With a deep-rooted passion for enhancing public spaces

and fostering community engagement, we bring a wealth of

knowledge and a vision for innovation to every project.

Mike Clark
PLAN4ACTION - Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Discover your path to innovation, inspiration, while engaging your staff and community.

Welcome to PLAN4ACTION, LLC, where experience meets innovation for your success. Meet Mike, a retired park and recreation professional with an impressive 36-year tenure in the Illinois park district system. Serving as an Executive Director for 24 years, Mike brings a wealth of expertise and relevance to our consultancy.

About Mike: A distinguished alum of Illinois State University, Mike holds an undergraduate degree in Park and Recreation Administration. His commitment to excellence earned him a place in the College of Applied Science and Technology Hall of Fame. Building on this foundation, he pursued an MBA from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, specializing in people and project management.

Passion for Strategy: Mike's passion lies in crafting focused, collaborative, and well-planned strategies. His unique approach involves translating visions into actionable plans. Hence, the birth of PLAN4ACTION, LLC. Mike excels in policy development, efficiency assessments, and feasibility studies for projects of any size.

Strategic Plans: A keen eye is utilized to create realistic and proven strategies. Focus placed on opportunities to align and meet staff innovation along with community needs and interests.

DEI Expertise: Extensive knowledge in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Mike provides valuable insights, particularly for the transgender population. His commitment to fostering inclusive practices sets him apart.

Mentorship and Leadership: Throughout his career, Mike dedicated himself to professional development, mentoring, and coaching. Actively engaged at state and national levels, he's an inductee of the national Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and recipient of the Illinois Robert M. Artz Lifetime Achievement Award.

Conference Speaker: Mike has shared his expertise at various conferences, from local to national levels, presenting best practices developed over his illustrious career.

Your Success, Our Mission: Now, Mike is eager to leverage his experience to help leaders and organizations excel. His motto, "Plan well, work hard, smile always, and good things will happen," reflects our commitment to your success.

Explore how PLAN4ACTION, LLC can elevate your future. Contact us today.

Awards & Recognitions

    • Led development and facilitation of intergovernmental cooperative agreement with Harper Community College during student recreation center renovation to be core operator of Olympic size aquatics facility and a revenue sharing model for health and fitness non-credit programming for students and community.

    • Creation and facilitation of a recreation programming strategic pricing platform to assist paying bond debt secured for community recreation center facility renovations and expansion.

    • Created affiliate, parent and special interest group platform and agreements to manage relationships, expectations and support provided to various community and affiliated groups using park district assets and resources.

    • Founded the Batavia Park Foundation and secured over $4.2 million in various grants including one to construct an outdoor performing arts pavilion on Batavia Riverwalk.

    • Led the facilitation and generation of nearly $9 million in Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grants for several land acquisition and park development projects.

    • Development and facilitation of a comprehensive capital plan platform for structure and priorities of legally obligated, repair and replacement and new projects along with a 10-year projection funding model.

    • Developed a comprehensive performance management platform aligning agency core values and authored an in-depth supervisory manual on effective performance appraisal best practices and performance improvement plans.

    • Authored and/or updated and revised comprehensive policy manuals for elected official governance, administrative, personnel, safety and risk management, and affiliate management.

    • Led three different park districts to earn accredited status through the Illinois Joint Distinguished Park and Recreation Accreditation Program.

    • Developed and initiated a comprehensive strategic plan for staffing resources via a platform of reorganizational and succession planning components.

    • Mike is an inductee of the National Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and recipient of the Illinois Robert M. Artz Lifetime Achievement Award.

    • Two-time Chair of the Extern Committee resolved to provide scholarships to young professionals to attend the national conference.

    • Appointed member of the national Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Task Force and Committee.

    • American Park and Recreation Society - President, 2007; Board of Directors 2002-2008

    • APRS Facilitator and Chair to assist in development and funding source to what is now PRORAGIS (development of national park and recreation levels of service standards for open space, park acres and amenities and trails).

    • Great Lakes Region Representative 2004-2007. Chair 2007.

    • American Park and Recreation Society - Publication, Award and Executive Committees

    • Great Lakes Regional Council Board of Directors, Illinois Representative

    • One Vision Task Force Regional Representative

    • Appointed member of National ADA Task Force in development of the current ADA laws for accessibility of public spaces and facilities.

    • Presenter at various regional and national conferences and authored two published articles

    • President, 2001

    • IPRA Board of Directors - 9 years

    • Illinois Professional Certification Board - Chairman - 3 years; Board 6 years

    • Illinois Professional Certification Board - Creator of first state exam study guide

    • IPRA Committee Chairman - Executive, Finance, Conference, Ambassadors

    • IPRA Ethics Task Force - Board Member

    • IPRA Facility Management Section - Director

    • IPRA Facility Management Section - First Chairman of Facility Management School

    • Illinois Association of Park Districts – Honored Professional Award

    • American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration – Inductee 2015

    • Illinois Park and Recreation Association - Fellow Award

    • Illinois Park and Recreation Association - Meritorious Service Award

    • Illinois Park and Recreation Association - President's Citation

    • Illinois Park and Recreation Foundation – First Ever Chairman’s Award

    • Illinois Facility Management Section - Director's Award

    • Illinois Park and Recreation Association - Best Programming and Outreach Article

    • Illinois Park and Recreation Association – Chairman’s Award

    • Illinois Facility Management Section - Professional of the Year Award - Golf Division

    • Presenter at several state conferences and author of seven published articles

    • BMW Championship Golf Tournament - Volunteer and Clubhouse Coordinator

    • IPRA Foundation Board – Chairman since 2010

    • Led facilitation of a funding support campaign to provide financial assistance to recreation professionals laid off or furloughed during the COVID pandemic.

    • IPRA Leadership Academy – Presenter at various sessions

    • Batavia Rotary Club - Rotarian of the Year Award

    • Rotary International - Paul Harris Fellow

    • Southside Sarasota Rotary Club - President Elect

    • Southside Sarasota Rotary Club - Tee It Up For A Cause Golf Tournament Gold Plus Sponsor

    • Illinois State University - Distinguished Alumni Award

    • Illinois State University Foundation - Proud Sponsor of the Clark Family Rising Star Professional Development Fund

    • Bloomingdale Park District - Team Leader for Illinois Distinguished Agency Award

    • Fox Valley Special Recreation Association - Distinguished Service Award

    • Batavia Park District - Team Leader for Illinois Distinguished Agency Award

    • Batavia Park District - Team Leader as Finalist for National Gold Medal Award