Board

Officers

Alice Peacock, President. Singer/songwriter, recording artist

Hugh Haller, President and co-founder of Rock For Reading, is the President of the Camping and Education Foundation, which owns and operates two outdoor wilderness camps in Northern Minnesota www.koochiching.org, www.ogichi.org. In his spare time, Hugh manages the multi-talented artist, Alice Peacock, and splits his time between Chicago and Nashville with Alice and their menagerie of pets.

Paul Natkin, Vice President and Executive Director, is a nationally recognized music photographer. In his 35 years in the music business, he has photographed about 3500 musicians, over 100 album covers and over 100 magazine covers. His work can be seen at www.natkin.net.

Tony Bowker, Treasurer. COO of Goose Island Beer Company

Board of Directors

Terry Becker is owner of Wicked Magpie Productions which specializes in marketing, design, web and video for the entertainment industry. Education and reading have been ever-present in his upbringing as Terry’s mother Karen Becker is well recognized PhD in educating teachers how to teach reading. Terry’s wife Amy Becker is also an educator who teaches 5th grade and works with ELL students.

Jim Buske has worked in financial aid for almost 20 years leading up to his current position as the Scholarship Administrator in the financial aid office at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Besides his activities for RFR, Jim enjoys reading, watching his son play lacrosse and going to see Alice Peacock concerts.  He lives in Sun Prairie, WI with his wife, Stephanie, and son, David

Stephanie Buske teaches fifth grade in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin and is constantly amazed by the insight and humor of her students.  Stephanie is a passionate reader (mysteries and histories) and she wants her students to leave fifth grade as passionate readers, too.  Stephanie is especially proud of Rock for Reading’s commitment to putting books in the hands of young readers.  She lives in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin with her husband, Jim and son, David.

Amy Eshleman (Assistant Commissioner, Strategic Planning and Partnerships, Chicago Public Library)

Will Fletcher is a lawyer in the Illinois Attorney General’s Office – Special Litigation Bureau.  Will has previously worked as a lawyer for the City of Chicago’s Law Department, the Chicago Police Department, and in private practice.  A lifelong Chicagoan, Will lives in Lakeview with his wife and dog just a few blocks from Wrigley Field and his beloved Cubs.

Rich Gentile (President, Tempo Communications, Inc.)

Scott Jessee (Application Development Manager, CNA Insurance)

Amy Kaplan is a long time music business professional, working in promotion for several major record labels.

Brad Moore (General Manager, RedEye/Chicago Tribune)

Ted Moore (Director – Staffing, ADP)

Melissa Robbins Government Relations Manager:  K-12 and International Policy, DeVry Inc.

Melissa is responsible for the creation, implementation, and monitoring of the organization’s international government relations strategy.  Added to her international focus are her responsibilities in the K-12 landscape, following a deliberate external relations strategy that helps DeVry set industry standards in the secondary and international landscapes.
Prior to DeVry, Melissa worked for the Australian Government in its Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). As Public Diplomacy and Consular Officer she worked at the Australian Consulate in Chicago helping to maintain strong relationships between relevant US Government agencies and institutions and the Consulate within the Midwest.  Melissa is also a former principal of a private school in Chicago. She has taught in the Australian and American education systems in both elementary and secondary settings bringing a unique and international perspective to the board.
Melissa’s B.A and post graduate qualifications were both granted from the University of New England in Armidale, Australia.

Ralph Senst (Vice President, Global Alliances, IBM)

Emily Simon is an industry professional in arts administration with experience at leading arts and entertainment companies including Lookingglass Theatre Company, Jam Productions/Theatricals and Time Out Chicago. Most recently, Emily was the Executive Director of the Chicago Dance and Music Alliance following her role programming Looptopia, the dusk until dawn arts and cultural celebration

Cyndi Solitro (Marketing expert)

Debbie S. Wang is a senior stock analyst at the investment research firm Morningstar, where she specializes in the health care sector and biomedical devices. Before joining Morningstar in 2002, she was a Vice President and Senior Brand Planner at Leo Burnett, where she led brand strategy on such accounts as Allstate, McDonald’s, and Pfizer. Over the years, Debbie has volunteered many hours to dog rescue and adoption programs. When she’s not spending time with her son Isaac, she likes to knit and go salsa dancing with her husband David.

Associate Board (former Board of Directors members)

Susan Balaban

Joe Bogdan (Vice President, Business/Legal Affairs, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.)

Jennifer Bowker (Manager of Communications, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center)

Jeff Chardell (Consultant, Interactive and Digital Media)

Jeff Leshay serves as SVP, Public Relations & Corporate Communications, for Career Education Corporation (CEC).

Kevin Malover (Chief Technology Officer, Obama for America)

Neela Malover (former Account Executive for WTMX)

Bill Michlin

Jeff Peterson

Jen Peterson

Melinda Schramm

Michelle Soble

Dave Turner