The Oswego Village Board recently recognized outgoing Deputy Village Administrator Christina Burns for her service to the village over the past decade.
Burns begins in her new role as Kendall County administrator this week.
Burns demonstrated “exceptional leadership” and leaves an “indelible mark on the village’s overall organization,” village officials said in a proclamation recognizing her years of service.
“You have made a huge impact on everyone here. We are all better off because you have been here,” Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman said at the board’s Oct. 3 meeting. “Thank you for your time, dedication and expertise. As sad as I am to see you go, I could not be happier for you as you go on your next adventure.”
Burns served as the village’s deputy administrator, assistant administrator plus supervised Human Resources and Community Relations and managed the village’s Information Technology and purchasing areas.
Her accomplishments have included the development of shared services with neighboring municipalities, spearheading the village’s strategic planning efforts and overseeing significant improvements in communications as well as managing the village’s response during the pandemic, village officials said.
In her role as head of Human Resources, “her advocacy for employees and her efforts to enhance the working environment have greatly contributed to making Oswego a better place to work,” the proclamation said.
Village Administrator Dan Di Santo publicly recognized Burns at the Sept. 19 board meeting knowing he would not be present at her last Village Board meeting Oct. 3.
Her hiring by Kendall County is “a great reflection” on Burns and her leadership, he said.
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“It’s an exciting opportunity for her as hard as it is for the rest of us,” Di Santo told trustees. “She helped professionalize our operations and staff. She’s hard-working, a great leader and she will be sorely missed.”
Burns leaves a lasting legacy in Oswego as well, he said.
“Christina led groundbreaking achievements in shared services, led our strategic planning efforts, oversaw major improvements in our communications and managed our COVID-19 efforts and associated grants that went to small businesses and nonprofits. She’s been an advocate for employees and made Oswego a better place to work” Di Santo said. “In many ways, Christina brought our organization together as a family.”
Burns fills a vacancy in Kendall County created when former Kendall County Administrator Scott Koeppel accepted the position of Sugar Grove village administrator last spring.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.