Board of Directors

Paula Armstrong

Paula is one of the founders of Urban Initiatives' Soccer Ball and has served on the Party Planning Committee for the past seven years. She has extensive experience fundraising for both nonprofit organizations and political candidates. She has a B.A. in Public Relations and Human Development from Alabama. (Since 2013)

Steve Cole

Steve is the Founder and former President/CEO of Cash Station Inc. He is also a former President/CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. He is a Director of Online Resources Corporation, advisory Board Member of Reilly Partners, Board Member of The Cradle, and a Trustee of Northfield Mount Hermon. (Since 2012)

Bill Considine

Bill Considine is the Founder and Managing Partner of Considine Financial and has been a private and public for the past 20 years. He has been associated with a number of charitable organizations over the years, including an active Board role for the Starlight Gala of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. (Since 2007)

Patrick Croke

Patrick Croke is an attorney in the General Litigation group at Sidley Austin LLP. He received his J.D. with honors from Harvard Law School, an M.A. in economics from Georgetown University, and a B.S.F.S. from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. (Since 2012)

Thomas Dammrich

Thomas Dammrich is an Associate at the Chicago Law Firm, Grippo & Elden LLC, where he currently practices commercial litigation. He received his J.D. from Northwestern University. (Since 2003)

James Dower

James Dower is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Urban Initiatives. He serves as a coach and instructor for the Wilmette Wings Soccer Club and is a former substitute teacher in the Chicago Public Schools. (Since 2003)

Rochelle Edens

Rochelle Edens is a Director with the Financial Services practice group of Navigant Consulting. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Wayne State University and a M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. (Since 2011)

Connie Falcone

Connie Falcone is the V.P. of Development for Chicago Cubs Charities. Previously she served for five years as the Director of Finance and Development for Urban Initiatives. (Since 2011)

Lauren Florian

Lauren Florian is a Registered Dietitian and a Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist. She currently works for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as the Program Accreditation Manager. where she teaches people how rewarding living a healthy lifestyle can be. She has a Master of Science in Nutrition Education. (Since 2010)

Helen Friedli

Helen Friedli is a Partner in McDermott, Will & Emery, where she serves on the management and compensation committees. (Since 2003)

Emigdio Gamboa

Emigdio Gamboa is a Vice President of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club. He oversees all of the marketing and communication efforts for the Fire, including advertising, events, and community relations. (Since 2011)

ME Girgenti

ME has dedicated the past 17 years to philanthropic efforts for a variety of non-profit and educational organizations. She has extensive brand and advertising experience with such organizations as Kraft Foods, Citibank, Draftfcb, and Wunderman. ME holds a B.A. from Brown University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. (Since 2013)

Bethann Hester

Bethann Hester consults with the non-profit and government sectors, focusing on youth development, community-inclusion and poverty-reduction initiatives. She is the former Executive Director of Public Allies Chicago. (Since 2011)

Ralf Hilpuesch

Ralf Hilpuesch serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Storck North America. Storck, headquartered in Chicago, is part of August Storck KG, a privately owned confectionery manufacturer based in Berlin. (Since 2009)

Neil Hirshman

Neil Hirshman is a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis. Neil has a passion for sports and working with children - he has coached all three of his children in both soccer and basketball and was part of the initial group of Big Brothers, Big Sisters at Harvard Law School. (Since 2007)

Adam Hitchcock 

Adam Hitchcock is a Managing Director at Guggenheim Partners. Adam previously was the Chief of Staff of the White House Council of Economic Advisers and served as a Special Assistant in the White House Office of the Chief of Staff. He holds a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and a B.A. with honors from Indiana University. (Since 2012)

Kate McAdams

Kate McAdams is the Executive Director for the Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation. Kate is a lifelong Chicagoan and graduated with a B.A. in Anthropology from Yale University and will complete a Masters in Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 2012. (Since 2012)

Krish Mohip

Krish Mohip is the Principal at John A. Walsh Math and Science Academy. He is a former CPS teacher who received a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Loyola University. (Since 2009)

Ron Redd

Ron Redd is a Director at BMO Capital Markets. Mr. Redd is the Chairman of the Urban Initiatives Board and also serves on the Board of the Black Ensemble Theater and Avocet Polymers. (Since 2007) 

Katy Reichert

Katy volunteers for various not-for-profit groups and historically has been associated with local school boards, Mercy Hospital and The Cradle Associates. Prior to staying home to raise her family, she was an asset management specialist at Commodities Corporation and Goldman Sachs in the their Hedge Fund Strategies Group. (Since 2013)

Dasan Robinson

Dasan Robinson is a retired MLS professional soccer player. During his career he played with the Chicago Fire, Toronto F.C., and L.A. Galaxy. Now back in Chicago, Dasan is pursuing a career in coaching and works intimately with the children at Urban Initiatives. (Since 2008)

Ben Rodman

Ben Rodman is a Managing Director at D Cubed Group. Rodman also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Kohl Children’s Museum. (Since 2003)

Stacy Stutz

Stacy is an independent management consultant specializing in organization design & strategy for public and privately-held companies. She received her M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management and her B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Bradley University. (Since 2013)