Orland Park Hires New Village Manager

ORLAND PARK, IL – The Village of Orland Park has a hired a Crystal Lake finance director as its next village manager.

The board approved hiring George Koczwara, 45, to serve as the lead official for the village for a three-year term beginning Oct. 14. He will be paid $170,000 a year plus benefits.

"I'd like to welcome George to Orland Park," Mayor Keith Pekau said after the vote. "I am confident George will be an outstanding village manager. I think his leadership and character will be well received by residents, staff and elected officials, and I think he'll be an integral part of positioning Orland Park for success for the next several decades."

This is the first village manager position for Koczwara. He has served as deputy manager and finance director for the City of Crystal Lake. He replaces Joseph LaMargo, who was pushed out of office in May by Pekau, and who was later hired as village manager for Portage, Michigan. Former trustee Thomas Dubelbeis has served in the role on an interim basis since then.

Orland Park also hired a new assistant village manager, Greg Summers, a Barrington development director, in June.

Koczwara's appointment comes as the village is working to rebuild its reputation. In July, Dubelbeis warned trustees that recent scandals had thinned the candidate pool and said the hiring process could take longer as a result. In August, the village hired a public relations firm to assist with improving its reputation.