Today is the last day on the job for Willie Winters, executive director of the Beverly Area Planning Association since 1999 who has accepted a position with the Cook County Sheriff's Office. He'll be working with the sheriff's community service programs, likely from its Bridgeview site, beginning April 16, Winters says.

Board President Melody Camp has been appointed interim executive director. She has formed an executive search committee to find a replacement for Winters, who says the group has already fielded several inquiries about the position.

The Southwest Side native who grew up in the Visitation parish in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood began his early career as a seminarian in New York before transferring to Brother Rice High School, where he graduated in 1970. He earned his bachelor of science degree in hospitality management from Roosevelt University and spent five years as a program coordinator with the Mayor's Office of Special Events.

During Winters' tenure at BAPA, the not-for-profit community alliance formed the Business Development and Support Committee to bolster membership and took over most of the responsibilities of the Beverly Hills/Morgan Park Community Development Corp. In December BAPA relocated to its current location at 11107 S. Longwood Ave. from the Bethany Union Church at 1750 W. 103rd St.

BAPA recently celebrated its 60th anniversary and was noted as a special honoree at the South Side Irish Parade March 11.

The position Winters is leaving behind will be a challenge, he admits. "With four major programs at BAPA