The Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of four officers - President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary - and one trustee. The Executive Board meets monthly and is responsible for fiscal management and business related decisions of the coalition.
Dr. Rose Garlasco, President
Rose has been Assistant Principal at Maine South High School since 2001 and is the President of the MCYAF Board of Directors.
Rose grew up in Park Ridge and attended Maine East High School. She received her B.A. in Sociology/Home Economics from Illinois State University. She went on to get her M.A. from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration. She received her Ph.D in Education from Loyola University in Leadership and Policy Studies.
Rose started her career as a social worker. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and worked at Central Baptist Children’s Home in Lake Villa, and then worked for Omni Youth Services as Program Director for Fremont and Libertyville Townships. Her school experience began as a guidance counselor at Alvernia High School in Chicago, then as school social worker at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire and an Assistant Principal at Community High School District 128 Libertyville-Vernon Hills until 2001.
Rose has served on numerous local and state organizations. She was active in the Illinois Juvenile Officer’s Association, the Illinois Principals’ Association, the Joint Community Response and Recovery Team for Park Ridge and Des Plaines, and the Libertyville and Park Ridge Rotary Clubs.
Rose lives in Libertyville with her husband, Larry.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rose-garlasco/11/94b/466
Chief Jim Prandini, Vice President
Jim Prandini joined the Des Plaines Police Department in 1980 and was appointed Chief of Police in 2003. He received his B.S. from the University of Tulsa and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
As a member of the Des Plaines Police Department, Jim has held various positions. These include: Patrol Officer, Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Detective Sergeant, Lieutenant, Deputy Chief of Patrol Division, and Deputy Chief of Investigations.
Jim is also very active in the community and has been involved in numerous professional organizations. He is President of the North Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police, Vice-President of the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System, and Sargeant-at-Arms of the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System. Jim participates not only on the MCYAF Board, but also on the Urban Area Security Initiative, Incident Response Committee, First Responder Crisis Action Team and on the Leadership Committee for the Cook County Department of Public Health.
Jim Lange, Treasurer
Jim Lange joined the MCYAF Board of Directors in summer 2011. Jim is the retired Executive Director of the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District, a position he held from 2001-2010. During his tenure at the Park District, he implemented $30million of Park District development projects all without going to referendum.
In addition to his work with MCYAF, Jim coaches football and baseball, as well as buddy ball for MSNAR, the Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation, for the disabled. He is President of the Park Ridge Lions Club and past President of the national Ice Skating Institute.
Jim lives in Park Ridge with his wife Janet and is the father of two sons.
Vickie Poklop, Secretary
Vickie Poklop joined the MCYAF Board in August 2008 and assumed the role of Secretary. She has been employed by the Des Plaines Police Department for 12 years as the Police Counselor.
In that capacity, she assists victims of crime, families of suicide and homicide, as well as families seeking interventions. She graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana with a master’s degree in Counseling.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/victoria-poklop/12/830/8a4
Ed Dubowski, Trustee
Edward V. Dubowski is the retired Chief of the City of Park Ridge Fire Department, and a resident of Park Ridge. He received his master’s degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University. Ed’s professional track record in planning and directing operations in a progressive manner brought many accomplishments to the Park Ridge community and its fire protection services.
Ed is an active community volunteer and is involved in numerous professional organizations. He is the former president of Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Division III, member of Division XX, board member to Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy and Cook County Fire Chiefs Association, member of the Metro and the Illinois Fire Chiefs Associations, Illinois Emergency Services Management Association, Illinois Professional Firefighters Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Institution of Fire Engineers, and the National Fire Protection Association.
Ed’s professional and personal endeavors have earned him numerous awards including Fire Chief Emeritus (2008), Community Star (2007), Humanitarian Service Award (2006) and Excellence Award, City of Park Ridge (2005).
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/edward-dubowski/13/2b1/354
Deb Dezelan, Trustee
Deb Dezelan joined MCYAF's Board of Directors in 2011. She is employed with Abbott Laboratories as an attorney and lives in Park Ridge with her family.
Deb has been a transactional lawyer for over 13 years. In that capacity, she drafts and negotiates contracts, establishes appropriate internal guidelines and standard operating procedures, and structures business arrangements between companies.
She received her law degree from the University of Notre Dame, an M.B.A. at the University of Cincinnati, and a Chemical Engineering degree from Michigan State University. Deb is the mother of two young sons.
