Cara Collective stands as a beacon of hope and opportunity, driving impactful change through workforce development and economic empowerment. At the helm of this dynamic organization is Kathleen St. Louis Caliento, PhD, the esteemed CEO. Dr. Caliento brings decades of dedicated experience in social justice, educational equity, and workforce solutions to Cara Collective, guiding its strategic vision and ensuring its continued growth as a leading force for good. This article delves into the leadership structure of Cara Collective, spotlighting Dr. Caliento’s pivotal role and introducing the accomplished executive team, board members, and councils who collectively champion Cara’s mission.
Cara Collective’s Leadership: Guiding the Path to a Brighter Future
Strong leadership is the cornerstone of any successful organization, and Cara Collective exemplifies this principle through its robust and diverse leadership structure. From the Executive Team to the Board of Directors and various councils, each group plays a vital role in steering Cara Collective towards its vision of a more equitable and opportunity-rich future. These dedicated individuals bring a wealth of experience from diverse sectors, united by a shared passion for Cara’s mission and a commitment to its success.
The Executive Team: Driving Strategy and Growth
The Executive Team at Cara Collective is composed of seasoned professionals with expertise in entrepreneurship, education, fundraising, and career development. This team is the engine of Cara’s strategic initiatives, focusing on three core pillars: enhancing Cara Collective’s impact as a solution to poverty and unemployment, strengthening its position as a sound investment for stakeholders, and solidifying its reputation as an employer of choice within the non-profit sector. The Executive Team ensures that Cara Collective remains agile, responsive, and effective in its mission to empower individuals and communities.
Meet the Executive Leaders
The Cara Collective Executive Team is comprised of individuals with impressive backgrounds and deep commitment to social impact. Leading this team is the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kathleen St. Louis Caliento.
Kathleen St. Louis Caliento, PhD – Chief Executive Officer
As Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kathleen St. Louis Caliento provides visionary leadership for Cara Collective. Her career spans nearly three decades, dedicated to advancing social justice through initiatives focused on educational equity, workforce development, and economic empowerment. Dr. Caliento’s expertise and passion are instrumental in shaping Cara Collective’s strategic direction and amplifying its impact. Her deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals seeking economic opportunity, combined with her strategic acumen, makes her an exceptional leader for Cara Collective.
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Lauren Feldman
Lauren Feldman joined Cara Collective in 2023 and brings a strong background in strategic leadership, particularly within the education sector. Prior to Cara Collective, she served as Director of Strategy for Chicago Public Schools, where she spearheaded critical strategic projects, especially during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her experience in navigating complex organizational challenges and driving strategic initiatives is a valuable asset to the Executive Team.
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Brady Gott
Brady Gott has been a key leader at Cara Collective since 2007, heading the social enterprise Cleanslate. In this role, he expertly manages the financial health and growth of Cleanslate while ensuring its core mission of providing meaningful employment opportunities is consistently fulfilled. Brady’s dedication to both the business and social impact aspects of Cleanslate makes him a vital member of the executive team.
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Tara Harper
Tara Harper is a seasoned non-profit leader with almost two decades of experience advocating for racial equity and social justice. Her career is marked by a deep commitment to communities that have faced systemic disinvestment and resource scarcity. Tara’s strategic approach and passion for creating equitable opportunities greatly enhance Cara Collective’s mission.
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Kim Massenburg, PhD
Dr. Kim Massenburg brings extensive expertise in counseling and support services to Cara Collective. With a doctorate in counselor education and supervision and over 15 years of experience, she has dedicated her career to serving individuals impacted by homelessness, domestic violence, mental health challenges, substance abuse, and trauma. Her profound understanding of the needs of vulnerable populations is crucial to Cara Collective’s holistic approach.
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Joel Pomerenk
Joel Pomerenk oversees the critical functions of Finance, Accounting, HR, Technology, Public Grants, and Operations at Cara Collective. Since joining in 2019, he has leveraged his two decades of senior finance leadership experience across Fortune 100 companies, non-profits, and the education sector to ensure the operational and financial strength of the organization. Joel’s diverse experience and strategic financial management are essential to Cara’s sustainability and growth.
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Board of Directors: Ensuring Fiscal Health and Mission Advancement
Cara Collective’s Board of Directors is a dedicated group whose unwavering commitment and passion for the mission are vital to the organization’s fiscal stability and continued success. Their stewardship provides the foundation for Cara to develop and expand meaningful, impactful, and sustainable programs that propel the organization towards its overarching vision. The Board provides crucial oversight and strategic guidance, ensuring Cara Collective operates effectively and ethically.
Board of Directors Members:
- Billie ‘Akau’ola, Managing Director, KPMG
- Brenda Battle, Sr. Vice President, Community Health Transformation, UChicago Medicine
- Willette Benford, Senior Advisor, Office of MK Pritzker
- DeRondal Bevly (Secretary), Founder & Managing Director, RubyRose Strategies
- Kelvin Buncum, Buncum Consulting Group
- Regina Cross, Vice President, Goldman Sachs
- Andrew Davis, Partner, McKinsey & Company
- Marta Delgado (Vice Chair), Co-Founder, Attorney, Delgado Rompf Bruen LLC
- William Eveland, Chicago Managing Partner, Saul Ewing LLP
- Scott Gidwitz, President, Real Estate & Board Director, Riverbend Industries
- Kapil Khanna, CEO, Lamar Johnson Collaborative
- Terrill North, Partner, New Profit
- Andrea O’Leary, Vice President, Talent, Learning and Development and DEI, ESPN
- Julie Owens Burns, Board Member, The Owens Foundation
- Tom Owens, Jr., Board Member, The Owens Foundation
- J. Todd Phillips (Chair), CEO, Parson Partners
- Steve Quirk, Chief Brokerage Officer, Robinhood Markets
- Wendy Raymer, Director, Community Giving, BMO Harris
- Rudy Smith (Interim Treasurer), Executive Director, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
- Jaclyn Trovato, Vice President, Human Resources, ComEd
- Doyoung Yong, Partner, Deloitte
- Thomas M. Owens †, Founder, Cara
Executive Council: Leveraging Expertise and Networks
The Executive Council is comprised of established executives from diverse industries who actively contribute to Cara Collective’s strategy, marketing, alumni engagement, and fundraising efforts. Council members leverage their extensive social and professional networks to bolster Cara’s operational strategies and attract increased investment. Their engagement is crucial in expanding Cara Collective’s reach and impact.
Executive Council Members:
- Kelechi Adibe, Sidley Austin
- Rohith Banerjee, Oliver Wyman
- Cordelia Calderon, Medix
- Jeff Dorner, Baker Tilly US, LLP
- Prab Chawla, Linden Capital Partners
- Jeremy Dulle, Spring Rock Partners
- Cat Duncan, Judy Family Foundation
- Jennifer Dunmore, WTW
- Elena Grotto, Edelman
- David Kaiman, US Bank
- Shruti Kumar, Habitat
- Faeron Meldum-Taylor, ZS
- Michael Nordman (Co-Chair), Molson Coors
- Matt Owens, JLL
- Jake Panter, Kimley-Horn
- Mandee Polonsky, Northwestern Medicine
- Jason Rahoy, U.S. Department of Justice
- Sam Rice, KPMG US
- Danny Scott, Slalom
- Joel Staffilino, JRW Realty
- Paul Strike, Twin Lake Total Return
- Caroline Thrun, Jobs for the Future
- Melody Todd (Co-Chair), Campbell & Company
- Tom Vranas, Zentro Internet
- Mary Waller, McDermott Will & Emery
- Brett Williams, RSM US LLP
- Brandon Wright, HBR Consulting
Associate Board: Cultivating Emerging Leaders
Cara Collective’s Associate Board is made up of 25 emerging leaders across various industries who are dedicated to supporting Cara’s growth and mission scaling. This dynamic group plays a key role in fundraising by organizing their signature Summer Social event and contributing to virtual engagement opportunities. The Associate Board represents the next generation of leaders committed to Cara’s cause.
Associate Board Members:
- Kaitlyn Baerenstecher (Secretary), Clarity Partners
- Drake Blessum, Chamberlain Group
- Brianna Brooks, UChicago Medicine
- Patrick Delaney, SullivanCotter, Inc.
- Angie DeWitt, Habitat
- Mia Diaz, UNICEF
- Angelyn Irvin, MacArthur Foundation
- Abby Klearman, Google
- Sean Knoerzer, Corient
- Lolami Lola-Charles, PURE Insurance Companies
- Matthew Martin, American Realty Advisors
- Ryan McCauley, Aon
- Rebecca Michel (Vice President), DePaul University
- Luke Minton
- James Novack, KPMG US
- Hannah Paul, Boston Consulting Group
- Jared Pavelske, AIDS Foundation of Chicago
- J. Tanner Rice, SSA & Company
- Russell Richey, Goldman Sachs
- Victoria “Tori” Rudd, Discover Financial
- Sari Schwartz, Trajektory
- Kelsey Sicard, ZS
- Andi Summers, Equator Design
- Emma Waterman (President), Crafty
- Bailey Winston, ZS
- Tony Wu, KPMG US
- Shaina Yatt, West Monroe
- Max Yu, BMO
Alumni Board: Continued Commitment and Support
The Alumni Board at Cara Collective consists of former members of the Board of Directors who remain actively engaged with the organization. Their ongoing dedication to Cara’s mission and their willingness to provide support and guidance whenever possible are invaluable to Cara’s continued growth and success. The Alumni Board embodies the lasting impact of involvement with Cara Collective.
Alumni Board Members:
- Laura Beebe, Managing Director, JLL
- John Bennecke, Managing Director, True Partners Consulting LLC
- Daniel Brennan, DWME LLC
- Kristin Carlson Vogen, The Chicago Community Trust
- Mark Carroll, Cognitive Capital, LLC
- Bill Conroy, Conroy Advisors
- Terry Diamond, Method Capital
- Jeff Galowich, BlueHorizon Software
- Andy Gloor, Managing Principal, Sterling Bay
- Na’Ree Hankins, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
- Anny Huang, Partner, Sidley Austin LLP
- Tim Hunter, Hunter Capital, LP
- Pete Kadens, The Kadens Family Foundation
- Maria Lin
- James W. Mabie †, Chicago Capital
- Katie Owens Mulcahy, The Owens Foundation
- Sharon Owens, The Owens Foundation
- Patricia Provenzano, Bank of America Private Bank
- Brent Rasmussen, CEO, Visibly
- Robert Roche, Acorn International, Inc. – Shanghai, Oak Lawn Marketing, Inc. – Tokyo
- Theresa M. Roche, OAR Management, Inc.
- Heather Ronnow, Central Coast Agriculture
- Lance Russell, Class V Solutions
- Daniel Ryan, JLL
- David J. Ryan, Gray Matters Group
- Bill Steinmetz, BlueStar Ventures
- Amanda Wilson, Principal Global Investors, LLC
- Ana Zanic, Director, Talent Acquisition, Northwestern Medicine
- Ron Zinnerman, Aon Corporation
Meet the Entire Cara Team
Cara Collective thrives on the principle of unity and collaboration, embodying the spirit of “one band, one sound.” The organization recognizes the contributions of those who have paved the way and is committed to creating opportunities for future generations to build upon this strong foundation. The collective efforts of every team member, under the guidance of CEO Kathleen St. Louis Caliento and the broader leadership structure, drive Cara Collective’s impactful work.
Learn More About the Cara Team
Get Involved with Cara Collective
Cara Collective invites you to join their mission and contribute to creating pathways to hope, jobs, and opportunity for individuals seeking economic empowerment.
Donate to Cara Collective
Your generous gift can make a significant difference in the lives of individuals served by Cara Collective. Support their mission and help them continue to provide vital programs and services.
Donate to Cara Collective
Explore More Ways to Give
Discover various avenues to support Cara Collective’s mission and empower participants on their journey to success. From volunteering to corporate partnerships, there are numerous ways to get involved.
Learn More Ways to Give
Contact Cara Collective
Do you have questions or wish to learn more about Cara Collective and its initiatives? Reach out to their team for more information and to explore how you can further support their work.
Contact Cara Collective
