About Rick:

He and his wife, Renee, live in Hammond and have two children: Mackenzie, 2, and Isabella, 1. Bachelor's degree in business management from Purdue University Calumet. Employed by City of Hammond for four years. Avid sports fan, loves to golf and play basketball.

Accomplishments: Rick Calinski is executive director of planning and development for the city of Hammond. He oversees federal money granted to the city to help enhance community and economic development. "Our goal is to create community development programs and also help foster economic development in the city of Hammond which will raise the assessed value of the city and create new job opportunities," he said. Some of the programs include low-interest loans and facade rebate programs for businesses along with resident-oriented programs such as Project Pride, low-interest loans for home rehabilitation, handicap ramp program for the disabled, and first-time homebuyer down payment assistance. The department provides hundreds of thousands of dollars to social service organizations including Boys & Girls Club, School City of Hammond, Greater Hammond Food Pantry and childcare service and transitional shelters. The department sponsors an annual job fair and volunteer recognition luncheon

and works with the disabilities commission and Ministerial Alliance to hold special events. Calinski oversees a staff of 19 full-time employees and is overseen by a five-person board - the Hammond Redevelopment Commission. "I enjoy my job. I have a great opportunity to make a difference in the community I was born and raised in," he said. "It's a pleasure working for Mayor McDermott, who has a lot of different ideas and visions and is not afraid to make a tough decision that will benefit our community." Calinski serves on the board of directors of Hammond YMCA, Downtown Hammond Council and Hammond Development Corp. and is active in Hammond Chamber of Commerce.

Personal hero: "My dad, Rick Calinski of Dyer. Throughout his life, as challenges have presented themselves, he is able to take them in stride and has always found time for his family."

What I read: "I love to read anything related to the stock market, any type of redevelopment magazine and anything sports-related."

Advice: "The company that you keep is always an impression of who you are."

Best thing about my job: "The opportunity to create relationships and friendships within the business community."

People might be surprised to know: "I love to snow ski."

-SUE BERO, Times Correspondent

To nominate a civil servant for this feature, e-mail slbero@hotmail.com