20140411 PR - Village appoints Barry Liss as Fire Chief beginning May 15, 2014
Press Release
Contact: David Niemeyer
Phone: (630) 368‐5000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Village of Oak Brook Appoints New Fire Chief
Oak Brook, Illinois – April 11, 2014 – Barry Liss was appointed to the position of Fire Chief in a Special
Board of Trustees meeting on April 10, 2014. Mr. Liss was appointed by Village President Lalmalani
with unanimous Village Board approval. “Barry Liss brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the
fire service that will help him lead one of the best fire departments in DuPage County” said President
Lalmalani. “He will bring an energetic, enthusiastic and collaborative style to the Village.”
Mr. Liss currently serves as the Deputy Fire Chief of the Skokie Fire Department with over 33 years
of experience working through all the various ranks established in a Fire Department. He has a Master’s
Degree in Public Safety Administration from Lewis University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Science
Management from Southern Illinois University and an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science, Fire
Science. He holds certifications through the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal including Chief Fire
Officer, Fire Officer III, Instructor III, Health and Safety Officer, Fire and Arson Investigator, Public
Information Officer, and Juvenile Firesetter Interventionist Specialist. Additionally he is a Chief Fire
Officer Designee with the Commission on Fire Accreditation Internationals and has attended the
National Fire Academy in Incident Command and Management of Emergency Medical Services.
The Fire Chief Selection Committee consisted of Trustees Baar, Manzo, and Moy; residents Cathy
Giangrasse and Tom Mullins; and staff Dave Niemeyer, Police Chief Jim Kruger and Human Resources
Generalist Kate Andris. The Committee worked diligently to assist the Village Board with the evaluation
of approximately 70 applications.
Mr. Liss will begin with the Village of Oak Brook on May 15.
About Oak Brook:
Founded in 1958, the Village of Oak Brook is located 15 miles west of downtown Chicago and is in
proximity to the junction of Interstates 88, 294, and 290. The Village consists mostly of residential
subdivisions, with the exception of the Oak Brook Center shopping mall, other retail and office
properties along 22nd Street and Interstate 88. Oak Brook is the home of many corporate offices, most
notably, the world headquarters of McDonald’s Corporation, Ace Hardware, Tree House Foods, Inland
Real Estate and the service club organization Lions Clubs International. Oak Brook is also known for
being one of the few municipalities in the Chicago area that does not levy a property tax on residents or
businesses. To learn more about Oak Brook, please visit http://www.oak‐brook.org.
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