The Board of Directors of Active Transportation Alliance (Active Trans)—a coalition of people working to make walking, biking, and transit safe and easy options for getting around Chicagoland—has chosen Amy Rynell as the organization’s next Executive Director.  

Amy Rynell is an experienced nonprofit leader with a demonstrated commitment to effecting social change. Most recently, she served as the Senior Director of Research & Policy at Heartland Alliance, working to advance human rights and champion human dignity by providing services and promoting solutions to achieve a more just global society. Rynell has held a variety of roles at Heartland over her 20-plus year tenure with the organization, including Interim Executive Director.

She is passionate about leading diverse, talented groups of people towards shared social change goals. As the next Executive Director at Active Trans, Rynell looks forward to the opportunity to blend her advocacy background with her strategic systems-level approach to address our most pressing social justice issues.

“My career has been focused on tackling the root causes of social problems toward a more just, equitable society. The core beliefs of Active Trans resonate deeply with that experience, my values, and how I live my life. Having safe, viable transportation options is so vital for livability, access to opportunity, community connectedness, and beyond. Mobility matters. I began my career writing about why social workers should care about transportation planning; it is an honor to pivot back to support bold change in this arena.”

-Amy Rynell

Rynell holds a Master’s degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame. She has served as an Obama Foundation Scholar, Mentor, and Strategist, and served on the State of Illinois Hunger Commission and the Human Services Commission. She is an avid user of public transit, an active cyclist, and loves to hike.

After Active Trans’ Board of Directors hired KEES as its executive search partner in Fall 2019, a comprehensive national search was launched, attracting many qualified candidates, both from Chicago and nationwide. The board’s search committee recommended Amy Rynell from an exemplary group of finalists to the full board, where unanimous approval was given to Rynell.

“Active Trans’ advocacy for walking, bicycling, and public transit lies at the intersection of the most critical issues of our day, including climate change, equity, and health. The speed of change and disruptive factors impacting the transportation sector pose both challenges and opportunities. Amy is a leader who will help our organization build a movement for the positive changes that will create more equitable, healthy, and sustainable communities.”

– Peggy Reins, President of the Active Trans Board of Directors

Active Transportation Alliance is one of the largest, most effective advocacy organizations promoting walking, bicycling, and public transportation in the U.S. Founded in 1985, it carries out an ambitious advocacy mission with the goal of creating healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities. The organization is rooted in the core beliefs that basic mobility is a civil and human right. For more information, please visit www.activetrans.org.

“Active Trans took great strides forward in advancing its mission by the approach and depth of the search. The search committee made an excellent choice in Amy. Amy is poised to lead Active Trans and the communities it serves forward with a steadfast commitment to promoting sustainable transportation in a fair and equitable manner.”

-Heather Eddy, KEES President and CEO

KEES is a retained executive search and consulting firm that builds transformative teams and leaders. Founded in 2013 as an expansion of Alford Executive Search, KEES partners specifically with nonprofit organizations to provide an array of executive search, leadership development, interim staffing and human resources support. For more information on our many services, please click here.

JCFS Chicago is pleased to announce that Judd Holzman will be joining the JCFS team as its next Vice President and Chief Development Officer.

Judd Holzman is a passionate fundraising professional with more than a decade’s worth of experience scaling philanthropic programs at multifaceted organizations. Most recently, Holzman served as the Director of Advancement for the Chicago Region of the American Jewish Committee. Previously, he was Director of Philanthropic Leadership at the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. Holzman holds a Master of Science in Anthropology & Development Studies from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  He also studied religion at the University of Oxford as a year-long Visiting Student.

“I’m very passionate about JCFS Chicago’s mission, and I look forward to joining their team. Far too many people are falling through the cracks in our society.  Millions of children, adolescents, and adults lack access to the services and care they need in order to be supported and thrive in society. JCFS Chicago is addressing these urgent needs using innovative and comprehensive approaches, and doing so through a Jewish lens, applying the important values of Tikkun Olam and Hesed.”

-Judd Holzman

JCFS Chicago retained KEES as its executive search partner earlier this year. A comprehensive search was launched, and the Interview Committee, led by JCFS Chicago President and CEO Howard Sitron, ultimately selected Judd Holzman from an exemplary group of top finalists.

KEES is a retained executive search and consulting firm that builds transformative teams and leaders in the nonprofit sector. Founded in 2013 as an expansion of Alford Executive Search, KEES partners with organizations to provide an array of search, leadership, interim staffing, fundraising and human resources support.

The mission of JCFS Chicago is to provide help, healing, and caring services infused with Jewish values to strengthen lives in our community. JCFS Chicago offers individualized help to support people of all ages and abilities as they strive to live successfully in their community, while enhancing social-emotional well-being for adults, children, teens, families, and individuals with disabilities — regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, ability, gender, or sexual orientation. To learn more about JCFS Chicago, visit www.jcfs.org.

The Board of Directors of Educare Lincoln, an early learning school in Lincoln, Nebraska serving over 150 children from birth to five years old and their families, has unanimously approved the hire of Quentin Brown as its next Executive Director.  

Quentin Brown brings over 15 years of experience in youth-focused nonprofits. Since 2015, he has served as State Director of Communities in Schools of Virginia – the Virginia network of the nation’s leading dropout prevention organization. Quentin previously served in additional roles throughout the Communities In Schools (CIS) network, including Executive Director of CIS Hampton Roads, Program Director of CIS of Richmond, and Site Coordinator of CIS of Richmond. He has also been an adjunct faculty member at Tidewater Community College’s Norfolk Campus since 2014.

“During my career, I have come to realize that the amount of effort required in moving students toward life-long success is greatly impacted by the supports provided to them during ages 0 – 5. Student success is my passion, and Educare is a beacon of hope for students and families, a trainer of quality educators, and a proven model that demonstrates positive outcomes.”

-Quentin Brown

Quentin has a Master’s in Public Administrations from Strayer University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administrations from Virginia Commonwealth University. Quentin recently relocated from Virginia to Nebraska to step into the leadership role at Educare Lincoln, and officially started in the Executive Director role in July 2019.

Educare Lincoln’s Board of Directors retained KEES as its executive search partner in November 2018. A comprehensive search was launched, attracting a large number of candidates across the country. The Search Committee ultimately selected Quentin Brown from an exemplary group of top finalists.

“Quentin brings a wealth of experience and insight to his role as Executive Director of Educare Lincoln. Most importantly, he listens well and approaches children, families and community members both as a learner and as a highly skilled professional eager to contribute to the public good.”

-Marjorie Kostelnik, Educare Lincoln Board Chair

KEES is a retained executive search and consulting firm that builds transformative teams and leaders in the nonprofit sector. KEES was founded in 2013 as an expansion and growth of Alford Executive Search and works with client partners across the country.

“As I’ve gotten to know Quentin over the past year, I have learned something new every time I talk to him. He will undoubtedly bring Educare new ideas and vision for its future, building on the school’s core strengths and offering the city of Lincoln a fresh and enthusiastic perspective.”

–Heather Eddy, co-founder and President/CEO of KEES

Educare Lincoln’s mission is to provide high-quality, comprehensive early learning programs and supports for its community’s most vulnerable children and families, particularly families living in poverty. Co-located on the Belmont School site, Educare Lincoln offers specialized early learning environments for children from birth to age five. The school addresses all areas of learning – social, physical, language and cognitive, using evidence-based practices that support early skill development and nurture strong parent-child relationships.  All of these factors undergird children’s later success in kindergarten and in life.

Opened in 2013, Educare Lincoln operates through a partnership among the Lincoln Public Schools, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the Buffett Early Childhood Fund. Educare Lincoln is part of a national network of effective early childhood education schools. Nationwide, the network boasts 24 schools built on research from early childhood development, education, social work and other allied fields.

KEES and The Board of Directors of DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform, an organization that improves the lives of vulnerable people in DuPage County by leveraging relationships and knowledge to build an effective and efficient health and human service system, has unanimously approved the hire of David Roth as its next Executive Director.

Roth succeeds Candace McCarthy King, who has led the Federation since its inception in 1995, collaborating with community partners to build a powerful force for improving well-being in DuPage County and beyond.

David Roth is a human services leader with over 25 years of experience in leadership, advocacy/policy, and community development. Most recently, David was a Policy Analyst at the Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY). However, the majority of his career was spent at Lutheran Child and Family Services (LCFS), where he held multiple roles over the last 20 years including Vice President of Church and Civic Engagement, Director of Advocacy, Director of Public Policy and Community Development, and Director of Community Services. David also directed the Youth Shelter Network at The Night Ministry.

David holds a Master’s degree in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago and a BSW from Valparaiso University. He is an active volunteer in his community of Oak Park, giving time to Housing Forward, BUILD Chicago and West Side Health Authority Good Neighbor Campaign.

“I believe that everyone ought to have an opportunity to be a full member of our community, and that human services—done well—are crucial and essential contributors to our well-being. The Federation´s work aligns with the core skills of my career: convening leaders in order to create a vision for change that is clear, unifying and hopeful, and to advance the vision into concrete actions that improve policy, expand services, engage stakeholders, and unify collaborators.”

-David Roth

DuPage Federation’s Board of Directors retained KEES as its executive search partner in late August 2018. A comprehensive search was launched, attracting a large number of candidates across the Midwest. The Search Committee, consisting of members Kathleen Rush (Vice President with GovHR USA), Carol Simler (President and CEO of DuPagePads), Jan Kay (Illinois League of Women Voters), Kara Murphy (President of Access DuPage), Michael Williams (Director, Human Resources at Ball Horticultural Company), and Tammy Pressley (Northwestern Medicine), ultimately endorsed David Roth from an exemplary group of top finalists.

“Leading this search has been a privilege and one further step in the Federation strengthening the network of providers in DuPage and surrounding counties. We are eager for David to come aboard and begin to partner with the Board and Council of Community Leaders in defining the future and evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of the county.”

-Kathleen Rush, Search Committee Chair

The DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform (The Federation) is a nonprofit planning and change management organization founded in 1995 that has been intimately involved in the development of the health care safety net and has helped expand the health and human services system to better meet the needs of the area’s changing population.

“The Federation is uniquely positioned in DuPage County and a model for other diverse communities. The Board, Search Committee and staff were amazing partners. David Roth brings the right mix and style to take the organization from where it is at, to where it wants to go.”

-Heather Eddy, KEES President and CEO