City of Elmhurst Appointed Officials Application

Please complete the following. Attach resume.

Name Deborah M. Orth Date 6/4/2021

Address
Home Phone Business Phone

Cell Phone Email:

Length of residency in Elmhurst 23.5 years

Educational Background

Please see supplemental pages for all fields

Employment (Firm and Position)

Other Civic Activities

Position Applied for:

Why are you interested in serving on this board or commission?

What skills would you bring to this position?

Please list any previous city positions you have held, if any

Applications will be considered for one year from the date of submittal. If openings become available, would
you object to consideration by the Mayor for an appointment to a different board of commission?
___________________________

Signature
 Deborah M. Orth, MA 
 Elmhurst, Illinois 60126  ▪  Phone  

Professional Experience

Elgin Community College

ECC is a comprehensive community college servicing students at every stage of their educational
journey. “Improving people’s lives through learning.”
Project Assessment Administrator, 2019-Current Elgin, Illinois
 Led the authorship of the institution’s Equity Plan committing to close equity gaps in five years.
 Represented the college in Partnership for College Completion’s initiative Illinois Equity in
Attainment (“ILEA”). Co-chaired ILEA Committee. Presented at online conference and served as
a panelist.
 Supported development and operational planning throughout the college.
 Integrated goal setting process into annual performance appraisal process, linking individual
performance-based goals to strategic plan.

Soma Intimates
Specialty retailer of private label women’s apparel, accessories and related products; over 300
boutiques and five million loyal customers; part of the Chico's FAS, Inc. brand portfolio.
Sales Lead, 2018-Current Oakbrook, Illinois
 Supported management in general operations of the store to ensure amazing customer
experience and maximum profitability.
 Built and maintained a solid customer following. In 2018 and 2019, achieved highest sales total
representing 15%-20% respectfully of store’s annual sales; recognized in the company’s national
top 25 sales list multiple times through the year.

Christenson Advisors Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois

Full-service compensation and recruiting consultancy firm.
Vice President, 2015-2016 (Upon Project Completion)
 Managed survey department and proprietary database to produce accurate, relevant and timely
output used for comparative benchmarking source by companies assessing their standing in the
real estate marketplace. Applied proven principles of survey design, data collection, analysis and
interpretation.
 Delivered custom consulting projects for client engagements.

Advocate Health Care Downers Grove, Illinois

Largest fully-integrated not-for-profit health care delivery system in Illinois with more than 200
sites and 30,000 associates.
Senior Performance Consultant, 2007-2012
 Facilitated implementation of strategic planned changes. Contributed to the execution of system-
wide leadership development strategy.
 Consulted with senior leadership and middle management across the organization to address
barriers to organizational goal achievement.

Press Ganey Associates, Inc. Des Plaines, Illinois

Industry leader in survey research and process improvement consulting. Corporate office in
South Bend, IN.
Managing Consultant, 2001-2005
 Led strategic change strategies to attain company goals.
 Launched a major new line of products and services involving: market research, prototype
development, focus group feedback, programming design, automation testing, marketing
campaign, and internal staff training.
 City of Elmhurst Appointed Officials Application 
Educational Background: 
De Paul University, Chicago, Illinois
Master of Arts Degree, Sociology

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Bachelor of Arts Degree, Sociology  

Employment: 

Project Assessment Administrator, (Full‐time) 2019‐Current 
Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Department 
Elgin Community College, Elgin, IL 

Sales Lead, (Part‐time) 2018‐Current 
Soma 
Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL 

Other Civic Activities: 

While I have been very active in the community, it has been mostly centered on school‐aged 
children’s activities as my son was growing up and less about municipal business.  I have 
attended a few City Council meetings over the years either about a specific issue or to educate 
my son on the process. 

Lincoln School – 2007‐2012; I was very active in the PTA; attended regular meetings; 
chaperoned events; volunteered in the classroom; instituted the yearbook for the whole school 
which didn’t exist before, I chaired the yearbook committee for four years, researched the 
vendor, was the primary contact, organized orders and distribution, photographed events to get 
content, and was the primary layout designer; chaired Teacher Appreciation week activities 
multiple years. 

Bryan Middle School – 2012‐2015; PTA President 2013‐2014; President‐elect 2012‐2013; Active 
in Teacher Appreciation Week and several activities; Chaired 8th Grade Party.  

Boy Scouts of America – 2006‐2019  

 Pack 23, 2006‐2012: Memorial Day Parade Coordinator, instituted tradition of the
Pack marching in Elmhurst’s annual parade.
 Troop 14, 2012‐2019: Instituted annual Toys for Tots drive and hosted Marine to
speak to scouts and families at annual holiday dinner; participated as a panel
member on Board of Reviews to determine if scouts earned their new rank;
Advancement Committee Chair – ran Board of Reviews for all scouts including Eagle
ranks, coordinated Court of Honors and all awarded badges and ranks, maintained
records and recognized by District as a content expert.

Neighborhood –1999‐Current: I tend to organize people and events, I have been dubbed the 
“Block Captain” or “Block President” as a nickname. I instituted the annual Christmas Trees for 
the front yard on my block. When I moved to Elmhurst 23 years ago, my street didn’t participate