Meet Our Board
Officers:
Zach Waickman (Board President) is the Biodiesel Lab Manager at Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Environmental Sustainability. He helped launch this student-run sustainable business within the University when he was while earning his bachelors degree, and later completed his MBA at Loyola as well. His work in sustainability over the past decade has focused on waste utilization, innovative product development, and green business operation. He is particularly interested in businesses that utilize local, traditional waste products to create community resources and jobs. Zach and his wife, Amy, have two young children (either attending or soon to be attending Community) and are thrilled to be part of Highland Park Community.
Heather McGinley (Vice President) is a chemist and project manager with diverse expertise and strengths working with and leading global, interdisciplinary, and cross-functional project teams. She is currently a Senior Consultant at Treximo. Heather’s two children are alums of HP Community.
Eva Lok (Secretary) is the mother of 2 boys who attended Highland Park Community. Eva joined the board because Community is an important partner for Highland Park and strongly believes in the values and teachings the staff provides to their kids. She is a Sourcing Manager for a consumer products company. Eva and her family moved from Chicago to Highland Park in 2014.
Andrew Bloom (Board Treasurer) Andrew is a Vice President at B. Riley Wealth Management. He has spent the past 21 years as a financial advisor helping individuals and families with their financial planning and investment needs. He previously was Vice President and Treasurer of his congregation in Deerfield. He was drawn to the mission of Highland Park Community and was happy to be nominated to the board by a past president of the organization.
Make a Difference
Become a Board Member and support Highland Park Community Early Learning Center (HP Community) which offers high-quality, affordable care and early education to all children in the community. All children deserve to thrive.
Members:
Sofia Alvarez is Executive Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources at Glenbrook High Schools District 225. Previously, Sofia held the role of Family Development Manager here at HP Community. Sofia is a resident of Highland Park, along with her husband, Pablo, and their two daughters, both alums of HP Community. She is a graduate of Millikin University (B.S.) and the Illinois Institute of Technology (M.S.).
Jennifer Luczkowiak, is a mother of three (all of who have attended HP Community) and a Highland Park resident. She is an Attorney and the Director of Development at Prairie State Legal Services. She grew up in Lake County and received her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and her law degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law. After graduating from law school, she spent three years at the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley serving homeless and runaway youth as an Equal Justice Works Fellow and Staff Attorney. She joined the HP Community Board of Directors because she believes having access to diverse affordable childcare is vital to a healthy community and an incredible asset Highland Park.
Sue Blumberg, Past Board President, is the Senior Vice President/Managing Director at NorthMarq Capital. Sue has been involved in the commercial real estate industry for 40 years. She is a founding member of the Real Estate Finance Forum since 1987 and a current member of CREW Chicago. Sue is a graduate of University of Iowa (BBA Financial Economics) and DePaul University (MBA Finance). In addition to providing leadership as the Board President of HP Community for many years, Sue also volunteers with several other Chicago charities.
Katie Wiswald (Past Board Treasurer) is a commercial and consumer lender at Highland Park Bank & Trust, a Wintrust Community Bank. She has spent the last 13 years in Highland Park focusing on community lending and serving the needs of local businesses and residents. She has previously served on the board of the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce as Assistant Vice President and is currently the chairman of the task force for the Ravinia Business District Alliance as well as an advisory member for the Ravinia District SSA.
Stephanie Bassill
Upcoming Meetings:
FY 2022 Board Meeting Schedule
July 27 – Committee Meeting
August 31 – Board Meeting
September 28 – Committee Meeting
October 26 – Board Meeting
November 30 – Committee Meeting
December – No Meeting
January 25 – Board Meeting
February 22 – Committee Meeting
March 29 – Board Meeting
April 26 – Committee Meeting
May 24 – Board Meeting
June 28 – Annual Meeting