Chicago Area Residents Join Executive Service Corps of Chicago

May 13, 2010 - PRLog -- Kris E. Bazos, a resident of Chicago’s South Loop, comes to ESC with over 20 years of professional sales and senior management experience within the Telecommunications, IT and Software industries. She has served as Regional Vice President of Sales and General Manager of Sales for AT&T and held various sales leadership positions with Unisys, MST and other technology based companies. From this career history, Bazos brings to ESC deep knowledge in annual giving campaigns, strategic planning and executive transition management, which will be utilized to strengthen nonprofits and public agencies in the greater Chicago area. Active in her community, Bazos currently serves as a fundraiser and co-chair for the US Run for the Cheetah through the Cheetah Conversation Fund of Namibia, Africa, a volunteer for PAWS Chicago and previously was PR Finance Director for St. Basil Academy in Garrison, New York.  

Jean Chang, a resident of Kenilworth, joins ESC with a diverse background in biomedical research in academia, pharmaceuticals and most recently in the financial field, serving as a Financial Planning Representative for World Financial Group. Throughout her more than twenty years professional experience, Chang has gained extensive experience in project management, grant writing and education which will be invaluable to ESC as well as the nonprofits and public agencies we assist to improve their management, governance and leadership. Active in her community, Chang volunteers with the Winnetka Thrift Shop, the North Shore Senior Center and is utilizing her fluency in Chinese with the 2010 Census as a recruiter and examiner.  

Arthur I. Holmberg, a resident of Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, came to Chicago in 2007 after 31 years in the State of New York’s Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, most recently serving as COO, and has since been a consultant in this field on major projects for the states of Illinois and California. Holmberg brings to ESC and the organizations with which we work deep expertise in general management, leadership coaching, organization studies, and various aspects of human resources. Continuously active in his community, Holmberg previously served as a Board of Education Member for the New Hartford Central Schools of New Hartford, NY, as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused or neglected children, and as a certified mediator for Mediation Matters, serving individuals, families and courts. Since coming to Chicago, Holmberg has volunteered in early childhood programs for the Chicago Public Schools.

James S. Lemonides, a resident of Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood, joins ESC as the Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Northwest Chicago Development Corporation, where for thirty years he has steered community economic development initiatives. From this extensive experience, Lemonides brings to ESC, and the nonprofits and public agencies with which we work, deep knowledge and skill in strategic planning, grant writing, workshops and seminars and leadership coaching. In addition to his nonprofit career service, Lemonides currently serves on the advisory board for the Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management, on the advisory steering committee for the Austin Initiative and is a Charter Board Member for the Harris Bank Neighborhood Lending Review Board.

Theodore E. Lobman, a resident of Kenilworth, comes to ESC with more than 30 years of professional experience in philanthropy and education, currently as Principal of HLS Philanthropic Advisors. Having served as a foundation president, program officer, and scholar for new initiatives with various philanthropic and educational organizations, Lobman brings to ESC and the nonprofits and public agencies with which we work expertise in grant reading, education and various aspects of marketing. Previously Lobman served on various boards for professional associations as well as nonprofits, most recently serving on the Executive Committee and as Chair of the Evaluation Committee for Pivot Learning Partners.

Steven Steinfeld, is a resident of Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood. Joining ESC with over 30 years of experience in the domestic and global technology sectors, Steinfeld has held distinguished positions with IBM, Ameritech, Corliant and most recently served as Sales Director for UTStarcom before retiring in 2009. From this deep experience, Steinfeld brings to ESC and the nonprofits and public agencies with which we work, expertise in marketing, sales, multi-unit management, workshops and seminars, various aspects of human resources and computer systems, as well as knowledge of designing and conducting trainings. Steinfeld was presented with the 2008 Man of the Year Award by the Jewish Men’s Club Midwest Region for starting a new Men’s Club in Chicago’s western suburbs and his related fundraising activities. His additional community involvement includes developing continuing education workshops in sales skills for Olive-Harvey College of Chicago and serving as a Volunteer ESL Teacher for the Poder Learning Center of Chicago.

Drew Suss, a resident of Deerfield, brings to ESC more than two decades of experience coaching and consulting business leaders. Since 1995 he has served as Principal at Catapult Leadership Communications LLC, focusing on improving the leadership and communication skills of senior executives. Translating this experience to work with ESC’s nonprofit and public agency clients, Suss brings broad knowledge in general operations as well as this expertise in leadership coaching. Active with international for-profit clients in several different industries, Suss also serves on the membership committee of the Chicago Coach Federation and provides pro-bono coaching services to the Orphan Foundation of America.

In joining ESC, these new volunteers join a consultant corps of over 270 volunteers who offer the expertise, skills and knowledge they developed through long-time leadership careers to equip nonprofits and public agencies with insights and guidance to provide the best in programs and services for the constituents they serve. Operating for more than 30 years as Chicago’s largest nonprofit consulting firm, ESC provides these vital leadership, management, governance and transformation services to public libraries, schools, community health providers, park districts, arts and culture organizations, municipal agencies, philanthropic organizations and more, serving 150+ clients annually. Services are delivered at a cost far below market-rate thanks to the contribution of over 23,000 hours of time and expertise each year from volunteer consultants, in addition to the generous financial support of foundations, corporations and individuals. With ESC, nonprofit organizations and public agencies are able to improve their operations and organizational well-being, and in turn are better able to provide quality programs to the people and communities they serve as part of the 900,000 area residents ESC clients serve every year.

To learn more about each of these volunteers, ESC and the organizations we have worked across the greater Chicago area, contact Bill Cosper at (312) 580-1840 x322 or bill.cosper@esc-chicago.org.

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ESC was founded by a group of corporate executives who were eager to use their decades of experience to help Chicago nonprofit and public sectors. ESC's founders knew that these organizations were fulfilling important community needs, but also realized that they all too often did not have the management or governance to sustain their missions and deliver services to their constituents. Utilizing the talents of retired leaders in the business, nonprofit and educational fields, ESC offers an unmated reservoir of talents, skills, and knowledge that could be enlisted as volunteers to help in meeting those needs. Over thiry years later, ESC is the largest nonprofit consulting organization in the Chicago area, serving over 150 nonprofits and public agencies annually. In turn, ESC’s clients are better able to understand, plan for, and meet the needs of the hundreds of thousands of area residents they serve every year.