Our Team

John Lyons

John (he/him) first joined Marwen as a teaching artist in 2010. An Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and a teaching artist, he has been making films with students in the Chicago area for more than a decade. John has worked with young people in the Chicago Public School system, at various community arts centers, and with Snow City Arts — an arts education organization dedicated to working with hospitalized children. He is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago.

Maricela Ramírez

Maricela (she/her) joined Marwen in October 2018. Through her work, she aims to empower and provide resources for Chicago youth in order for them to succeed and unlock their potential. At Marwen, she is responsible for the ongoing development of holistic career experiences in the arts and supports young people in accessing educational opportunities, including high school and post-secondary entrance. She learned filmmaking and video production as a teen with After School Matters and graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

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Martha Osornio Ruiz

Martha Osornio Ruiz (she/her) is a Marwen alumna. She has been involved with Pilsen Neighbors Community Council, Yollocali, and We are Humboldt Park Film Skool. As the Manager of Studio Programs, she understands the importance of having access to free arts programs. Martha is passionate about social justice issues surrounding the immigrant community and has collaborated with Southern Illinois Immigration Rights. She is a member of the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective and Mezcla Media Collective. She is also a huge plant mom and is always available for a coffee trip and walk through the National Museum of Mexican Fine Art.

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Victoria Timpo

Victoria (she/her) joined Marwen in summer 2016 as coordinator of studio programs. Timpo holds a BFA in painting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MFA in curatorial practice from MICA. In her practice she focuses on creating programs that highlight social justice issues and community outreach. She has worked on a range of notable projects and with a variety of organizations including the National Museum-Accra, the Foundation of Contemporary Art-Ghana, Art Institute of Chicago, the Refugee Youth Project, After School Matters, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, and Alternatives, Inc.

Gabriel Andres

Gabriel Andres (he/him) is a Miami-born artist that has been creating funky stuff and teaching all ages in Chicago for over 10 years. Gabe’s passions include community engagement and meeting students where they are, including at Marwen. He has also taught at public schools, hospitals, and community centers. In his own arts practice, Gabe focuses on learning new mediums to add to his toolbelt. Fun facts: Gabe recently learning animation and 3D modeling and is currently learning tattooing.

Evan Pazkowski

Evan Pazkowski (he/him) has worked with arts and hunger nonprofits for nearly 15 years, primarily in young adult education. After earning his BA in marketing at Ferris State University, he completed an MPA with a concentration in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership at Western Michigan University. When he’s away from the Marwen office, Evan loves to play music, host trivia nights, and rock climb with his friends. If you’re interested in learning more about giving opportunities at Marwen, reach out to Evan to hear some stories of the young artists who make this place a reality.

Ramona Demotto

Ramona (they/them) is a ceramics teacher, a theatrical lighting designer, and a professional art handler. Before joining Marwen, they held various roles at The National Museum of Mexican Art, including 3 years of installation with the Visual Arts Department and 3 years with the CASA after school arts program where they taught at both Richards Career Acadamy and Foreman High School. Ramona has installed or assisted many artists throughout the city of Chicago and worked in several artist and ceramic studios. They bring their wealth of hands-on experience as well as their passion for youth arts education to the Marwen Lab Program.

Kennon Reinard

Kennon (she/her) joined Marwen in October 2016. She is passionate about storytelling and connecting people to each other through the arts. She’s held strategic communications roles at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Arts Alliance Illinois, City of Chicago, The Field Foundation of Illinois, University of Chicago, and Havas Chicago. She holds a BA in Art History from UIC and interned for PBS in Chicago and New York.

Akilah Halley

Akilah Halley (she/her), a Marwen alum, was appointed Executive Director in October 2018. Previously, she served as Marwen’s Deputy Director and a member of the Board of Directors for eight years. Akilah’s experience focuses on human-centered strategies for social change through youth and community development. Her past roles include leading communications and family engagement with Crown Family Philanthropies, marketing with Urban Gateways, and external relations with Chicago Public Schools. She is a member of Chicago’s Cultural Advisory Council and an alum of the Sorkin Center Children Leadership Program and National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Program. Akilah served on Mayor Lightfoot’s Arts and Culture Transition Committee Co-Chair and is a former co-chair of Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy. She holds a graduate degree in design planning from the Institute of Design at Illinois Institute of Technology and a BFA in industrial design from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.

Mel Cook-White

Mel (she/they) previously worked with Marwen as a studio facilitator and then became a teaching artist, teaching a range of painting and drawing classes including Marwen Lab. She has developed programming and taught at a range of educational institutions, including Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center, Americorps, Chicago High School for The Arts, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and Northwestern University. She holds a BFA in Painting & Printmaking from Bowling Green State University and MFA in Painting from Illinois State University. When she’s not in the classroom she’s in her studio dancing and painting. Her passion is raising awareness about gender inequality through the arts.

Julia Gonzalez

Julia (she/they/ella/elle) joined Marwen’s Development team in September 2022. Julia’s work experience has primarily been supporting non-profit and arts organizations in California, where they were born and raised. As an artist herself, Julia cares deeply about contributing to equitable and accessible experiences in the arts. She received her B.A. in Visual Arts and Art History with a minor in Gender Studies from the University of San Diego.

Juliette Buford

Prior to joining Marwen in September 2021, Juliette (she/her) held various positions in finance for 20+ years at WTTW-WFMT. In her most recent role, she served as Senior Director of Finance where she was responsible for managing WTTW-WFMT’s $40million+ operating budget. In addition, she served as co-chair of the company’s DEI Resource Group and led the DEI communications committee. Juliette’s passion for the arts and equitable systems and processes is what motivated her to join the Marwen team where she oversees finance and accounting management with additional responsibilities in human resources administration. Outside of finance, Juliette is a fashion designer, art collector, Emmy nominated executive producer, avid traveler, and plant mom.

Njeri Parker

Njeri Parker (she/her) joined Marwen’s Development team in September 2025. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Arts Education from Chapman University and brings over a decade of experience in fundraising across the fields of college access, youth development, and food security. Before joining Marwen, Njeri served as the Manager of Individual Giving at Oregon Food Bank. Njeri has a background in photography and a deep love for theater that was fostered by her experience growing up in New York City. When Njeri is not enthusiastically speaking with supporters about Marwen’s impactful programming, she enjoys exploring nature trails with her dog, Biscuit, hunting for her next 500-page fantasy novel at local bookstores, and discovering new restaurants around Chicago.

Rafael Huerta

Rafael Huerta (he/him) has been involved with Marwen since 2018, first as a Studio Facilitator, then as an Emerging Teaching Artist for Marwen Lab. As Coordinator of Youth Pathways Programs, Rafael works to empower young artists through education and employment access and opportunities. Rafael holds a BFA from the School of The Art Institute of Chicago, where he also worked in residence life and campus exhibitions and graduated with recognition for excellence in student leadership. Also an artist, Rafael’s practice is grounded in painting and drawing. You can find Rafael exploring the city’s book shops and museums or getting Thai iced coffee in Chicago’s uptown neighborhood.

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Judine O’Shea

Judine O’Shea (she/her) has worked in the design and marketing field for more than 25 years, primarily within the educational publishing industry. Prior to starting her own communications firm, Judine was at Loyola Press for 15 years serving as Director of Design and then as Director of Marketing & Digital Initiatives. Judine holds a BA in literature from the University of Michigan and an MFA from the University of Illinois. She taught reading in the Detroit prison system and continues to volunteer with literacy groups in Chicago. Along with being a ceramicist and weekend hiker, Judine is a deep believer in the power of art to transform lives.

Vic Mallari

Victor Mallari (he/him) joined Marwen in March 2024. He is a UIC alumni who studied Theatre Performance and Film. He is also an aspiring artist focused on sharing real and relatable stories that encourage change and belonging for Chicago people. Victor has worked with Forest Park Theatre, Teatro Tariakuri, Northlight Theatre, and Silk Road Rising as an actor and teaching artist. In his spare time, Victor writes, directs, and produces his own short films to continue building his story and film making skills.

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Taj Richardson

Taj Richardson (he/him) joined Marwen in April of 2023 after his fellowship at Sweet Water Foundation. He was initially drawn to Marwen because it’s a resource he wished he had or knew about while growing up in the Bronx, NY. While pursuing a degree in architecture and printmaking at Rhode Island School of Design, he focused on researching and rendering creative spaces and is excited to follow this thread to Marwen.

Miguel Roman

Miguel (he/him) has supported Marwen’s facilities for nearly 25 years, including Marwen’s move into the building at 833 N. Orleans in 2000 and during the major renovation in 2015. Miguel enjoys drawing and is inspired daily by student work.

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Panagiota Valkanas

Panagiota Valkanas (she/her) joined Marwen in October 2023. Having worked as a teaching artist and program manager, her goal has been to create and facilitate programs for young Chicagoans. Panagiota has also worked in print design, production, and pharmaceutical design. As an artist herself with a focus mostly in painting and drawing, she has also branched out into 3D modeling and video game development, looking for new techniques in which to embrace visual storytelling and creativity.

Todd Heiser

Todd Heiser, FIIDA is a Principal and Co-Managing Director in Gensler’s Chicago office. His leadership showcases more than 20 years of experience in next-generation design at the cutting edge of workplace strategies, and his commitment to a high level of conceptual and technical development, combined with a design process that champions client partnership, transforms spaces for his clients across the globe. With a genuine interest in people and passion for leading teams to personal and professional success, Todd is a trusted mentor to many. His expertise is regularly sought after by organizations, conferences, and global media outlets, exemplifying his influence in the industry and beyond.

Marwen Board Chair; Executive Committee; Communications Committee

Antonio García

“You get this intergenerational, familial thing happening at Marwen that I think is really beautiful. If you care about creativity, artmaking, visual design, give to Marwen. It’s an obvious thing to do, and there’s no reason not to.” Watch Antonio’s Giving Tuesday feature video

Antonio is Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer at the digital innovation firm, TXI. Prior to joining TXI, he was Group Experience Director at Rightpoint, helped launch Northern Trust’s internal innovation accelerator, led interaction design and social innovation practice at Gravity Tank, and oversaw innovation consulting for Firebelly Design. Antonio is also founder of the Dadwell podcast which shares stories about maker/artist/designer dads who are managing thriving creative practices.

Board Vice Chair; Communications Committee

Molly Morse Limmer

Molly is Executive Vice President, Deputy Chairman at Hindman Auctions, an international fine art auction house headquartered in Chicago. An auction house veteran, she spent two decades at Christie’s in New York where she served as Vice President for Antiquities and Ancient Art. Molly joined Hindman in 2020 to advance their growth strategy across all expertise including the Fine Arts, Luxury Goods, and Decorative Arts & Collectibles Divisions.

Executive Committee Secretary; Donor Relations & Development Committee Co-Chair

Nils Larsen

Nils is the Founder and President of SZR Consulting, LLC, a financial and operational consulting firm for companies and investors in industries such as oil and gas, media and sports, and industrial services. Before starting SZR, Nils served in a variety of executive positions including as President and CEO of Tribune Broadcasting and as Co-President of the Tribune Company. Prior to the Tribune, Nils worked with Equity Group Investments, LLC, and CS First Boston.

Executive Committee Treasurer; Finance & Investment Committee Co-Chair

Steven P. Berkowitz

Prior to founding Marwen in 1987, Steve owned Silvestri, a successful decor and giftware company that he sold to Fitz and Floyd in 1993. Steve was also a lecturer in the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago.

Founder of Marwen & Chair Emeritus of the Board; Member of Executive Committee, Governance & Engagement Committee, and Finance & Investment Committee

Sarah Finlayson-Banasiak

Sarah is Chief Creative Officer for The Revel Group, an agency of event-centric businesses including Revel Global Events, Revel Decor, Limelight Catering, and Revel Space that provides planning and production for corporate, destination, experiential, and other types of events. Sarah’s leadership focuses on a strategic and creative approach to event execution, marketing, and business development. Prior to The Revel Group, Sarah served in senior marketing positions at Blue Plate and Sodexo.

Development & Donor Relations Committee

Cheryl Durst

As the Executive Vice President and CEO of the International Interior Design Association, (IIDA) Cheryl is committed to achieving broad recognition for the value of design and its role in society through the power of the built environment to shape and enhance daily life. She has worked to promote an understanding of how design impacts human behavior and affects all aspects of shared spaces by connecting industry professionals, designers, manufacturers, end users, and employers. A sought-after keynote speaker, Cheryl has spoken at many domestic and global conferences. She was awarded an Honorary IIDA Fellowship by the International Board of Directors and holds honorary doctorates from several universities. Cheryl also hosts a monthly podcast, The Skill Set, which focuses on the intangible skills that make us good at what we do.

Governance & Engagement Committee

Acasia Wilson Feinberg

Acasia is the founding executive director of the 1954 Project, an organization dedicated to improving education for all students by redesigning how philanthropy connects with Black leaders. Acasia launched her career as a classroom teacher and then transitioned to the non-profit sector, serving in senior leadership positions in organizations focused on philanthropy, policy, advocacy, and leadership development. Over the course of her career, she has worked across 15 U.S. cities and abroad to understand the root causes of educational inequity and propel effective, innovative solutions.

Communications & PR Committee

Wendy Fleishman

Wendy is Senior Vice President Chief Compliance Officer at Synchrony and is responsible for the strategic direction and execution of the Compliance Program and the management of the Compliance Department. Wendy’s earlier professional roles include Vice President, Fair and Responsible Banking Officer at Discover; Associate at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; and Law Clerk at the United States Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Wendy is a longtime supporter of Marwen. She is the daughter of founder Steve Berkowitz and the “wen,” in Marwen.

Deneen Gillespie

“We need artists. This is a time when we need to be inspired, to be uplifted, to be able to have difficult conversations with respect, and only art is able to do that.” Watch Deneen’s Giving Tuesday feature video

Deneen is an experienced strategic marketing and communications leader, with 20+ years in higher education. Her multifaceted skill set spans the full spectrum of print, digital, and social marketing communications campaigns, media relations, design, video, photo, and experiential events. Currently working at the University of Illinois System, she has also worked in a national consulting firm and served as the University of Chicago and Loyola University’s in-house marketing and creative agency director.

Development & Donor Relations Committee

Anne Gleason

Anne is the Executive Vice President of Marketing & Digital at WTTW and WFMT, where she leads brand strategy, marketing, membership, digital, and programming efforts. Anne has also served on several national public media advisory boards.

Hector Gonzalez

A Marwen and City Year alum, Hector is a painter who now leads the Career and Technical Pathways Programs for the City Colleges of Chicago and Career Launch Chicago. Hector is an experienced college and career counselor and has also served as a post-secondary advisor for Chicago Public Schools high school students.

Development & Donor Relations Committee; Programming Committee

James Hill III

James leads the accounting firm ICL, LLC which provides audit and business advisory services, including risk management and fraud investigations. James began his career at Arthur Andersen, where he was an audit manager. Prior to launching his own practice in 2005, he was a partner at Hill, Taylor LLC and served as CFO of the National Black MBA Association.

Former Board President; Executive Committee; Finance & Investment Committee

Julie Hokin Watts

Julie is Director of Client Development at Corporate Concepts, a contract furniture firm. With over 25 years of interior planning and workplace expertise, Julie is an analytical thinker with tenacious problem-solving and negotiating skills. She is a recognized leader in the contract furniture industry and has played an influential role in developing workplace solutions for organizations around the globe. As a customer-focused professional, Julie is passionate about creating and nurturing client relationships that allow her to translate client objectives into interior product solutions and align with her client’s business goals. She is known as one of the preeminent furniture-workplace consultants in the country.

Development and Donor Relations Committee

Regin Igloria

A Marwen alum and former teaching artist, Regin is also a multidisciplinary artist and educator whose drawings, artists’ books, sculptures, and performances portray the human condition as it relates to the natural environment and inhabited spaces. Regin founded North Branch Projects, an organization that builds connections through the book arts. He works with various communities to create crossover between disparate populations and cultures, aiming to broaden the roles of both artists and non-artists. Regin has taught at Marwen, RISD, SAIC, Snow City Arts, and Carthage College. He has exhibited internationally and is the recipient of a 3Arts Individual Artist Award as well as local, national, and international grants.

Governance & Engagement; Donor Relations & Development; Programming Committee

Lisa Jillson

Lisa is a strategic and creative storyteller with 30+ years of experience building brands and businesses. Her experience spans local, national, and global marketing and design for brands in industries as varied as distilled spirits, software, retail, and insurance. Over her career, she has worked for several large and smaller marketing agencies – Leo Burnett, Ogilvy, Upshot, and for the last 17 years, as a part of the Allstate Corporation. Lisa helped spearhead the creation of Arity, a data and analytics-focused technology company that was launched out of Allstate in 2016. She currently serves as the officer leading Marketing, Media, and Publisher operations at Arity. Lisa lives in Chicago with her husband and their two greyhounds.

Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer Johnson is the Director of Investor Leasing and Operations Leader for CBRE, a global commercial real estate services and investment firm. She focuses on Office Investor Services including client care analysis and operations as well as strategic sales management. Prior to CBRE, Jennifer was Director of Operations for U.S. Equities Realty, a boutique commercial real estate firm where she provided oversight for operations as well as benefits administration for the firm’s 300 employees.

Donor Relations & Development Committee

Stephanie Adams

Stephanie Adams is an Art Director at Publicis Groupe with 5 years’ experience in the graphic design field. She sits on the Global Business Development team at Publicis, specializing in designing and executing global new business pitches. Prior to finding her niche in New Business, Stephanie worked in healthcare marketing designing recruitment campaigns, printed collateral, and landing pages for over 25 clients in the healthcare sector. She is a member of She Runs It and AIGA.

Ashley Lukasik

Strategist, filmmaker, founder and CEO of Murmur Ring, Ashley Lukasik curates powerful experiences that help creative leaders and organizations reconnect with their purpose. She has built her career exposing organizations to human-centered design as a means to respond to complex challenges for which they do not have a preexisting roadmap. Ashley spent several years at IIT Institute of Design, which inspired her to launch and co-produce The New Bauhaus feature documentary with Opendox. Ashley is Co-Chair of the Auxiliary Board at the Design Museum of Chicago and holds an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Chicago. Her work has appeared in Architectural Digest, Design Milk, New York Times, and Forbes.

Andy MacGregor

Andy MacGregor is the President of Skyline Construction’s Chicago office and is known for his dynamic leadership and commitment to excellence. With nearly three decades of experience, Andy has played a pivotal role in creating some of the city’s most iconic spaces, including Google’s Chicago headquarters, 1871, and Motorola Mobility’s World Headquarters.

Roshi Ahmadian

Roshi Ahmadian is currently the Senior Associate for Global Philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase, where she supports the firm’s grantmaking in the US central region. Her work helps drive toward the $30 billion commitment to address systemic barriers and build a more equitable economy. Roshi holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, an MA in art history and museum studies from Case Western Reserve University. Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Roshi is a fluent Farsi speaker who enjoys photography, graphic design, painting, and traveling.

Alexandra Bishop

Alexandra Bishop is an artist whose career began as a Curatorial Assistant and Collections Manager for an art museum and later served in communications, fundraising, and programmatic roles at nonprofits spanning the arts, human services, and economic development. Today, her career focuses on crafting hand-built objects, creating arts spaces, and designing creative experiences. She is launching the community art space Bishop’s Garden & Studio in her hometown of Island Falls, Maine.

Britt Nolan

Britt is Chief Creative Officer at McCann Worldgroup North America President. He was previously Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett Chicago and has helped iconic brands form emotional connections to grow their businesses, like introducing the world to “Mayhem” for Allstate, launched #DoWhatYouCant for Samsung, and put van Gogh’s bedroom on Airbnb. His work has won many awards including 50+ Cannes Lions, Effies, AD, ADC, One Show, Clios, and more. In 2019, Britt was inducted into AAF’s Hall of Achievement. Communications and PR Committee Co-Chair

Lori Kaufman

Jarius Brookins

Jarius Brookins is a multidisciplinary creative specializing in graphic design and user experience. He is currently working at Allstate and pursuing an MBA with a focus on marketing strategy and planning. In his leisure time, Jarius enjoys traveling and engaging in a variety of physical activities. Jarius is a Marwen Alumnus.

Lee Oberlander

After 40 years in the construction business, at the drafting table, on construction sites, and building electrical systems for schools, hospitals, and residential homes, Lee retired to devote himself full time to being an artist, musician, and civic volunteer. Lee is a visual artist who has studied and exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Botanic Garden, Lillstreet Art Center, The Evanston Art Center, and Northwestern University. Donor Relations & Development Committee; Building Operations Committee

Carol Levy

Mayra Cecilia Palafox

Mayra Cecilia Palafox is an artist and arts administrator originally from Michoacan, Mexico. An alumna of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she is interested in how Spanish speaking immigrant communities can have an active role in public engagement through collaborations with other cultural institutions, music, food and local visual artists. Mayra has worked at the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Historical Society, and MCA Chicago. Mayra is a Marwen Alumna.

Isa Pressman

Isa is an active civic volunteer in Chicago. Former Marwen Board Chair; Finance & Investment Committee Member; Donor Relations & Development Committee Member

H. Michael Kurzman

Mike is a retired real estate executive with decades of experience serving as a Trustee of several Chicago-based arts organizations as well as a family foundation that made grants in the San Francisco Bay Area and the City of Chicago. Many of these grants were to arts organizations with an emphasis on youth programs.

Natasha Cooper

Natasha Cooper has worked at Merrill Lynch since 2017. She has more than 18 years of experience in client services and is passionate about providing excellent administrative support. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with a degree in criminal justice and completed her M.B.A. at Wilmington University. Natasha is an avid traveler and enjoys spending time with her family and exploring the cultural and culinary offerings of Chicago. She is a volunteer on the auxiliary board for Chicago Youth Centers, a nonprofit that supports inner-city education and after-school programs.

Elliot Rawls

Elliot oversees business strategy for US Cellular with a focus on strategic long-range forecasting, planning, and analysis. Elliot leads their business-strategy’s unit in developing 5G technology investment and deployment strategy, and also oversees USCC’s enterprise risk management activities, corporate development activities, and corporate venturing. Governance & Engagement Committee Co-chair

Rachel Gadson

Rachel Gadson was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. She has a strong attachment to the creative arts community and is a proud Chicagoan. She attended Florida A&M University where she obtained her Bachelors in the field of Graphic Design (magna cum laude); and also studied at Studio Arts Center International, in Florence, Italy. A combination of love for the creative arts industry, and a keen desire to empower artists (specifically artists of color) shapes the trajectory of Rachel’s career and is the same fire that keeps her propelling toward her goals. With a graphic design portfolio that spans across varying industries with clients like Obama Foundation, Hilton, Samsung, Zoom and GitHub, Gadson now dedicates her time creating access for Black artists. As the Founder of ILA Creative Studio, a non-profit organization that places Black artists at the forefront, and prioritizes the voices of her community to help guide and steward the work that she has been called to lead, she gets to create an atmosphere of equity and access with intention and sound direction.

Deborah Quazzo

Rob Gleeson

Rob Gleeson is a comedian and actor that recurs on the 3rd season of Showtime’s “House of Lies.” He balances his acting schedule with a busy stand up tour that takes him to colleges around the country. Rob attended the University of Denver where he studied Economics, Chinese, and Theatre.

Russell Richey

“It’s such a place where people can just come and be their authentic selves. And for a lot of people, it’s almost like an escape.” Watch Russell’s Giving Tuesday feature video Russell Richey is a Private Wealth Advisor in the Investment Management Division in Chicago. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Russell worked as an Investment Banker with Siebert Cisneros Shank. Russell began his career in financial services at Morgan Stanley in New York. He worked on the short-term municipal bond trading desk and transitioned to the affordable housing banking group. Prior to his full-time experience, Russell received Morgan Stanley’s esteemed Richard B. Fisher Scholarship and interned for 3 summers in various product groups within the firm’s Fixed Income Division. In addition, he volunteers as a mentor with the West Side Chapter of 100 Black Men of Chicago and is a member of the Board for Cara Chicago. Finance & Investment Committee

Simone Greblo

Simone Greblo is a Senior Account Supervisor at Edelman Chicago, where she leads integrated communications and public relations campaigns for some of the world’s top health and wellness brands. With deep expertise in brand storytelling, earned media, and strategic partnerships, Simone has helped launch award-winning initiatives for clients including Centrum, Advil, and the American Heart Association. A proud Marwen alum, Simone credits her time in Marwen’s programs as a formative chapter in her creative and professional journey. She’s passionate about giving back to the organization that helped shape her path and is excited about the opportunity to support Marwen’s mission through communications, mentorship, and community engagement. Outside of work, Simone is an amateur ceramicist and photographer (a skill she learned at Marwen!) and enjoys spending her free time exploring Chicago’s art, food, and cultural scenes.

Amy Rule

Brandon Rogalski

Brandon is the Director of Luxury Residence Group by Power leading teams from conception to completion of high-end residential construction projects. In addition to managing teams, Brandon oversees budgets, engineering analysis, project scheduling, and new business relationships. Brandon oversaw the construction of the Museum of Science and Industry’s Smart Home, has received numerous builder and design awards, and has also appeared on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” where he helped build a home in less than five days. Building & Operations Committee Chair; Finance & Investment Committee

William S. Singer

Kate Lawson

Kate Lawson is Associate Director of the MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises at Northwestern University, where she leads admissions, marketing, operations, professional development, and academic affairs. Prior to Northwestern, Kate was in academic affairs at New York University with the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, developing and supporting their new cross-disciplinary doctoral and visiting scholar programs. She holds a master’s from NYU in Art History with a focus on medieval art and the history of collecting and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Outside of work, you will find her crafting, refinishing furniture, or taking another woodworking class.

Rebecca Roin

Rebecca Roin first came to Marwen as an intern, later returning as a teaching artist, and now as a member of our Board of Directors. With a degree in Art Education and Studio Art, Rebecca has spent her career weaving together art, education, and community-building.

Ashley Leinweber

Ashley Leinweber is the Vice President of the Leinweber Foundation, a Michigan-based family foundation dedicated to supporting scientific research and advancing access to education for students from underserved areas. Ashley leads the foundation’s brand strategy, grantee management, and grant sourcing and is passionate about education-focused organizations that make a difference in the local community. Ashley received a BA in economics from Washington and Lee University and an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Outside of work, Ashley, her husband, Andrew, and their dog, Hudson, live in Chicago. In her downtime, she is an avid tennis player and enjoys traveling and cooking.

Sheri Spielman

Chris Rudd

Chris is a designer, community organizer, and founder of ChiByDesign, a black-owned and people-of-color-led design firm in Chicago. Chris has a deep background in social equity work, systems change, and youth development. In addition to his role at ChiByDesign, Chris is also an Instructor and Lead of Community-led Design for the Chicago Design Lab at the IIT’s Institute of Design (ID), where he focuses on developing the co-design practice at ID and the anti-racist design field. Chris is a former Stanford Institute of Design Civic Innovation fellow and a Chicago Urban League IMPACT fellow. Programming Committee

Jacob McCarthy

Jacob McCarthy is an Intermediate Designer at the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), where he has worked on the design of two new satellite terminals at O’Hare International Airport. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology, teaching a first-year design course. A native of Chicago, Jacob is a graduate of the University of Chicago and Princeton University. Outside of work, Jacob enjoys spending time with friends and family, walking his dog, and playing tennis.

John Svoboda

Katherine Scott Jimenez

Katie currently serves as Director of Leasing for Parkside Realty, a Chicago business that invests, develops, and manages real estate, with a special focus on creating buildings centered on health and wellness. Prior to Parkside, Katie worked with US Equities Realty’s asset management group directing their landlord services portfolio, which included leasing, property and facility management, operations and financial services. When US Equities Realty merged with CBRE, she became Senior Managing Director for the Chicago Region and its diverse, 60 million SF managed portfolio. Donor Relations & Development Committee; Building & Operations Committee

Bryan S. Traubert

Caroline Quazzo-Elnick

Caroline Quazzo-Elnick is a Customer Solutions Engineering Lead at Camber, a company that provides charging and software solutions for fleets of electric vehicles. She’s worked in the electric vehicle and energy space for her entire career. Caroline grew up in Chicago and enjoys running, walking, and biking along the lakefront trail, trying new restaurants in Chicago, and reading.

R.J. Stelter

R.J. Stelter is the Vice President of Distribution Channels & Dealer Development at MillerKnoll. He previously served in several roles at Herman Miller, including Vice President of North America Contract Sales, Vice President of Ancillary Sales, National Sales Director for Small + Medium Businesses, and Director of Focused Markets. Prior to Herman Miller, R.J. spent eight years at CDW. R.J. and his husband live in Chicago and love sports, outdoor activities, “too much food,” and traveling to places warmer than Chicago.

Jay Tremblay

A Chicago-based philanthropist and nonprofit leader, Jay Tremblay co-founded the Koors-Tremblay Fund, which supports a range of educational and religious organizations. He helped establish the Mother McAuley–St. Ignatius Scholarship Fund and has also worked with Big Shoulders to expand access to education for Chicago families. Jay has also served as Vice President and board member of 18th & Wabash Corporation, overseeing affordable housing initiatives, and is an active member of the University Club of Chicago.

Robert Wislow

Alexis Smyser-DeLeon

Alexis Smyser-DeLeon is a policy and communications professional who currently serves as Director of Policy for 26th Ward Alderperson Jessie Fuentes and as a consultant for various political campaigns in Chicago. She was born and raised in Humboldt Park and holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School. She has hosted and produced a Field Foundation-awarded podcast called “Sistematic,” which is focused on uplifting the stories of women of color and gender-nonconforming people making an impact in Chicago’s creative, activist, and business communities. Alexis is a Marwen Alumna.

Emily Steffen

Emily Steffen is Chief Management Officer at The Krupnick Approach. With Master’s Degrees in school social work and administrative leadership, Emily is a school clinician by trade. She offers a rare combination of educational leadership expertise and a deep understanding of the day-to-day complexities of the high-school experience. Emily also specializes in organizational support and time management strategies.

Chiara Wrocinski

Chiara is a recognized legal industry leader with a track record for innovation, attracting top talent, and serving as an influential agent for positive change. Currently the Chief Administrative Officer of Kirkland & Ellis, she has also served as the founder and leader of their Alumni Engagement Program & CareerLink Team, as well as founder/leader of their global Legal Recruiting Development Department. Prior to Kirkland and Ellis, Chiara spent six years as a Senior Manager at Deloitte. Governance & Engagement Committee Co-chair

Daphne Stratta

Daphne Stratta is a Luxury Brand Specialist at Constellation Brands. Sharing memories, delicious food, and superb wines with family is where she found her calling to the hospitality industry. She achieved her first sommelier certificate before the age of 21 and has worked the floors of numerous fine dining establishments in Chicago, including curating tasting menus and collaborating with numerous Michelin star chefs. She also has a Certified Sommelier certificate through the Court of Master Sommeliers.