WASHINGTON--Lisa Kohnke--who grew up in Oak Park--a veteran of the Obama 2008 campaign and the Obama White House-- joined the Obama 2012 re-election drive in Chicago as the Obama 2012 director of scheduling and advance.

Kohnke was the Director of Special Events for the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House from January 2009 through last month.

Before that, she was the Deputy Director of Scheduling and Advance on the 2008 campaign, where she managed debates and multi-candidate events.

Born in Chicago and raised in west suburban Oak Park, Kohnke is a 1994 graduate of Oak Park River Forest High School. She earned her undergraduate degree from Indiana University in 1998.

From a birdie: "On a side note: It is a bad kept secret that Lisa may have been the biggest Chicago sports fan in the White House."

Kohnke bio, from Whitehouse.gov....

Deputy Director of Special Events, Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs

Kohnke provides event logistical support and scheduling guidance for the outreach missions of OPE and IGA, both inside and outside of the White House. Kohnke was previously the Deputy Director of Scheduling and Advance for the Obama for America campaign. She has 12 years of scheduling and advance experience, having previously worked for College Democrats of America, former Vice President Al Gore's presidential campaign and his leadership PAC, Congressman Kendrick Meek, Senator John Kerry's presidential campaign and AIPAC. Kohnke grew up in Oak Park, IL and is a graduate of Indiana University.