Paul Palazzolo

Executive Director, KI

Paul Palazzolo is executive director of Kiwanis International and all its subsidiaries. Prior to starting in that role in February 2024, the Springfield, Illinois, U.S., native served as a public official — beginning in 2001, when he was elected to the Springfield Park Board. He also served as Sangamon County auditor, treasurer of the Springfield Airport Authority and circuit court clerk.

Palazzolo served as the 2009-10 Kiwanis International president and has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Springfield-Downtown since 1984. His introduction and involvement in Kiwanis started in the early 1980s while attending Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Springfield, where he was active in Key Club, the student-led service organization for high school students that is part of the Kiwanis family. Palazzolo was inducted into the Sacred Heart-Griffin Hall of Fame in 2013. He also was awarded the Key of Honor, the highest recognition presented by the Key Club International board, for making a lifelong positive impact. Palazzolo has also served as chair of the Kiwanis International Youth Programs Board.

His local civic engagement includes serving on boards such as Salvation Army, Springfield Urban League, Hoogland Center for the Arts and other organizations.

Palazzolo holds a degree in finance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is married and has two adult children.