As Senior Programs Associate, Megan works on projects related to waste reduction and resilient communities, including deconstruction and building material reuse. Prior to joining the programmatic team she worked on the Finance & Operations team at Delta Institute. Originally from Texas, Megan holds a B.A. in Art History from Trinity University in San Antonio and an M.S. in Public Service Management with a graduate certificate in Metropolitan Planning and Development from DePaul University in Chicago. Out of the office, she enjoys reading, riding her bike, and exploring the Great Lakes region.
Claire supports programmatic work across Delta’s objective areas. 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 oversees and manages Delta’s programmatic implementation, and has 15+ years of energy efficiency, green building, and residential and commercial behavioral energy program experience. Kevin is the founder of Lumin, 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.
Jack Eskin manages projects in Delta Institute’s Green Infrastructure portfolio and provides programmatic support for the Resilient Communities initiative area, including urban redevelopment and brownfield revitalization projects. Prior to joining Delta Institute, Jack served as the Deputy Director of Redevelopment for the City of Gary, Indiana, where he oversaw land use planning, green infrastructure, brownfield redevelopment, and transportation projects. Jack holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Massachusetts, and a Master’s in Urban Planning & Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In his free time, Jack enjoys hiking, biking around town, exploring restaurants, listening to music, and being a dad.
Sidney (Sid) has more than 15 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. Currently he is the director of development and marketing for Delta Institute. 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 Director of Finance and Operations for Delta, Helen is responsible for all of the financial, administrative and operational aspects of the organization. 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 (GO STEELERS!) and traveling.
As Senior Specialist, Olga utilizes analytical approaches and data analysis and visualization to facilitate the development and implementation of projects in Delta's ecosystems portfolio. She leads projects that connect innovative solutions and measurable outcomes on the landscape, particularly in freshwater ecosystems. Prior to joining Delta Institute, she served as the Research Manager for Alliance for the Great Lakes, providing analytical and research support for policy work and managing the academic network for the organization. Before the position at the Alliance for the Great Lakes, she conducted photo-catalysis research at Northwestern University in the Environmental Engineering Department. Olga holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University. Olga grew up in Russia, and has lived within two blocks of Lake Michigan shoreline since moving to Chicago in 2002.
As Finance & Operations Assistant, 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.
Reilly Manz joined Delta’s Program Implementation team after spending nearly three years as a policy and communications specialist for a bi-national, interstate compact agency tasked with convening the region’s stakeholders for the responsible stewardship of Great Lakes resources. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and has over three years of experience conducting policy research and strategic engagement across sectors in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. He grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and enjoys skiing, photography, and clean drinking water. Occasionally, you might find him rollerblading Chicago’s lakefront.
Patrick serves as Delta Institute's Senior Specialist, Development. Patrick is a PhD student in Public Policy and Administration at Walden University. He holds a MS in Nonprofit Management from the Spertus Institute of Jewish Learning and Leadership and a BA in Theatre from Loyola University Chicago.
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 18 years of experience in systems analysis, environmental science, and consulting, and serves on the Advisory Board for Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Environmental Sustainability. 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.
As Finance and Operations Lead for Delta, 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 19 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 and their dog, doing DIY projects, and catching up on TV and movies.
