About us
Meet the Board
Aspire’s Board of Directors is made up of highly qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds. Each member provides a unique view point and expertise, adding to the whole. Read more about each of our members below.
Cynthia Hank Stark
Chair
Executive Committee Member
Strategic Planning Committee Member
Cynthia Hank Stark is an Owner/Partner of the Oak Brook Racquet and Fitness Club. As a Partner in Williamsburg Partners, LLC, Cynthia provides human resources, marketing and financial consulting services for small and medium size businesses and financial institutions. Cynthia holds a Masters degree in marketing, finance and organizational behavior.
In addition to serving as Chair of the Aspire Board of Directors, Cynthia is involved in several other academic and charitable organizations including the Notre Dame University Business Advisory Council, the Vibern Foundation and the Sunnyridge Family Center/Healing the Children organization.
Marc Adelman
First Vice Chair
Executive Committee Member
Program Committee Co-Chair
An architect and facilities planner, Marc Adelman is a Principal of the international design firm tvsdesign. Marc provides leadership for interior design projects throughout the Midwest and he collaborates on both national and international projects. He is committed to charitable work and volunteers for many industry, academic and community affiliations. He became involved in Aspire because of the difference it made in the life of his son, Ben. In 2004, Marc was honored with the "Raymond Wozniak Award" for outstanding involvement to the mission of Aspire. He served as Board Chair from 2000-2002.
Marc enjoys reading, history, music, jazz and the harmonica. About Aspire, Marc says, "I learned that Aspire recognizes that every small accomplishment moves toward a larger goal; they acknowledge the small steps and celebrate the leaps."
Donald Robideau
Second Vice Chair
Executive Committee Member
Facilities Committee Chair
As Vice President of Executive Construction Inc. (ECI) in Hillside, Donald Robideau helped develop the construction company into a leading building contractor in Chicago. Prior to joining ECI, Donald spent two decades with Turner Construction where he served as Project Executive on projects for major medical centers in the Chicago area. He is a licensed professional engineer and an adjunct instructor in the Graduate School of Engineering at Northwestern University.
Donald has been involved in coaching boys’ basketball and baseball for many years. He and his wife, Linda, are 30-year residents of Arlington Heights. They have three grown children and one granddaughter.
Bernardo Lacayo
Treasurer
Executive Committee Member
Finance and Human Resources Committee Co-Chair
As Managing Director and Head of Loan Syndications for The PrivateBank & Trust Company in Chicago, Bernardo (Bernie) Lacayo is responsible for the structuring, approval and distribution of the bank's multi-bank credit transactions. Prior to joining The PrivateBank & Trust Company, Bernie worked for Charter One Bank and LaSalle Bank. Throughout his professional career, Bernie has been responsible for many facets of volunteerism, including monitoring community lending, setting guidelines for investment criteria, approving grant distribution and strategic planning for charitable organizations and initiatives. He is currently the Associate Board Treasurer for the Brain Research Foundation in Chicago.
Reuben Slone
Secretary
Executive Committee Member
Program Committee Co-Chair
As Executive Vice President, Supply Chain for OfficeMax, Reuben Slone is responsible for the company's real estate and store development, inventory management, facilities management and transportation/warehousing operations. In this position, Reuben supports close to 1000 stores and 4200 employees within the $8 billion office products retailer and distributor. Prior to joining OfficeMax, he held executive positions with Whirlpool, General Motors and Ernst & Young.
Recognized worldwide as a supply chain authority, Reuben has assisted automotive, consumer goods and retail industries in North America, South America and Europe with successful turn-arounds and business growth strategies. He co-authored the book The New Supply Chain Agenda, published by Harvard Business Publishing in May 2010.
Candi Carter
Officer
Executive Committee Member
Strategic Planning Committee Chair
Candi Carter is a 19-year entertainment veteran. She started her television career at CNN in Atlanta and later produced news specials and children’s programming at WISN-TV (the ABC Hearst Affiliate in Milwaukee). For the past 15 years, she has produced award-winning television for the Oprah Winfrey Show in Chicago. Two years ago, she launched the children’s DVD series, “It’s Hip Hop, Baby!” with exclusive distribution through Warner Music Group.
Candi lives in Chicago with her husband and two children, including eight-year-old Emerson, who was born with a rare chromosome disorder that caused global developmental delays. She’s been a proud member of the Aspire family for many years and is a passionate supporter of services and programs for children and adults with disabilities.
John Berghorst
Director
Resource Development/Marketing Committee Member
As a Managing Director of The PrivateBank, John Berghorst oversees a team of relationship managers responsible for a portfolio of 250 loans and $300 million in loan outstanding. His team’s focus is commercial real estate transactions involving non-performing and underperforming projects. John also mentors team members on relationship management, loan negotiation and timing/efficiency improvement. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan and a Master's degree in Management from Northwestern University, and is on the board of directors of Bethel Lutheran Church in Westmont.
John lives in Downers Grove with his wife and two kids and enjoys wine, golf, photography, camera collecting and spending time with his family.
Kevin Garvey
Director
Resource Development/Marketing Committee Chair
Kevin Garvey is the Vice President of Sales for Garvey's Office Products, a family-owned company that provides office supplies to thousands of businesses in the Chicagoland area. Kevin is interested in helping Aspire develop programs that will contribute to the goal of becoming less reliant on state funding. To that end, Garvey's Office Products recently began offering Aspire Coffeeworks products in their catalog and through their online store.
Kevin lives in Park Ridge with his wife, Barb, and their three children. He enjoys playing golf and watching his children play sports.
John Iwanski
Director
Finance and Human Resources Committee Co-Chair
John is Managing Director of the Riveron Consulting Chicago office with responsibilities including market strategy, engagement team leadership, client satisfaction, practice development, and recruiting. He has more than 20 years of experience in auditing, consulting and executive positions specializing in transaction advisory services. He has served companies in a variety of industries including financial services, healthcare, construction, real estate, retail, insurance, and manufacturing and distribution.
John plays an active role in the Chicago community and supports multiple charitable endeavors. He is a native of Wisconsin and has been in Chicago market for the entirety of his professional career.
David Justh
Director
Facilities Committee Member
David Justh is an Executive Vice President of CB Richard Ellis, the world's largest commercial real estate services company. David has been involved in over 8 million square feet of lease and sales activity and has been consistently recognized as one his company's leading professionals. His particular areas of expertise include strategy development, tactical planning, project team coordination, acquisitions and dispositions, and lease/contract negotiations.
David has been a Top Ten Oakbrook Producer for CB Richard Ellis for the past 14 years.
Raju N. Patel
Director
Program Committee Member
Raju Patel is a Senior Vice President in Commercial Banking at Bank of America. Raju leads a team of professionals that delivers debt solutions to middle market clients. Raju has 25 years of broad banking experience including budgeting, credit underwriting, portfolio monitoring and client management.
Raju is also a Board Member of Providence-St. Mel School and Providence Englewood Charter Schools in Chicago.
Raju lives in Western Springs with his wife, Lisa, and their three children.
Denise Pelletier
Director
Denise Pelletier first came to Aspire in 1992 with the dream of finding a stable job. Over the years, Aspire helped Denise find employment opportunities at Jewel, Panera Bread and her current employer, Mike's Market in Villa Park. She attends the Connections Center two days a week for extra support and participates in a monthly job retention and coping group.
Denise has an excellent work ethic, is a good friend to many and loves Chicago sports. She lives in her own home with two housemates in Westchester.
Anna Weselak
Director
Program Committee Member
Anna Weselak is CEO of Weselak & Associates, a national consulting firm offering services in corporate, organizational, educational and personal development. Anna holds seminars, classes and workshops for a variety of businesses, agencies and organizations. She is an instructor for International Renewal Institute and an associate trainer for the Center for Teacher Effectiveness. In addition to her consulting work, she serves on the faculty of College of DuPage and St. Xavier University.
Anna has been a member of the PTA for more than 25 years as a teacher and a parent. She is a past president of the Illinois PTA and the National PTA. The Business Ledger recognized her as the Most Influential Woman in Business in 2004 and the Northern Illinois University College of Education named her an Outstanding Alumni in 2009.
