Our Foundation

Phoebe Helm

Chair
Phoebe Helm has spent more than 40 years in education, teaching and administering programs kindergarten through graduate school. The majority of those years were in community colleges, most recently including Vice Chancellor for Economic Development and Vocational Education in the California Community Colleges Cahncellor’s Office; President of Truman College in Chicago, and President of Hartnell College in Salinas, CA. She has served on national and local boards including President of the National Association of Developmental Education; Chair of the American Cancer Society Chicago Community, and Secretary of the Park Tower Condo Association Board.

Shawn McCullough

Vice Chair
Shawn is an attorney and CPA with the law firm of Harrison & Held, LLP. He concentrates his practice on trusts, estates, charitable planning, and private foundations. Shawn is a graduate of Indiana University and earned his JD at Chicago-Kent College of Law. He is an active member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council and the Chicago Bar Association.

Charles Katzenmeyer

Secretary
Charles Katzenmeyer is the Vice President of Institutional Advancement a the Field Museum. In this role, he oversees Museum-wide development, government relations, and a membership community of 50,000 households. From 2002 to 2013, Charles was senior vice president for external affairs at the Adler Planetarium. Previously, he was Chief Development Officer at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Earlier in his career, he served as campaign director at the Field and held development positions at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the American Bar Association, and Northwestern University, all in Chicago. Charles received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where he also attended college. He was elected chair of the Development and Membership Professional Network of the American Alliance of Museums. Additional current volunteer commitments include House Corporation Board President for Delta Tau Delta Fraternity at Northwestern. Mr. Katzenmeyer is a past president of the Northwestern Alumni Association and a past member of the University’s Board of Trustees. He has been active in the past with AboutFace Theatre Company, American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Chicago House, Social Service Agency, Cloud 42 Theatre Company, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Doorways (St. Louis, MO), Howard Brown Health Center, Inspiration Corporation, Roycemore School and Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

Renée N. Duba

Treasurer
Renée has enjoyed a successful career as a wealth advisor for over 30 years. She works with individuals, families, and business owners to provide financial solutions that build and maintain financial well-being. She strives to address all aspects of financial health and takes a holistic approach to financial management.

After studying music theory/composition at Western Illinois University on a full scholarship, Renée earned her B.A. in Finance from DePaul University in Chicago.

Rachael Carbone

Board Member
Rachael Carbone is the Chief Development and Operations Officer at Chicago Scholars, where she spearheads fundraising and communications efforts to realize the organization’s vision. With 15 years at Heartland Alliance, including as Senior Director of Development, Rachael demonstrated a fervent commitment to human rights and equity, surpassing fundraising targets and leading a dedicated team. Her deep passion for equity and leadership development brought her to Chicago Scholars, where she envisions a more equitable and prosperous future for the city’s young leaders through education. Rachael, with a BA in International Service and Humanities from Valparaiso University and an MPA from Indiana University, has been devoted to service since her early years as a peer tutor. Outside work, she cherishes time with her wife and son, maintains global connections with family and friends, and explores diverse cultures through travel, all while relishing the vibrant offerings of Chicago.

Taylor Champion

Board Member

Taylor has over 15 years of wealth management experience working with high-net-worth families, businesses, and not-for-profits. He served as Investment Officer at Byline Bank Wealth Management and was responsible for overseeing the overall investment strategy for the firm’s assets under administration, which were in excess of $700 million. He now focuses his time as a Senior Portfolio Manager at Chesley, Taft & Associates working directly with clients on investment management and financial planning needs.

Taylor is a CFA® charter holder and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. He is a member of the CFA Society of Chicago, Chicago Estate Planning Council, and Greater North Shore Estate Planning Council. In his free time, he enjoys watching movies, golfing, and spending time with his wife and two young children.

Katie Fox

Board Member
Katie is a Vice President Wealth Management Advisor at TIAA. She works with individual and institutional clients to develop plans to address a broad range of needs, including retirement, investment, income and estate planning needs. Katie earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Virginia Tech and has obtained the Certified Financial Professional (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designations. Katie lives in Old Irving Park with her husband, daughter and Labrador retriever. During her free time, Katie enjoys traveling, dining out and listening to live music.

Ethel Kaplan

Board Member
Ethel Kaplan is currently the Principal of Kaplan Consulting and Mediation Services. She is engaged in charitable consulting for donors and small charitable organizations just getting started. She does mediation for the Small Claims Court of Will County. Previously, she worked as a Trust Officer and Senior Vice President of The Chicago Trust Company, a Wintrust Wealth Management Company. She served in that position for nearly 20 years, retiring in 2021. Ethel is a Cum Laude graduate of Occidental College. She holds Masters and PhD degrees from Harvard University in English and American Literature and a JD cum laude from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Ethel serves on the board of the Chicago Council on Planned Giving. In addition, she serves on the Professional Advisory Boards of Lurie Children’s Hospital, The Chicago Botanic Garden, and Hadley,(previously known as Hadley School for the Blind).

Maureen Miller

Board Member
Maureen is a Wealth Advisor at Doyenne Wealth Advisors, a women-owned holistic financial planning firm headquartered in Chicago that offers investment management advice as well as cash flow, tax, and estate planning services. Maureen is a CFP® professional and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in economics and German language. She is also a member of the associate board of the Merit School of Music in Chicago.

Peter Moore

Board Member
Peter is the Artistic Director and a founding ensemble member of Steep Theatre Company, a 22 year-old Chicago cultural institution that has been producing in the Edgewater community since 2008. As an actor, he has performed in numerous productions at Steep; worked with other Chicago companies including Steppenwolf, Writers Theatre, Route 66, Jackalope, and the Goodman; and has numerous TV & film credits. Pete served as a board member of the League of Chicago Theaters and is currently a member of the Lakewood Balmoral Residents’ Council. He is a graduate of Bowdoin College and The School at Steppenwolf.

Gus Noble

Board Member
Gus Noble, President of Chicago Scots, the oldest 501c3 non-profit in Illinois, oversees Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care. Born in Dundee, raised in the Scottish Borders, and a U.S. citizen since April 2018, Gus worked at the British Consulate General and operated the Welsh Assembly Government’s office in Chicago. Awarded the National Tartan Day Award in 2021, he also received an OBE for services to Scottish culture in the USA. A GlobalScot, Gus serves on the Rosehill Cemetery Reserve Fund Boards, supports Newcastle United, and plays bass guitar in a Scottish-American honky-tonk band. Married to Aisha, they have two sons, Bobby and Langston, and reside in Chicago.

Carol Stitzer

Board Member
Carol was a Development professional for twenty-five years with major cultural and educational organizations in Chicago, including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago History Museum, and Center for American Archeology. For fifteen of those years, she was a member of the Development staff at the Lyric Opera of Chicago with responsibility for the leadership of fundraising and board activities. Carol received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Loyola University and attended Loyola University and Northwestern University for post-graduate studies. Carol was a previous Board Member for The Admiral at the Lake and has many years of volunteer experience at many local non-profit organizations. Carol continued as a part-time consultant for Lyric Opera and other not-for-profit organizations following retirement.

Carol Wetmore

Board Member
Carol is a seasoned business executive with 33 years of management experience in companies including GE and Bank One where she was SVP and General Manager of Global Trade Services when she retired in 2000. Since retiring, she has done independent consulting in strategic planning, executive coaching and chaired nonprofit boards ranging from contemporary dance to affordable housing. As Chair of Lakefront Supportive Housing, she led a strategic planning effort that resulted in its acquisition by Mercy Housing Inc, the largest U.S. non-profit provider of affordable housing, and recently retired from Mercy Housing’s National Board. Her areas of board focus include strategic planning and financial sustainability, including serving as Treasurer and Chairing Finance Committees on several boards. She graduated from Marquette University and has an MBA in Marketing from Northwestern University.