Flash Staff

Meet the Staff

Cate O'Brien

Program Director

Cate was born and raised in Evergreen Park where she attended St. Bernadette Elementary School, as well as Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School. She went on to earn a Bacherlor's Degree in Recreation Managment from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, where she also studied Early Childhood Development and worked at the NAYCE accredited Child Development Lab for 3 years with children ages birth to 5 years.

Cate began her career at The Oak Lawn Park District as an intern, and has since worked as an aquatics supervisor, as well as the Covington site director and assistant director for the 2009-2010 FLASH Program. In May 2010 she took over as the full time director. Though she misses working one-on-one with the children, it has been a wonderful opportunity for her to take over the administration and continue to develop FLASH into a well-rounded, affordable and enjoyable program for all.

District 122

Ashley Wilkins

Columbus Manor Site Director

Mairead McGlinchey

Harnew Site Director

Eileen O'Rourke

Kolb Site Director

Melissa Katcher

Lieb Site Director

Melissa is a part-time Kindergarten teacher at Lieb, as well as the school's site director. She started the year as the site director at Harnew, but has since moved to Lieb due to her newly obtained teaching position. She recieved her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from St. Xavier University with a minor in Social Science. She completed her student teaching at Columbus Manor.

In her spare time, Melissa enjoys reading, watching movies, making crafts and baking.

District 123

Jessica Collins

Covington Site Director

Jessica grew up in Willow Springs, Illinois and went to Willow Springs Elementary School. She also attended Argo Community High School where she graduated in the top 10% of her class. There she was the class treasurer, a Freshmen Mentor and in show choir. She is the oldest of four and has 30 younger cousins she has been babysitting since she was ten. She loves working with children and was once told “If you love what you do you will never work a day in your life!” She is currently attending Moraine Valley Community College to further her education. Some things she enjoys in her free time are reading, listening to music, and spending time with family, friends and her puppy Honey.

Oscar Smith III

Hannum Site Director

Oscar attended Richard's High School where he was a member of the wrestling team. He has been working for FLASH as the Hannum site director since the fall of 2009. He recently graduated with his associate's degree in Recreation Management from Moraine Valley Community College and hopes to pursue his bachelor's degree in Recreation Management in the near future.

Oscar enjoys watching the show "The Office" and is a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Cathy Moran

Hometown Site Director

Nicole Yost

Kolmar Site Director

Nicole graduated from Mount Assisi High School where she played club volleyball. She went on to graduate with an associate's degree in Drafting & Design from ITT Technical Institute, as well as with an Art degree from Moraine Valley Community College.

This is Nicole's second year with The FLASH Program, and he first year as the site director at Kolmar.

Katey Mager

Sward Site Director

Katey went to Stagg High School and has her associates degree in Hotels & Restaurant Management, and is currently pursuing another associates in Recreation Therapy at Moraine Valley Community College. This is her second year working for FLASH. In the 2009-2010 school year she worked as a leader in the program, primarily at Hannum.

She also has experience teaching children how to bake as "Chef Katey" in Disney World.

Katey is an avid biker and she loves to play softball in the summer.