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Staff

Karen Christensen, Downtown Development Director —has been with the City of Aurora since December 1999. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (Social Science major) from Northern Illinois University and has completed graduate-level coursework in public administration, urban planning, and resource conservation. She is a member of the Ely Chapter of Lambda Alpha International, the International Downtown Association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Project for Public Spaces, the Conservation Foundation and the International City/County Management Association. Christensen also serves as an American Planning Association mentor in the Urban Design and Preservation Division, and as a judge for the Metropolitan Planning Council Burnham Award for Excellence in Planning, and for the American Planning Association’s Journalism Award Competition.

Jennifer Grobe, Preservation/Downtown Specialist—has been on the staff of the City of Aurora since July, 2005. Ms. Grobe holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois. Recent experience includes work as a program coordinator for the Will County Governmental League and an internship with the City of Aurora's Historic Preservation Division. Her primary responsibility is for special projects in the Downtown Development Division. We share Jennifer with the City's Historic Preservation Division.

Linda Chomiak, Administrative Aide—also has worked for the City of Aurora since 1994. She is a graduate of West Aurora High School and continued her studies at Waubonsee Community College. Linda is the key support staff person for a variety of projects.