Delta Institute is a 501(c)(3) organization formed in 1998 that envisions a region in which all communities and landscapes thrive through an integrated approach to environmental, economic, and social challenges. Working with our partners, we identify opportunities for environmental solutions and design, test, and share solutions that yield social, environmental, and economic benefits for communities.
Delta is committed to full integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into all internal processes and structures for our board and staff, and external processes and structures for engaging with our partners, communities, stakeholders, and supporters. Learn more about our DEI commitment, DEI committee’s executive summary, and more by visiting the link below.
Delta Institute’s governing Board of Directors provides oversight and management of Delta Institute. Board Directors serve up to two terms of three years each (for six years total) and participate in at least one of our three standing Committees: Development; Finance; and Governance and Nominating. Our Board adheres to best practices in nonprofit governance and signs an annual participation agreement outlining their roles and responsibilities to Delta Institute, as well as identifying any conflicts of interest that may impact their service.
Jaré Akchin
Vice President for Jewish Community Impact, Third Plateau
Karl Analo, J.D.
Senior Associate, FordHarrison LLP
ASHLEY BAKELMUN
Managing Director, RW Ventures
Jon Cheffings
Development Committee Co-Chair
EVP, Strategy, SCC&M
Eira L. Corral Sepúlveda
Commissioner, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Jessie Deelo
Founder, Deelo Consulting Services
David Fording, CFA
Partner and Portfolio Manager – US All Cap Growth and US Equity Sustainability Strategies, William Blair
David Freed
Chief Information Officer, MSI Express, Inc.
Niharika Hanglem
Development Committee Co-Chair
Program Director, Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship at Illinois Institute of Technology
Allison Hannon Holly, MBA
Board Treasurer; Finance Committee Chair
Director of Strategy US East,Pattern Energy Group
Mike Harrington, LEED GA
Assistant Director at The Tishman Environment and Design Center, New School
Kevin Kalus
Market Executive – Illinois Middle Market, JPMorgan Chase
Ann McCabe
US Program Director, Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP)
Vanessa Roanhorse
Board Vice Chair; Governance and Nominating Committee Chair
CEO, Roanhorse Consulting LLC
Sanjiv Sinha, PE, PHD
Board Chair
Senior Vice President, Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc.
David South
Senior Principal, Energy & Utilities Practice, West Monroe Partners
Lindsey Sullivan, JD
Board Secretary
Director – Legal Affairs and Financials Operations at 57 Stars, LLC
Ethelbert Williams
Head of eCommerce, US Customer Development, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health
The Delta Emerging Leaders (DELs) serve as the official associate board of Delta Institute and advance Delta’s mission by expanding its network of supporters, donors, and partners through events and initiatives that engage new and diverse audiences. Every year, the DELs host a live, crowd-funding pitch competition called BOOST for sustainable start-up businesses that help make Chicago a thriving, environmentally conscientious city to live and work in.
LIZ ALEXANDER
DELs Outreach Committee Chair and DELs Liaison to the Governance and Nomination Committee
Senior Consultant – Energy and Utilities, West Monroe Partners
KELLY AVES
DELs Acting Secretary
Policy Advisor, Illinois Commerce Commission
ASHLEY BAKELMUN
DELs Programming Committee Chair and DELs Liaison to the Development Committee
Managing Director, RW Ventures, LLC
DEREK BARTHEL
Data Sourcing Lead & Employee Engagement Manager, HERE Technologies
Chloe Bell
Law Student, Chicago-Kent College of Law
Law Clerk, U.S. EPA
Julia Buford
Senior Financial Analyst, PFM
TAYLOR BRADSHAW
Graduate Student, Northwestern University, Institute for Sustainability and Energy
DIANA DE LA TORRE
Supervisor of Chicago Youth Service Corps, Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council
MADELINE DEMO
DELs Treasurer and DELs Liaison to the Finance Committee
NorthCentral In-Market Operations EHS Manager at PepsiCo
MBA/MPH Candidate at UIC
Tessie Ebenja
Analyst, Cook County Government
Hunter Federle-McCabe
Product Development Analyst, McMaster-Carr Supply Company
Darby Hopper
Director of Speechwriting, Governor JB Pritzker
CLAIRE HOWARD, EIT
Assistant Engineer, Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group
liston jackson
Clean Energy Policy Strategist, Apple
CHRISTOPHER NEWMAN
DELs Co-Chair
Data Scientist / Database Developer
JOAN SMEDINGHOFF
Digital Communications Senior, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
JEROME SMITH
Client Engagement Manager, Emissary
NATALIE SPETTER
DELs Co-Chair
Graduate Student, Loyola University Chicago
School of Environmental Science and Sustainability
SARAH WALWEMA
DELs Communications Committee Chair
Senior Account Manager, Amadeus
Urban Planner at GRAEF
ANNA WITHERS
Farmer Outreach Coordinator, Springfield Community Gardens
MARGOT ZUCKERMAN
Senior Buyer – Ingredients Procurement, Kraft Heinz