Chicagoan Steve Holloway, who has been with the Wilmette Park District for roughly four years as accounting manager, is stepping into a new post April 1, as superintendent of finance and personnel, with the retirement of current superintendent Ken Eppelheimer. He took some time to chat with Pioneer Press on March14.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself, and how you got into the world of numbers and finance.
A: I was reared on the southwest side of the city in the North Lawndale neighborhood, and was a student at Dunbar Vocational Career Academy. I’d decided to go into computer programming and thought I’d take an accounting class to prepare myself, but I fell in love with debits and credits. Sharon Iverson was the accounting instructor and I still visit her. I went to the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff and graduated with a bachelor’s degree.
Q: What do you consider your most important job as the new superintendent of finance?
A: I will be helping to maintain the financial stability that’s already in existence here at the Park District. As well, I’ll be working on some of the upcoming projects with the board and the administration team; the lakefront and perhaps paddle tennis.
Q: What might casual Park District patrons not know about the Park District, financially speaking?
A: Some of our programs are supported by residents through taxes – but they are also supported by the fees people pay to participate or use certain services. In fact, a rough estimate shows that about 66 percent of our operations are not paid for with taxes, but with service fees. Also there are more laws and regulations surrounding Park District accounting than you would find in the private sector.
Q: When you get the chance to step away from your desk, what do you like to do?
A: When it comes to Park District activities, I’m more of an outdoor guy. I’m a baseball fan, and I also play tennis.
Q: Are you looking forward to any movies?
A: I haven’t been to movies in a long time. But I would like to see “The Accountant,” the one with Ben Affleck!
–Kathy Routliffe, Pioneer Press
Twitter: @pioneer_kathy
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