Staff Leadership
Celena Roldan, Executive Director
Celena Roldán began her tenure at Erie House in 2001 as our State Pre-K Head Start Social Worker and Disabilities Coordinator in Erie's Child Care program and became Erie House's Director of Child Care in 2006.
In 2008, Celena was selected by Erie House as the Erie House Emerging Leader for the Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Leadership Program. This experience included participation in a six month long networking and leadership development program with other emerging leaders from a group of nationwide organizations that received the 2008 Bank of America Neighborhood Builder Award. She has been featured on Comcast Newsmakers on CNN.
Throughout her work at Erie House, Celena continuously advocates for policies which strengthen the child care field’s provision of affordable and quality child care services.
Previously, Celena served as a social worker at one of Erie's community partner agencies, Casa Central, where she actively assisted homeless families resolve the financial, educational, and social issues that contributed to their homeless situation. She also acted as a youth program coordinator for the children living at Casa Central ages six to fifteen.
Celena served on the advisory board of the Inspiration Corporation, a nonprofit organization that helps people who are affected by homelessness and poverty improve their lives and increase self-sufficiency through the provision of social services, employment training, placement and housing. As a previous full time board member for the Inspiration Corporation, Celena helped to facilitate the planning, organization and final completion of one of the first non-profit business mergers in Chicago.
Celena has been involved in such presentations as: "A Unique Collaboration: Bringing Better Quality of Care for At-Risk Children in Chicago" at the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) conference; and as a panel member for the Voices for Illinois Children Kids Count Symposium, "Building Better Lives for Generations of Illinois Children" workshop.
Celena has memberships with The Chicago Coalition for Site Administered Child Care Programs, The McCormick Early Childhood Policy Fellows, The Early Childhood Education Working Group of Latinos United, The Illinois Department of Human Services’ Child Care Advisory Council, and The National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Celena holds a Master's degree in Early Childhood Administration from National Louis University, as well as a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Dr. Maureen Hellwig, Senior Director of Programs and Quality Assurance
Maureen Hellwig took on this role - the latest of many at Erie House - in March 2006. Throughout her career, Maureen has worked on issues including community access to technology, housing and financial cooperatives, workforce preparation, neighborhood commercial area revitalization, community empowerment through neighborhood organization, and the role of settlement houses as community change agents.
From 1997 through 2005, Maureen was the program coordinator for the Policy Research Action Group (PRAG) at Loyola University, where she was able to combine her 25 years of experience working with community-based organizations on neighborhood issues with her academic credentials, to carry out PRAG's mission to promote university/community collaboration.
In 1999, Maureen was appointed Graduate Program Director for Loyola University Chicago's new Chicago Studies Masters Program.
Maureen worked at Erie House, as Director of Community Economic Development, from 1991 until 1996. In this capacity, she initiated many new projects including the Pathways to Success workforce preparation program. Other employers have included the Center for Neighborhood Technology, Cook County Board of Review, Uptown Center Hull House, NCO/Community 21 Office, St. Benedict High School , and Santa Maria Addolorata School .
Dr. Hellwig received her PhD in public policy from the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago . Maureen also holds a master's in urban planning and policy from University of Illinois at Chicago and a bachelor's from Alverno College .
Maureen has lived in West Town since 1968, and has served as a volunteer and a member of the Erie House Board at various times over the past 30 years. Most recently she served on the Erie House Heritage Committee. She also serves as president of the board of Greater West Town Project.
Rafael Ravelo, Senior Advisor
Rafael Ravelo has been at Erie House since 1985. As senior advisor, he focuses on community collaborations. Today, Rafael is helping Erie House establish services in the Little Village neighborhood in collaboration with other community-based organizations. Prior to this position, he served for 12 years as the executive director of Erie House.
During his tenure as executive director, Rafael provided crucial leadership to the agency and the community. The opening of the Erie Community Center allowed the preschool program to expand and the development of the Erie Technology Center gave the community a state-of-the-art learning facility. His founding of the West Town Directors Group, which serves as the core of Youth Options Unlimited, provided a community service network for a multi-site youth program of 10 agencies in West Town and Humboldt Park .
Rafael has received various awards and recognition throughout his career including the University of Chicago 's Alumni Public Service Citation, the Outstanding Community Leader Award from the National Society of Fundraising Executives in Chicago in 1997, the United Way Chicago Executive of the Year, and The Chicago Community Trust's community service fellowship for the study of youth entrepreneurship projects. He was also chosen as one of 15 social service administrators in the United States to participate in a program sponsored by the British government to visit youth centers in Northern Ireland .
A native of Cuba , Rafael came to the United States in 1966. He holds a bachelor's degree from St. Mary's University in Winona , Minnesota and a master's of social service administration from the University of Chicago .
His outside interests include exercise, cooking nutritious meals, politics, traveling and reading.
Louis Falk, Director of Child Care
Louis has worked at Erie House since 1984. He has played many roles: preschool teacher, Program Coordinator, Assistant Director and, most recently, Director of Head Start. He is a dedicated advocate for working families and particularly for the young children in those families.
Over the years, Louis has been a tireless advocate for the importance of quality early childhood education programs as well as a warm and caring presence in the lives of the hundreds of children who have come through Erie's doors during his tenure.
Valery Sheppard, Director of After School Program
Valery is a highly skilled professional with over 15 years of experience in social services and education. Valery joined Erie House in 1994 after serving as the Assistant Director of After School at Resurrection Lutheran Church.
She has a Master’s in Education from National Louis University and an extensive background in curriculum development for children.
Rebecca Estrada, Director of Youth Options Unlimited
Rebecca joined Erie House in October2000 as theAcademicCounselorand hasserved as Assistant Director of Youth Options Unlimited (YOU).
Ms. Estrada is actively involved in the Illinois Association for College Admissions and Counseling, a network that connects both resources and colleagues in order to support counselors and, ultimately, students. She is also a member of the Latino Prevention Network and Professionals for Latino Recruitment in Higher Education.
Rebecca graduated from Loyola University with a major in psychology and minor in women’s studies. She also holds a Master’s in Business Administration at National Louis University. Rebecca is bilingual and bicultural.
Klirking Byron Espinoza, Director of Technology Services
Klirking Byron Espinoza has been Erie 's technology services director since August 2000. Byron arrived at Erie House with experience as a self-employed computer consultant for non-profit organizations, universities and companies.
Prior to his role as director, he was the computer technician for Erie and a teacher in the Technology Promoters program. Along with his consulting experience, he was an adult educator for 13 years, teaching Spanish GED and citizenship classes and developing new curriculums.
Byron serves on the board of Community Technology Centers' Network Chicago (CTCNet), a non-profit organization that works to improve the educational, economic, cultural and political life of communities through technology. He previously served on the board of Casa Guatemala , a non-profit organization serving and organizing the Guatemalan community in Chicago , for 10 years and was president of the board for six years.
Byron studied science and chemical engineering at the Universidad de San Carlos in Guatemala and has a diploma in computer management from IBM.
Herbert Moreno, Director of Adult Programs
A native of El Salvador, Herbert emigrated to the U.S. during very turbulent times in his native country. He has worked for over twenty years in immigrant-serving organizations, sharing his knowledge in management and his deep commitment to the Latino community. These have included five years at Latino Youth in the Little Village neighborhood Chicago, and ten years at Erie House—one year as the Assistant Executive Director and nine years as the Director of Finance.
Herbert returned to Erie after five years of service as the Chief Operations and Chief Financial Officer at Gads Hill Center, a sister organization in the heart of Chicago's Pilsen community. While there, he was recognized as the employee of the month. Herbert has also received the board member of the year award from Latinos United, where he served as the treasurer of the board of directors.
Herbert's passion for adult education started when he worked as a literacy teacher twenty two years ago here at Erie House.
Dr. Patricia Novick, Director of Health Programs, Community Leadership and Advocacy Initiative
Patricia is a Chicago-based consultant and trainer with a focus on issues of social justice, the arts, health, and religion. Patricia developed the Health Promoters/La Salude Pasala initiative at Erie House and has been serving as the Health Promoters Coordinator since its launch in 2007. Patricia also conducted qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the Erie Institute for Social Justice classes.
Patricia has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, a Masters in Divinity and a Doctorate in Ministry. She was part of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She served as Executive Director of the Social Venture Network, an association of 350 CEOs of socially responsible businesses with $500,000 or more in assets, and as Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at McDonald's. She also assists low-income Chicago neighborhoods in designing and building community parks.
Paul Kasper, Director of Operations
Paul Kasper joined Erie 's staff in September 2001 and has worked in the non-profit field for 15 years.
He has worn many hats, from teaching computer classes to job training to managing a workforce development team. Before coming to Erie , Paul was office manager at Action For Children, a non-profit advocacy group. He was responsible for bookkeeping, human resources, payroll and scheduling.
Maria Perez, Director of Human Resources
Maria Perez has been at Erie House since 1987. She started as a financial administrator and served as payroll administrator before taking on her current role as director of human resources. Prior to working at Erie House, Maria worked for 10 years as a bookkeeper at Youth Guidance, a non-profit social service organization.
She recently completed her bachelor of arts degree in Integrative Studies from Northeastern Illinois University . Maria enjoys shopping, reading, traveling and attending her daughter's school activities and dance troupe performances.
Betty Sanchez-Azadeh, Director of Finance
Betty Sanchez-Azadeh has been Erie 's finance director since 2001. Prior to working at Erie House she was the finance manager for the Central Region Office of the Chicago Park District. Before that, Betty battled on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for seven years and also opened an insurance agency with two partners.
Betty holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and finance from Loyola University Chicago and a certificate in non-profit management from North Park University . She serves as board treasurer on the Loyola University Latino Association Board.
Cesar Salgado, Director of Information Technology and Support
Cesar Salgado has been with Erie since October of 2001. He started as the PC technician and moved on to being the Technology Services Coordinator and as of 2007 the Director of Information Technology and Support.
Mr. Salgado received his Bachelor’s degree in Network Management from DeVRY University. He also has an Associate’s degree in Electronics. He is currently pursuing his Masters in Business Administration.
Cesar has worked as a Youth Mentor at his neighborhood parish and serves as the Parent Leadership Council president at Erie Elementary Charter where his son attends school.
