Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors help to ensure our operations continue. They organize our events and coordinate many of the functions we all participate in.

Front Row: Ken Gilsdorf, Chip Pew, Jean Maroney
Back Row: Gordon Bowe, James Kveton, Tom McNamara, Kym Zylke

Get to Know Our Board

Ken Gilsdorf

Chip Pew

Outside of Operation Lifesaver, Chip works for the Illinois Commerce Commission on railroad safety sensitive issues. Outside of work all together, he has three full-time companions...of the four-legged type.

Jean Maroney

Beyond Operation Lifesaver, Jean is employed by the Chicago Police Department, and has been for more than 20 years. She is the proud mother to five children and likes to take in a round of golf when the opportunity arises.

Gordon Bowe

Known by his friends as "Gordy" he has been a railroad conductor for more than 30 years for the Union Pacific Railroad. He has witnessed a lot over his time working for the railroad, so he is one of our very passionate members of Illinois Operation Lifesaver. He has been married for almost as long as he has worked for the railroad, and that relationship has yielded him two children, a grandchild, and two dogs.

James Kveton

Viewed as a type of pioneer in melding the police forces with the Illinois Operation Lifesaver Program, Jim is a Commander with the Elmhurst Police Department. He has more than 25 years working for the Elmhurst Police Department. In the early 1990s Elmhurst suffered three fatal railroad incidents in a 12 month period. Since his efforts in Operation Lifesaver began in 1994, there has only been one fatal collision involving a railroad.

Tom McNamara

When it comes to Operation Lifesaver Tom's passion lies with presenting to Driver's Education students and other professional drivers. Outside of Operation Lifesaver Tom loves getting away from the city and escaping to Wisconsin so he can relax on his boat - or other toys.