Oak Park Names New Human Resources Director

After narrowing down a field of 119 candidates, the Village of Oak Park has named a new Human Resources Director to succeed Frank Spataro, who retired last year after more than a decade at the post. 

Kimberly Evans Shamley, 46, has more than 15-years of hands-on experience in mediation, recruitment, employee benefits and staff training has been named Human Resources Director for the municipal government of the Village of Oak Park, according to a news release from the village.

Village Manager Cara Pavlicek said in a statement, “I am truly eager to have someone of Kim’s caliber managing the human resources programs that are critical to selecting, training and motivating the workforce that delivers the services vital to the quality of life we enjoy here in Oak Park.

“Not only does she have the training and experience important to the technical aspects of the role of human resources director, she also brings a calmness and understanding of workers’ needs that will help us build and maintain a positive workplace culture focused on customer service," Pavlicek added.   

Shamley, who assumed her new Village role Monday, comes from the Public Building Commission of Chicago, where she was director of human resources for five years. The commission, created in 1956, provides professional management of major public construction projects, including libraries, parks, fire houses and police stations.

In her role at the Public Building Commission, Shamley managed a wide range of human resources functions similar to those in Oak Park, including employee benefits, employee relations, COBRA health benefits and staff training programs designed to improve workplace performance and professional development.

"I am very excited to join the Village of Oak Park as the human resources director,” Shamley said in response to her selection. “I take pride in public service and I am passionate about human resources. It is very important that top notch customer service is provided internally to the employees and externally to the residents of Oak Park. I am looking forward to bringing some of my past experiences to the Village, continuing my career development and learning from a great team of professionals.”

Prior to her role with the Chicago the Public Building Commission, Shamley was the human resources and operations manager for the Alliance for the Great Lakes, an organization that works to protect and restore the world's largest surface freshwater resource. Her previous experience also includes serving as a vice president of career development with LaSalle Bank and as a managing director with the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits of the United Methodist Church.

Shamley holds a Master of Science degree in public administration and management from DePaul University in Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts degree in international business administration and management from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.

A native of Detroit, she lives in Westchester with her husband and children.

Information courtesy of a news release from the Village of Oak Park.