Jason Altenbern: A Mover, a Shaker

Jason Altenbern is more than a middleman.

As the community relations coordinator for Indian Prairie School District 204, he's a facilitator and a communicator.

And, most importantly, he says, he's a storyteller.

"It's about having the opportunity to tell our story to the community," he said. "To talk about our amazing students, our talented teachers … We have armies of parent volunteers, civic groups and students all marching to the beat of the same drum. I've never felt alone in this mission."

Collaboration is a common theme in Altenbern's crusades. He's always been a "joiner," he said, and has taken up active roles in the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce, Aurora Communities and Schools, YMCA advisory and corporate boards, Naperville Jaycees, Rotary Club of Naperville and the Naper Settlement. That list goes on and on.

The fact is, if you've been involved in anything as a Naperville resident, you've probably seen Altenbern. Actually, it's likely he has greeted you with a sparkly smile and a warm handshake.

"With both my parents being very involved in civic organizations, they instilled these values in me," Altenbern said. "I don't know any other model."

Altenbern, 38, grew up in the small town of Colchester, in west central Illinois, where he graduated with a high school class of just 36 students. He went on to earn both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Western Illinois University, where he met his wife, Amy.

They now have two daughters; Kathryn, 10, and Ainsley, 7, and live in Plainfield.

But Altenbern didn't always work locally. He was previously the associate director for student life at DePaul University in Chicago. He commuted two hours each way—Plainfield to Lincoln Park—to the job, he said. He would admire the local college—North Central—on the way. He eventually began working there in 2002 as the director of community development.

"North Central College was such a great launching pad for me," he said of forming relationships within the community. "Even now, my role hasn't changed that much. It's always been about how can you construct and create a model of community engagement that lifts the needs of the students."

When Altenbern isn't perfecting that model, or donating his energy to a local nonprofit or civic organization, he is, of course, spending time with his family. Ahead this weekend? A winter camp-out through the Y Princesses program at the YMCA, which helps coordinate daddy-daughter adventures.

"It sounds like managed chaos," Altenbern said of his participating in, well, everything. "But after awhile, when you start to communicate with one organization, it snowballs. You want to continue being part of something."