
Our Team
The management team of Children’s Place Association brings together their diverse backgrounds to help fulfill our mission.

Founding Board of Directors
In the late 1980s a small group of concerned Chicagoans responded to the HIV/AIDS health crisis and its impact on children by creating a new organization. Its original program, a 10-bed Children’s Residential Center with 24-hour nursing care, opened in 1991 – one of the first of its kind in the nation.
Thank you to the Founding Board of Directors.
Robert T. Bale | Henrietta Bertelsman | Joseph Hickey Jack Lee (in memoriam) | Elizabeth LeTourneau-Lee | Langdon D. Neal | Amy Puccinelli | Jack Strand | Ram Yogev, MD
Board of Directors
Children’s Place Association Board of Directors is made up of community and business leaders. Their diverse backgrounds bring unique perspectives and leadership to the organization.
Officers
Bob Ryan, Chair
CFO/Co-Owner
Gold Fish Swim School – Roscoe Village
Christopher Murphy, Vice Chair/Treasurer, CPA
Partner
RSM US
Josephine Calderon, Secretary
Vice President, Wealth Management
Northern Trust
Board Members
Brenda B. Asare *
President & CEO
The Alford Group
Robert T. Bale*
Community Volunteer/ Founding Board Member
Kristen Daihes Partner Opex Analytics
John J. Durso
Attorney at Law
Richard D. Joutras
Chairman of the Board (Retired)
SG360 a Segerdahl Company
Harold A. Kessler, MD
Global Medical Director
ViiV Healthcare
Raymond J. Mulligan
Vice President (Retired)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
Edward F. Otto*
Principal
Ted Otto Group, LLC
Kathleen Ryan Sellew*
Managing Director (Retired)
Marsh USA Inc.
Michael Silverman* Senior Vice President – Chief Legal Officer and Specialized Operations SmithBucklin
John F. Ward, Jr Partner Jenner & Block
Leadership Advisory Council
Robert T. Bale*
Community Volunteer
Langdon D. Neal*
Principal and Owner
Neal & Leroy, LLC
Richard S. Price
Chairman
Mesirow Financial
Mrs. John R. Walter
Community Volunteer &
Co-Founder
The Auxiliary of Children’s Place Association
* Indicates past Board Chair
Junior Board
Children’s Place Association Junior Board of Directors is made up of young professionals from a variety of professions who volunteer their time and organize a premier fundraising event to raise awareness and much needed financial support for the organization.
Officers
Maggie Ryan,President
CIBC
Maureen McCluskey,
Co-Chair
Morris LLP
Kloie McCann, Event
Co-Chair
CIBC
Jenna Hinsdale, Raffle Chair
Cushman & Wakefield
Breck Seitz, Philanthropy Chair
CNA
Stephanie Vlamis, Recruitment Chair
CIBC
Board Members
Nicolas Anderson
Jahn US
Michael Bensdorf
Gillum Strategy Partners
Greg Bortz
Lincoln International LLC
Bridgette Bouse
CIBC
Derek Breese
CIBC
Jordan Burke
CIBC
Marie Cunningham
Mesirow Financial
Jillian Dougherty
Fifth Third
Hannah Ferstel
CIBC
Michael Free
CIBC
Danielle Haddad
CNA
Kent Larson
CNA
Leigh Loftus
Loftus Inc.
Madeline McGinnis
CIBC
Skylar Mihalik
CNA
Madison Mooney
CNA
Steven Pesce
Fifth Third
Sam Smola
CIBC
Cristina Valdes
CIBC
Christopher Wheatley
Mesirow Financial
Kelly Whitney
Duchossois Capital Management
Sean Whitney
Mainstreet Advisors
Megan Zande
CIBC
