Patras and I will be on the ballot this April 4, seeking to retain the board seat I was appointed to this past summer. I have lived in Park Ridge with my wife Jodie since 2008 and have three children across elementary, middle and high school. However, my Park Ridge story goes back much further, starting in the early ‘80s when my family first moved into town. My roots are deep in the community, inc
luding having come up through D64 and D207 schools, culminating in my graduation from Maine South; to the family restaurant my parents owned (Giappo’s Ristorante for those who have been around long enough to remember) to my involvement as an organizer and Board member for the Taste of Park Ridge (which my dad was a founder of); and up to and including my current role as President-elect of the Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce. Professionally, I am human resources executive with Horizon Therapeutics and have been in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry for nearly a decade. My role at Horizon, and generally as a human resources leader, calls on me to comprehend complex problems and situations, identify opportunities and pull people together to drive for solutions. Community involvement is foundational in my life - bred into me by my parents and anchored by something my dad used to say about “the fabric of a community is defined by things people do for one another.” I am a strong believer in fun (Taste of Park Ridge), commerce (Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce) and education (D207). I am compelled to dedicate my time to making sure we carry on the great work being done across D207. And I’m not doing this for me. I’m doing this for my children who will be in D207 for the next decade. I’m doing this for the students, and their parents across our district. And I’m doing this for the taxpayers across our district whose interests should be represented through responsible fiscal management of the school’s budget. So, on April 4, when it comes time to vote, remember to vote for Dean J. Patras, a Dean for All Students.
