On the record with Pete Koenig

Pete Koenig has had his share of stressful situations.

As a nurse in the emergency room at Centegra Hospital – McHenry, he has seen patients arrive with gunshot wounds, premature babies weighing less than 2 pounds, and other serious conditions. But Koenig, a Richmond trustee, said he took it all in stride.

“You go from one extreme to another,” he said.

When Koenig is not at the ER or the village hall, he can be found cheering on his daughters at a nearby soccer field or behind the wheel of an amateur race car.

Koenig, 49, moved to Richmond 11 years ago with his wife, Nancy. Coincidentally, it’s not the first time that “Richmond” was part of his neighborhood.

Before Koenig was a nurse, he worked in sales in the broadcasting industry. He met his wife while living near Richmond, Ind., where he also made his health care debut as a volunteer EMT at the area fire department. Years later, the Koenigs moved to Vermont, where they lived down the road from a town named Richmond.

Koenig recently sat down with Northwest Herald reporter Diana Sroka to talk about his amateur racing hobby, what he loves about Richmond, his day job as an ER nurse, and his position on the Richmond Village Board.

Sroka: What was your first impression of Richmond?

Koenig: I really liked the small-town feel, the downtown area with the older buildings and the shops. We were struck by a particular house that was built in 1886, and that’s the house we live in today.

Sroka: Do you think Richmond is where you’ll settle down?

Koenig: We’re both happy where we are, and the school system is great, so no plans to go anywhere else.

Sroka: Tell me about your job in the emergency room.

Koenig: A lot of variety. You have to be ready for a little bit of everything. [It’s just like] with the village; one second you’re dealing with a financial issue, the next, it’s overseeing the police department. In a small town especially, you have to deal with all the things as they come.

Sroka: What’s your schedule at the ER like?

Koenig: Twelve hours a day, three days a week.

Sroka: What are the most important qualities of a good emergency room nurse?

Koenig: You have to be observant. Definitely be a team player. You work closely with a doctor, other technicians that help you.

You have to be very flexible in types of situations you’re going to be seeing.

Sroka: How does that correlate with the qualities of a good trustee?

Koenig: You have to put everything in the context of what’s best for the village and the people who live in it. If everything you do is put up to that standard, you’re most likely going to do the right thing.

Sroka: What advice do you have for someone thinking about working in the ER?

Koenig: First of all, it’s a great career choice.

We’re in a pretty good job market; right now there is work.

Seek out as much hands-on experience as you can get. The classes and book learning is certainly important, but the hands-on experience is where you get your confidence.

Sroka: Do you still race?

Koenig: Up until this year, we did, but I had a mishap in Milwaukee, so I no longer have a race car (chuckles).

Sroka: What kind of car?

Koenig: 1989 Ford Probe.