New Sensation: Laura Lake, Village of Morton Grove (IL)

Background Check

Laura Lake graduated from Winona State University in 2013, with a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration, a Political Science Major and a music performance minor. She is a classically trained Suzuki violinist of 15 years.

She is entering her second year as a Master’s of Public Administration at Northern Illinois University. She’s also working as an Administrative Intern for the Village of Morton Grove – which is located in the Northern Suburbs.

Along with governmental work, she serves on several nonprofit boards – The Harbour and the Northern Illinois Food Bank. The Harbour, is a nonprofit organization who works to end homelessness by providing emergency sheltering and transitional living programs to women in the Northern Suburbs area – she serves on the governance and program/personnel committees. Since January she has served on the Northern Illinois Food Bank Young Professionals Board of Directors as the fundraising chair.

Q & A with Laura

Connect: LinkedIn

(Complete these phrases) Best thing about the….

80’s was……. A time when I wasn’t born yet… however I feel I understand the era when I dress up in Neon clothes.

90’s was…… Backstreet Boys nation.

00’s was….. So far – the largest chunk of my life. #ProudMillennial

Last year was….. My first year of graduate school. Thank fully I am still living!

Today is…. An awesome day! I signed up for ELGL!

(Complete this sentence) I feel old when I……

…..Realize that I finished college a year ago and will never get to experience that amazing time of my life ever again.

Name two people that would you want in your dream selfie.

Rob Lowe. I have the biggest crush on him. I mean let’s face it – when Sam left West Wing it just wasn’t as good.

Leslie Knope – who I aspire all my personal , waffle, and professional goals after.

Tell us about two mistakes that you’ve made that we can learn from. 1)

Don’t ever. And I mean ever hit reply all. Don’t do it.
Don’t be afraid to move. I am 22 years old and I have lived in 4 different states since 2010. It might be hard in the beginning. I learned to put my-self out there.

Give us three of your favorite YouTube videos.

Cats on cats on cats.

Cat video 1) Kitten Mittens

Cat video 2) A Cat’s guide to taking care of your human

Cat video 3) just google funny cat videos. Allll of those

http://youtu.be/5fP4emqw7O4

Our annual conference will be held in October 2014. Name three topics or speakers that should be included on the conference agenda.

Marketing and Branding for municipal government
Nonprofit – government partnerships
Budgeting. How to make an effective and transparent budget book

Parent(s) can be influential in career choices of their kids. What was the career path of your parent(s)?

My dad was and still is a photographer for a newspaper

My mom is in graphic design and marketing

Really they inspired to be a public servant. Since age six I was always helping my mom work her various nonprofit events. She taught me that service comes above self. Always.

Name three of your mentors and describe them in five words.

Brittany Smith: Miss Illinois (America) 2013: Leader, intelligent, self-aware, changer, talented (I am adding a sixth), friend.

Alyssa Lopez: Caring, professional, family-orientated, educated, best boss

Boyle Wong: Knowledgeable, educated, goal-driven, dedicated, public servant

Your hometown…..what is it best known for?

Marshfield, Wisconsin. World’s 2^nd largest round barn (dangit Toyko) and their neon green cow.

How can ELGL best contribute to the public sector?

Continue to establish this network! It is refreshing to become involved in an organization that isn’t just interested in the sector but in the people that work for it.

Give us two items that are broken in local government.

Understanding of the job. Not for those in it – but those who are looking in. I would love to see more community outreach about the role of local government.

How to handle social media.

Fast forward one year, what will factor into your decision on whether to renew your ELGL membership?

When do the waffles arrive on my door step? Joking. Don’t worry I am already planning to re-knew. I will even BUY a membership (which by the way thank you for the free student membership)

Give us two ideas for attracting and retaining talented individuals to the public sector.

Employee wellness programs
Employee recognition programs

What questions should we have asked?

If we could live anywhere – where would it be.

Tells a lot about the person. By the way my answer is Portland, Oregon where my family lives. I am stuck in Illinois until I finish at NIU but you never know!