Martha "Marti" M. Barton
Village Clerk
A native Ohioan, Marti Barton moved to Bolingbrook with her family in 1987, having been attracted to the village by its diversity and reasonably priced housing options. Marti stepped right into public service providing auxiliary communications as a licensed ham radio operator during the Plainfield tornado disaster in 1990 and has been serving the community ever since.
She is a widow, after being married to her late husband Keith Barton for 28 years. She has four adult children/stepchildren, a daughter-in-law, and two beautiful granddaughters, who all live in the area.
EDUCATION
- Successful completion of the Illinois Municipal League’s “Role of the Clerk” which is a Municipal Clerks of Illinois training program.
- Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Speech/Theatre with a minor in Education from Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan.
- Pastoral Ordination from the Universal Life Church and Monastery in 2010
COMMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Currently serving her 12th year on the governing board of the Illinois Aviation Museum, including leadership positions on the Marketing and Cavalcade of Planes committees.
- Served on the Alternatives to Suspension Committee for the Valley View School District.
- “Ham” radio operator since 1987, technician-plus class license KA9ZJJ.
- Lifetime member of the Bolingbrook Amateur Radio Society
- Trained severe weather spotter, Six-County Skywarn Network since 1990
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- As an ordained non-denominational minister, founded Joyful Promises Officiant Services in 2010, performing weddings, vow renewals, and civil union ceremonies.
- Established marketing/copywriting consulting firm WordCrafters, Inc. in 1999.
- Many leadership positions with the Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce: 12 years on the Chamber Board of Directors, One year as Chamber president, Co-chair for the Small Business Coalition (10 years), Co-chair for the Bolingbrook Area Networking Group (5 years), Chamber Ambassador, including co-chair for two years (21 years)
- English teacher and substitute teacher in five school districts in both Ohio and Illinois.
- Award-winning Toastmaster since 2002, serving in a variety of club and district leadership positions
- Business Manager for Industrial Flooring Supply/Preservation Polymers 1996-99
RECOGNITIONS
- 2019, awarded Bolingbrook Chamber’s Best of Bolingbrook Businesses award for Joyful Promises.
- 2017, earned Distinguished Toastmaster, Toastmasters International/District 30
- 2014, received Chamber's Women in Business Community Leadership award.
- 2006, honored as Bolingbrook's Female Citizen of the Year. 2005, Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce’s Best of Bolingbrook Businesses award for WordCrafters, Inc.