GADS HILL CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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James (Jim) A. Brett is Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America (NGPL), a joint venture of Kinder Morgan Inc. and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. He is responsible for commercial activity, including the strategic development and negotiation of natural gas transportation and storage agreements. Jim joined Kinder Morgan in 2007 in the role of Vice President, Business Management for Central Region Gas Pipelines, and had previously worked for NGPL and predecessor companies for 19 years. He also has worked for Peoples Energy Services and Integrys Energy Services over 5 years, directing the sale of retail gas and power services to end users. Jim has a B.S. degree from Northern Illinois University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Jim has previously served on the Board of the Chicago Council on Urban Affairs (1194-1998) and as Board Member and President of Midwest Ballet Theatre (2000-2007). President
James A. Brett Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America (NGPL) |
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Jorge is a partner at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, specializing in ERISA and employee benefits law. Jorge is active with various bar associations and is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago. Jorge joined the Gads Hill Center Board in 2015. Vice President
Jorge Leon Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP |
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Mark is a partner at Reed Smith LLP, specializing in insurance recovery. He is an experienced trial lawyer, appellate lawyer and investigator. From 1991 to 2000, Mark was a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago, receiving the Director's Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Mark joined the Gads Hill Center Board of Directors in 2012. Board Member
Mark S. Hersh Reed Smith |
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Ellen Brett has been a member of the Gads Hill Young Professionals Board since 2016. While on the Young Professionals Board she served as the head of the Membership committee. Ellen is an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Currently she is prosecuting Domestic Violence misdemeanors out of the Markham Courthouse. Ellen earned her undergraduate degree in 2011 from Purdue University and her JD from John Marshall Law School in 2014. Board Member
Ellen Brett Cook County State's Attorney |
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Jim has been active on the Board of Directors at Gads Hill Center since 1968. He has served as a past Board President. Today, Jim continues to serve on the Gads Hill Center board with equal enthusiasm and commitment. Jim is a retired Human Services professional. Board Member
James P. Brett BorgWarner Automotive |
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Jorge grew up in Pilsen and was a "Gads Hill kid," using the gym, library and woodshop facilities among others. Born and raised in Chicago, he attended St. Ignatius College Prep and Yale University. As the first ever Latino General Counsel to the Chicago Housing Authority, he oversaw all of the agency’s legal affairs and provided advice and counsel to the CHA’s Board of Commissioners, senior management, and employees. He is a Partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP. He has been on the Gads Hill Center Board of Directors since 2001 and has served as two terms as Board President. Board Member
Jorge Cazares Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP |
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Tonya Bibbs, PhD, LCSW is an Associate Professor at Erikson Institute in Chicago where she is a faculty in the child development and social work programs. Her social work practice includes project coordination with Illinois’ African American Family Commission and the Women’s Self-Employment Project’s childcare division. She also served as a program leader in statewide projects. One integrated domestic violence provisions with Temporary Aid to Needy Families, while another developed a statewide system for infant and early childhood mental health consultation. Dr. Bibbs has two areas of research foci. First, she investigates both how policy supports families’ capacity to achieve well-being, and how families and communities advocate for effective policies. Second, Dr. Bibbs studies the development of Black children’s development, particularly as it relates to the racially marginalizing problems they encounter. Dr. Bibbs serves as the principle investigator for the Early Development Instrument research project. This project investigates how communities use population data to develop structural approaches to child well-being. She is also conducting a study in which she investigates Illinois stakeholders’ implementation of the Family First Act, with particular attention to issues of racial equity. Dr. Bibbs is the director of Erikson Institute’s Policy Concentrations, wherein she develops and oversees two policy concentrations and a dual-degree program. Board Member
Dr. Tonya Bibbs |
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Amber Crain is the Head of Learning & Talent Management at Affinitiv where she develops and integrates a variety of human resource programs designed to achieve strategic business goals and operational objectives. Her focus areas include talent management, leadership development, engagement, organizational development, and change management. Amber has twenty years of professional experience including progressive HR business partner experience at a Fortune 100 company supporting employees in areas such as employee relations, benefits, compensation reviews, policy management, diversity and inclusion, and restructures, among other areas. Amber holds a BA in Organizational Leadership through Roosevelt University and multiple professional facilitator certifications. Board Member
Amber Crain Affinitiv |
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Debra Clayton has over 35 years of financial services expertise. She is currently a Senior Vice President at Northern Trust Company. In her current role, Debra is responsible for leading a global team responsible for product management and development of accounting based products supporting large corporate and institutional clients. Debra supports various diversity and inclusion programs. She holds a B.S. in Finance and M.A in Training from Roosevelt University. Debra has been a member of Gads Hill Center since 2007 and has serves on the Finance Committee. Board Member
Debra Clayton Northern Trust |
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Virginia is an attorney who has spent most of her career working in non-profit organizations and has been a strong advocate for Latinos, women, and children. She is a well-known nonprofit management consultant and collaborative leadership trainer. Virginia had the lifechanging opportunity of participating in the 1995 UN Conference on Women in Beijing and is a frequent speaker on issues affecting Latinos, women, and children. Virginia has volunteered with many organizations over the years, including co-chairing the capital campaign for the Gads Hill Center Early Childhood Education Center on Ogden Ave. Board Member
Virginia Martinez, J.D. Civic Leader |
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Juan joined the Telemundo Chicago team in October 2011 as the Station Relations and Sales Marketing Manager. Currently, Juan works to maintain a strong relationship with Chicago’s Hispanic community by supporting non-profit organizations and organizing relevant events for the viewers of Telemundo Chicago. In 2017, Juan began his most recent role as Director of Public Relations for Cicero School District 99. Board Member
Juan F. Orta Cicero School District 99 |
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David joined the Board in 2013, yet his involvement with Gads Hill Center began long before. As a Business Group Leader with Walsh Construction, David has supported Gads Hill Center through grants and much needed capital improvements for a number of years. David is also a dedicated volunteer at the Edgewater Baptist Church. Board Member
David Shier Walsh Construction |
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