Acacia Board of Directors 
2025 Annual Election

Meet The Candidates

Voting Process for the 2025 Annual Acacia Board of Directors Election

All ballots will be mailed to each owner at the address on file to arrive by February 1, 2025. There is 1 vote per household.

The ballot contains 10 candidates who are running and up to 2 write-ins.  There are 8 open board positions to fill. You can vote for up to 8 candidates. 

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The mailing includes the official ballot with the Acacia seal on it, and a self-addressed envelope to return your filled out ballot in. The return envelope is stamped with the word BALLOT on the bottom left-hand size and has the embossed Acacia seal on it. All ballots must be returned that this envelope, and it must be sealed. If ballots are returned unsealed or in any other envelope, they will not be counted.

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The envelope containing the filled-out ballot can be dropped in the ballot box in person when the office is open, mailed back to the office (don't forget the stamp), or dropped in the drop box (located on the outside front door).

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No envelope will be accepted prior to February 1, 2025, or after 8:00 pm on February 25, 2025. Please note: If you own any monies – such as past due assessments or fines, you will not be allowed to vote, until paid in full.

 

Election ballots will be counted by the Election Committee on February 25th. 

 

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CANDIDATE BIOs

There are 8 open board positions to fill.

Bios are listed below in alphabetical order. 

 

HANK ARNOLD

Hello, my name is Hank Arnold. I was appointed to the Board in September 2024 to fill a vacancy and will now run for an elected position. Since March 2024 I have served on the Exterior Maintenance Committee.

I have lived in Acacia, at 199 Cascade Drive, since 2011 and have enjoyed it very much. I spent my career in both medicine and business, as a Cardiac Cath technician, and as a Compliance Advisor and Account Executive in the Wholesale Mortgage business.  Each experience taught me many good lessons! As a medical technician, I interacted with people at a frightening and difficult time in their lives, which taught me the value of patience, kindness and compassion. The Wholesale Mortgage business is a fast-paced, ever-changing industry with many guidelines and regulations ensuring fairness in lending. In my most recent role as Compliance Advisor, I guided the Sales Department through the process of securing and funding mortgages within legal boundaries. Interpreting and communicating these guidelines required diligence and a straightforward approach. I believe the lessons learned - patience, kindness, straighforwardness - serve me well as a representative of this community.

I am now retired and have the time to spend working with the board to ensure our best interests are served. I appreciate your vote and will always do the right thing for Acacia. Thank you. 

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JACK BRANDUSH

I’m Jack Brandush and I am a 48 year resident of Acacia with 10 of those years (2011-2021) serving on the Board of the Directors as ALCC Director, Recreation Director, Grounds Director, Secretary. Some of my accomplishments as an Acacia resident and as a Board Member include the following:

• As a new resident, removed the LaGrange Highland’s Sanitary District Real Estate Tax Item from my and other Acacia Homeowners Real Estate Tax Bills because of duplicate charges from the

• Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and the LaGrange Highlands Sanitary District.

• Volunteered to be a member on the ALLC as a non-board member. I inspected and approved projects, assisting board members, and learned the Acacia rules.

• Promoted and assisted in the creation of the first Acacia website. My daughter volunteered her time and established the initial Acacia website with many of the items still seen today.

• Determined that paying for snow removal when a snow event occurs is cheaper than paying for snow removal on a fixed cost seasonal contract.

• Volunteered my time to conduct swimming pool water sampling, testing, and chemical additions during the summer weekends. Created and implemented Acacia’s homegrown swimming pool identification system at minimal cost to Acacia.

• Created the framework of the Solar Energy Policy that is the Sixth Amendment Acacia’s

• Protective Covenants establishing the guidelines for installing solar panels and other environmental projects.

• Served on the townhome siding committee to determine if or what should be done to replace plywood siding and/or stucco. (Chairman never had a final town hall meeting with the results.

I am running for the Board again because I feel that for the last 2 years, some members of the Board have been derelict in their duties to the association and its homeowners and mismanaged the operations causing major economic problems. Here are some examples that I have discovered while reviewing Acacia’s files:

• New implemented policies and projects not approved by Acacia Board majority vote.

• New Contracts and revised contracts with open ended dates/terms not approved by the Acacia Board and not signed by Acacia Officers.

• Invoices not reviewed and signed off by Acacia Board Members responsible for that activity.

• Using personal credit card for a substantial sum of money (points=rebates) because of not scheduling the purchase of raw material efficiently.

• Existing ALCC policies and rules not being enforced and new policies implemented without Board approval.

• Mismanagement of the coping project, subsequently draining the reserves. Capital Reserves and Operating Accounts were $466,000 in 2024 down from $721,000 in 2023.

• Cost overruns on budgeted projects, such as mulch purchases, pool management, trash disposal, lumber, payroll, using Saturday and Sunday overtime for mulch application without Board approval, and employment contracts not approved by the Board. Costs exceeded income by $154,496 in 2023 and over $120,000 in 2024, which includes uninvoiced coping expenses, and without putting any funds into the reserves which was budgeted for in both years.

I have been asking questions for the last two years and things seem to be getting worse. Please vote for me to get us back on track. Right now our reserves are shrinking without being replenished and for the last two years, our expenses exceeded our income. If elected, I intend to turn us around to get back to a financially stable association.

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JEN CIONE

My name is Jen Cione. I have been a resident of Acacia since 1998. I have raised my children in Acacia. I have been a board member for the past 3 years and held the positions of Vice President, ALCC, Secretary and filled in all areas as needed. I have assisted with the pool, clubhouse, Acacia community parties and have built relationships and friendships with many residents. 

During the past year, I have been very actively involved with the board and stepped in to assist with year end activities to prepare to close out the 2024 year. I have been instrumental in working with my board members to finalize the 2025 budget which consisted of reviewing quotes and contracts for the best interest of the acacia residents.

While there have been some bumps along the way, I feel I have been a strong team player to implement a budget the board can feel confident to work with for all residents. 

Please consider voting for me and re-electing me as a board member. Respectfully, Jen Cione. 

 

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AMY ECKERT

I am submitting my letter of interest to run for the Acacia Board of Directors.
I served for many years on the Acacia board – I have had the responsibility of serving as Townhome Maintenance Director, ALCC Committee, Recreation Committee, Vice President, and President of the Acacia Board.  During the years that I served on the board we had members that listened to each other, made decisions after discussion of pros and cons, and respected each other.  We had our problems and disagreements, but we worked together to solve them and move forward.

Under the leadership of 2 previous Presidents during the past 2 years: 
•    board members have not been asked to discuss contracts at open meetings
•    information is not shared with all board members or owners/residents
•    ALCC rules are not uniformly enforced 
•    money is spent without discussion at board meetings
•    bills are paid without the checks and balances of the responsible Director signing off on them before they are paid
•    contracts are entered into by 1 or 2 board members without the vote of the entire board
•    residents have been discouraged from speaking at meetings
•    employees have been hired without informing board members of their status or pay rate and without a board vote on the hiring 
•    the budget and potential assessment change was not addressed in a timely manner and the board needed to delay any increase so that the mandated time frames could be met to adopt the new budget and assessment for 2025

For the past year money has not been transferred to the Restricted (Capital) Reserve account for future expenses, (these monies are to be spent on community owned items – i.e.. - clubhouse, pool, recreational facilities, etc.)  The balance in the Restricted Reserve account was $340,455.00 in November 2023 – in October 2024 it was $214,168.00 – that’s a drop of more than 30% in 1 year.  How will Acacia be able to fund future projects when this money is depleted?   Also looking at what was spent vs what was budgeted for in 2024 shows that Acacia overspent by almost $100,000.00 (combination of overspending and bills incurred in 2024 but not paid until 2025).

I feel that part of this is because there were so many new board members, and they were not given the information or leadership they needed to perform their assignments effectively.  Previously there were manuals developed for each board members responsibility that were never shared with the new board members.  Along with that in this past year there were 5 individual board members that resigned and not all of them were replaced so the remaining board members had more work to do to pick up the slack.

I feel it’s time to get back to basics – manage the budget so that we are not overspending, return to funding the Restricted Reserves so that when things need to be replaced or repaired, we have the money to pay for them without a special assessment or large increase to monthly assessments.

We need to carefully look at long term things like coping, siding, mulching – that will save us money in the long run – and try to space them out so we are not going over budget or spending money from Operating or Restricted Reserves to cover regular operational expenses to the extent we have over the past 2 years.
I hope that residents agree that we need some changes and will vote for me. Thank you, Amy Eckert.

 

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TOM HINSHAW

167 Cascade Drive | 630-926-2440 | Tom.Hinshaw@gmail.com
As an experienced Board Member, I bring a collaborative and professional approach to leadership, with over 20 years of proven community engagement. Committed to cultivating an inclusive and vibrant community where every resident’s voice is heard, respected, and empowered. My focus is on ensuring financial stability and sustainability for the future. I am ready to work for you - let us make Acacia even better!

KEY STRENGTHS

• Transparent Leadership: Champion of open communication, ensuring residents are well-informed about board activities and decisions.

• Financial Stewardship: Proven expertise in enhancing financial stability, creating long-term capital plans, and ensuring fiscal responsibility.

• Collaboration & Consensus Building: Experienced in fostering cooperative environments, with active participation in committees focusing on townhome siding, finances, and pool operations.

• Effective Communication: Advocate for clear and responsive communication, including feedback mechanisms, service request tracking, and timely responses (within 24 hours).

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BOARD & NON-PROFIT EXPERIENCE
Mayor, Village of Indian Head Park (2015–2023)

• Launched the village’s first capital plan, securing long-term financial health.

• Elevated the village’s financial rating from AA– to AA+, reflecting fiscal responsibility.

• Trustee, Village of Indian Head Park (2013–2015)

• School Board President, La Grange Highlands School District 106 (2007–2013)

• Guided the board through growth and transformation, ensuring academic excellence and fiscal discipline.

• Focused on strategic planning and budgeting to enhance educational offerings.

-School Board Member, La Grange Highlands School District 106 (2005–2007)

-Executive Board Member, District 106 Educational Foundation & Little League Baseball (2002–2005)
       Led community outreach initiatives to support education and sports programs.
-Founder, ATH – Assisting the Homeless (2013–Present)
       Established and continue to manage a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donating $150,000 for homelessness initiatives.

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CAREER & EDUCATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
- Real Estate Professional (2014–Present) - Build lasting client relationships through expert guidance, strong negotiation, and clear communication to help buyers and sellers reach their real estate goals.
- Chief Executive Officer, Bantic (2000–Present) - Lead a privately held staffing and technology solutions company. Bachelor of Science, Computer Information Systems – Arizona State University

 

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ANITA HOLUB

My name is Anita Holub. Following is my resume in support of my interest and qualifications to serve the community I love, Acacia, by way of participation on the Board of Directors. Thank you for your consideration. 

My husband Bill and I have lived in Acacia for 12 happy years. In that time, I have enjoyed socializing and teaming with neighbors on community projects, such as heading up the decorating committee, leading the monthly ladies Bunco events and painting the pool locker room mural. I enjoy the collaboration and cooperative efforts with neighbors/friends in carrying out tasks and in approaching group problem- solving, negotiation, compromises, and positive solutions. Most describe me as having a very positive attitude.

Some of my experience that I believe supports the talents and qualifications that I bring to this position are: Full responsibility as a Child Care Expert for the past 11 years in managing children's lives through planning, scheduling, socialization, cultural exposure, personality development health and early education.  My employers rely on my judgment, decision-making, honesty and trustworthiness.

As a Dental Professional for 15 years, I was proud to provide patient care by way of screening for diseases, continuing patient education, treatment planning, and ongoing professional communication. Doctors and patients were pleased with my competence, planning, reliability and tactful but authoritative communication style.

I love our community of Acacia and want to be part of keeping it thriving into the future. I am excited to be a larger part of this fun and loving community through multi-faceted participation on the Board of Directors. Respectfully, Anita Holub

 

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JASON JAROSIK

My name Jason Jarosik and I reside at 18 Sweetwood Ct. with my wife Vivian and son Benjamin. We have been residence since 2017. I am 37 years old, a graduate of Lyons Township High School, and I received my Bachelors degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

After obtaining my degree in 2009, I went on to work for American Airlines as an operational manager. In 2015 made a career change and began working in the construction field. I spent 3 years as a consultant working with general contractors to obtain building permits from the city of Chicago. In 2017 I transitioned out of the office and into the field. I am currently an architectural glass and metal worker. I install windows, doors, storefronts, and curtain walls for residential and commercial buildings.

My family and I enjoy being a part of the Acacia community. Growing up in the area, we have many ties and friendships throughout the community. We constantly get complimented on how well the grounds are maintained, as well as the upkeep of homes. I feel like I would be a good asset to the acacia board because of my knowledge of construction, and dedication to uphold the value of a wonderful community Each year we see more and more younger families with children out and about. Myself being one of those families. I believe it is important to stand up and lead by example to ensure a wonderful community and association for the future.

 

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TOM MCKIRCHY

Hello, my name is Tom McKirchy Jr. I live on Heatherwood Ct, and am currently the ALCC director for the Acacia Board of Directors. I've lived here in Acacia since October of 2021. Some of you might've known me before I moved here, some of you know me from my time on the board, and some of you may know me from my animal rescue service, The Nest Wild Animal Rescue. But a lot know me as your neighbor. Formerly, I lived at Edgewood Valley Condominiums in Countryside, where I was maintenance director for one of their four buildings. There I learned a lot of what it takes to maintain an association. Speaking of maintenance, I believe that maintenance on our homes is a driving force of our assessments. It is my goal to help make Acacia more maintenance free, therefore, stopping, or slowing, our rising assessments every year.  I believe with the help of the board and the community itself, we can work together for a more maintenance free future. We live in a beautiful neighborhood, and I have an extreme love for Acacia and its residents, and I hope we can work together for a better future for everybody that resides here. I've learned a lot on my last 9 months on the board, and formed a lot of good relationships with a lot of you, and our maintenance department. It is my hope, if elected, that I continue working in the maintenance side of Acacia. Thank you. From Tom

 

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DIANE VOYLES

I have over 40 years of experience in the business world with extensive experience in project management, team building and customer service. I am a full-time employee of the CDW corporation where I currently work as a data analyst, specializing in data management and data quality. I previously served on the Acacia Board in the positions of ALCC Director and Treasurer. During my tenure I strove to improve processes, cut costs, increase income and professionalize the Acacia board. I would like to return to the Acacia Board where I will champion the following

• Reestablish the Finance Committee to 1) ensure reserves are invested properly, 2) capitalize on the new reserve study 3) document a plan for future Capital expenditures

• Take a hard look at the overwhelming turnover of board members over the last 2 years, seek the root cause and offer suggestions for stabilization

• Reevaluate solutions to townhome maintenance expenses associated with painting and stucco

• Ensure backups exist for all Acacia employee positions

• Ensure contracts exist, voted on and enforced with all outside vendors

• Encourage entire board participation in professionally run meetings that are conducive to team decision making with timely published meeting minutes that reflect all comments made

• Fair application of Acacia rules & regulations and adherence to Acacia Covenants

It’s time to get back to basics. Thank you for your consideration.

 

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CLEO WALTERS

I would love to be able to fill one of the board of director's positions. I'm a past board member with years of experience and relationship building. I have lived in Acacia for over 36 years and feel that by using my communication and organizational skills, I would be an asset to the Acacia Community.

I love working with people in a clean, safe and fun environment.  I'm a very compassionate retiree and have the time to give to our community.  I love our community and all the beautiful facilities. 

A model I live by is K.I.S.S. "Keep It Sensible & Simple". I don't like wasting money, especially other people's money. The board reflects who we are as a community, so I promise to work with integrity and always do what's best.  Thank you for considering me. Cleo Walters (aka Panda Lady)

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