Ray Piattoni marked 25 years with Orland Park’s Recreation and Parks Department this week, a milestone few municipal employees reach — and fewer still celebrate with the kind of satisfaction he conveyed to the village board.
“I’ve always said I have the best job in the world, and if anyone is envious of that, I’m sorry, but I’m still going to be here for a while,” Piattoni said. “I’m lucky to be in the position I’m in and work with the team I have.”
For the last 25 years, Piattoni has served Orland Park residents through recreation and parks operations, helping oversee programs, facilities, maintenance and community engagement across the village.
Mayor Jim Dodge said Piattoni’s tenure spans two-and-a-half decades of growth, change and institutional memory in a department that touches nearly every resident’s quality of life.
Piattoni was among several employees honored for service milestones this week.
Others included:
- John Swendsen, 25 years with the Police Department
- * Scott Highland, 25 years with Public Works
- Scott Schuster and Deborah Northrip with Recreation and Parks.
“The team I have — and those words truly matter — I can’t stress enough how incredible our team is,” Piattoni said. “My leadership and success are the result of collaboration with an amazing team.”