Board & Leadership

"Power of the Group"

The CARA community is based on the concept of "Power of the Group". It is the entire CARA community that comes together to make our work possible and impactful.

As a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, CARA is led and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, as well as a variety of committees and member leadership groups.

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Get involved by checking out our volunteer page.

Board of Directors

Committees

Executive Committee

• Chair: Kerl LaJeune (President)

• Staff Lead: Greg Hipp

• Additional Members: Jill Ciminillo (Vice-President), Tom Klimmeck (Treasurer), Jeff Zidell (Secretary), Vacant (Past-President)

• Charge: The Executive Committee includes the Board of Directors President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Out-going President, and at most two (2) other Directors appointed by the President. Subject to such limitations as may be imposed by the Board of Directors, these Bylaws and applicable law, the Executive Committee may exercise all of the authority of the Board of Directors at such time as the Board of Directors shall not be in session.

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Nominating Committee

• Chair: Jeff Zidell

• Staff Lead: Greg Hipp

• Additional Members: Dan Daley (member), Ron Thomas (member), Vacant (Board of Directors)

• Charge: The Nominating Committee prepares and maintains a slate of qualified candidates for all open directorships and the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The members of the Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee shall consist of five (5) persons as follows: A Committee Chair, who shall be an officer who is not a candidate for any office; two (2) directors who are not candidates for any office; two (2) members of the corporation who are not officers or directors nor candidates for any office.

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee

• Chair: Kerl LaJeune

• Staff Lead/s: Greg Hipp, Dominique Sabbs

• Additional Members: Enrique Anguiano, Gayle Bobo, Evelyn Cato, Jill Ciminillo, Brace Clement, Patrick LaBelle, Andrea Yao, Alexandra Yeung, Roman Warren, Lewis Williams

• Charge: Leading, advocating, and assisting in efforts to realize CARA’s mission with a commitment to equity, inclusiveness and elevating diverse voices. As well, to realize CARA’s mission to provide equitable access to opportunities in organized running throughout Chicagoland, with a focus on underserved communities and persons of color.

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Development Committee

• Chair: Darren DeMatoff

• Staff Lead: Greg Hipp, Declan Murray

• Additional Members: Tony Fiore, Ann Marie Phaneuf

• Charge: Provides a centralized resource for donor giving opportunities. We create and ensure the success of fundraising initiatives advancing CARA’s nonprofit mission.

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Racing Committee

• Chair: Erika Edmonson

• Staff Lead: Greg Hipp, Tori Cappoziello

• Additional Members: Nick Bensen, Lance Caldwell, Brett Geschke, Scott Mangum, Beth Onines, Doug Pearson, Brian Sweney, Jeff West, Chris Willis

• Charge: The Racing Committee oversees the selection of races, scoring, and awards for the CARA Runners' Choice Circuit.