March is Women’s History Month, commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. In honor of Women’s History Month, International Women’s Day, and the Plainfield Park District’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Policy, we are continuing to highlight some of the amazing women that work here.
Next up is Deputy Director Maureen Nugent, who joined the District in 2000 after previously working as the Business Manager at Memorial Park District (1995-2000) in Hillside. She was promoted to Deputy Director at Plainfield in 2019 and currently oversees finance, human resources and information technology. In addition to those responsibilities, she also provides strategic support in all aspects of District operations in the absence of the executive director.
Under Maureen’s leadership, the Plainfield Park District Finance Department’s comprehensive annual financial report was recently awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for the 16th straight year! The District first won the award in 2006.
The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and Maureen’s management.
In addition to earning the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, the Plainfield Park District was also recently honored with the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the fifth straight year (first award was in 2017). To earn recognition, budget documents must meet program criteria and excel as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and communication tool.
“It was great to be recognized by an outside organization for meeting standards of excellence that we had already set internally,” Maureen said.
Maureen’s aptitude for business and finance began at an early age.
“As a kid, we had a toy grocery store setup and I loved playing cashier,” Maureen joked. “I was always destined to work on the business side of an organization.”
Maureen grew up in Hillside and was a frequent participant through Memorial Park District.
“I took dance, and in the summer, my sisters and I were at the pool every day,” Maureen said. “The Park District really kept us busy and was such a big part of our childhood. I have so many great memories. And now as an adult, by working for the Plainfield Park District, I feel I’m contributing to creating those same types of memories for our community.”
In addition to the aforementioned GFOA, Maureen holds professional affiliations with the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) and National Park and Recreation Association. She holds IPRA Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) status, and is the treasurer for the IPRA Administration & Finance Section.
Maureen attained her bachelor’s degree in business management from Northeastern Illinois University and her master’s degree in business administration from Benedictine University (Ill.).
