Our People
Leadership Team
Kirstin Chernawsky
Executive Director
Kirstin Chernawsky is the executive director of Erie Neighborhood House and is the ninth individualto serve in this capacity since the agency's incorporation in 1915. She came to Erie House in 2013 and served as senior director of development and communications before entering her current role in 2016.
Kirstin has served as a tireless advocate for the mission of Erie House and brings with her a strong background in nonprofit administration and strategic fundraising. She also has extensive experience working with the agency's strategic partners both across the city of Chicago and at the national level.
Crain's Chicago Business named Kirstin to its 40 Under 40 list in 2018 and she was a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, Class of 2019. She also serves on the board of directors for numerous organizations, including the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR; board treasurer), Susan G. Komen Chicago, Chicago Women in Philanthropy (CWIP), and the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force. She is additionally a member of the Economic Club of Chicago.
Kirstin served on Mayor Lori Lightfoot's health & human services transition team in 2019. She was previously appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to serve on the 2017-2019 Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC).
Education
MS: Public Service Management, DePaul University
BA: Sociology, DePaul University
Certified Nonprofit Accounting professional designation
Kirstin Chernawsky
Executive Director
Melissa Flores
Senior Director of Programs and Quality Assurance
Melissa Flores oversees all 12 programs at Erie House and works alongside program leadership on strategic planning, identifying and achieving outcomes and managing grant funding. She previously served as Dean of Adult Education at Richard J. Daley College, one of the 7 City Colleges of Chicago (CCC).
Education
MA: Chicana/o Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara
EdM: Arts in Education, Harvard University
BA: English Professional Writing, Mount Mary College
Latino Non-Profit Leadership Program Certificate, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Contact Melissa: mflores@eriehouse.org
Melissa Flores
Senior Director of Programs & Quality Assurance
Leslie Okamura
Senior Director of Finance
Leslie Okamura directs a finance department that manages a $9 million annual budget comprised of private and public revenue streams. She came to Erie House in 2013, having worked previously at Casa Central Social Services in the world of corporate finance.
Education
BS: Accountancy, Northeastern Illinois University
Registered Certified Public Accountant (Illinois)
Contact Leslie: lokamura@eriehouse.org
Leslie Okamura
Senior Director of Finance
Cheryl Philip
Senior Director of Development & Communications
Cheryl Philip oversees development and communications and is responsible for sustaining and increasing private, institutional and public funding to support the agency's objectives. Her background is in individual giving, specifically mid-level and major gifts. Before joining Erie House in 2019, she worked as mission funding director for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s $198 Million comprehensive campaign.
Education
BA: Sociology/Anthropology and Race & Ethnic Studies, St. Olaf College
Contact Cheryl: cphilip@eriehouse.org
Cheryl Philip
Senior Director of Development & Communications
Alvin Schexnider
Senior Director of Operations
Alvin Schexnider supervises the day-to-day operations of human resources, facilities and information technology and has a strong background in human-centered design. He arrived at Erie House in 2018, having worked previously as the director of operations at Greater Good Studio.
Education
MA: Management & Organization, University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management
BA: Political Science, Morehouse College
Certificate in International Studies, Cornell University
Contact Alvin: aschexnider@eriehouse.org
Alvin Schexnider
Senior Director of Operations
Cristina De La Rosa
Director of Community Resources & Education
Cristina De La Rosa is responsible the daily management, implementation and evaluation of direct service programs encompassed by the Community Resources & Education Department, which includes English as a Second Language (ESL) and Adult Basic Education (ABE); Community Literacy; Buen HOGAR; Proyecto Cuídate; Little Village READS; and Worforce Development. Before coming to Erie House in 2011, she worked for 7 years at the Chicago Federation of Labor as a program coordinator and case manager.
Education
BA: Public Policy, DePaul University
Contact Cristina: cdelarosa@eriehouse.org
Cristina De La Rosa
Director of Community Resources & Education
Joshua Fulcher
Director of Expanded Learning Programs for Children & Youth
Joshua Fulcher supervises a pair of programs—the School-Age Program (ages 5-12) and Youth Options Unlimited (ages 12-18)—that comprise the Expanding Learning Programs for Children & Youth, focusing on academic instruction and holistic care and support to help 300 students reach their potential. He joined Erie House in 2007 and has served as education programs coordinator, assistant director of YOU and director of YOU.
Education
MEd: University of Notre Dame
BA: Psychology, University of Notre Dame
Contact Joshua: jfulcher@eriehouse.org
Joshua Fulcher
Director of Expanded Learning Programs for Children & Youth
Ann Grecek
Director of Child Care
AAnn Grecek directs a NAEYC-accredited child care program that provides care and instruction to 175 children and their families. She came to Erie House in 2019, having invested two decades working within Early Head Start and Head Start programs throughout Chicagoland. She also spent 14 years teaching in the Early Childhood Education department at Morton College.
Education
MA: Early Childhood Education with a specialization in Infant and Toddler Studies, Governors State University
BA: Spanish, University of Illinois-Chicago
Contact Ann: agrecek@eriehouse.org
Ann Grecek
Director of Child Care
Paul Kasper
Director of Facilities
Paul Kasper is responsible for directing the activities of facilities, management and engineering, strategic planning and energy management for all Erie House sites. Prior to joining Erie House in 2001 as executive assistant, he was manager of workforce development for economically disadvantaged adults at Association House of Chicago.
Contact Paul: pkasper@eriehouse.org
Paul Kasper
Director of Facilities
Jane Lombardi
Director of Citizenship, Health & Leadership
Jane Lombardi supervises a department that provides legal consultations, education and support to more than 2,000 immigrant individuals each year. She also oversees the Health & Leadership Program at Erie House and its efforts to build greater well-being within the community. Prior to joining Erie House in 2014, she was an AmeriCorps VISTA at Illinois Legal Aid Online, serving as LiveHelp program coordinator and translation coordinator.
Education
MS: Public Service Management, DePaul University
BA: Spanish and Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Rollins College
Department of Justice Accredited Representative
Contact Jane: jlombardi@eriehouse.org
Jane Lombardi
Director of Immigration, Health, and Leadership
Michelle Peyton
Director of Human Resources
Michelle Peyton oversees human resources functions for all 150 employees at Erie House. She specializes in employee relations and labor relations, and her HR career spans more than 2 decades in union and non-union settings. Prior to joining Erie House in 2019, Michelle worked in regional human resources for retail stores at O'Hare Airport, Midway Airport, Ogilvie Station, and 2 warehouses. She also has experience with workforce development through Skills for Chicagoland and the CARA Foundation.
Education
BA: Elementary Education, University of South Florida
SPHR certification
Contact Michelle: mpeyton@eriehouse.org
Michelle Peyton
Director of Human Resources
Board of Directors
Patricia Perez
President
Kirkland & Ellis
Nicolas Guzman
Vice President
Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP
Dan Hartnett
Treasurer
Commscope, Inc. (Retired)
Gail Taggart
Secretary
L3 Hospitality Group
Gisela Attlan
Engel & Volkers Chicago
Beth Benjamin
CIBC Bank USA (Retired)
Lori Carbajal Van Ness
Constellation Brands
Craig Castelli
Caber Hill Advisors
Frances Delgado
Teamsters Local 705
Lavine Douglas
Motorola Solutions
Ashley Galston
K&L Gates LLP
Paul Gassel
Wrightwood Wealth Management, LLC
Steven Fox
Transportation and Logistics Advisors
Kahlil Hogan
VistaNational
Stephanie Kanter
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Librada Killian
JP Morgan Chase & Co
Lou Leonardi
Wintrust
Heather Mejia
Allstate
Monique Mervin
The University of Chicago Law School
Oswaldo Ortega
Gensler
Sandy Pundmann
Deloitte & Touche, LLP
Carlos Ramirez
Illinois Department of Transportation
Asael Reyes
Youth Representative
Sarah Rios
Program Representative, Childcare, School Age
Maria Rocha
Program Representative, YOU
Chris Terzich
CIBC Bank USA
Honorary Life Trustees
Charles W. Armstrong*
Phyllis Armstrong*
Elmera Brooks
Elizabeth S. Bryan
May R. Burns*
Ann S. Carton
R. Gerald Fox
Robert A. Gielow*
Elizabeth S. Graham
John R. Hall
Mark A. Jolicoeur
John D. Leslie
Marie Leslie
James J. McClure, Jr.*
Lynn McClure*
Victor "Sy" Nelson
Jack O'Kieffe
Bertha H. Pepe
Donald E. Quinn
Lois Quinn
Rev. Paul Rutgers
Rose Ann Savino
Marjorie G. Schuham
John Van Pelt
Harry Vincent*
Nancy Vincent
Carol Wiley
Robert Wiley*
Richard Wiley
Kathy Wiley
*deceased member