIENCE TO LEAD

Leadership Roles at Local Nonprofits, Community-Based Organizations,

and Regional Associations

Chicago's North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau
Founding Board & Executive Committee Member, 2002-2023

North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie Foundation
Vice Chairman of the Board, 2014-Present
Northwest Municipal Conference
Local Government Communicators Committee
Founding Member, 1999-2023; Chairperson, 2000-2001 & 2014-2016
Oakton College Board of Trustees
Trustee, 2007-2019; Chairman of the Board, 2011-2012 & 2016-2017
Rotary Club of Skokie Valley
Member, 2023-Present
Skokie Chamber of Commerce
Marketing Task Force Leader, 2018
Skokie Community Foundation
Board Member, 2019-2024; Board Chairman, 2023-2024
Skokie Festival of Cultures
Board & Executive Committee Member, 1999-2023
Skokie Tennis Association
Co-Founder & Vice-President, 2015-Present
Skokie Valley Kiwanis Club
Member, 2016-Present
Zoning Board of Appeals, City of Park Ridge
Commissioner, 1997-2002; Chairperson, 2002-2010

Glenview Chamber of Commerce

Board Member, 1995-98