Candidates for Park District Board
Mike Goodman
I am Vice President of the Northbrook Park District Board of Commissioners. I am currently serving my first term as a commissioner having been elected in April 2021. It has been an honor to serve our wonderful community, and I am eager to continue this work in a second term.
Raised in Northbrook, I’m a proud graduate of District 27 and 225. After earning a degree in Finance from The Ohio State University, I began my career at BP Products North America, where I served in a variety of sales, marketing, and operations roles during my 12 years there. During this time, I also earned an MBA from the University of Wisconsin. For the last 8 years, I have worked at James Hardie Building Products, a global leader in building materials, where I lead the company’s B2B Go-to-Market Strategy as a Director.
In addition to my professional life, I’ve been actively involved in the community. From 2017 to 2022, I was appointed a member of the Village of Northbrook’s Economic Development Committee and had served as a member of the Communications Sub-Committee. Additionally, I’m a Board Member of KIDSS for Kids, an affiliate board of Lurie Children’s Hospital, which raises nearly $1M annually in support of the Hospital’s Department of Family Services. In 2023, I served as Membership Co-Chair. In 2023, I graduated from Leadership Northbrook, a Northbrook Chamber of Commerce & Industry program designed to prepare individuals for civic leadership roles in the community.
I returned to Northbrook in 2015 with my wife, Lindsay. Raising our two children, Max (11) and Sydney (8), in our Salceda North home, we are active consumers of Park District Programs, Activities, and Affiliates. We’ve participated in Adventure Campus, summer camps, basketball, Spartan FC soccer, Northbrook Bluehawk Hockey, Piano, Dance, skating, Northbrook on Ice, and a few others! Let’s not forget the Family Dance and lazy afternoons at Salceda Park or Meadowhill Pool.
As a lifelong resident of Northbrook, I am grateful for the tremendous resources and opportunities our village has to offer, especially through the Park District. With that in mind, I believe it’s my responsibility to continue to play an active role in enhancing the long-standing tradition of leadership in innovative programming, financial and risk management, collaborative community partnerships, and environmental stewardship. As I’ve demonstrated in my 1st term as a Commissioner, I’m committed to serving the community’s needs and expectations by establishing and implementing policies and investments that empower our staff to fulfill the mission and vision of the Park District.
Hamzah Mirza
Hamzah has been a Northbrook resident for many years and is a proud graduate of Glenbrook North High School. As an attorney in the corporate tech industry, Hamzah excels in leadership, negotiation, and strategic problem-solving. In addition to his professional work, he is deeply involved in the community, coaching his daughter’s soccer team and encouraging his children’s active participation in Northbrook Park District programs.
Hamzah is passionate about fitness and considers himself a lifelong student, constantly striving to improve and grow both personally and professionally. His hobbies include staying active through various sports, hiking, and spending time outdoors with his family.
Beyond his local involvement, Hamzah supports global causes such as Humsaaya, a non-profit dedicated to helping Uyghur refugees. He believes in ensuring Northbrook residents receive priority access to Park District programs and facilities and sees sports and recreation as vital to children’s development.
If elected to the Park District Board, Hamzah aims to strengthen community engagement, enhance park offerings, and ensure Northbrook’s parks continue to be welcoming, vibrant spaces for all residents.
Jason Risdon
A lifelong resident of Northbrook, Jason Risdon has deep roots in our community. Moving to Northbrook at the age of seven, he grew up actively participating in the Northbrook Park District’s sports programs, enjoying soccer and baseball. His commitment to the Park District extended into his teenage years, where he served as a camp counselor during summers, fostering a love for community service and youth engagement.
In 2015, Jason returned to Northbrook with his wife, Pamela, and their twin sons, Evan and Jake. As a family, they enjoy spending time outdoors, often found on the golf course or playing pickleball. Jason also enjoys coaching their sons in flag football and baseball. Jason believes in the importance of active, engaged families and the role of parks and recreational programs in enriching community life.
Professionally, Jason has over 20 years of experience in business development, specializing in driving revenue growth and establishing strategic partnerships. Currently a Business Development Manager at Alliance Disaster Kleenup, he has successfully built relationships with key stakeholders and led initiatives that have resulted in significant business growth.
Jason is also passionate about community safety and collaboration, having served on the board of the Lake Cook Regional Critical Incident Partnership from 2010 to 2017. This group, composed of public and private entities, focused on training and preparation for various incidents, enhancing the safety and resilience of our communities.
He is committed to ensuring that our parks and recreational programs continue to thrive, fostering an environment where families can grow and connect.