Staff
Executive Director
Gabriel Gonzalez
Finance
Favorite Children’s Books: the Monster at the end of this Book by Jon Stone and The Bit-Wide-Mouthed Frog by Ana MartÍn Larrañaga
Julie Pinn
Director of Finance and Operations
Development
Julie is a true crime fanatic.
Favorite Children’s Books: Nancy Drew Series by Caroline Keene
Julie Reeder
Director of Development
Education
Lauren is an adoptive mom and gave birth to her adopted child via embryo adoption.
Favorite Children’s Book: To the Moon and Back for You by Emilia Bechrakis.
Lauren Jarvis
Director of Education and Programs
Bernadette has 68 first cousins - so she knows a lot about hosting relatives!
Favorite Children’s Book: When the Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant.
Bernadette Diaz
Extra Dosage Instructor
Shanell is an aspiring author of a children's book series called Mattie's Tattle Tales.
Favorite Children’s Book: The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Day Walt and The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.
Shanell Townsend
Instructional Coach and Volunteer Coordinator
Little is fluent in American sign language (ASL). He is a pastor at a church for the deaf and he teaches the members of the church to read and comprehend English.
Favorite Children’s Book: Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch and Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry.
Little Tom Jackson
Instructional Coach
Avo also teaches West African drumming classes.
Favorite Children’s Book: Hairy Maclary by Lynley Dodd and Blueberries For Sal by Robert McCloskey
Avo Randruut
Instructional Coach
Brenda loves yoga especially when she’s been able to practice in different settings and with animals including goat yoga, puppy yoga, and even bunny yoga!
Favorite Children’s Books: The Fat Cat Sat on the Mat by Nurit Karlin and Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
Brenda Robertson
Lead Instructional Coach
Cynthia's favorite comfort food is chicken noodle soup.
Favorite Children’s Book: Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Cynthia Lerma
Instructional Coach
Engagement and Communications
Gareth played rugby in the UK.
Favorite Children’s Book: Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl and Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Gareth Troake
Senior Engagement Manager
Kaitlin is an aspiring interior designer.
Favorite Children’s Book: A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla
Kaitlin McFarland
Communications Coordinator
Board of Directors
Chair of the Board
Jill Fraggos
Senior Director, Government Relations
Lurie Children’s Hospital
Vice Chair
Sherri Hlavacek
Retired EVP, Head of Finance
Nuveen Investments
Vice Chair
Bruce Jones
President, Founder
International TEFL Academy
General Directors
R. Ross Baker
Senior Partner, Mercer
Tanya Burnell
Director, CCI - Henry Crown and Company
Ryan Gillespie
Consultant, PWC
Rajan Barad
President/Owner, RR Textile Mills
Brian Buehling
Founder and Managing Director, Dakota Systems, Inc
Aaron Mikulsky
President, Love 2 Lead Consulting
Adrianna Sanandres
Architect
Max Schwein
Kellogg School of Management,
Golub Capital Board Fellow 2023-2024
Bradley Joutras
Director of Individual Giving, UofC Medicine
Jamie Whiteman
Managing Director, JP Morgan Chase
