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PROPOSED APPOINTMENT
Appointee(s): Adam D. Bianchi
Position: General Superintendent
Agency: Forest Preserves of Cook County
Effective date: July 25, 2025
Summary: Adam D. Bianchi has been nominated by President Toni Preckwinkle to serve as the General Superintendent of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
With over 17 years of experience in public land and natural resource management through the United States Forest Service, Mr. Bianchi brings a strong history of leadership, innovation, and collaborative conservation to the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
Mr. Bianchi most recently served as District Ranger for the White River National Forest’s Dillon Ranger District in Colorado, overseeing a complex 312,000-acre National Forest that receives nine million visitors annually. Managing a committed and dedicated workforce, his tenure was marked by strategic land-use planning, expansive community engagement, and successful partnerships that brought in over $3 million in external funding in 2024 alone.
Throughout his career, Mr. Bianchi has led major projects integrating environmental sustainability with community needs. His leadership has been critical to the restoration of forests, diverse ecosystems, and wildlife habitats.
Mr. Bianchi’s background in managing large-scale, multi-use landscapes and his commitment to inclusive, forward-thinking leadership aligns with the Forest Preserves’ mission “[t]o acquire, restore and manage lands for the purpose of protecting and preserving public open space with its natural wonders, significant prairies, forests, wetlands, rivers, streams, and other landscapes with all of its associated wildlife, in a natural state for the education, pleasure and recreation of the public now and in the future.”
With his prior experience at the United States Forest Service, Mr. Bianchi is uniquely positioned to work with the Forest Preserves’ senior team, staff, and partners to protect and restore natural lands while expanding access to nature for all Cook County residents. Mr. Bianchi was selected as the next General Superintendent of the Forest Preserves following a wide-ranging search. Former General Superintendent Arnold Randall was part of the interview team.
Mr. Bianchi holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Iowa State University and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the United States Forest Service Chief Honor Award and multiple Rocky Mountain Region Forester’s Awards for leadership and public service.
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