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
Cristina De La Rosa
Senior Director of Programs
Cristina oversees the direction and scope of all Erie House programming, provides stewardship of the agency’s mission through program excellence, and identifies new funding sources and opportunities to increase agency revenue. 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
Senior Director of Programs
Melissa Flores
Senior Director of Strategy & Operations
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 Strategy & Operations
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
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
Ann 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
Board of Directors
Nicolas Guzman
President
Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP
Craig Castelli
Vice President
Caber Hill Advisors
Dan Hartnett
Treasurer
Commscope, Inc. (Retired)
Gail Taggart
Secretary
L3 Hospitality Group
Beth Benjamin
CIBC Bank USA (Retired)
Lori Carbajal Van Ness
Constellation Brands
Frances Delgado
Teamsters Local 705
Lavine Douglas
Motorola Solutions
Steven Fox
Transportation and Logistics Advisors
Paul Gassel
Wrightwood Wealth Management, LLC
Ashley Galston
K&L Gates LLP
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
Patricia Perez
Kirkland & Ellis
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