Executive Committee
RON CLEWER, CHAIR
Ron Clewer is the Principal at Tipping Point Consultancy specializing in community development, strategic leadership and hands-on support to help mission-driven organizations thrive. Ron provides executive leadership, board and governance advising, organizational assessment, and growth strategy – always grounded in the realities of community-based work. With a deep understanding of affordable housing, economic development, and nonprofit finance, he partners with organizational boards and leadership to strengthen operations, navigate transitions, and align mission with long-term sustainability while centering equity and community impact. In March 2026, Ron was named the first Executive Director of Rockford-based PlatformGROUP and serves as CEO for aligned nonprofit partners ZION Development Corporation and Northwest Neighbors, creating a coordinated housing leadership structure focused on expanding affordable housing and neighborhood stability across Rockford. Clewer began these roles after departing his position as a National Market President for Gorman & Company where he specialized in downtown revitalization through collaborative urban development, dedication to the preservation of affordable, public, rural, and workforce housing, and the adaptive repurposing of historically significant properties. Ron joined Gorman & Company after collaborating on several projects with the organization as the CEO of Rockford Housing Authority. He has more than 20 years of multi-use real estate development and asset management experience. He earned his Business Administration degree from Benedictine University and holds an Executive Leadership certificate through a partnership between the University of Michigan and the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities. Ron resides in Rockford, Illinois.
CATHERINE BAKER, FAIA, VICE CHAIR
Catherine Baker, FAIA is an architect and the founder of Nowhere Collaborative, a woman-owned and place-based architecture practice formed in 2022 that addresses sustainability, incremental development, and community-based design. Her work is rooted in the intersection of the social and technical disciplines of architecture. Catherine has over thirty years of experience in community-based design in Chicago and she is now focused on applying this experience to understanding people and problems, making connections, and formulating equitable solutions to the development and design of buildings and built environments in a rural context. Catherine is an adjunct professor at IIT, regularly participates in design juries, and has been invited to speak at local and national conferences on housing and community-based design. She was a member of AIA’s delegation to the United Nation’s Habitat III in Quito, Ecuador, and she has presented on community-based design at the Danish Architecture Center in Copenhagen, Denmark.
KORINNE SMILLIE, TREASURER
Korinne Smillie has spent nearly 12 years at the accounting firm of Plante Moran, beginning her tenure there in 2012 as an assurance intern while studying at the University of Illinois. Korinne has been promoted four times, from Assurance/Tax Staff to now Partner in the tax arena, a position she has held for nearly three years. Terri Salas, Landmarks Illinois Treasurer and Principal in the Housing and Community Development Solutions Group at Plante Moran, identified Korinne as a Plante Moran colleague that she would welcome on the board. As Terri approaches her mandatory sunset year from the board in 2026, we feel that it is important to cultivate the next Treasurer and to maintain our close relationship with leading preservation tax firm Plante Moran.
FRANK BUTTERFIELD, INTERIM PRESIDENT & CEO
Frank joined the Landmarks Illinois staff in 2013, first as Springfield Office Director before taking over as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 2021. As COO, Frank oversaw Landmarks Illinois’ day-to-day operations statewide, was responsible for the organization’s sound financial management and ensured it hit its strategic goals. Frank was appointed the Interim President & CEO in July 2026 and will serve in this role through the Board of Director’s hiring process for the permanent President & CEO. Prior to joining Landmarks Illinois, Frank worked as director/field officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the Wisconsin Field Office and held positions with the Roger Brown Study Collection and DePaul University in Chicago. Frank has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Boston College and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
JEAN FOLLETT, SECRETARY
Jean Follett is a historic preservation consultant who has served in volunteer leadership positions with the Village of Hinsdale, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Gaylord Building Historic Site and Landmarks Illinois, amongst many others. Jean was elected to her fourth, six-year board term in 2024 recognizing her professional experience, wisdom and innovative thinking in contributing to Landmarks Illinois’ organizational transformation. She has chaired the Preservation Issues Committee and twice led the organization’s strategic planning processes. She has served as Interim President at LI twice, most recently in 2011. With a B.A. in the history of architecture and planning from Brown University and a Ph.D. in American and New England studies from Boston University, as well as a long-time passion for historic preservation, Jean continues to be a tremendous resource for Landmarks Illinois.
GARY ANDERSON, Member-at-Large
Gary Anderson is the Founder of Studio GWA, a Rockford-based architectural firm working across Illinois and the Midwest Region. Gary was elected Chair of the Landmarks Illinois Board of Directors for 2022-2024 and served as Vice Chair from 2019-2021 before sunsetting from the board for one year. He most recently co-chaired Landmarks Illinois’ DEI Collaborative. Gary envisioned a career in which he could combine his passion for architecture with community activism and revitalization. His interest in historic preservation, sustainability, reinvention, and renovating historic structures has shaped and defined the firm’s quality of work as well as its reputation. He founded what is today Studio GWA in 1982 and continues to maintain and service many of those decades-long client relationships – a testament to his philosophy of caring, understanding, and commitment. Gary shares his knowledge, love of local history, and passion for the community in which he was born and raised by leading summer walking and biking architecture tours of downtown Rockford. Gary was awarded the 2020 Citizen of the Year by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce and the 2021 Excalibur Award by the Rockford Register-Star for his community advocacy. He has also been an Illinois AIA Gold Medal recipient.
ERIC DEXTER, Preservation Fund and Easements Committee Chair
Eric Dexter is Senior Vice President of Berglund Construction’s Restoration Division, leading the team and overseeing multiple initiatives. He specializes in a wide range of job scopes, including restoring significant buildings to bring them back to their original glory. Eric believes that no amount of education or training can ever teach you what you learn from watching the work performed in the field and listening to people with many years of experience. In addition to being a Landmarks Illinois board member, Eric has been an active member of the Skyline Council of Landmarks Illinois for over ten years. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors at Glessner House. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture Degree, with Honors, and a Minor in Construction Management at IIT in Chicago. Eric resides in La Grange, Illinois.
MARIAH DIGRINO, OUTSIDE PRO BONO COUNSEL, MEMBER-AT-LARGE
Mariah DiGrino is a partner in Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres’ Real Estate Practice. Mariah concentrates her practice in land use and zoning, public-private financing, public incentives, historic preservation, and community and economic development. She represents developers of complex development projects in all asset classes and mixed-use developments, including sports and entertainment facilities, industrial and data center developments, market-rate and affordable housing, and office and retail projects. She advises on annexation, development, zoning, and subdivision approvals, negotiating and implementing public-private development and financing arrangements, and securing incentives that support transformative projects. Mariah has extensive experience guiding large-scale developments from planning through approval and execution. Her work includes securing zoning and incentive approvals for major redevelopment projects across Chicago, negotiating agreements with public agencies at all levels of government, including Amtrak, Metra, Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Park District, Lake County Housing Authority, and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development. She also has experience representing clients in circuit court and appellate court proceedings successfully defending against challenges to entitlement approvals. Prior to joining the firm, Mariah was a partner at DLA Piper where she led numerous significant development projects, including representation of the Chicago Fire in the entitlement and development of the Endeavor Health Performance Center and the acquisition and development of its new stadium, redevelopment of the former Michael Reese Hospital site into Bronzeville Lakefront, the restoration and redevelopment of the historic Old Main Post Office, and major mixed-use redevelopment projects such as Pullman Park and Southbridge. Her work has also included securing approvals and incentives for the redevelopment of Navy Pier, the renovation of Willis Tower, and the restoration of the historic Uptown Theatre.
ALYSSA FRYSTAK, REINVESTMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR
Alyssa Frystak is a Principal at the Washington D.C.-based firm, PlaceEconomics. As a national and international firm, PlaceEconomics provides data-driven analysis of the economic, demographic, and catalytic impacts of historic preservation. They also specialize in policy, tools, and incentive development that responds to community needs. In her role, she is responsible for data acquisition and preparation, methodology development, and analysis, and is well versed in GIS, census data, municipal data, and various other data resources. She was the Chair of Skyline Council from 2022-2024, where she was the project team lead for the Valentine’s Day Event and Youth Programming initiatives. She is also a former Landmarks Illinois intern (2018), where she assisted with the Most Endangered and Richard H. Driehaus Awards programs.
LISA YUN LEE, Board Development Committee Chair
Lisa Yun Lee (BA, Bryn Mawr College, PhD, Duke University) is the Executive Director of the National Public Housing Museum, an Associate Professor of Public Culture and Museum Studies in the UIC School of Art & Art History, and teaching faculty with the Prison and Neighborhood Arts/Education Project at Stateville Correctional Center. A cultural activist, Lisa researches and writes about museums and diversity, cultural and environmental sustainability, historic preservation, and spaces for fostering radically democratic practices. She served on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s and Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Arts & Culture Transition Teams and Mayor Lightfoot’s Commission for Monuments, Memorials, and Historical Reckoning.
ZEB MCLAURIN, FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Zeb McLaurin is President of McLaurin Development Partners. He is an entrepreneur whose work and thought leadership have created nationally recognized developments for urban communities and Fortune 500 companies. Zeb credits his humble beginnings as the spark that sustains his work in the development and revitalization of marginalized neighborhoods. He is a visionary leader whose accomplishments have been recognized by the NFBPA, Illinois Governor, Illinois State Treasurer, Mayor of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, and Chicago Housing Authority.
JACKIE MONTESDEOCA, MEMBER-AT-LARGE
Jackie Montesdeoca is a Senior Director with Enterprise Community Partners, a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing housing supply, advancing racial equity and building resilience and upward mobility. In her current role, Jackie is leading efforts to transform multifamily affordable housing development practices, with a focus on climate resilience and decarbonization. Prior to her work at Enterprise, Jackie spent 14 years in residential energy efficiency and electrification program design and implementation. She also previously served as a consultant with MacRostie Historic Advisors and interned for Heritage Consulting and the World Monuments Fund. She has a bachelor’s degree in architecture and Spanish from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Pennsylvania.
SARA PHALEN, DEI COLLABORATIVE CHAIR
Sara Phalen, J.D., is the Director of the West Chicago City Museum and Warrenville Historical Museum & Art Gallery, the Co-Founder and Board President of People Made Visible, and the proprietor of 140East, a National Register Historic Home community project in rural Illinois. For over 20 years Sara has worked towards equity in local history and preservation, including partnering with area artists for redevelopment and community engagement projects. Sara received a B.A. in Anthropology and a B.A. in English from the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana. She received a J.D. from Northern Illinois University College of Law and holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from North Park University.
JAY ROWELL, Preservation Issues Committee Chair
In 2020, Jay Rowell launched Hire360, a Chicago-based organization that strengthens underrepresented populations in Illinois by providing connections to opportunities and career paths in the hospitality and trades industries. HIRE360 is a unique partnership between organized labor, philanthropic groups such as the United Way and some of the largest contractors and developers in Chicago. As its Executive Director, Jay continues to raise millions of dollars to fund pre-apprenticeship training for candidates and capital loans that support MBE/WBE firms. Since its inception, Hire360 has placed more than 400 people in every trade union in the Chicago area. Jay lives in Oak Park with his wife and two daughters.
JUDY TIGHE, MEMBER-AT-LARGE
A native of Jacksonville, IL, Judy Tighe is an SIU-C alum with a BS in interior design. Prior to owning her own design business for 12 years, she was a drafter and designer for engineering and architectural firms in Colorado and Illinois. Judy was also a freelance writer for an online interactive newsletter when becoming the Jacksonville Main Street manager in 2001. Currently the longest-serving director in Illinois, she became a Certified Main Street Manager and was voted Executive Director of the Year by cohorts in 2006. Judy served on the Illinois State Historic Sites Advisory Council, Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Council, and as a Certified Local Government grant reviewer. She has helped Jacksonville Main Street earn National Main Street Accreditation for 23 years plus over 40 Lt. Governor Awards in Excellence in Downtown Revitalization, 3 Richard Driehaus Preservation Awards, a Governor’s Hometown Award, and the Great American Main Street Award in 2012. She has helped downtown Jacksonville become a National Register Historic District as well as encouraged over 50 building renovation projects. She currently serves on the Illinois Main Street Advisory Council and boards of the Jacksonville Enterprise Zone Development Corporation, Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Chamber, Looking for Lincoln, Jacksonville Area Museum, Land Bank Advisory Committee, and Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission.
SARAH VAN DOMELEN, MEMBER-AT-LARGE
Sarah Van Domelen is a professional engineer and Associate Principal for Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE), where she specializes in historic building envelope restoration. Since joining WJE in 2010, Sarah has worked on various projects involving historic and contemporary buildings. She has completed numerous field investigations, including facade inspections, condition surveys, water leakage testing, and structural investigations. Sarah has also made repair recommendations and developed restoration details for various types of construction, including steel, reinforced concrete, and masonry structures. She has extensive experience with historic building components including brick, stone, and terra cotta masonry; wood and metal windows and curtain walls; and slate, sheet metal, and built-up roofing systems. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Association for Preservation Technology (APT) International, secretary of the APT Western Great Lakes Chapter, and a member and former secretary and vice chair of the Skyline Council of Landmarks Illinois.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JOSEPH ANTUNOVICH, FAIA, MEMBER-AT-LARGE
Joseph M. Antunovich, FAIA is the Chief Executive Officer & Founder of Antunovich Associates, a dynamic 100-person Architecture, Planning and Interior Design Firm with offices in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Austin, and Buffalo. Joe also has specialized in the design of historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects that celebrate the rich urban context and history of cities across America. Over the years, Joe has participated passionately in a number of significant preservation projects that have ensured that our marvelous historic buildings are preserved for future generations. Joe is a native of New Zealand and earned a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Southern California.
RACHEL FIRGENS
Rachel Firgens has over a decade of experience in managing complex historic tax credit projects and advising teams on obtaining financial incentives for the rehabilitation of a variety of historic properties across the country. She worked previously with Chase and as a Manager with MacRostie Historic Advisors (now Ryan LLC), in Chicago and Washington, D.C., specializing in the eligibility of properties for rehabilitation and design standards. Rachel also worked with Higgins Quasebarth and Partners, LLC in New York City consulting on historic tax credit, New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, and special projects.
YANET GARCIA
Yanet Garcia, a market leader in the real estate industry, is a Vice President at Related Midwest. Garcia is passionate about reimagining the way construction and development can benefit local communities and is recognized as a leader in creating transformative programs that provide opportunities for emerging businesses. Underscoring her commitment to community-focused investment and engagement, Garcia is a key member of the team leading the AIA Award-winning rehabilitation of the historic Julia C. Lathrop Homes on Chicago’s North Side and the ongoing redevelopment of Roosevelt Square, a multiphase project that will ultimately bring 2,000 mixed-income units to Chicago’s Near West Side. During her time at Related Midwest, Garcia has helped create a framework that champions representation at every level of the organization, fostering a culture in which all voices are heard and valued. She also co-leads Related Midwest’s small business mentoring program, which helps entrepreneurial companies develop skills and relationships that empower them to achieve new levels of success. Garcia, a licensed architect with expertise in design, development and construction, was named as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ 2024 Notable Latino Leaders. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Garcia is dedicated to community service and serves as an executive trustee for the National Museum of Mexican Art. She has also served on other boards including the Center for Changing Lives, City of Aurora CDBG and Society of Hispanic Professional Architects, and was previously Commissioner for the Aurora Housing Authority. Garcia is a founding member of Arquitina, a national nonprofit that seeks to increase the representation of Latina architects, who currently comprise just 1% of licensed architects in the U.S., and is an authority in the award-winning anthology book, “Latinas in Architecture.” She graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in architectural studies and from Northwestern University with a Master of Science in executive management for design and construction.
JEFFREY GOULETTE, PRESERVATION FUND AND EASEMENTS COMMITTEE CHAIR
Jeffrey P. Goulette is co-founder of SGW Architecture & Design and serves as its Design Principal. Throughout SGW’s 30 years, Jeff has specialized in the design of multi-family residential developments, and his award-winning work has been featured in national and local publications, as well as on HGTV. He’s a member of the Chicago Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago, the Congress for New Urbanism, and the Association of Licensed Architects. Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Michigan.
DEON LUCAS
Deon P. Lucas is a Chicago-based licensed architect whose work is grounded in community, partnership, and real-world impact. An architect from the West Side of Chicago and a graduate of Tuskegee University, he came back to the city with a clear goal of utilizing architecture to make a meaningful difference in the neighborhoods he knows firsthand. His work focuses on low- to moderate-income communities across the South and West Sides including Englewood, South Shore, Garfield Park and North Lawndale, where he partners closely with local organizations, small business owners, and community leaders. Rather than working in a traditional, top-down way, Deon takes a collaborative approach, helping clients move their ideas from concept to reality while staying grounded in their original vision. A big part of his role is guiding people through the development process, especially those doing it for the first time. That means helping navigate funding, design decisions, permits, and construction, while keeping projects realistic and aligned with their mission. He often acts as both architect and advisor, making sure projects do not just look good on paper, but actually get built and succeed. His portfolio reflects a strong focus on authenticity. The work is shaped by the people using the space, the culture of the neighborhood, and the economic realities on the ground. Many of his projects support local entrepreneurs through small business spaces, food-based concepts, and flexible community environments. At the core of his work is alignment making sure the project, the partners, and the purpose all match. Through that approach, Deon uses architecture as a practical tool to support community-led development and long-term neighborhood growth.
CHELSEA MEDEK
Chelsea Medek joined BTL Architects, Inc. in 2024 where she continues her architectural focus on historic preservation, specializing in the restoration and rehabilitation of building façades and envelopes. Before BTL, she worked at AltusWorks, Inc., as a Preservation Architect, designing architectural solutions for the historic preservation of building envelopes and façades and conducting historical research, site inspections and creating field documentation to support the development of the appropriate architectural solution. She also worked at the firm Klein and Hoffman as an associate from 2010-2018.
MERCEDES MILEY, AIA, NCARB, LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE, CPHC®
Mercedes Miley, AIA is President and Director of Farr Associates, a women-owned architecture and urban design practice with expertise in historic preservation, community engagement, and resilient, high-performance buildings and places. Mercedes co-founded the Chicago Parent’s Forum, a networking and skill-building enterprise for parents in the AEC industry, was recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as a “40 Under 40”, serves on AIA Chicago’s Housing Reform Task Force, and has led notable preservation projects such as Lawson House, Pullman’s Historic Hotel Florence, and Hyde Park Neighborhood Club. She also co-founded Home 42, a development company focused on preserving attainable rental units in Chicago’s South Side communities. Mercedes received a master’s degree in urban design from UC Berkeley and holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Oklahoma State University. A transplant from Oklahoma, she has called Chicago’s South Side home since 2018 and lives in Pullman with her young family.
BRAD MULAY
Brad Mulay serves as Vice President and Commercial Account Manager for Chicago Title Insurance Company, National Commercial Services, in Chicago. He joined the company in 2006 and has been a perennial Million Dollar Club company award recipient every year since. Brad manages a diverse customer portfolio, which includes large institutional lenders, Fortune 500 companies, developers, multi-family, agricultural, industrial, federal, city, and county governmental entities, publicly traded REITs, and major law firms. Brad prides himself on delivering a value-added single-source solution through dedication and hard work. He strongly advocates for his clients through effective internal and external communications. With this value-added approach, he has successfully closed various complex single and multi-site transactions. Brad is also active in several professional organizations, including the Real Estate Investment Association (REIA) and Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA).
MAGDALENA NOVOA ECHAURREN, DEI COLLABORATIVE CO-CHAIR
Magdalena Novoa Echaurren is an Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Magdalena’s engaged scholarship focuses on the intersections of historic preservation and social justice, cultural heritage and memory policies, gender and deindustrialization, grassroots organizing and alternative planning approaches in the Americas. A native of Chile, her interest in historic preservation and cultural heritage as a resource for community development has been a sustained topic of her academic and professional experience in diverse international contexts. She worked in the UK at the Sorrell Foundation and Open City Foundation managing youth participatory planning and design programs and she was Head of the Education and Outreach department at the National Monuments Council. She co-founded Aldea, an international NGO dedicated to fostering community engagement in urban and rural development. Dr. Novoa also works as a consultant in several preservation projects in the Americas and is currently co-producing the Cairo, Illinois African American Heritage trail together with local community organizations, institutions, and partners thanks to an Illinois Social Innovation grant. Magdalena received her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. She also holds an M.A. in Arts and Cultural Management from the London School of Communication, a B.A. in Fine Arts from Pontificia Universidad Cat61ica de Chile, and a B.A. in Education from Universidad Gabriela Mistral. She resides in Champaign, Illinois.
LAUREN PACHECO
Lauren M. Pacheco is a third-generation Mexican American born and raised on the southwest side of Chicago in the Brighton Park neighborhood. She is an arts and culture practitioner with two decades of professional experience in arts administration, curation, and project management. Her expertise is grounded in social practice and public engagement with a personal mandate to responsibly and respectfully invest in targeted communities. Pacheco has become a resource to policymakers and has helped engage in the public dialogue about issues that impact artists and creative enterprises. She is co-founder of the Chicago Urban Art Society, the Chicago Lowrider Festival, and, from 2012 – 2015, Pacheco developed and curated the award-winning public art initiative, ‘Art in Public Places’ along the 16th street viaduct in Chicago’s Pilsen community. Additionally, Pacheco serves as curator for #PAINTGARY, an initiative bringing over 40 public art pieces to Downtown Gary’s historic Broadway Avenue. She serves on the Chicago Creative Reuse Exchange (CCRx) executive board. She has received grant funding from the Knight Foundation, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Legacy Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, and the National Association for Latinos Arts and Cultures. Pacheco has presented and guest lectured with Creative Mornings Chicago, the Association of Arts Administration Educators, Illinois Institute of Technology’s School of Architecture, Pratt Institute, the University of Chicago, Michigan State University, and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, among others. She holds degrees from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL (Communication Studies), School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Arts Administration and Policy), and the University of Illinois at Chicago (Social Work). Lauren lives in Gary, Indiana, with her husband, Phil, and their two pit bulls, Sam and Max.
DIANA SHOTT
Diana Shott is the President and CEO of Resource Bank, N.A., the last remaining locally owned community bank in DeKalb County, leading a team of over one hundred eighty employees throughout fifteen, and soon to be sixteen, locations. She first joined the bank in 1987 as the Director of Marketing, where her talents and dedication propelled her to ever-increasing roles and responsibilities. She joined the Board of Directors in 2008, became CEO in 2016, and President in 2022. Growing up in Genoa, IL, Diana’s roots run deep within the community she serves and continues to call home. She is a proud alumna of the NIU College of Business, and she remains a driving force behind Resource Bank’s mission to empower and support small towns and our local communities.
KORINNE SMILLIE
Korinne Smillie has spent nearly 12 years at the accounting firm of Plante Moran, beginning her tenure there in 2012 as an assurance intern while studying at the University of Illinois. Korinne has been promoted four times, from Assurance/Tax Staff to now Partner in the tax arena, a position she has held for nearly three years. Terri Salas, Landmarks Illinois Treasurer and Principal in the Housing and Community Development Solutions Group at Plante Moran, identified Korinne as a Plante Moran colleague that she would welcome on the board. As Terri approaches her mandatory sunset year from the board in 2026, we feel that it is important to cultivate the next Treasurer and to maintain our close relationship with leading preservation tax firm Plante Moran.
MARTIN C. TANGORA, LIFE DIRECTOR
Martin Tangora is a retired associate professor of mathematics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He consults on architectural history and has been active in Chicago preservation issues since 1971. He has a B.S. from the California Institute of Technology and a PhD in mathematics from Northwestern University.
RABBI ROB THOMAS
A native of Jacksonville, Illinois, Rabbi Rob Thomas (Rabbi Rob), is the Founder and CEO of Team Cymru, a global computer and network security company, and is also Managing Director of WW2 Armor, a museum based in central Florida that provides fully operational World War II armor for reenactments and other educational events. Rabbi Rob served in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman attached to Marine Corps units, and is a venture capitalist who also initiated a fund to foster startups in Jacksonville, Illinois. Rabbi Rob and his wife, Lauren (from Chicago), purchased a home in Jacksonville in 2022; they continue to spend their time between Illinois and their home in Florida. They have three children.
SWASTI SHAH
As Director of Community Engagement for the Chicago District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), Swasti directs ULI Chicago’s policy initiatives and technical assistance for local communities. Under her leadership, ULI Chicago has engaged hundreds of ULI members and community partners in transformative initiatives to make the Chicago region more vibrant, equitable, and sustainable. These include partnerships with the National Trust and the City of Chicago to make it easier to repurpose Chicago’s older buildings with new uses, the net-zero initiative to reduce carbon emissions in existing buildings, and an initiative to legalize ADUs. Prior to ULI Chicago, Swasti worked at HNTB Corporation managing plans ranging in scope from neighborhoods to large metropolitan regions and addressing a range of issues such as land use, transportation, urban design, and economic development. Swasti has a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor’s in Architecture from Jadavpur University, India. She is a member of the American Planning Association and Lambda Alpha International -Chicago Region Chapter, and serves on the City of Evanston Healthy Buildings Accountability Board.
EMILY TRIBBIA
Emily Tribbia has over a decade of experience as a marketing professional in the AEC industry, most recently as Clayco’s Director of Pursuits. In this role, she oversees the complex marketing and business development efforts that helped strengthen the firm’s national design-build reputation. Driven by a passion for the built environment, her expertise centers on orchestrating high-performing teams and leveraging narrative to enhance brand equity. This professional commitment extends to Landmarks Illinois, where her service history includes chairing the Skyline Council’s Engagement Committee and a current seat on the Marketing Committee. Emily is a graduate of Purdue University.
ROBERT TUCKER
Bob Tucker became President of the Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) in January 2025, after serving as Interim President since November 2022. He first joined CCLF in June 2015 as the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Programs. As President, he leads operations and provides strategic vision and leadership to ensure CCLF executes its business plan and fulfills its mission to provide flexible, affordable and responsible financing and technical assistance for community stabilization and development efforts and initiatives that benefit low-to-moderate-income neighborhoods. Prior to joining CCLF, Bob was the Corporate General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer for Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS), where he oversaw all legal operations and developed strategies for managing and minimizing risk. Before NHS, he as a Partner at the law firm Chapman and Cutler LLP where he represented numerous lending institutions, corporations, and not-for-profit organizations and also served as the law firm’s Pro Bono Chair. From 2011-2019, Bob served as an elected Village Trustee on the Village Board of Oak Park, Illinois. Bob also has been a Freelance Writer for the Chicago Sun-Times and Pioneer Press providing restaurant reviews and chef profiles. He has extensive experience in credit analysis, working with a wide variety of loan products, and structuring complex financial and lending transactions, including matters involving bonds, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, New Markets Tax Credits, and Tax Increment Financing. Bob has a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, WI and a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.