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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DELIO CALZOLARI TO THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, Mr. Delio Calzolari served the Forest Preserves of Cook County as the Director of Legislative and Governmental Affairs from July 2017 through December 2024, being an integral part of the leadership team for over seven years; and
WHEREAS, Delio's career began in the United States Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer and Gunner Officer on the Spruance Class Destroyer USS O'BRIEN. During his time in the Navy, Delio earned an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in the Persian Gulf during Operation Southern Watch while forward deployed from Yokosuka, Japan; and
WHEREAS, after his time on active duty, he embarked on a management career with Caterpillar, Inc. providing logistics services to companies including Land Rover and Mazda in the United Kingdom and Canada, and was in the Navy Reserves as the Officer-in-Charge of an Area Search Detachment within Explosive Ordinance Disposal Mobile Unit Seven; and
WHEREAS, in 2007 and through 2008, Delio worked in several states on the successful Obama for America campaign, spending most of his time in the critical state of North Carolina for then-Senator Barack Obama, followed by a return to Caterpillar in McAllen, Texas; and
WHEREAS, Delio returned to Illinois in 2011 to become a Senior Advisor to Lieutenant Governor Shiela Simon and later joined the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University as the Associate Director, working with students and helping foster a passion for civic engagement in the next generation; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure at the Forest Preserves Delio fostered a culture of collaboration, keeping the General Superintendent, President's Office, and Board of Commissioners updated and informed on impending government relations of the Forest Preserves; and
WHEREAS, Delio shepherded hundreds of Board Agenda Items through the B...
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