Days before the village manager is set to depart Lincolnwood, officials have announced that the assistant village manager is preparing to exit as well.
Ashley Engelmann, a village employee for 10 years and the current assistant village manager, has accepted a new job as deputy village administrator in Libertyville.
Her last day on the job in Lincolnwood is Friday, and she’ll start in Libertyville Sept. 10, according to a village news release announcing her departure. Officials said Engelmann tendered her resignation Aug. 8
Mayor Barry Bass said he is happy for Engelmann as she begins her new position, though he is sad to see her leave the village.
Bass noted Engelmann has been driving an hour and a half each way to and from work every day for about 10 years. Her new role will bring her just 10 minutes from her home, he said.
“She has a young family and this is a wonderful opportunity for her,” Bass said.
Engelmann began working in Lincolnwood in 2008, serving as the village’s public works management analyst. She was subsequently promoted to the position of assistant to the public works director in 2011 and was again promoted to serve as public works director in 2014.
In 2016, Engelmann was appointed to the position of assistant village manager, according to the village release.
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“It has been an honor and a pleasure to be a part of the Lincolnwood community,” Engelmann said in the release. “I truly value the opportunities that have been afforded to me during my 10 years serving the village. I appreciate the trust and support the community has given me over the course of my employment. I will miss the dedicated team of staff members that work each day to ensure the success of the community.”
During her tenure as an employee in Lincolnwood, Engelmann was the staff liaison to the Traffic, Beautification and Telecommunications commissions, the release states.
According to the release, she has managed programs such as the Crawford Avenue reconstruction process, Village Hall promenade beautification project, the Valley Line Trail and Union Pacific bike path construction and the public input process for the Touhy Avenue Overpass Bridge.
She has also been part of the implementation of many policy initiatives, such as alternate side street parking during snow events, electric aggregation and commercial vehicle parking amendments.
Engelmann most recently worked on the transition of 911 dispatch services to the village of Skokie, in addition to implementing the village’s online vehicle sticker and business license process.
“Ashley has probably got one of the best work ethics. She is a hardworking and competent individual,” Bass said. “Hopefully one day when her family is older and time permits, I could see her being a village manager one day.”
Bass said as someone who comes in to work early or leaves very late, he has seen Engelmann sitting at the office, waiting for traffic to die down.
“I do recall the days when I had young children, and it’s nice to get home for bath time and to read ‘Goodnight Moon.’ It’s a great thing. I’m very happy for her,” Bass added. “I’m really happy that it worked out. That’s how life is. There are unexpected turns and opportunities, and something good has happened for her.”
Trustee Jesal Patel said he has worked with Engelmann since she began working for the village.
“She has really excelled and grown as a person and as a member of our local government,” Patel explained. “She’s been a department head, had employees working under her. She’s generally well-liked and she’s delivered and excellent work product from what I can tell.”
Echoing the mayor’s statement, Patel also said it would have been nice to see Engelmann continue her career in Lincolnwood and possibly take on the village manager role.
“A lot of times in these settings you’ll have continual promotions from within, and somebody who starts at a low position ends up running the company,” he said. “You hear about the stock boy at a retail outlet that ends up becoming the CEO after working through every job, so it would have been nice to see her as a village manager one day.”
Lincolnwood Village Manager Tim Wiberg departs Aug. 31 after the village accepted his “irrevocable resignation” in June.