Board of Directors
Eva Andalcio
Wynndalco
Genhi Givings Bailey
Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Perkins Coie LLP
Anne Barlow
Co-Founder, KV 265
Rosalyn Carpenter
Senior Vice President
Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Community Impact Officer, CommonSpirit Health
T. Robertson Carter
Civic Leader
Pedro Cervantes (dec.)
Eileen Chin
President, R. M. Chin & Associates
Carlos W. Cubia
Chief Inclusion, Equity, Diversity and Sustainability Officer, BHSH System
Paul Dilda
Head of Retail Strategy, BMO Harris Bank
Melissa B. Donaldson
Senior VP & Chief Diversity Officer, Wintrust Financial Corporation
Karen Fletcher
Vice President of Investor Relations, Illinois Tool Works
Douglas Freeman
President of Global Reflections & Inclusive Leadership Practice, UniWorld Group, Inc.
Scott Hoesman
CEO and Founder, inQUEST Consulting
Vida Hotchkiss
Director, Billing and Meter Reading Process, Nicor
Blake-Anthony Johnson
President and CEO, Chicago Sinfonietta
Michael Kohnen
Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking, US Bank
Althea Alviar Lee
Vice President, Talent, Methode Electronics, Inc.
Wendy Lewis
Civic Leader
Joyce Johnson-Miller
Chairperson & Chief Investment Officer, Pacific Gate Capital
Sanchit Madan
Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
Dr. Ebbie Parsons, III
Managing Partner, Yardstick Management
Felicia Gerber Perlman
Partner, McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Tonya Rice
Elections Vertical Strategy Leader, Amazon Web Services
Jacqui Robertson
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Cleveland Clinic
Clarita Santos
Executive Director, Health Care Service Corporation
Regynald Washington
Chief Executive Officer, RGW Enterprises
James Weidner
WaveMaker 360
Allyson Wynn
Founder and CEO, The Wynning Experience
Executive Committee
Jim Weidner, Chair
Genhi Givings Bailey, Vice Chair
Vida Hotchkiss, Treasurer
Tonya Rice, Secretary
Melissa Donaldson, Co-Chair, Development Committee
Felicia Gerber Perlman, Co-Chair, Development Committee
Douglas Freeman, Co-Chair, Nominating & Governance Committee
Althea Alviar Lee, Co-Chair, Nominating & Governance Committee
Karen Fletcher, Co-Chair, Capital Campaign Committee
Joyce Johnson-Miller, Co-Chair, Capital Campaign Committee
Blake-Anthony Johnson, Chief Executive Officer
Mei-Ann Chen, Music Director
Lifetime Trustees
Michelle Collins
Michelle joined the Chicago Sinfonietta Board of Directors in 1995 and became the chair in 2001. She served as chair until 2007. Michelle has been, and continues to be one of the orchestra’s most creative thought leaders and consistent and generous supporters. She was instrumental in hiring the new CEO Blake-Anthony Johnson. The Sinfonietta launched some of its most important initiatives under Michelle’s leadership including Project Inclusion, the chamber music series, and the SEED Program that serves high-school age student-musicians. Michelle is the Principal of Cambium LLC.
Tara Dowd Gurber
Tara served as the chair of the Chicago Sinfonietta board from 2007 – 2010 and stepped down from the board at the end of her term. She was an Executive Vice President at Health Care Service Corporation during this period and helped increase the company’s support of Sinfonietta during her time on the board. She retired from HCSC in 2011.
Phil Engel
Phil Engel served as President of CNA Insurance until he retired in 1999. A long-time supporter of and subscriber to Chicago Sinfonietta, Phil joined the board of directors in 2007 and served until late 2019 when he stepped down. Throughout his tenure Phil served as an officer of the board and as an important thought leader. He chaired the search committee that selected Mei-Ann Chen to succeed Maestro Paul Freeman.
Bettiann Gardner
Bettiann has been a stalwart supporter and leader for the Chicago Sinfonietta since the very beginning. She served on the Board of Directors early in the orchestra’s history and as chair of various committees and initiatives throughout her long and ongoing association with the Sinfonietta. Bettiann, and her husband Ed, have been instrumental in supporting our concerts, recordings, tours, and educational programs. We would not be here without their generous and ongoing support.
Weldon Rougeau
Weldon served as a founding member of the Sinfonietta’s board and as an officer and president of the organization during his long tenure. He and his wife Shirley have been long-time supporters of the Sinfonietta, even after his work took him to Washington, DC a number of years ago. Weldon served as the president and chief executive officer of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and is currently a Principal at Blank Rome in Washington, DC.
Audrey Tuggle
Audrey was recruited to the South Side Friends by its founder Betty Wilkens and began her work on behalf of the orchestra as a member and leader of this critical support group. She founded the Magical Holiday Breakfast ten years ago, the delightful fundraising event presented every December by the Friends at Navy Pier which has raised well over $250,000 in support of the orchestra’s educational and concert programs since its inception. Audrey chaired the Sinfonietta’s 20th Anniversary celebration in 2007 at the Civic Opera House and turned it into the elegant Ball that it has now become. She continues to support the orchestra through her leadership and volunteering.
Roger Wilson
Roger began his work on behalf of the Chicago Sinfonietta in 1987 as one of the original members of the Board of Directors, a position he held until 2005. During his tenure he served as a member of the Executive Committee as both Secretary and Treasurer. Roger also served as chair of the Gala and both raised and personally contributed significant funds that enabled the orchestra to grow and flourish. He is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.