MEET OUR TEAM: Experts in Financial Assistance & Housing Support
We provide help and hope for low-income families.
We are professionals, community leaders and volunteers dedicated to assisting underserved local families. We are committed to finding and connecting resources to build confidence, self-sufficiency and financial well-being in families.
Meet Our Staff
Beverly Worthington, MA, ACNP, Executive Director
Leveraging more than 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Beverly leads efforts to equip and empower low-income, working families at FamilyForward. Beverly joined FamilyForward in October 2024, motivated by a strong desire to strengthen communities. As executive director, she works to actively engage in the communities served by FamilyForward, focusing on lifting up the voices within these communities as we work to advocate for more equitable access to resources and create more security and belonging.
Sarah Harte, Program Manager
Sarah joined FamilyForward in May 2018. Her work experience includes Special Olympics, adult day services for people with dementia, and hospital-based day rehabilitation. She holds a master's degree in social service administration and she has volunteered at several social service organizations in Arlington Heights.
Pam Van De Walle, Case Manager
Pam has worked with students at the Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL), seniors in residential and home settings, and currently with the families of FamilyForward. During her time as a case manager at FamilyForward, she believes she has been educated, challenged and inspired to advocate for neighbors who are in need of not only financial mentoring, but guidance and support in their everyday lives.
Board of Directors and Committees
OFFICERS
Tim Wayman, Chair
Retired business owner
Greg Ford, Vice Chair
Retired assistant manager for the Village of Arlington Heights
Chris Farnsworth, Corresponding / Recording Secretary
Retired sales and forecasting coordinator
Tina Richards, Treasurer
Ex-American Red Cross instructor; community volunteer; ex-financial analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
MEMBERS
Jane Drezen
Vice President at Village Bank and Trust, Arlington Heights
Steven Gaus
Business Development Director, Palatine Chamber of Commerce
Doug Hall
Retired OMD USA Managing Director
Jim Mayer
Retired Kohler Company executive
Courtney T. Podkowa
Attorney at Drost Kivlahan McMahon & O’Connor (DKMO) law firm
Becky Reel
Founder, Reel Home Care Consulting
Claudia Starck
Arlington Heights realtor
Jennifer Strimling
Retired AT&T director
Chet Tambe
CEO, Avion Technology, Inc.
COMMITTEES
FamilyForward has five standing committees comprising board members and volunteers from the community. Contact us if you are interested in serving!
Advocacy
Greg Ford, Chair
Monitors low-income housing availability in our community and advocates with local government and others for additional affordable housing.
Finance
Tina Richards, Chair
Reviews our financial position regularly and develops the operating budget for the fiscal year. This committee also engages an outside accountant for an annual review.
Outreach
Jen Strimling & Jim Mayer, Co-Chairs
Works to establish and maintain relations with stakeholders such as churches, service clubs, local government bodies, chambers of commerce and local businesses.
Fund Development / Marcom
Claudia Starck & Kris Mainellis,* Co-Chairs
Plans and organizes annual events, sends a yearly appeal letter and seeks out new and innovative ways to raise funds. Plans and crafts newsletters and other communications, and curates website, social media, marketing and branding material.
* Not a member of the Board of Directors
BOARD MEMBERS EMERITUS
Donna Anderson
Educator and former chair of FamilyForward, formerly known as Faith Community Homes
Paul Cochran
Retired actuary
Lou Walton
Community activist
John Sonderegger
Retired International Minerals & Chemical Corporation executive; former chair and board member, Northwest Community Hospital Foundation
Associate Board
CO-CHAIRS, BOARD LIAISONS
Becky Reel
Courtney T. Podkowa
MEMBERS
Lisa Ballotti
Marketing Consultant
Kyle Bennett
Owner, Prosperity Launch
Celeste Cecchi
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Trainer & Consultant, Mosaic Consulting Service
Michael DeMeyer
Food Drive Coordinator,
Faith Feeds
Siddharth (Sid) Doshi
Solutions Architect, Avion Technology, Inc.
Kerri Grabowski
Real Estate Broker, The Ortman Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate
Rebecca Haltman
Real Estate Agent, Compass
Josephine Hamel
Attorney, Drost Kivlahan McMahon & O’Connor, LLC
Janelle Holda
EHSFP Manager, Northrop Grumman
Heather McCollum
Attorney, Lavelle Law
Brian O'Hara
Financial Analyst, Grainger
Paul Ohlson
Corporate Training Coordinator,
Elgin Community College
Dr. Tunde Olatunji
Chiropractor, Olatunji Chiropractor
Sandy Saikumar
Internal Audit Analyst, AbbVie
Daniellah Salario
Owner, Assisting Hands Home Care
Laurie Thomson
Vice President & Controller, Grainger
Vlad Vakher
Vice President/Branch Manager,
Village Bank & Trust
Sara Vasilev
LCSW, LifeChoice Hospice