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Board of Directors

The members of our governing board are passionate about the mission of OHU and have a deep desire to see the families, youth and communities we serve succeed and grow. Our board of directors oversees our financial growth, programmatic, and fundraising activities. Their years of experience across multiple business sectors and their unique life experiences contribute to our success.

Board of Directors
CJ Hoffman

Christopher Hoffman

Chair

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

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Scott Moeller

Scott Moeller

Vice Chair

GI Supply, Inc

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Carmela Griffin

Carmela Griffin

Secretary

Interiors for Business

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Garrett Johnson

Garrett Johnson

Treasurer

BMO Wealth Management US

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Anthony Austin

Anthony Austin

Member

Danimer Scientific

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Courtney Brooke

Member

Courtney Brooke Coaching

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Frank M. Clark III

Frank M. Clark III

Member

GEG, LLC

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Deanna Freise

Deanna Freise

Member

SAP Fieldglass

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Jerry Haralson

Jerry Haralson

Member

The Haralson Group

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Jeremy Harvey

Jeremy Harvey

Member

Capacity Building Center for States

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Patrick Kingston

Patrick Kingston

Member

Tyson Foods

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Janelle Okerenimkpe

Janelle Okerenimkpe

Member

Phoebe A. Hearst Fine Arts Magnet School

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Steve P. Sorenson

Steven P. Sorenson

Member

Allstate Insurance

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Jeffrey L. Williams

Member

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dave-young

Dave Young

Member

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RJ-Young

RJ Young

Member

Allstate Insurance

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Board of directors

Life Directors

The Board of Directors appoint distinguished former members as Life Directors, recognizing their exemplary service. Life Directors, having held leadership roles and made significant contributions, serve in an advisory capacity for OHU throughout their lifetime.

  • Bill Beck, Life Director, Chair Emeritus
  • Theresa Dear, Life Director, Chair Emeritus
  • Paul Earle, Life Director
  • Ermit L. Finch, Life Director
  • Clarke Robinson, Life Director, Chair Emeritus
  • Toni Sandor Smith, Life Director, Chair Emeritus
  • Edgar Santiago, Life Director, Chair Emeritus
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CJ Hoffman

Christopher Hoffman

Christopher Hoffman of Chicago served as assurance partner for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (retired), serving clients in the greater Chicago market and across the Midwest. He has over 30 years of experience in public accounting and serving clients in a variety of industries. Chris has served as audit partner on multi-location private companies, private equity portfolio companies, large public and private universities, multi-hospital systems and family-owned businesses. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Iowa where he currently serves on the Tippie College of Business Advisory Board.

Scott Moeller

Scott Moeller

Scott Moeller joined One Hope United’s Board in 2008 with a commitment to providing enhanced opportunities to children and families. Throughout his career, he has consistently contributed and served in leadership roles in different areas of the nonprofit community. Beyond nonprofit work, Scott leads the quality and regulatory teams at GI Supply, a medical device firm serving physicians and surgeons in more than 40 countries. He is known for growing and transforming organizations to deliver improved customer satisfaction and brand value by utilizing customer and employee centered business processes. Scott holds an engineering degree, an MBA in Industrial Management with Magna Cum Laude distinction and several professional certifications. In addition to spending time with his wife Becky and two adopted children, Scott enjoys cycling and racing sailboats. 

Carmela Griffin

Carmela Griffin

Since retiring as a commercial designer from Interiors for Business throughout Chicagoland, Carmela Griffin is currently enjoying many activities and hobbies in retirement, including golf, tennis, hiking, ballroom dancing and volunteer work. Carmela was born and raised in Canada, graduating from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts in Computing and Economics. She worked in the computer field while raising two sons before moving to Chicago.

Garrett Johnson

Garrett Johnson

Garrett Johnson has served on the One Hope United Finance and Investment committees since 2016. He oversees the Ultra High Net Worth and Alternatives Banking teams at BMO Wealth Management U.S. and is responsible for overseeing the creation, marketing and delivery of the bank’s wealth solutions to private equity firms and individuals across the country. His industry expertise includes private equity structures, fund banking mechanics, fund lending, and a variety of human capital disciplines, including compensation, vesting, tax strategies, and carried interest. Garrett is skilled at strategic planning, business development, and adept at relationship management and various types of private equity management company & general partner co-invest financings. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration-Accounting from Morehouse College.

Anthony Austin

Anthony Austin

Anthony Austin is a Human Resource executive with extensive experience in transforming the HR value proposition through driving trust, innovation and business process improvements linked to business strategies to aid in the achievements of enterprise objectives. He is known for “best in class” organization building, change management, innovative leadership, organization alignment and dramatically upgrading talent at every level of the organization. He is currently working as Chief Human Resource Officer at Danimer Scientific. Anthony holds an undergraduate degree in business management and an MS in labor relations from the University of Oregon. His passion for uniting families begins with his two adopted children.

Courtney Brooke

Courtney Brooke is a life coach who helps people break free from limitations and embrace self-love, empowerment, and growth. Growing up in foster care, Courtney faced challenges that taught her the true meaning of resilience and determination. These early experiences became the foundation of her passion for life and her commitment to helping others achieve their dreams. She uses her journey through the foster care system as a source of inspiration, showing others that it is possible to live boldly and reach one’s full potential regardless of past circumstances.

Prior to becoming a full-time life coach, Courtney worked in marketing, digital marketing and social media. Her branding expertise reshaped businesses through strategic insight and innovative approaches. This background in crafting compelling narratives and engaging audiences enriches her coaching, enabling her to connect deeply and effectively with her clients. She empowers her clients to lead lives filled with joy, purpose, and success, demonstrating that overcoming obstacles is not just possible but can be the catalyst for profound personal achievement.

Frank M. Clark III

Frank M. Clark III

Frank M. Clark III is an experienced business builder and senior operational executive. He has deep expertise in the areas of operational leadership, sales leadership and M&A. Over his 20-year executive career, Frank has led and mobilized teams in hyper competitive corporate and entrepreneurial cultures. Additionally, he has built successful businesses in large matrixed corporate environments, such as RR Donnelley, where Frank held the position of Corporate Vice President reporting to the COO. He has also been the Senior Vice President and Corporate Strategy head for Hoshizaki America. He currently is Chairman and CEO of CEG, LLC a lower middle market private equity firm. Frank sits on several for profit and nonprofit boards including Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, IIT, SG360, and University of Chicago Medical Center. He has an MBA in Finance and Marketing from IIT and a BS in Economics from Northern Illinois University. Frank resides in Chicago.

Deanna Freise

Deanna Freise

Deanna Freise is the Vice President of Product Management at SAP Fieldglass, a cloud-based, open external workforce management and services procurement platform. Deanna oversees a global team that is responsible for the forecasting and planning of enhancements and new products, evangelizing the software, documenting product and release plans, managing the product life cycle and providing support to internal teams on feature use.

Jerry Haralson

Jerry Haralson

After retirement from a 35-year career of program director and presidencies in the YMCA movement, Jerry Haralson established The Haralson Group, which assists YMCAs and other non-profit organizations with strategic planning and fundraising, of which he currently is the President. Jerry is a member of NAYDO and has led numerous workshops on fundraising and strategic development plans. Because of his experience as CEO of one of the largest YMCAs in the country, Jerry relates well to CEOs, key volunteers and all levels of YMCA fundraising professionals. Therefore, he is a sought-after motivational speaker and seminar leader in the area of fundraising, endowment and strategic planning. Jerry is very proud of his family: his wife of 50 years, Susie, and three beautiful daughters, Melissa, Amy and Heather. He and Susie now have seven grandkids who all call him “Big Jer.”

Jeremy Harvey

Jeremy Harvey

Jeremy Harvey is an experienced child welfare leader and innovator, with a lifetime of experience in child welfare. In addition to a demonstrated history of success leading innovation, Jeremy has the benefit of lived experience, having spent 20 years growing up in the Illinois foster care system. Using resources and support, he graduated from college at Northern Illinois University and earned a graduate certificate from Loyola University. Jeremy has dedicated his career to improving the child welfare system that he grew up in, empowering youth voices and applying a two-cent solution: “A sense of urgency and common sense.”

Jeremy began his career working in Cook County, IL with the Public Guardian’s Office assisting in the legal representation of children in both Child Protection and Juvenile Delinquency. After seven years, Jeremy moved into a leadership role within the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, serving as the Associate Deputy Director of Strategy and Innovation. While with IDCFS, he led the agency to receive $38M in Title IV-E Demonstration Waiver Funding and established a five-year strategic plan. With these initial successes, Jeremy was promoted to Deputy Director, where he led in the creation of Management Dashboards and oversaw a project targeted at reducing child deaths and maltreatment, a project that within 18 months of implementation saw every team succeed in reducing their rate and making an impact on the state outcome. Jeremy was promoted again to the Deputy Chief of Staff to support the re-visioning of the prevention program known as INTACT with the support of University of Chicago’s Chapin Hall. Jeremy was promoted again to Chief Accountability Officer where he oversaw 68 programs, all federal granting incoming and all outgoing state grants. There he launched a new grant management system (Amplifund), successfully filed $28M in claiming to FEMA for COVID-19 relief and launched a public private grant opportunity generating $3.5M in funding to improve the continuum of care for young adults in Illinois. Before departing, Jeremy served under four Directors, received four promotions and was recognized internally and externally as a leader of change.

In late 2020, Jeremy took a new role with the Capacity Building Center for States where he currently serves as the Federal Region 5 Liaison supporting states in addressing critical systemic challenges to improve systemic outcomes. Within his first year as the Liaison, Jeremy managed 11 states, 11 projects and 30 consultants focused on improving and building the capacity of states and jurisdictions. As his career continues to grow, Jeremy has also taken leadership roles in targeting, improving and addressing race equity and disproportionality within foster care.

Patrick Kingston

Patrick Kingston

Patrick Kingston was first introduced to One Hope United in 2016, and his passion for the cause drove him to join the Illinois Ambassador Board before being elected to One Hope United’s Board of Directors. Patrick is a Senior Customer Development Leader for Tyson Foods with an extensive background in the CPG and Foodservice industries. He has over 25 years of experience ranging from customer development, sales strategy and planning, innovation and marketing. Patrick holds an MBA and bachelor’s degree from Stetson University. He enjoys staying active in the community, has a passion for Chicago sports and is an avid adventure-seeker.

Janelle Okerenimkpe

Janelle Okerenimkpe

Janelle Okerenimkpe is currently the Principal of Phoebe A. Hearst Fine Arts Magnet School. As a principal, Janelle is committed to ensuring that every child in her school receives a rigorous, high-quality education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Howard University, and a master’s degree in elementary education from Northwestern University. 

Steve P. Sorenson

Steven P. Sorenson

Steven P. Sorenson is executive vice president, Corporate Business Transformation. Since joining Allstate in 2000, Steven has held key leadership roles in a variety of areas throughout the organization. He served as a product senior vice president with product management responsibilities for three of the company’s fourteen regional operations. In 2002, he was given responsibility for co-leading the entire field operation. In 2007, Steven was promoted to executive vice president, Protection Distribution, and joined the Allstate senior leadership team. He took on the role of executive vice president, Product Operations, in 2008. In 2017, he stepped into the role of executive vice president, Allstate Brand Operations, where he was responsible for driving Allstate’s strategy to provide outstanding customer and agency service and support across the U.S. and Canada. He took on the role of executive vice president, Corporate Business Transformation, in December 2019. 

Prior to joining Allstate, Steven was a general manager at Progressive Insurance Company with responsibility for several Midwestern states. He also was an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company, working in their Chicago, Houston and London offices.

A native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Steven holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Strategy from the University of Chicago and a BA in Economics from Harvard University. Steven also serves on the boards of the Foglia YMCA in Lake Zurich, Illinois and the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. He and his wife, Geri, have six children and live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. 

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Jeffrey L. Williams

Bio coming soon!

dave-young

Dave Young

Dave Young is a Medical Device Business Consultant. He has served in Finance, Marketing, and General Management roles within the medical device industry throughout his 25-year career. Dave has worked with Cardinal Health, CareFusion, and Becton Dickinson and most recently served as Chief Operating Officer for Northfield Medical, a private equity-owned service and repair provider in the surgical equipment market. Currently, Dave consults for the medical consumable product industry while also offering pro bono support to several non-profits in the Chicago area. Dave has been a volunteer and supporter of One Hope United since 2017. He received a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

RJ-Young

RJ Young

Now retired, RJ Young had a successful 35-year career with Allstate, beginning in 1971 after graduating from college with a B.S. in Mathematics. Over the years, RJ was an Assistant Vice President in Sales, a Regional Vice President, Vice President of Pricing, Marketing Officer, Chief Strategy Officer and the Distribution Officer overseeing Allstate’s sales agencies throughout the U.S. and Canada. RJ was also Chairman of Allstate Canada, Allstate New Jersey, Allstate Florida and an Allstate Bank Director.

While serving as Allstate’s lead actuary in their property and casualty business unit, RJ became a Fellow in the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. 

He lives in Inverness with his wife, Judy. They have three sons and five grandchildren. He has many interests that keep him busy including reading, traveling, biking and golf. He loves and enjoys almost all Chicago sports teams.