Lindsey Roland Nieratka selected as new Chief Sustainability Officer

July 15, 2024 - Village Manager Kevin J. Jackson announced today that Lindsey Roland Nieratka, a leader in developing and implementing climate-focused and sustainability programs, has been named Chief Sustainability Officer for the Village of Oak Park. Roland Nieratka officially begins the new role on July 29.

"The Chief Sustainability Officer plays a pivotal role in guiding the community as we navigate through the Climate Ready Oak Park plan that was adopted by the Village Board in 2022," said Jackson. "I am confident that Lindsey's strong skillset and vision align well with our priorities as she brings nearly a decade of experience overseeing sustainability programming at the municipal level. We are thrilled to welcome her back to her home state to lead the many initiatives that will help us reach our goals in this key area."

Climate Ready Oak Parkis a comprehensive and long-range plan developed to locally address the global climate crisis. Adopted by the Village Board in August 2022, the plan offers an ambitious vison, concrete commitments and actions that can be undertaken by all community members and or organizations. Commitments include decreasing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2030; achieving net zero by 2050; meeting the energy needs of Village facilities with 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and; establishing 30% of Oak Park's land as green infrastructure or enhanced park management.

"I am very proud of the work I have done in sustainability in the Southeast and am very excited to return to my roots in Illinois, where I was born, raised and educated," said Roland Nieratka. "The sustainability work Oak Park is already doing is remarkable and I am eager to continue moving that effort forward."

Though an Illinois native, Roland Nieratka has spent much of her professional career in the state of Florida. She arrives in Oak Park after serving as the first-ever Sustainability Manager for the City of Boca Raton since 2018. There, she meticulously developed sustainability plans and strategies for the community that covers five miles of Atlantic coastline from the ground up. Similarly, Roland Nieratka was the first person to work as the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator in the City of Hollywood, a suburb of Miami. She held that role for more than two and a half years, beginning in 2015.

In addition to her extensive municipal background, Roland Nieratka is a founding member of the Coastal Resilience Partnership of Palm Beach County. This multi-jurisdictional team collaborated on a regional Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, policy development drafts, grant applications and programming. She is also a member of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network.

Roland Nieratka is an experienced educator, too, having spent more than 15 years in higher education. Since 2012, she has been an Adjunct Environmental Science Instructor at American Intercontinental University. Previously, she served as a teaching assistant, and later as an adjunct instructor, in the Environmental Studies program at Florida International University from 2009-2012.

Recently, Roland Nieratka completed coursework through Harvard University in Executive Education for Sustainability Leadership. Previously, she earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in biology and anthropology from Knox College in Galesburg, Ill. in 2003. She later studied abroad in Australia, obtaining a graduate diploma of science in tropical ecology from James Cook University with the aid of a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. During her time in the Sunshine State, Roland Nieratka received a Master of Science in environmental studies from Florida International University, where she earned an Academic Excellence Award.

About Oak Park

The Village of Oak Park, located just nine miles west of downtown Chicago, offers a distinctive urban/suburban lifestyle in a thriving, multi-cultural community. Well-known for progressive values, tree-lined streets and bustling business districts, Oak Park serves as an ideal place to live, work and play. As a longstanding community of choice, the Village benefits from convenient access to local and regional transit, high-quality public schools, and arts and cultural attractions, including Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio and his acclaimed Unity Temple, which was recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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