Our Team

Chris Swope Cholewa
Chief Executive Officer

Chris has been with HOSC since 2000. Before joining the team, she was the President and CEO of Affinium Services LLC, a consulting firm serving nonprofits providing executive leadership, capacity building, planning, impact analysis, fund development, and communications both locally and nationally. Chris is a 25+ year veteran in the nonprofit sector working in health and human services and has more than a decade of program and direct service experience.

Chris is passionate about making a difference in her community and volunteers with local nonprofits who support high needs and underserved populations. She has served on local and national boards and chambers, is active in local government, and currently serves on the Points of Light Global Affiliate Assembly.

Chris lives in Huntley with her partner Bob and has one son who is married. Chris is dedicated to inspiring others to use their time, talent, and voice to help others and is committed to “Being the change that you wish to see in the world.”

Aaron Wasserman-Olin
Director of Operations

Aaron has been with HOSC since 2012, starting as an AmeriCorps VISTA member, helping nonprofits throughout the Chicago-area utilize technology to increase their capacities. His journey here has been driven by a deep passion for empowering people to uplift their communities. Over the years, HOSC has given Aaron the opportunity to serve in many roles, including Director of School Programs, Technology Manager, and Communications Coordinator.

He is also an expert in navigating the Northwest suburbs using PACE and the CTA. Before joining HOSC, Aaron attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Go Badgers!

Carolyn Roberts
Director of AmeriCorps Senior RSVP

Carolyn is the Director of our AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Program. Her focus is to engage those 55 and better to help resolve the growing issues affecting our served areas and their residents. She delights in harnessing the incredible talent and power those 55 and better bring to their volunteer service. Conversely, she is also excited about the mutual benefits that service can bring to our volunteers. Carolyn is focused on finding opportunities for intergenerational service and believes that there is much to learn from one another, as we serve to help our communities. After all, giving back is an ageless endeavor. Though Carolyn spent years progressing in the corporate world, she believes her greatest achievement is finding ways to celebrate those who serve, and how they serve.

Montana Lechner
Manager of School Programs

Montana serves as the Manager of School Programs, leading school-based programs that seek to provide enriching opportunities for students. Montana is a Licensed Social Worker with a Master of Science in Social Work from University of Tennessee, and a background in program management, volunteer and community engagement, and youth development. She has a passion for ensuring students have equal access to resources, supports, and opportunities to reach their full potential, and the highlight of her role is working with the dedicated and inspiring community members who serve as volunteer mentors in the school programs. Montana is originally from Iowa, and when she isn’t working, she loves a good comedy show, all things outdoors, trying new recipes, and exploring new places.

Angela Cibich
Data and Operation Specialist

Angela manages HandsOn Suburban Chicago’s data and operational needs, with a strong focus on utilizing Salesforce, HandsOn Connect, and other efficiency and AI tools to streamline processes and enhance efficiency. Her work allows her to support our mission and contribute to the greater good, which Angela finds incredibly fulfilling.
Outside of work, she enjoys reading and savoring a good cup of coffee.

Jessica Giurato
Communication and Capacity-Building Specialist

Jessica has been with HOSC since 2024 and is a former journalist and educator, with over 25 years of writing and editing experience under her belt. She’s thrilled to be a part of the HandsOn Suburban Chicago team, learning all about the people, programs, and organizations we serve.

In her spare time, Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband and children, gardening, researching genealogy, and winning bar trivia. Fun fact: she’s also a published poet!

Katie Ferguson
Community Engagement Specialist

Katie has been with HOSC since 2024. Her role is to recruit, engage, and retain volunteers, nonprofits, and organizations. She collaborates with the Americorps Seniors and school programs to assist with partnerships and volunteer engagement. She is excited to connect people with causes about which they are passionate and to inspire them to be change agents in our communities.

Katie is a former elementary school teacher who is passionate about helping people, especially women, children, and animals. She serves as a children’s ministry volunteer at her church and loves to spend time at home with her 13 year-old daughter and their rescue dog, Annie.

Anne Ronstadt
President

Anne Ronstadt grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago. Now a Wisconsin resident, she is currently the Vice President / Information Security Officer at First Bank Chicago of Highland Park. She brings over 20 years of cybersecurity and technical expertise, as well as a strong dedication to community welfare to our nonprofits’ board. She aims to utilize strategic insights from her career in digital security to guide our governance and growth discussions.

Outside of her professional life, Anne is deeply committed to helping serve the communities she is involved in. Whether it’s painting houses through the Paint-A-Thon, building houses with Habitat for Humanity, supporting local food banks, or volunteering with various bank-affiliated organizations, Anne strives to actively engage in initiatives that align with the HandsOn Suburban Chicago mission. Her personal mission is that her leadership will foster collaboration and innovation among board members and stakeholders.

When not safeguarding digital landscapes or steering our nonprofit, she enjoys hanging out with her rescue dogs, sipping wine, and exploring new baking recipes – because every cybersecurity nerd needs a furry, wine-sipping, sweet treat break once in a while.

Shelia Pardo
Vice President

Shelia M. Pardo is a seasoned leader who possesses over two decades of Business acumen. She brings tremendous energy, strategic thinking, innovation and creativity to her work. Shelia is recognized by her peers for having a passion for helping others, and exceptional leadership skills.

Shelia holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Leadership from Aurora University.

After experiencing her own loss, Shelia created “Journey On” an Eight Week Course to Self-Care during Grief, and authored Journey On: From Pain to Praise. She sought to assist others in similar situations and provide comfort for those experiencing a loss. Journey On has serviced individuals and families within the Chicagoland, Indiana and Wisconsin areas for over a decade and continues to offer support today.

In her spare time, Shelia enjoys volunteering, sports, yoga, running, biking and baking.

Therese Lescher
Treasurer

Therese is a graduate of Indiana University, and a CPA with over 35 years of experience in auditing, accounting and financial planning & analysis with several Fortune 500 companies. She is thrilled to be a Board member of HandsOn since April 2023, serving as Treasurer.

Vlad Vilme
Board Member

Vlad Vilme is an Operations Manager for Liberty Mutual Insurance providing strategic and operational support to Liberty’s Commercial Casualty Claims Organization. He has extensive experience in customer focused risk management, financial and regulatory control management, and setting operational performance metrics. He is happily married to his high school sweetheart of seven years and  father of two children. Vlad is actively involved in his church and has volunteered with HandsOn Suburban Chicago since 2023. When he is not spending time with his family, he is working out, playing basketball, and attempting to be average at his newfound love of golf.

David Prichard
Board Member

David Prichard is a retired corporate vice president of communications, investor relations, public and media relations, and product marketing during his nearly 45-year career. He worked for a number of Fortune 1,000 publicly traded, global corporations across multiple industries in the Chicago area and Wisconsin and reported to numerous chief executive officers and chief financial officers. He directed both global and national corporate philanthropy programs during portions of his business career.

Raised and educated in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Dave has lived in Palatine for the past 36 years. He graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Illinois.

Dave serves on several non-profit boards in the Chicagoland area. He also has been a volunteer in several Congressional, state and local political campaigns. Dave is a member of Quentin Road Baptist Church where he is an active volunteer year around.

Dave previously was a member of the Board of Directors of HandsOn Suburban Chicago (HOSC) from 2004-2010 when he served as Board Vice President and Secretary. He rejoined the Board of HOSC in 2019 and has served several years as Secretary. He is an avid golfer and enjoys writing, reading and volunteering.

Steve Kahn
Board Member

Steve Kahn brings over twenty years of executive leadership in both mid-size and large medical device companies. Steve previously served on numerous medical device associations. His volunteer commitments are focused on improving the health and well-being of people in the community, including Hands on Suburban Chicago, Village of North Barrington (Environmental Commission), and Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago. Steve and his wife Martha live in the metro Chicago area.