Andy Heger
Q&A
Q. Where are you employed? What is your Title?
I’m the Human Resources Manager for the Streamwood Park District.
Q. What is your favorite part of your job?
HR has a lot of sub-categories. My favorite of those is employee training and development. Overall, I really enjoy
working for a park district. When I was in college I developed a strong appreciation for a healthy work-life balance,
and Streamwood Park District helps me maintain that lifestyle. As a staff, we take a noon ‘recess’ once or twice a week
to play basketball, waffle ball, wallyball, etc.
Q. What do you consider to be your most valuable contribution to your organization for which you work?
My first year and a half here I worked as a temp, and a large portion of my duties were administrative. I improved
reporting procedures for our background checks and our retirement program which helps our senior management team with
our data-based decision making initiative.
I just started as the HR Manager, and my first project is to create a salary structure which will help curb salary
inflation and aid in increasing the value of our human capital.
Q. Given your career path, where do you see yourself in 10 years?
It’s hard to say at this point because the position I’m in is where I saw myself in 10 years. I haven’t yet thought
about what I want to do 10 years from now.
Q. Do you have any words of advice/recommendations? a. for undergrads still searching for a major—would you recommend
RST and why?, b. for the undergrads currently in the program, c. for the senior currently looking for his/her first position.
A. Of course I recommend RST as a major. In my experience, I was prepared for working in the parks & rec field while
learning and developing a healthy appreciation for work-life balance. Plus, I had a lot of fun as a rec major!
B. Get involved in as many groups as you can. Immerse yourself in parks & recreation in order to gain as much experience
as possible. Recent graduates have the odds stacked against them because so many mid- to upper-level employees are competing
for the same jobs as graduates. Having hands-on implementation experience will help distinguish yourself as a candidate.
C. If you know what you want to do, don’t be afraid to take the hard road to get there. You don’t have to accept the
first job that comes along if you know that it’s not your passion. If you work hard, you will be rewarded.