Mary Bak of Glenview has been named District Governor of Rotary International District 6440, which spans Chicago’s north, northwest and many western suburbs. She will lead Rotary’s 65 clubs and 2,000 members during the 2023-2024 year.
Mary Bak has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Glenview Sunrise since 1991. Prior to joining the District Governor line, she served as an assistant governor, district grants chair and grants chair.
She received her B.A. degree from Loyola University, Chicago, and her J.D. from DePaul University. She retired from the Village of Glenview in December 2013 as Director of Community Development/Special Counsel. Bak is currently the development services manager for Kinzie Real Estate Services. She focuses on pre-development work on suburban infill projects and the re-entitlement of distressed real estate projects to bring them back to market.
Mary and Bob Bak live in Glenview, Ill. and Powers Lake, Wis. They have three children and four grandchildren.
Rotary International’s 1.4 million members in 200 countries solve problems and create lasting change to improve lives. Along with the 500+ District Governors across the world, Mary’s focus in 2023-24 will be to “Create Hope in the World,” by focusing on mental health awareness, empowering women and girls, and bringing an end to Polio. In District 6440, Rotary clubs support worthy causes and engage in hands-on service projects to benefit their communities. Globally, Rotarians help promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water/sanitation/hygiene, mothers and children, support education, grow local economies and protect the environment.