Mackenzie provides interdepartmental support to Delta staff, specializing in HR, accounting, operations, and executive assistance. Prior to joining Delta, Mackenzie worked for a financial management services company that specialized in real estate investment. She has a B.S. in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Sciences with a certification in Professional Event Management from Texas A&M University. In her free time, Mackenzie enjoys camping and tries to visit at least one national park a year. She also enjoys hanging out with her dog, Quincy, eating Mexican food, and traveling home to visit her family in Texas.
Mélina joined Delta Institute in November 2022 and serves as Lead for the Nature-Based Climate Solutions portfolio. Mélina came to Delta with a wealth of experience as a multicultural program manager and policy maker with specific expertise in climate resilience and sustainable agriculture. She has worked for various international and national entities dealing with climate, agriculture, water and community development projects. Mélina graduated from Sorbonne University and Nanterre University in France and has Master’s degrees in agronomy, international relations, and ethnology. In her free time, Mélina enjoys hiking and travelling with her family.
At Delta Institute, Mei supports the Development and Communications team. She has a B.A. in Environmental Studies with a minor in Urban Studies from The College of Wooster, where she explored the complexity of humankind’s interaction with the environment—examining social, cultural, economic, and political forces that form our relationship with and the impact on the earth and natural ecosystems. Mei interned at two companies where she helped strengthen communication and development efforts before joining Delta Institute’s team. Through her academic studies and work experiences, she developed a strong passion for social and environmental justice. When Mei is not advocating for the earth and communities, Mei enjoys playing tennis, making homemade pickles, and going to performing art concerts with her family.
Lucas Chamberlain serves as Associate, Programs. Prior to joining Delta Institute, Lucas worked as a farm manager, an environmental science instructor and a soil ecologist for the Chicago Botanic Garden as well as the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also served as a Science Communications Fellow and volunteer research assistant for the John G. Shedd Aquarium. He earned his BS in Anthropology from Illinois State University and his MS in Plant Biology and Conservation from Northwestern University. Lucas loves to play music, explore Chicago’s food scene, and walk near Lake Michigan with his wife and their dog, Dottie.
Claire supports programmatic work across Delta’s objective areas, inclusive of GIS, mapping, analysis, and conducting assessments. Claire attained her LEED Green Associate credential in 2021. Prior to working for Delta, Claire worked for a community development financial institution, supporting its impact measurement and research work. Claire holds bachelor's degrees in Economics and Environmental Studies from the University of Chicago. At UChicago, Claire was part of on-campus sustainability efforts as a member of the Environment, Agriculture, and Food Working Group and wrote a thesis on US pollinator policy. In her free time, Claire enjoys reading, doing crossword puzzles, and running on the Lakefront Trail.
Kevin serves as Delta's Senior Advisor, partnering on multiple projects within our sustainability consulting services and earned revenue. Kevin has 20+ years of energy efficiency, green building, and residential and commercial behavioral energy program experience, and manages a consulting agency focused on reducing the carbon footprint of our built environment. Kevin is the founder of Litebill, a free messaging and payment service that helps struggling utility customers take control of their utility bills. Kevin has a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Cincinnati, and a M.A. in Geography & Environmental Studies from Northeastern Illinois University. In his spare time, Kevin plays four musical instruments, cooks, gardens, goes on nature excursions, designs software, takes photographs, writes short stories, and occasionally keeps bees.
Sidney (Sid) serves as Delta's Senior Director of Development and Communications, and has more than 17 years of resource development experience with expertise in individual giving (annual fund, major gifts, and planned giving); board relations and recruitment; grant writing and prospecting; corporate sponsorship; event planning fundraising strategy; and marketing. Sid previously served as development director for a small regenerative farming and food safety nonprofit, a gifts officer for Heartland Alliance for Human Rights & Human Needs, and in steadily increasing development roles for multiple Chicago-based social service agencies since 2006. He is also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Mongolia; was adjunct faculty at Loyola University Chicago; and has been a presenter for the Axelson Center since 2014. He is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Chicago Area Peace Corps Association.
As Chief Financial Officer for Delta Institute, Helen is responsible for all of the financial, administrative and operational aspects of the organization as well as C-suite level leadership. She brings more than 15 years of experience in a leadership capacity in accounting and administration in the nonprofit, government, and private sectors. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Helen holds a B.S. in Accounting from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee and M.S. from Keller University in Accounting and Financial Management. In her spare time, she loves football and traveling.
Malcolm is our Senior Specialist, Programs in the Nature Based Climate Solutions portfolio, providing on-the-ground community engagement, technical facilitation, and project management and planning via our Green Infrastructure, municipal collaboration, and community inclusion efforts. Malcolm has extensive experience managing environmental programs, implementing sustainable community development strategies, and building capacity with partners and stakeholders. His prior work includes consulting, revenue development, and policy/planning efforts—including at Assedo Consulting, REAP North Carolina, and Bluestem Communications. Malcolm is also certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Patrick serves as Delta Institute's Senior Lead, Development and Communications, and acts as the staff liaison to the Delta Emerging Leaders (DELs)--Delta's associate board. He also provides high-level strategy centered around Delta's individual giving, events planning, and data management. He has more than 10 years of nonprofit fundraising experience, spanning multiple engagement areas. Patrick holds a MS in Nonprofit Management from the Spertus Institute of Jewish Learning and Leadership and a BA in Theatre from Loyola University Chicago.
Jenny B. Par serves as Associate, Programs, for Delta after working as a lead (Pb) risk assessor for the Milwaukee Health Department, conducting lead inspections and assessments to prevent childhood lead poisoning in the city. Jenny has a B.S in Environmental Science from Loyola University Chicago and a M.S in Sustainability Management from University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. During my free time, Jenny enjoys hiking, camping, listening to podcasts, and collecting postcards and stickers from her travels. She also loves spending time with her two dogs.
As CEO, Bill drives strategy behind Delta’s collaboration with more than 180 communities in Chicago and throughout the Midwest to solve environmental challenges and spur economic development. He balances high-level decision-making with tactical implementation. Further, he sets an authentic and inclusive culture, including personally engaging with all staff consistently. Bill’s accomplishments include: Working with 1,400 farmers and foresters to reduce climate change impacts; Implementation planning for the Chicago Climate Action Plan—focusing on residential and commercial energy efficiency mitigation strategies that most impact greenhouse gas emissions; Helping establish the Michigan Saves program, an energy efficiency loan program that has $160M in its loan portfolio; and incepting a venture decision framework to spin off and scale initiatives. He has over 20 years of experience in systems analysis, environmental science, and consulting. He earned his BS in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology and Environmental Studies from Tulane University and his MS in Environmental Analysis and Decision Making from Rice University. He is a 2019 Notable LGBTQ Executive for Crains Chicago Business.
Katherine is responsible for administering the financial and operational aspects of the organization and assisting with grant management and I.T. She has worked in non-profits for her entire career, including a family foundation, a university, and smaller programmatic organizations, totaling 20 years of experience in the field. Katherine grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and stayed in Chicago after receiving her B.A. in Sociology from the University of Chicago. She loves spending time with her husband, doing DIY projects, and catching up on TV and movies.
Josh leads the Resilient Agriculture portfolio at the Delta Institute. Josh came to Delta with a diverse work history in entrepreneurship, education and nonprofit program management. Josh was the owner of Third Coast Organics, a small-scale regenerative farm, Third Coast Sustainability, a permaculture design consultancy and Endless Greens, a sustainable landscape design and build company. Prior to his work in entrepreneurship, Josh worked for various nonprofits in India and Israel, including the Center for Creative Ecology at Kibbutz Lotan, Israel. Josh graduated from Southern Illinois with a BA in International Relations and from Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management with a MA in Coexistence and Conflict with a focus in Environmental Conflict Resolution. Josh is a licensed Realtor in the State of Michigan. In his free time, Josh enjoys cooking and adventuring.
