Crain's Chicago Business

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • October 11, 2021 13

2021

Nonprofit board leaders donate money, chair fundraisers, advocate for their organizations and head mission-critical projects. And that’s all in a volunteer-day’s work for the leaders profiled here, who bring substantial professional expertise—legal, financial, managerial and entrepreneurial—to nonprofit boardrooms in the Chicago area. Some are retired; most kept up their volunteer pace as they led some of Chicago’s biggest firms through the dark days of the pandemic.

Need didn’t take a time out during the pandemic. Social services and health care organizations were overwhelmed with requests, many from

the city’s oft-neglected demographics; board leaders helped continue carrying out their organization’s mission even as lockdowns made it difficult. Board members at arts organizations rose to the challenge of keeping audiences and donors engaged through virtual programming.

These 70 leaders present an admirable picture of grace, not to mention resilience, under extreme pressure. The time, talent and treasures they donate to nonprofits of all kinds help make Chicago and its surrounding areas a better place to live.

By Judith Crown and Lisa Bertagnoli

GETTY IMAGES

METHODOLOGY: The honorees did not pay to be included. Their profiles were drawn from nomination materials submitted. This list is not comprehensive. It includes only executives for whom nominations were submitted and accepted after an editorial review. The honorees demonstrated that their volunteer work positively affected the nonprofits with which they are involved.

Working towards a better Chicago, together.

Congratulations to two of Chicago’s notable nonprofit board leaders.

Your leadership and commitment make our community stronger, together.

Reina M. Goodman

Vice President and Regional Manager, Retail

Robert McGhee

Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Community and Economic Development

53.com Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

14 October 11, 2021 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS

DENNIS ABBOUD

MARK ACHLER

JOHN ANOS

ANGELA BARNES

STEVE BLONDER

Board chair Family Focus

Board member and immediate past president Mishkan Chicago

Board treasurer Easterseals Serving Chicagoland & Greater Rockford

Board chair Center on Halsted

Board president The Ark

At Mishkan Chicago, Mark Achler serves on the executive and finance committees, chaired its 2017 strategic planning process and guided an organizational redesign process in 2020 that clarified the organizational chart, implemented new processes for getting work done and rearranged departmental structures. This has resulted in an estimated 70 percent improvement in organizational effectiveness and impact. During the pandemic, Mishkan pivoted from in-person events to a full suite of online programs and Shabbat service broadcasts.

Achler, an early employee at Apple, is managing director at MATH Venture Partners, an early- to mid-stage technology venture capital fund. Achler is also a mentor at Techstars, the Junto Institute and several other entrepreneurial organizations, and he is an adjunct lecturer of entrepreneurship and innovation at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business.

John Anos, global co-head of industrials investment banking at Deutsche Bank, has served as a board member, treasurer and chair of the finance committee of Easterseals Serving Chicagoland & Greater Rockford for 10 years. He worked with other board members and executive leadership to dramatically improve the organization’s financial standing over the past 24 months, including reducing debt by 40%. The organization employs more than 650 professionals who serve nearly 20,000 children, individuals with

The Center on Halsted works to secure the health and well-being of LGBTQ people in the Chicago area. Angela Barnes was instrumental in driving an expansion of efforts, such as the Youth Housing Program, toward Chicago’s South and West sides.

Her professional experience in risk management also helped the Center on Halsted venture into new areas of service, such as housing and the establishment of a clinic, and her background in DEI work has helped diversify the center’s board and staff. Her presence during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic was important in securing government funds to ensure that staff was not laid off. Barnes, director of legal affairs and growth initiatives and general counsel at City Tech Collaborative, also serves on the center’s development committee.

Steve Blonder, principal at law firm Much Shelist, was first elected in 2016 to the board of the Ark, which helps Chicago-area Jews through food, shelter, health care and employment counseling. In 2021, nearly 2,700 clients received $1.3 million in direct assistance.

Recently Blonder chaired and established an executive committee for the strategic planning process for the “Ark at 50” capital campaign; oversaw the organization’s new branding and marketing campaign, designed to raise its profile within the community for clients, volunteers and donors; and led the overall strategic planning leading to a $16 million “Landmark Renovation” of the Ark’s community center, which entails major renovations and additions to enhance client services. He also is vice chair of the Chicago Bar Foundation’s Investing in Justice Campaign.

Dennis Abboud helped facilitate the merger of Family Focus and Chicago Child Care Society, two leading family support agencies with 378 employees, a $25.6 million operating budget and 11 community service areas throughout Chicago and northeast Illinois. He also oversaw the creation of a new board structure, identified a leadership team embraced by both boards and established committee goals. During the pandemic, Family Focus transformed its services to virtual contact and had $500,000 in direct contact grants reallocated to emergency support, such as food and supplies. Abboud, who is CEO of ReaderLink, North America’s largest full-service book distributor, leveraged business connections to provide celebrity endorsements including Katie Couric and Gabrielle Union.

He’s also promoted Family Focus within his own company, creating employee giving opportunities with matching funding.

disabilities and their families in two key pillars: comprehensive autism and behavioral services, and early learning and developmental services.

Community matters.

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Charles C. Calloway, Jr. Partner

Attorney advertising material.

Congratulations to

Joe Lacher as a Crain’s 2021 Notable Non-Profit Board Leader.

Joe Lacher

We thank Joe for his inspirational leadership, integrity and support as we move the dial with purpose and momentum in the fight against type 1 diabetes (T1D).

President, CEO and Chairman of the Board Kemper Corporation Chair, International Board of Directors JDRF

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16 October 11, 2021 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS

EVA BROWN

DAVID BROZ

Assistant treasurer and executive committee member Women’s Business Development Center

Board member and executive committee member Chicago Loop Alliance

Eva Brown helped lead rebranding efforts for the Women’s Business Development Center, which provides specialized curricula and workshops, women’s business enterprise certification and access to capital through education, debt and equity placement, and direct lending. Brown, vice president and segment lead of minority- and women-owned business/consumer business banking at U.S. Bank, contributed to the development of the center’s financial policies and procedures and worked closely with its Access to Capital director

to ensure women- and minority-owned businesses received vital resources. She also partnered with the center’s Access to Capital team on several workshops related to PPP loans and forgiveness.

David Broz, a principal in the Chicago office of architecture firm Gensler, helped create Alley Activate, transforming underutilized urban spaces into pop-up art installations, live music and social experiences. Surveys indicated that thousands of attendees from 110 ZIP codes spent millions in neighborhood establishments.

He invented and moderates the Downtown Futures Series, a bimonthly panel that attracts a global audience. He also co-developed the concept for Sundays on State and led the Gateway seats project, which turned an underutilized island in the center of State Street at Wacker Drive into an attractive place to eat and gather. As chair, Broz led the installation of automated digital pedestrian and traffic counters throughout the Loop, providing real-time data that allows the Loop Alliance to identify new place-making opportunities, smarter retail planning and better security management.

CHARLES C. CALLOWAY JR. Chicago executive board member; vice chair, national board of directors Spark Program

Charles C. Calloway Jr., a partner at law firm Chapman & Cutler, has been involved with Spark since early in his career, when he served as an educational mentor to middle schoolers. Today he brings expertise in organizational management and nonprofit governance from his service on other boards and fellowships, including the Urban League’s Impact program. After leadership determined that Spark’s greatest potential for sustainable effect is in supporting its regions to independently control programming and community engagement at local levels, he has been serving

as vice chair of the national board of directors. Calloway is also on the restructuring committee, creating a change management plan for the Chicago program to launch as an independent entity in July 2022.

CARLOS CARDENAS

DAVID CARLSON

Board member National Museum of Mexican Art

Corporate chair, board of directors JDRF Illinois

Carlos Cardenas, a senior vice president and group manager at Wintrust, has served for 12 years on the board—six years as chair—of the National Museum of Mexican Art, the nation’s leading Latino arts organization. Cardenas has been a chief proponent of the initiation of a capital and endowment campaign, placing the museum in its best shape ever financially. His efforts also helped the museum raise its national profile, being named recently as one of the Ford Foundation’s 20 American Cultural Treasures. Those efforts, along with the several major grants—philanthropist MacKenzie Scott awarded the museum $8 million—have helped the museum navigate the COVID crisis with minimal impact on its bottom line. Recent activities include the creation of a museum plaza. Cardenas is a Leadership Greater Chicago fellow.

David Carlson, managing partner and co-founder of Redwood Capital Group, is corporate chair of the Illinois board of JDRF. As gala co-chairs for two consecutive years, Carlson and his wife, Carrie, helped bring more than 2,000 philanthropists together to raise more than $7.1 million in 2019 and more than $9.1 million in 2020. When in-person fundraising events halted during the pandemic, they stepped up again, helping transition efforts from in-person to virtual events with a mix of live art, jazz and an evening program with John Ondrasik. This creative approach, now copied by many, was one of the first to launch in this for-

mat. He’s also used his newly built home as a LEED building showcase and to host a cocktail reception featuring its architect and builder, while also educating guests about JDRF.

Waterton Congratulates

Pete Vilim

on his recognition as one of Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Non-Profit Board Leaders.

We are inspired by Pete’s dedication and commitment to ending homelessness in our city.

30 S. Wacker Dr | Chicago, IL 60606 | 312.948.4500 | www.waterton.com

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • October 11, 2021 17

A big, unexpected donation: ‘Tremendous surprise’ As board chair at the National Museum of Mexican Art, Carlos ­Cardenas was among the many nonprofit leaders nationwide shocked by sizable surprise donations from billionaire MacKenzie Scott. She has donated nearly $20 billion, including an unrestricted $8 million to the museum, which prompted “tremendous surprise and utter shock” from the board, Cardenas said. Cardenas, senior vice president and group manager at Wintrust Commercial Banking’s Chicago Loop office and a Chicago native, talked to Crain’s about the benefits—and challenges—of the donation.

CRAIN’S: What was the board’s reaction upon receiving the $8 million donation from MacKenzie Scott?

CARDENAS: Tremendous surprise and utter shock. When our president/CEO received the notification that the museum had a major donor looking to give us a significant gift, we thought it was a phishing attempt. We’ve never had a donor approach us in this fashion, with really no formality. It was like, “Hey, big donor wants to give you a gift, please provide us your bank information and wiring instructions.” We were taken aback, but

after corroborating with a circle of folks in the art world from the West Coast, we gained comfort it was legit. However, we did not know it was MacKenzie Scott until the funds were already on their way.

Please put the donation in perspective.

It is by far the largest major gift we have received in our 39-year history. Our operating budget is around $5 million annually. It is a truly transformational gift with no restrictions. MacKenzie Scott explained her rationale best in her June 15 blog: “Teams with experience on the front lines of challenges will know best how to put the money to good use. We encouraged them to spend it however they choose.” We intend to use the funds wisely and purposefully.

How will you use it?

Going into 2020, the museum’s board of trustees had just spent the prior several years completing a five-year strategic plan review, which resulted in a feasibility study that identified the need to launch a major capital/endowment campaign with an initial $10 million fundraising goal for various strategic priorities. The timing was ideal, as we were ready for po-

tential uses of the gift. The $8 million MacKenzie Scott gift, along with the December 2020 $3.6 million Ford Foundation grant, has allowed us to make progress toward our established goals to protect and grow the permanent collection, expand programming with a local and national reach, develop a world-class website and establish a virtual museum, and establish an endowment.

The challenge will be to remain fiscally disciplined and focused, so that we continue to act on our mission—but now with some added financial flexibility. Our biggest challenge is to remain stewards and not waste/misuse these amazing gifts.

How will the gift affect future fundraising efforts?

We’ve expanded our original capital campaign goal to $20.1 million from $10 million and have met 66% of the revised goal. Good news breeds additional good news. Both the Scott and Ford Foundation donations have raised our profile.

Donors and foundations which have never been engaged with the NMMA are now actively seeking us out. We are keen to take advantage of this momentum and leverage these gifts to enhance our individ-

ual and foundation fundraising efforts. The public launch of our capital campaign is very timely.

Of the ways the museum plans to use the donation, which do you personally find most exciting?

First, of the $11.6 million received through these major surprise gifts, the board has designated around $7.3 million toward an endowment.

I am extremely pleased to strengthen our balance sheet. We’ve operated for the past 39 years year over year with little cushion other than a few hundred thousand dollars in a segregated account; this will ensure we have a safety net and operating flexibility for decades to come.

Second, we hope to create a groundbreaking digital experience that brings our permanent collection and exhibitions to life for online audiences across the world.

The pandemic forced us to rethink how we delivered the NMMA experience/mission. Our Yollocalli Arts Reach pivoted after-school programming, online, to ensure our youth had a place to connect with each other and continue to create their art. NMMA hosted a virtual opening for our 2020 annual Day of the Dead exhibition and curated videos to help the tradition come to life for viewers online. Our creative

Congratulations Robb and Scott,

What does the gift mean for the future of the museum?

Given our location in Pilsen, we aim to remain free admission. The gift further enables our work in delivering arts-focused community outreach programs—art can soothe and can disrupt, but we especially see how art initiates conversations, reveals shared experiences and fosters understanding.

This gift will allow us to continue our commitment to providing exceptional visual and performing arts programs, arts education and professional development. We are excited to be building on 30-plus years of work elevating Mexican art and culture and are eager to look beyond the short term and into a bright and creative future, ensuring the NMMA remains meaningful for the next 50 years.

Robb Soles KPMG, Partner & Chair of the Illinois Board of the American Cancer Society

on being named as Crain’s 2021 Notable Non-profit Board Leaders.

Thank you for your dedication and contributions to KPMG and the community across Chicago and Illinois. Your leadership has an impact on our people and the beneficiaries of your community efforts that demonstrate our values of “Working Together” and “For Better”.

Learn more about KPMG’s audit, tax, and advisory services at kpmg.com.

© 2021 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. The KPMG name and logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International.

teams developed the capacity to lead interactive virtual guided tours and moved art-making workshops to Zoom.

NMMA is stronger because of these virtual efforts, and we are excited at the expanded reach we now have with new audiences as we came to realize that through delivery of virtual content and programming, we are no longer limited by geography.

Scott Verschoor KPMG, Managing Director & Chair of the Music Institute of Chicago Board of Trustees

18 October 11, 2021 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS

MARGARET “MARGIE” CHRISTIE Board chair Cures Within Reach

Cures Within Reach leverages the speed, safety and cost-effectiveness of the testing of already approved therapies. As its board chair, Margie Christie, a partner at law firm Golan Christie Taglia, has led the nonprofit through a strategic growth initiative and a change in leadership while helping grow its income. She also helped it improve its critical programmatic versus management and fundraising expense ratio and increase its grant and award commitments for four years straight. During the last 18 months, the nonprofit launched three new population areas of focus, in addition to its disease-specific and geographic areas: diversity, equity and inclusion, including clinical trials both to reduce health disparities and to be led by racial and ethnic minority or underserved scientists; pediatrics; and veterans and military. As both restricted and unrestricted income grew, more than 15 new trials were approved or funded.

ELLEN-BLAIR CHUBE

DANIEL CONTRERAS

HARRY DRUCKER

MICHAEL EVANGELIDES

Board secretary Chicago Children’s Choir

Board chair Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater

Board chair Environmental Law & Policy Center

Member, medical center board of directors Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

The Chicago Children’s Choir is a network of 140 choirs in 45 of Chicago’s 77 community areas, offering 5,000 diverse singers, ages 8-18, access to training and life-changing performance opportunities.

Ellen-Blair Chube, partner, managing director and client service officer at William Blair Investment Banking, has played a vital role in the maturation of the children’s choir’s organizational processes. She served as multiyear chair of the board development committee and in 2019 led the annual gala.

Chube has been a strong advocate for expansion of the choir’s comprehensive Raising Voices

campaign, the establishment of the endowment, and various unique artistic projects. She also served as a lead advocate for choir’s two-year, $200,000 corporate partnership with William Blair.

Daniel Contreras, director of technology strategy at Microsoft, has been Ensemble Español’s chairman for two years. Its mission is to present the dance traditions of Spain and provide opportunities to the community to explore dance semiprofessionally. He is leading an ensemblewide digital transformation, corporate reorganization and succession plan as well as developing a five-year strategic plan leading up to the 50th anniversary. He grew the “give/get” from zero to $18,000 in year one and, in a season where corporate sponsorships have decreased, the ensemble’s

increased more than 75%. He also serves on the governance, development, youth department (recruiting high school students to volunteer their time) and executive committees.

The work of the Environmental Law & Policy Center, the Midwest’s premier environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization, spans the Great Lakes to the Great Plains. As board chair and active director, Harry Drucker—retired from North Shore Realty Partners—works closely with the center’s senior team and engages other board members on successful campaigns protecting the Midwest’s natural areas, including the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge, and Lake Michigan. He also works with the center’s executive director and development director as a fundraising partner, helping the organization grow its annual revenue budget to $10 million from $3 million while sustaining a strong financial platform. Drucker is also a trustee of the Nature Conservancy-Illinois.

Michael Evangelides, principal at Deloitte Consulting, helped advise Lurie on obtaining federal funds during the pandemic as well as strategic perspective on how to leverage technology to help avoid delays or overruns. He’s served as a fundraising campaign leader for the two capital campaigns at Lurie, including the $650 million campaign for building the Streeterville hospital campus and Lurie’s current For Every Child campaign. Evangelides also launched the Gus Foundation, which includes the annual “Run for Gus” that has become one of the largest 5K runs held on a weeknight in Chicago; it has raised north of $2.2M for research and treatment at Lurie.

He’s served on the governance review teams for both the medical center and foundation boards and was featured on a Chicago-area radiothon for Lurie.

CONGRATULATIONS

TO JOHN C. ROBAK

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A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.

- Nelson Mandela

chicago-united.org

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • October 11, 2021 19

MICHELLE FLOWERS WELCH Advisory board member, communications committee chair The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division

Michelle Flowers Welch, chairman of Flowers Communications Group, has guided the Salvation Army toward landing placements in a broader, more multicultural range of media outlets in the Chicago market while also streamlining its communications and public relations processes. As requests for help at the 28 corps community centers and 50 social service programs skyrocketed during the pandemic, she was an integral part of the conversation that created the Doing the Most Good branding and awareness campaign. Flowers Welch also provided strategic input during the 2020 Christmas campaign, which started two months early to raise awareness of immense need and the funding required to address it. She is on the Salvation Army Chicago advisory board, the executive committee as vice chair and the communications committee as chair.

ZED FRANCIS

LINDA GANTZ

HEATHER GARDNER

MARIN GJAJA

Board chair Bridge Communities

Women’s board member Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago

Finance committee chair Civic Leadership Foundation

Board co-chair Advance Illinois

Zed Francis has been a board member for nine years at Bridge Communities, which transitions families without homes to self-sufficiency through mentoring support, stable housing and access to education and wage-earning opportunities.

Retired from Bank of America, Francis has helped Bridge secure more than $6.3 million for its “Investing in Homes+Hope” capital and endowment campaign. He also created the policy and procedures to oversee spending, upgrade the organization’s year-end reporting processes and improve the management of its endowment, which is now valued at more than $3 million. Francis collaborated with staff and the board to recruit six board members in one term cycle, and he helped create a program directed at teens to ensure they have an education or work plan once they graduate high school.

Linda Gantz has chaired record-breaking fundraising events for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, making personal asks of friends and family in support of the 20,000 children the clubs serve.

A key effort is with the organization’s scholarship program, where she participates annually in its “rising stars” interview process for students seeking scholarship support for postsecondary education; Gantz continues to follow recipients’ success long after the funds have been distributed. In 2014, she stepped up as the first board member to support the clubs’ endowment with a $2.5 million gift. More recently, she made an additional $1 million gift in honor of her 80th birthday.

In 2019, the organization named a club in honor of her and her husband in the Lathrop community, a facility that’s considered a game-changer for the youth there.

The Civic Leadership Foundation provides project-based leadership programs for middle school students to help them succeed.

As treasurer and chair of the foundation’s finance committee, Heather Gardner has been actively engaged in redesigning the reporting of the organization’s finances, developing effective agendas and operational reports, and reviewing and assessing senior staff. Responsible for financial institution business development and relationship management at William Blair Investment Management, Gardner has been active in both fundraising and “friendraising,” recruiting several professionals to the board

As managing director and senior partner at Boston Consulting Group, Marin Gjaja has rallied millions of dollars’ worth of pro bono consulting support to Advance Illinois in its work for a healthy public education system that stresses college and career readiness. With his support, Advance Illinois helped revamp the state’s annual school report card, overhauled the state’s inequitable funding formula and announced a plan to support and govern early childhood education and care. Gjaja also helped Advance develop a strategy for responding to COVID learning disruptions through a statewide learning-recovery planning process. He also worked with the organization’s president to identify key operational issues and, along with pro bono Boston Consulting professionals, helped Advance Illinois’ senior team establish salary bands, revamp its evaluation systems and implement project management strategies.

who’ve brought connections and expertise to the organization. A certified investment management analyst and accredited investment fiduciary, she serves on the Sustaining Fellows program committee of the Art Institute of Chicago.

ADVOCATE.

Congratulations to NGE partner John Koenigsknecht on his well-earned recognition as one of Crain’s 2021 Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders.

COLLABORATOR.

President of the CommunityHealth Board of Directors, John and his engaged leadership were on display over the past year as he led the board to fulfill their mission to serve those without access to essential healthcare during the most critical of times.

LEADER.

As a values-driven business, Neal Gerber Eisenberg is proud to support Chicago’s vibrant non-profit community.

www.nge.com

We are proud to be an integral part of the communities in which we work and live. For more than three decades we have generously shared our compassion, time and legal experience to help those around us. Learn more about the impact of our efforts by visiting www.nge.com/CSR

20 October 11, 2021 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS

REINA M. GOODMAN

SARA GRANACK

JOANN GRUCA

NICOLAS GUZMAN

FRANCIA HARRINGTON

Board chair Instituto del Progreso Latino

Board chair Bernie’s Book Bank

Director Pathlights

Board president Erie Neighborhood House

Board chair Ingenuity

During the pandemic, Reina M. Goodman helped lead Instituto del Progreso Latino’s relief efforts as it served 63,000 meals at its drive-thru food banks and provided rent, cash and utility assistance of nearly $700,000 to more than 300 families.

She helped establish partnerships with funders including Target, ComEd and the Polk Bros.

Foundation. As part of Chicago’s efforts to track the spread of COVID-19, Instituto’s contact tracers helped reach more than 45,000 people. Goodman, who was born in Mexico and migrated to the U.S. when she was 7, has been active at Instituto for more

Since 2009, Bernie’s Book Bank has distributed 20 million books with the goal of empowering underserved children to read their way to a better life.

Sara Granack, vice president of corporate communication and reputation at CDW, helped restructure Bernie’s Book Bank’s committees and bylaws to match the needs of a growing organization. She implemented tracking protocols and accountability/expectations and then transitioned the board from an operations-focused entity to one focused on fundraising. At the onset of the pandemic, she led emergency board meetings to discuss financial concerns and helped launch the Change Their Story campaign to benefit the 275,000 underserved Chicago-area children who receive Bernie’s Book Bank books. Additionally, she is one of the first board members to make her personal gift annually, setting expectations for others.

Now retired from her professorship with St. Xavier University, JoAnn Gruca has for 35 years been a director of Pathlights, an organization that guides adults along the best path to aging in 20 communities in the south and southwest suburbs of Cook County.

She is a past chair of the board committee, served as secretary of the board (renewed for nine years) and as chair/president (renewed two additional years), and was a past member of the rebranding task force, which attracted a wider scope of funding and strategic partners. Gruca has been a lead supporter for the organization’s annual luncheon, which raises funds to continue supporting Pathlights’ mission.

She was a significant part of a board challenge that achieved a matching grant goal through the Giving Tuesday campaign.

Erie Neighborhood House serves families in the immigrant and low-income communities in Chicago through education, access to critical resources and advocacy.

Nicolas Guzman began as a volunteer in the youth program, tutoring young students through Erie House’s TEAM program, and has been on its board for more than 10 years. Guzman, a partner at law firm Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, represents Erie House in a variety of community and business networks and, through the contributions of his Faegre Drinker colleagues, has been able to manage or assign all major legal matters on a pro bono basis. His expertise has also enabled Erie House to formalize its corporate governance documents and process and was instrumental in the negotiation of its first union labor contract.

Ingenuity was founded in 2011 to increase arts education access in Chicago Public Schools.

Francia “Francee” Harrington helped catalyze the citywide process that led to Ingenuity’s founding and is its founding chair. A senior adviser with Open Door Advisors and co-founder of Chicago Food System Resource Navigator, she’s also belonged to or led almost every Ingenuity board committee. She spearheaded an effort to nearly double the number of board members, from nine in 2017 to 17 in 2021, while increasing board diversity to 50% people of color. Most recently, she led the planning and execution of Ingenuity’s first virtual fundraising event in May to celebrate the organization’s 10th anniversary; it included remarks from Mayor Lori Lightfoot and musician ­Yo-Yo Ma and more than quadrupled its goal.

than 12 years. Goodman is a vice president in retail banking at Fifth Third Bank, where she’s responsible for the growth and success of a $1.6 billion region with 16 financial centers and a team of more than 100 employees.

CONGRATULATIONS LINDY HIRSCHSOHN! From an anonymous donor

O O O

Your contribution to

is benefiting early education in Chicago every day O O O

www.vocel.org

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • October 11, 2021 21

DANIEL HERNANDEZ

AUSTIN HIRSCH

LINDY HIRSCHSOHN

MARY ANN HYNES

TADD INGLES

Board president Between Friends

Treasurer Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Board member VOCEL

Board chair Association House of Chicago

When Daniel Hernandez, principal and managing attorney at NextLevel Law, first joined Between Friends’ board, he recommended a revamp of the organization’s logo and website. Through his leadership, Between Friends, which is dedicated to preventing cycles of domestic violence, also has a comprehensive plan to grow into a $2.5 million organization while strengthening its youth education program, REACH. Hernandez was able to acquire the largest amount of small donations from individual donors as well as a $20,000 grant from the Reva & David Logan Foundation. His most notable fundraising accomplishment was eliminating the board’s “give/ get” requirement, seen as a barrier to participation for many. He has recommended the use of virtual assistants and technologies to increase efficiency, as well as a review of all vendor contracts, 401(k) plans and insurance policies to find cost savings.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists informs the public about nuclear risk, climate change and disruptive technologies. Since joining the board in 2010, Austin Hirsch, a partner at law firm Reed Smith, has led several projects that help ensure the organization’s financial foundation. These include revising governance guidelines and bylaws, leading the search for a new audit firm and negotiating several key contracts.

He helped in a lease termination process that enabled the Bulletin to return to its University of Chicago roots; helped defend the intellectual property rights of

After having assisted more than 10 other nonprofits, Lindy Hirschsohn, an alumna partner at Boston Consulting Group, provides VOCEL with strategic support and helped underwrite a “masterclass” series that has brought its expertise in child development to a broader audience. Since joining VOCEL she’s studied neuroscience, poverty and educational best practices, becoming a trusted source of innovative ideas.

She is also the board’s leading expert in major-gifts fundraising and in 2017 helped orchestrate VOCEL’s largest event, inviting Arne Duncan to be VOCEL’s key-

Founding board member and co-chair, board development committee Girls Inc. of Chicago

the organization’s trademarks; galvanized the board and staff to pursue a PPP loan; and helped preserve future protection and use by the Bulletin of its globally recognized Doomsday Clock.

note speaker, attracting record attendance. She also pioneered VOCEL’s fundraising dashboard, helping the team develop a systematic way to segment donors, track revenue growth and improve donor acquisition and retention.

Mary Ann Hynes, senior counsel at Dentons, is a founding board member of Girls Inc. of Chicago.

The nonprofit provides education, wellness checks and mentoring for girls in Chicago’s Little Village, Chatham, Grand Crossing, Hegewisch, Riverdale, Pullman, Roseland and Bronzeville communities. Hynes serves as co-chair of the board development committee, which is responsible for governance, recruitment, strategic planning, board training and compliance.

She guided and informed Girls Inc.’s strategic planning processes and directly contributed to its ability to receive two capacity-building grants during the 2021 fiscal year. She helped raise the organization’s profile by tapping into her network to develop relationships and receive gifts from individuals, corporations and organizations. Girls Inc. of Chicago now serves more than 800 K-12 girls.

Tadd Ingles, a partner in Central Region Assurance Services at Ernst & Young, led Association House of Chicago through the pandemic without closing its doors and maintaining outreach to developmentally and intellectually disabled people who require face-to-face services. He also helped the nonprofit achieve one of its strongest financial years ever while managing a seamless transition in its top leadership.

He stewarded the organization through the application of its $1 million PPP loan to shift its services for hundreds of individuals on-site almost overnight to remote learning, telehealth and teletherapy services. As a facilities expert, Ingles not only oversaw Association House’s $5.7 million bond compliance, but also guided it through the remediation of a winter flood that caused $500,000 in damage. He led the board through its first-ever virtual gala, raising $130,000.

Congratulations Ellen-Blair Chube & Heather Gardner Ellen-Blair Chube

M A NAGING DIR ECTOR , CLIE N T SERV ICE OFFICER IN V E STM E N T B A N K ING

Heather Gardner, CIMA, AIF

SEN IOR CLIE N T R EL ATIONSHIP M A NAGER IN V E STM E N T M A NAGEM E N T

CR AIN’S NOTABLE NON-PROFIT BOARD LEADERS

Thank you Ellen-Blair for your community engagement with the Chicago Children’s Choir, and Heather for involvement with the Civic Leadership Foundation. It is an honor to work alongside such dedicated, collaborative colleagues who inspire us all.

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22 October 11, 2021 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS

DEBRA JENNINGS JOHNSON Board chair Women’s Business Development Center

Debra Jennings Johnson, recently retired as senior director of supplier diversity at BP America, has served 23 years on the Women’s Business Development Center’s board of directors, leading it through a successful founder transition and helping to elevate its already significant national profile. She assisted the center in expanding to multiple offices within the Chicago area as well as in the Twin Cities, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Kansas City. During the pandemic, she was instrumental in supporting the nonprofit’s efforts in pursuing private- and

public-sector funding to support the center’s growth and support from corporations, foundations and government. Her expertise in supply-chain diversity guided the creation of nontraditional purchasing and strategic alliances.

Austin Hirsch Partner, Chicago ahirsch@reedsmith.com

ANNE KAPLAN

SHAWN KASSERMAN

JAZMIN CHEEFUS KELLY

JOHN KOENIGSKNECHT

Board chair Joffrey Ballet

Board president Kids in Danger

President/chair of board of directors CommunityHealth

Anne Kaplan, co-founder of Insight Environmental Design, helped Joffrey fulfill a $12 million fundraising goal for its Crisis Stabilization Fund.

The Joffrey’s five-year strategic plan, known as Joffrey for All and fostered by Kaplan, drove the recent purchase of 1920 S. Wabash Ave. in the South Loop, a space that enables students from around Chicago to participate in Joffrey-related programming.

Her involvement with the Joffrey Women’s Board has been instrumental in raising necessary funding for the Nutcracker Costume Maintenance Initiative, which funds costume and set design maintenance for future productions of “The Nutcracker.” Kaplan also helped enable the Joffrey’s pivot to digital programming, produced at Joffrey Tower during the pandemic, which reached thousands of new audience members around the world.

Shawn Kasserman, a founding member of Tomasik Kotin Kasserman Trial Lawyers, in 2017 became president of Kids in Danger, where he oversees operations, interviews potential board members and conducts regular financial review.

Kasserman was introduced to KID’s mission—saving lives through safer product development—when he represented a family in a lawsuit against a product manufacturer. He joined the organization’s board in 2004 and, after its 20th anniversary, led efforts to develop and launch KID 2.0, a series of projects that seeks to develop new informational tools to keep children safe.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the nonprofit pivoted from workshops and fairs to webinars and online education designed for parents, child care workers, secondhand retailers and health care providers.

Board president South Shore Drill Team & Performing Arts Ensemble

The South Shore Drill Team uses performing arts to engage youth throughout their critical teenage years. Jazmin Cheefus Kelly, who is retired from corporate law, has served as board president for two years. While the past 18 months had been difficult after it was announced that support from a major funder would end in 2025, Kelly led a fundraising resurgence that resulted in a 26% increase in individual donations. Meanwhile, over 15 months, the board has refreshed the drill team’s functional job analysis and key roles, responsibilities and processes; created a more cohesive marketing strategy; enhanced its fundraising strategy, identifying previously overlooked sources; and redesigned how the drill team engages Chicago’s youth beyond the South Shore community.

sis. Shortly after Koenigsknecht helped recruit a new executive director, CH administered thousands of COVID-19 tests and vaccinations and opened the first telehealth microsite in Illinois.

Congratulations to our colleague Austin Hirsch for being honored for his work on the board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.

ABU DHABI ATHENS AUSTIN BEIJING BRUSSELS CENTURY CITY CHICAGO DALLAS DUBAI FRANKFURT HONG KONG HOUSTON KAZAKHSTAN LONDON LOS ANGELES MIAMI MUNICH NEW YORK PARIS PHILADELPHIA PITTSBURGH PRINCETON RICHMOND SAN FRANCISCO SHANGHAI SILICON VALLEY SINGAPORE TYSONS WASHINGTON, D.C. WILMINGTON

reedsmith.com

John Koenigsknecht, chair of the corporate and securities practice group and an equity partner at Neal Gerber Eisenberg, has served for more than 12 years with CommunityHealth, the nation’s largest volunteer-based health center.

Under his leadership, CH revised each of its committee charters, and he was on the team that produced an ambitious three-year strategic plan. Koenigsknecht helped plan the hosting of the All In Thought Leadership Initiative and arranged for Neal Gerber Eisenberg to provide legal services to CH on a pro bono ba-

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • October 11, 2021 23

JOSEPH LACHER JR.

JORDAN LAMM

MARK LAUBACHER

MARY LAWRENCE

BETSY LEHMAN

Chair, international board of directors JDRF

Board chair Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

Board member BEDS Plus Care

Board member Magdalene House Chicago

Joseph Lacher Jr., CEO and chairman of Kemper, has over the last dozen years worked in many areas across JDRF, a leading research foundation focused on Type 1 diabetes. He served with two JDRF chapters—Illinois and Hartford, Conn.—as chapter board president, as corporate walk chair, as a Children’s Congress participant, as chair of JDRF’s international board of directors and as a member of the audit, talent and compensation, funding and CEO/ CDO search committees. Lacher

Jordan Lamm leads the board of the Skokie nonprofit, which honors the victims and survivors of the Holocaust by teaching lessons that combat hatred, prejudice and indifference.

He also is vice president and head of business development at In-telligent, a specialist in emergency alert technology.

Lamm earlier had a 25-year career at KPMG. Lamm has served on the Holocaust Museum board for nine years and became chair this year. He worked with the CEO to invest in interactive holograms and virtual-reality technology, revolutionizing how the museum teaches history.

His understanding of financial analysis, reporting and modeling has been key to his leadership positions, enabling him to assist with investment and debt retirement strategies, negotiating letter of credit renewals, conferring on PPP loan applications and navigating COVID-19’s budget impact.

Mark Laubacher chairs a $1.4 million capital campaign to match $1.5 million in public funding for a medical respite facility for homeless adults with disabling conditions, personally raising more than $125,000. The agency serves homeless people in the western suburbs. Laubacher also is co-founder and vice chairman of Silver Birch Living, a developer and operator of affordable assisted living communities. The facility in Summit will have 10 rooms for 24 people and is slated for completion in the third quarter of 2022. Laubacher served as board president for a three-year term that ended in June and steered the agency through the response to COVID-19. Changes during the pandemic included emergency-shelter restructuring and fundraising efforts that generated $250,000 in private support for COVID services.

At the young nonprofit that supports female survivors of sex trafficking, Mary Lawrence serves on the housing, finance and events committees. She’s also president of Richards Graphic Communications in Bellwood.

As a member of the housing committee, Lawrence has toured dozens of houses to help Magdalene House select and secure a location for its residential program. As recent board chair, Lawrence led fundraising for the home acquisition.

She launched the Young Professionals Board to expand the organization’s reach among younger supporters. And she diversified revenue by establishing relationships with private foundations. As a member of the events committee, she successfully helped transition Magdalene’s 2020 annual benefit online, raising more than $100,000. Lawrence provides pro bono printing, graphic design and direct mail support in the range of $15,000 annually.

Board chair James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy

and his family have also been an official Fund-A-Cure family.

He helped guide the national organization through COVID while garnering donor support that enabled JDRF to continue to fund 150-plus research projects.

NOTABLE Q&A

For the past five years, Betsy Lehman has chaired the Evanston-based Moran Center, which provides community-based legal, social work and restorative services for youth and families. She brought experience as a legal aid practitioner and social worker in nonprofit management and fundraising. During her nineyear board tenure, Lehman has introduced hundreds of community members to the center’s work and mission, resulting in increased community support, including social media followers, community donors and event attendees.

Lehman has played a pivotal role in recently expanding the Moran Center’s service model to include restorative justice. As board chair, Lehman has helped grow the organization’s financial resources more than fourfold. She instituted an annual board review, providing members with the opportunity to assess their own performance and offer feedback on board governance.

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with James Mark

Why Nonprofits Need Strategic Leadership

As a strategist, James Mark believes an organization’s success depends on the alignment of its values with actions. At Wight & Company, he leads growth initiatives at Chicago-based, design-led design-build AEC and transportation firm, whose mission is to make communities more vital. Mark brings that same strategic approach to his years of commitment to local nonprofits. He has served on the board of the Chinese American Service League (CASL) for 10 years, and as chairman for seven years. CASL is the largest social service agency in the Midwest dedicated to serving the needs of the Asian American Pacific Islander community. Mark has also spent the last 15 years volunteering with the Friends of Chicago River, currently serving on the executive board as vice president.

CRAIN’S: What stands out most about CASL? MARK: CASL does an incredible job of keeping connected with the community. We identify their needs, quickly respond, and provide service with deep impact for all families.

Can you give an example?

CASL maintains a kitchen used to train chefs. When COVID hit, we began using the kitchen to prepare meals for seniors. In no time we were delivering 1,000 hot and culturally appropriate meals per week to over 350 seniors in six affordable senior housing buildings. To date, CASL has served over 350,000 meals in the greater Chicagoland community.

The level of need made us realize this should be a permanent offering. With the support of local elected officials,

CASL secured the funds to build a new kitchen to prepare meals for senior members of the community.

Without the pandemic, we may not have realized this was a necessity.

Other examples?

The board partnered with Asian American Foundation National Hate Crime Network to address anti-Asian American hate crimes in Chicago.

CASL was chosen, along with New York and Oakland, to create a new Action Center focused on AAPI communities.

What are your goals for CASL? As board chair, my first goal was to oversee the challenging transition process of replacing our founder Bernie Wong. Paul Luu, our new CEO, has focused on a three-year strategic plan that resulted in expanding the

budget almost 30% to $18.75 million and growing our staff from 500 to 600 employees. CASL also rejuvenated our board, bringing in 80% new members who provide fresh perspectives and diversity.

How have nonprofits changed?

People and organizations who support nonprofits want to know the real impact on each dollar spent.

At CASL we use a CRM platform to capture real-time data from our case management system and address the changing needs of the community. This information helps us make informed and impactful decisions.

What is the biggest challenge for nonprofits?

Funding remains the biggest challenge. Given the pandemic,

we had to pivot and get creative with virtual galas. We are finding people are worn out from events in the virtual space. As a result, we are finding other, more personal, ways to connect with donors and foster those relationships.

What have you learned from your work with Friends of the Chicago River?

Our most valuable resource besides clean air is fresh water. The organization has a clear mission and has tremendous impact for its size.

The Friends of the Chicago River is a great example of the importance of strong nonprofit leadership.

24 October 11, 2021 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS

JERRY LUMPKINS

JAMES MARK

CHARLES MATTHEWS

ROBERT MCGHEE

SUZET MCKINNEY

President Bickerdike Redevelopment Corp.

Board chair Chinese American Service League

Board member United Way of Metro Chicago

Board president Thresholds

Jerry Lumpkins leads the board of the nonprofit engaged in affordable housing and redevelopment in the Northwest Side communities of West Town, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Hermosa and Avondale. He’s also Chicago commercial real estate lead at Bank Leumi USA and brings more than 25 years of real estate experience to his nonprofit work. Lumpkins attended nearly all community meetings and City Council hearings in support of Bickerdike’s Emmett Street Apartments, a transit-oriented project in Logan Square scheduled to be completed early next year. Bickerdike was started in 1967 after residents fled to the suburbs to pursue jobs and the neighborhood eroded, vulnerable to gangs and crime.

Lumpkins also serves on the boards of Rogers Park Builders Group and Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago.

At the Chinese American Service League, James Mark helped guide the response to COVID-19.

Mark also is chief strategy officer at design, engineering and construction firm Wight & Co. The league established PPE reserves and pivoted its case management system to remote work while seeing an 8% increase in client needs. The league also led in vaccination efforts, and almost all staff are fully vaccinated. When senior meal programs closed, the organization pivoted to deliver meals to low-income seniors. In recent years, Mark helped steward new corporate sponsors for events and aided in fundraising.

He’s served on the board since 2012 and also is on the Friends of the Chicago River board. He advocated for the Chinatown Library, Ping Tom Park and Leonard M. Louie Fieldhouse.

Charles Matthews has served on the United Way board since 2018, has been a member of the executive committee since 2020 and served as campaign chair for 202021. He’s also president and CEO of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas. Matthews was instrumental in expanding the Campaign Cabinet, a group of corporate and civic volunteers that helps United Way raise money, from 10 to 50 members. He has championed the United Way campaign within his company, one of United Way’s 25 strongest campaigns. Adding 40 cabinet members enabled United Way to meet its fundraising goal even as the pandemic cut off access to corporate partners and their employee campaigns. Matthews has trained, mentored and supported new board members and recruited the next two years of campaign chairs.

Board chair Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago

Under Robert McGhee’s leadership, the board of the housing and counseling organization supported staff in navigating the pandemic and expanding services. The organization moved online and provided food and PPE. McGhee also is senior vice president and market manager of community and economic development at Fifth Third Bank and has decades of experience supporting low- and moderate-income communities. When President Kristin Faust left in

2019 to head the Illinois Housing Development Authority, McGhee led the search committee for a replacement, and Anthony Simpkins was hired last year.

Suzet McKinney has drawn on her expertise in public health to help Thresholds navigate the pandemic. The organization, which supports people living with mental illnesses and substance use disorders, pivoted to offering most health care services virtually via telehealth. McKinney joined developer Sterling Bay this year as principal and director of life sciences from the Illinois Medical District, where she was CEO and executive director. McKinney helped develop, along with senior leadership, Thresholds’ first strategic vision in three years, which called for efforts on behalf of social justice and racial equity.

McKinney has served on the gala committee for the last three past years. She has also contributed personally to ongoing fundraising efforts, with multiyear gifts to Threshold’s $10 million capital campaign, and secured sponsorships from her network.

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • October 11, 2021 25

CARRIE MEGHIE

RANDY MEHRBERG

PEGGY A. MONTES

EMILY NICKLIN

TOM NOLAN

Board chair Jackson Chance Foundation

Board member United Way of Metropolitan Chicago

Board member Chicago State Foundation

Board chair Planned Parenthood of Illinois

Board chair Genesys Works

Foundation director Peggy A. Montes is an alumna and former chair of the board of trustees of Chicago State University. She’s also president of the Bronzeville Children’s Museum.

Montes has brought years of operational, governance and fundraising expertise, along with lessons learned from her 40-year relationship with the university.

She’s been a key adviser to the executive director of the foundation, which was relaunched in 2019. Montes helped craft and update policies covering the endowment, gift acceptances, record retention and whistleblowers. She recently made a legacy gift to fund the university’s new child development center, named the Peggy A. Montes Playground. She has served on the development committee for the past three years and sponsored the foundation’s signature fundraising event, the 1stGEN Scholarship Gala, for its first two years.

Emily Nicklin leaned in to the responsibility of leading Planned Parenthood at a challenging time with the pandemic, loss of federal funding and threats on reproductive and sexual health care. She’s also a litigation partner at Kirkland & Ellis.

Nicklin drew on her nonprofit experience to help establish a task force that improved governance practices. She was the first chair of a newly created board fundraising committee and is a co-chair of the capital campaign.

Nicklin’s contributions accelerated following the presidential election of 2016, when she realized the urgency of ensuring access to reproductive health care. She has championed the campaign, garnered unanimous board support and committed a generous lead gift. Nicklin sees that her board colleagues have peer mentors and participates in the board’s peer-to-peer mentoring program.

Tom Nolan leads the board of Genesys Works, which provides pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities through skills training and work experiences. Over the last 18 months, the organization pivoted to virtual summer training and remote internships.

Nolan retired in 2017 from Accenture, where he was managing director in the North America utilities practice. He’s helped raise the nonprofit’s profile by reaching out to his network of corporate contacts to secure internships, sell golf outing foursomes and recruit volunteers.

To better reflect the student population served, Nolan worked with the nominating committee to improve board diversity. Since 2019, half of new board members are women and three-quarters are Black, Indigenous or people of color. He’s helped improve financial reporting and budgeting.

The foundation, founded and chaired by Carrie Meghie, supports families that have critically ill babies in the hospital neonatal intensive care units, or NICU. Meghie also is co-president of private-equity firm Becker Ventures.

Last year, the foundation provided more than 2,000 families with parking passes and provided more than 500 masks to families at three city hospitals: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women’s Hospital and Rush University Children’s Hospital.

When Meghie was approached for an honor by Tiffany & Co., she turned that recognition into a partnership that honors NICU staff members for their leadership and service. Meghie has improved efficiency: Through additional investments and changes in custodians, the foundation maximized its investments, adding security and longevity to the organization.

Jenner & Block co-managing partner Randy Mehrberg joined the United Way at a critical time.

As the pandemic amplified the challenges people face in meeting basic needs, it also placed additional burdens on already stretched social service organizations and economically challenged neighborhoods. Mehrberg was instrumental in the appointment of a Jenner & Block partner to serve on a pro bono basis as the organization’s first general counsel.

The law firm has provided pro bono counsel on issues such as corporate governance, taxes and data privacy. Mehrberg serves on United Way’s Stronger Neighborhood Committee, which seeks to transform neighborhoods by helping residents identify priorities and a set a strategy. Mehrberg also serves on the board of the Lincoln Park Zoo, where he chairs the Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

26 October 11, 2021 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS

AMY O’DONNELL

KEN O’KEEFE

MEGAN POETZEL

PETER B. POND

MICHELE RICHARDSON

Board chair Northwestern University Settlement Association

Board member Marillac St. Vincent Family ­Services

Board co-chair Legal Aid Chicago

Board chair Brain Research Foundation

Board chair-elect Advocate Aurora Health

With 20 years of board service, Ken O’Keefe is a member of the executive committee and immediate past chair of the nonprofit fighting poverty and violence.

O’Keefe also is founder of BPOC, a private-equity investment firm focused on health care.

During the pandemic, O’Keefe was instrumental in evaluating program changes.

The computer lab was repurposed to accommodate remote learning for kids whose parents weren’t able to stay home with them. That way, the students were supervised and fed. When Marillac’s financial position came under pressure and layoffs were considered, O’Keefe presented a plan that allowed the use of reserve funds to maintain services and pay employees. He opened his home over the years to invite hundreds of friends and colleagues to learn about Marillac, expanding visibility and fundraising.

As co-chair, Megan Poetzel has influence across activities at Legal Aid Chicago, which provides Cook County residents with legal representation and access to justice. Poetzel also is co-chair of the complex commercial litigation practice at Jenner & Block. During the pandemic, Legal Aid Chicago provided more clinics, events and updates on the changing landscape of health benefits, housing, debt collection, food access and employment. Poetzel involves Jenner lawyers in pro bono projects. In May, Jenner volunteers assisted clients as part of the Criminal Records Relief project, determining their eligibility for relief.

The same month, Poetzel hosted a webinar on how to aid those returning from prison find employment and safe and healthy housing and secure other rights.

She’s worked with colleagues to promote board diversity.

Peter B. Pond led the first virtual fundraiser for the Brain Research Foundation, which funds pioneering neurological research.

The fundraiser surpassed its goal, enabling the foundation to award six additional grants, the most in its 68-year history. Pond is a former Chicago investment banker and chair of Maximus, a provider of government services in Reston, Va. Pond has placed a priority on fundraising and marketing.

As part of its strategic plan, the foundation hired a marketing firm to take a comprehensive view of the foundation’s brand and its local and national reach.

Social media and email campaigns ushered the foundation into a more modern approach to marketing, awareness and fundraising. Additionally, Pond has supported the Young Leadership Board, which is raising the foundation’s profile among young professionals.

Michele Richardson was instrumental in Advocate Health Care’s 2018 merger with Aurora Health Care. Since the merger, she’s chaired the board’s strategic planning work group and helped lead the system through the pandemic.

A former dean of students at the University of Chicago Law School, Richardson in 2011 founded consultancy Higher Education Advocates.

She also co-sponsors the Black Directors Health Equity Agenda, a group from top health care organizations working to eliminate health disparities. She’s served on the board of Advocate Health Care since 2004 and continued with the merged organization in 2018. As head of the strategic planning work group, Richardson aims to expand the system beyond traditional care to embrace personalized, omnichannel health care and whole-person health, which addresses food security and nutrition, stress and sleep.

As Northwestern Settlement board chair, Amy O’Donnell oversaw adaptations necessitated by the pandemic.

The nonprofit founded in 1891 by Northwestern professors seeks to support young people in poverty. It transitioned to e-learning for more than 1,000 at-risk students at its Rowe Elementary charter school in Chicago. It also ramped up capacity to serve quadruple the number of families in its food pantry (more than 800 per week) and initiated telehealth for clients of its mental health clinic. O’Donnell led the search for a new CEO to replace Ron Manderschied after more than 40 years in the position. Northwestern Settlement in July tapped Carole Wood as CEO; she is the first Black woman in the position. O’Donnell also has led a variety of fundraising efforts.

PRESENTS

Our Heartfelt Congratulations to Jazmin Cheefus Kelly, Esq. We are celebrating South Shore Drill Team Board President Jazmin Cheefus Kelly, Esq. who was selected by Crain’s as a 2021 Notable Nonprofit Board Leader.

Her commitment to our amazing young people is evident in everything she does, and she is an exemplary role model for the next generation of leaders.

Thank you, Jazmin!

Thursday, Oct. 21 | 9-10 a.m.

FORECASTS

CHALLENGES

OPPORTUNITIES In partnership with Bank of America, Crain’s Chicago Business will host a Middle Market webcast featuring a panel discussion with CEOs from a range of industries. Our expert panelists will discuss the current challenges and opportunities in the middle market space and a provide a forecast of what’s ahead in Q4 and 2022.

Register at ChicagoBusiness.com/MiddleMarketBOA PRODUCED BY

Igniting Performance & Promise Since 1980! www.SouthShoreDrillTeam.org

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • October 11, 2021 27

JOHN ROBAK

NATALIE ROMANO

DORIS SALOMÓN

LARRY SEROTA

SMITA SHAH

Board chair Chicago United

Board president Shore Community Services

Steering committee co-chair Nuestro Futuro

Board member Chicago Children’s Museum

Board member Museum of Science & Industry

At Chicago United, John Robak led development of a three-year strategic plan to guide growth, the first formalized plan in 15 years. The nonprofit seeks to expand economic opportunity for people of color in corporate leadership and in growing minority businesses. Robak also is CEO of engineering firm Greeley & Hansen. Robak led Chicago United through a leadership transition in 2020 when he chaired the search for a new CEO, resulting in the hiring of Tiffany Hamel Johnson of World Business Chicago. He has served as the pre-

Since 2004, Natalie Romano has served on the board of the Skokie nonprofit that supports children and adults with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. She’s been president since 2012. Romano also is associate portfolio manager at Romano Brothers & Co. Wealth Management in Evanston. At Shore Community Services, Romano has assisted with rebranding, creating a new website and launching social media platforms. Romano has presented to civic organizations and businesses and has worked closely with public officials to discuss client needs. She’s drawn on her investment experience to help plan for Shore’s future with endowment savings. And she looks at ways to run the agency more efficiently through upgrades in software and technology. Romano chaired the organization’s Spring Benefit Committee for years as well as a $5 million capital campaign to purchase and renovate a new facility.

Under Doris Salomón’s leadership, Nuestro Futuro spearheaded grantmaking to support the Latinx community during the pandemic.

An initiative of the Chicago Community Trust, Nuestro Futuro (“Our Future”) is considered the nation’s largest affinity fund dedicated to Latinx philanthropy, with a $6.6 million endowment.

Salomón also is director of programs at Chicago United. Since its start in 2003, the fund has awarded $3.1 million in grants to 70 area nonprofits. With the Latinx community disproportionately bearing the brunt of the pandemic’s health and economic toll and Latinx-led nonprofits struggling with operational and funding issues, Nuestro Futuro stepped up. The organization provided $422,500 in general operating support grants to 23 organizations. Salomón helped form a partnership with the Hispanic Federation to secure a $100,000 match for pandemic grant-making.

Larry Serota played a key role in preparing for the museum’s July reopening by helping lead experts, such as engineers and cleaning staff, to devise strategies for safe re-entry.

Serota is executive managing director at Transwestern, specializing in tenant representation, and a Transwestern board member. The museum closed in March 2020 and used online platforms to curate athome educational activities for children. Serota helped create an innovative gala strategy, inviting donors, volunteers and community members to play at the museum and understand why it is so impactful for children. In 2009, he established the museum’s Metropolitan Board for young professionals who don’t have the funds to donate but want to volunteer their time. Through this, he co-founded a program of volunteers who bring museum resources to underserved neighborhoods.

Serving on the search committee, Smita Shah played an integral role in recruiting the museum’s new president and CEO, Chevy Humphrey. For Shah, it was essential to find a candidate who represented the diverse membership of the museum, and Humphrey is the first woman and Black person to lead the museum. Shah is president and CEO of engineering and construction management firm SPAAN Tech.

Serving on the building and grounds committee, Shah uses her infrastructure expertise to lead projects that update the museum’s 100-year-old building, ensuring that it’s functioning safely, sustainably and cost-efficiently. She also chaired the Environmental Advisory Committee, which explored how the museum could bring in thought leaders from across the country to discuss climate change and how to best educate Chicagoans on the issue.

senting sponsor of Chicago United’s signature fundraiser for four consecutive years. He’s recruited new sponsors and increased donations that have resulted in new partners, members, board members and funding. In the past three years, Robak secured more than $500,000 for Chicago United programs.

The American Cancer Society Congratulates

Robert Soles on being named a 2021 Crain's Notable Nonprofit Board Leader

We thank American Cancer Society Illinois Area Board Chair, Robert Soles, for his dedication to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer.

Robert Soles Partner, KPMG LLP Learn more at cancer.org

28 October 11, 2021 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS

THOMAS SHARP

TRISTAN SLEMMONS

ROBERT SOLES

CARDELLE SPANGLER

RICK THIERNAU

Board treasurer Midwest Young Artists Conservatory

Board member My Block My Hood My City

Board chair American Cancer Society Illinois

Board member New Star

At the nonprofit known as M3, Tristan Slemmons serves on the development committee and helped raise more than $200,000 during the past two years. Slemmons is corporate citizenship lead at Deloitte and earlier was community relations manager at Bank of America. M3 supports youth in disinvested neighborhoods through educational programs and field trips.

Volunteers support communities by cleaning alleys, mowing lawns and shoveling snow for seniors.

Slemmons helped raise $140,000 at Deloitte through an incentive in which the company matched employee contributions. She

As board chair, Robert Soles heads the Illinois activities of the American Cancer Society; he is a partner at KPMG and West Region tech assurance leader, audit. A major accomplishment: The organization’s Chicago Discovery Ball went virtual for the first time and raised more than $2 million.

Soles led the way for a $100,000 board mission paddle-raise matching gift ask on top of already committed revenue. He’s also helped recruit six new executive leaders who joined the Illinois board in the past 18 months. Before being elected chair

Board co-chair Academy for Urban School ­Leadership

also served on a committee that granted funds raised by M3 to small businesses hurt by the pandemic. She’s a founding member and co-chair of Youth Guidance’s Working on Womanhood Advisory Council, a group committed to helping young women in Chicago schools.

in 2020, Soles supported signature fundraising efforts such as the Real Men Wear Pink campaign to fight breast cancer. He has strived to improve board operations, creating scorecards with analytics that enable the nonprofit to adapt.

As board president between 2004 and 2015, Thomas Sharp was a leader in the purchase of the land contiguous to the MYAC Center in Highwood and is a strong advocate for the proposed MYAC-Lake County Arts Center on that site. He chairs the task force dedicated to its development. Sharp also is a senior vice president at Morgan Stanley. With his experience in finance, Sharp leads the finance, audit and investment policy committees. He works with outside auditors and provides oversight for federal and Illinois annual reports. He’s been involved in the annual gala and fundraising endeavors and is a major donor. Even before joining the board, Sharp advocated for the conservatory, inviting MYAC families to his home and encouraging them to contribute to the endowment campaign.

Cardelle Spangler began serving as co-chair this year and is guiding the nonprofit’s strategic direction and relationship with Chicago Public Schools, its primary partner. The academy works to improve outcomes for underserved students on the South and West sides by recruiting and training promising individuals to be effective teachers through its Chicago Teacher Residency program. During the pandemic, the academy shifted to a virtual model. Spangler is a labor and employment partner at Winston & Strawn and helps academy

managers on employment policy.

She helped develop a communications plan highlighting the academy’s accomplishments.

Spangler has been instrumental in supporting the organization’s philanthropic goals.

During the pandemic, Rick Thiernau served as a steady and consistent voice for the board and donors, helping guide the organization through the initial financial uncertainty when day services were closed.

The nonprofit serves 650 children and adults in the Chicago area and northwest Indiana who are affected by disabilities. Thiernau is president of Thiernau Financial Services in Dyer, Ind., and has more than 38 years of experience in financial planning. The former board president was instrumental in establishing a financial oversight committee to ensure viability through endowment planning, financial oversight policies and reporting procedures. He vets and interviews candidates for the board. He also instituted a mentor program that assigns a seasoned board member to help guide a new member through the first six months.

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CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • October 11, 2021 29

WADE THOMSON

JOSEPH TORRES

SCOTT VERSCHOOR

PETER VILIM

DAVID WEEKS

Leadership Board member National Immigrant Justice Center

Former board president Illinois Equal Justice Foundation

Board chair Music Institute of Chicago

Board member All Chicago

Board president Naperville Elderly Homes

As immigration became a hot topic nationally, Wade Thomson worked to raise the profile of the National Immigrant Justice Center, part of the Heartland Alliance. Thomson is a partner at Jenner & Block, working from the Chicago and London offices. He’s recruited corporations to the issue as sponsors and coordinated with in-house attorneys at Chase, General Motors, Exelon, McDonald’s and other businesses to team with him and the center on asylum cases. With these relationships, Thomson has helped increase the number of indigent clients at the center receiving critical legal assistance. He has worked on more than 50 asylum cases at Jenner & Block, primarily through the center. Thomson has often joined the host committee for the center’s annual fundraiser and has brought in tens of thousands of dollars in sponsorships.

As the longest-serving board member, Joseph Torres helped address the acute need for legal services and support Illinois’ front-line legal aid organizations. The foundation distributes state funding to nonprofit legal aid programs.

Torres joined the board in 2006 and held a number of positions, including grant chair, nominating chair, vice president and president. Torres is a partner at Jenner & Block and chair of the ERISA litigation practice.

Working with other members of the board and the organization’s staff, Torres ensured that fundraising was robust. When other social service programs were forced to close during the 2015 state budget crisis, the foundation was able to help legal aid organizations assist more than 54,000 vulnerable families, seniors and veterans. It subsequently won settlement award funds from the attorney general.

Throughout the pandemic, board Chair Scott Verschoor was key to operational and fundraising success. Evanston-based Music Institute of Chicago converted almost 90% of its students to online learning within 10 days and exceeded fundraising expectations.

Verschoor also is national market line of business sales leader at KPMG. As an adult piano student at the school, Verschoor has offered insights that guided the institute to create policies that removed barriers for older adults to participate in programs. He has drawn on his

Since 2011, Peter Vilim has served on the board of All Chicago, a nonprofit that strives to end homelessness. He was chair between 2015 and 2019. He’s also co-founder and vice chairman of real estate investment and property management company Waterton. In 2020, All Chicago served 5,296 households with $7.6 million in grants. Vilim led the search committee that recruited Carolyn Ross as president and CEO in 2019. He revamped and diversified All Chicago’s board to include representation of all components of housing, including development

expertise to help the organization make data-driven decisions. In one case, he facilitated a compensation survey of 12 peer nonprofit music education organizations in the area, yielding valuable information. He twice co-chaired the annual gala and influences others to donate.

and banking. Vilim served on All Chicago’s development committee, which increased its nongovernment funding from $1.1 million in 2016 to $6.6 million in 2020.

Vilim introduced conventional housing businesses to All Chicago through his role as presenting sponsor of the group’s fundraiser.

As board president, David Weeks led a $24 million building and renovation project during the pandemic. He put his business, Weeks Financial Group, on hold. Weeks instituted weekly COVID testing until vaccines became available, then secured on-site vaccine clinics until 75% of residents were vaccinated. Weeks secured the funding for the renovation and new building construction in the form of low-income tax credits and other grants from the Illinois Housing Development Authority, DuPage Housing Authority and other project partners. Prior to completion of the Martin Avenue Apartments project, there was a six-year waiting list of low-income seniors who desperately needed support. Now there are 190 new and modern apartments serving almost 200 residents.

Weeks has mentored incoming board members and recently assisted in recruiting five new directors.