People are the Difference
At BUILD, people matter. Young people learn to shape the future, based on their dreams, not their obstacles. They are guided by hard-working adults whose life experiences sound familiar, because 87% of BUILD’s staff reflects the communities and cultures of our youth. We set the bar high and lead by example, putting our values of respect, collaboration, and open communication into everything we do.
Meet our experienced leadership team.





Finance & Administration
Lisa Salas - Executive Assistant
Kevin Parks - Senior Accountant
Eduardo Aguayo-Marquez - Fiscal Manager
Human Resources
Denise Benages - Director of Human Resources
Development & Communications
Stephanie Arevalo - Manager of Special Events
Ariana Ibarra - Volunteer Coordinator
Emily Muench - Manager of Foundation & Corporate Relations
Daniel Perez - Manager of Communications & External Relations
Compliance Services
Scott Mengebier - Director of Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
Amy Black - Manager of Program Development & Compliance
Iman Kort - Intake Manager
Community Services
Juan Villalobos - Director of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships
Edwina Hamilton - Community Ambassador Manager
External Affairs
Bradly Johnson - Director of External Affairs
Health and Wellness
Jessica Carrillo - Director of Clinical & Community Wellness Programs
Jana Gillespie - Manager of Community Mental Health
Edwin Martinez - Manager of Community Violence Support Services
Rosa Rios - Manager of Crisis Response Unit
Olivia Santiago - Manager of BUILDing Girls 2 Women
Blanca Sepulveda - Austin Program Manager (CCW)
Operations
Kathy Kloppenburg - Director of Operations
Core Programs
Jamey Makowski - Director of Core Programs
Prevention Services
Kreagan Carbone - Prevention Manager
Education Services
Ebonee Shaw - Manager of Education & Support Services
Intervention Services
Martin Anguiano - Manager of Intervention Services
Enrichment Services
Carmen Scott-Boria - Director of Enrichment Services
Ricardo Miranda - Manager of Arts Academy Programs
Mark Thorton - Manager of Sports Programs
Deonna Hart - Manager of Learning and Leadership
Board of Directors
BOARD CHAIR
Siobhan L. Sanders - Nuveen Investments
VICE CHAIRS
Christine Bakalar - BakHome Development, LLC.
TREASURER
Shruti Sekhri - Slalom Consulting
SECRETARY
John A. Nitschke - Dr. Scholl Foundation
MEMBERS
Dale Cabreira - Finance
Malaika K. Caldwell - Faegre Baker Daniels LLP
Shannel Clubb - RSM
Marlow Colvin - ComEd
Bennie Currie - MBC Financial Strategies
Robert J. Emanuel - Ice Miller LLP.
Matt Fisher - 4th Right Partners
Jin Ivacic - Hyatt Corporation
Amy Kadens - Founder, Share our Spare
Scott Lieber - Willis Insurance
Stephen Miles - Livingstone Partners LLC
Arthur "AJ" Mortega - Zynga Inc.
Christopher J. Moskos - Bank of America
Christopher Olsen - JPMorgan Chase
James Ramos - City of Chicago, 21st Ward
Jack Segal - Comcast Corporation
*Howard "Bud" Schwarzbach - Vin Chicago, Immediate Past Chair
Scott Skie - Baird
Patricia S. Spratt - Circuit Court of Cook County
Leila Whitley - Allstate
John Wilson - HSA PrimeCare
LIFE BOARD
Steven Abbey - Huntington National Bank
Theodore Cappelen - Clear Candle
Donna Dudley - Retired Distinguished Volunteer
Al Travis - Al Travis & Associates
EMERITUS BOARD
John Blackburn - Standard Bank & Trust Company
Pete Henley - PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
William Housey, Jr. - First Trust Portfolios,
ASSOCIATE BOARD
CHAIR
Brittany Hughes - MB Financial Bank
VICE CHAIRS
Eddy Gonzalez - Breakthru Beverage Group
Caroline Rushmore - LinkedIn
MEMBERS
Marco Guerrero - Gary Comer Youth Center
Lewis Johnson - Starbucks
Jack Magiera- Pariveda Solutions
Thomas Miles - PNC Bank
Sravani Nichanamatlu - McGuireWoods, LLP
Casey Schelble - JPMorgan Chase
Gina Sewell - Point B
Gerlisa Shipman - Kids First Chicago
Rachel Yoder - AEO
HELP BUILD THE FUTURE!
BUILD’s volunteers are the supportive part of the “village” needed to keep youth safe and allow them to transition from the margins to the mainstream in our city and beyond.