Board of Directors

William Considine

William is the founder and Managing Partner of Considine Financial and has been a private and public investor for the past 20 years. William is eager to work with kids in the inner city and 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.

Thomas Dammrich

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

James Dower

Jim is a Co-Executive Director and Co-Founder of Urban Initiatives. He serves as a coach and instructor for the Wilmette Wings Soccer Club and is a substitute teacher in the Chicago Public Schools.

Rochelle Edens

Rochelle is an Associate 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.

Connie Devers Falcone

Connie is the Community Affiars Manager of Fundraising, Development and Events for the Chicago Cubs. She previously served for five years as the Director of Finance and Development for Urban Initiatives. She also served for 12 years as Executive Vice President at Devers Group Inc., where she co-founded the firm’s private equity investment practice. She holds a B.A. from Colorado College, a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School, and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. Connie serves on the Peacebuilders Advisory Board at the Catholic Theological Union, the Board of Trustees of LaLumiere School in LaPorte, Indiana, and the Advisory Board of the Rush Neurobehavioral Center.

Lauren Florian

Lauren is a Registered Dietitian and a Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist. She currently works for Escape 2 Fitness as their Director of Corporate Relations where she teaches people how rewarding living a healthy lifestyle can be. She received her undergraduate degree from University Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and is recently completed her Master of Science in Nutrition Education degree form Rosalind Franklin University.

Helen Friedli

Helen is a Partner at McDermott, Will & Emery, where she serves on the management and compensation committees.

Emigdio Gamboa

Emigdio 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.

Bethann Hester

Bethann consults with the non-profit and government sectors, focusing primarily on youth-development, community-inclusion and poverty-reduction initiatives. An advocate for access to education through national service, Bethann is an alumna of Public Allies Chicago where she held progressive staff management roles with the community-leadership organization after her service term and ultimately served as Executive Director. Bethann also volunteers with The Leadership Practice and on Board of the Asian American Action Fund of Greater Chicago. She is a graduate of Northwestern University.

Ralf Hilpuesch

Ralf serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Storck USA, L.P. Storck, headquartered in Chicago, is part of August Storck KG, a 106-year old, privately owned confectionery manufacturer based in Berlin. Ralf and his wife, Jutta, reside in Wilmette with their three children Johanna, Julian, and Leo.

Neil Hirshman

Neil 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.

Daniel Isherwood

Dan is a Co-Executive Director and Co-Founder of Urban Initiatives. He is also a substitute teacher for the Chicago Public Schools and serves on the Junior Board for Boys Hope Girls Hope.

Krish Mohip

Krish was born and raised in Skokie, IL.  He began his career teaching in the Chicago Public Schools.  During this time he also attended Loyola University of Chicago and received a Master's Degree in Educational Administration.  While working in the Chicago Public School he served as a Kindergarten teacher, Science and Technology Coordinator, Assistant Principal, and Principal.  He is currently the Principal at John A. Walsh Math and Science Academy. 

Ron Redd

Ron is a Director at BMO Capital Markets. He is the Chairman of the Urban Initiatives Board of Directors and also serves on the Board for the Black Ensemble Theater and Avocet Polymers. 

Dasan Robinson

Dasan is a defender for the Chicago Fire. Dasan works intimately with the children at Urban Initiatives and is on the program's development committee. Dasan is a former defender for the Chicago Fire.

Ben Rodman

Ben is a Managing Director at Chicago-based private equity group, Valor Equity Partners. Mr. Rodman also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Kohl Children's Museum.