Executive Leadership Team
Julie Yurko, President and CEO
Julie has served as president and CEO of the Food Bank since 2014. She joined Northern Illinois Food Bank in 2009 and previously served as vice president of philanthropy overseeing fundraising, food sourcing, marketing and volunteers. Under Julie’s leadership the Food Bank successfully completed Strategic Plan 2020, providing equity to access to charitable food in 98% of the communities served by Food Bank member agencies and programs. In 2020, the Food Bank lunched Strategic Plan UNITE to transform the charitable food system in order to reach 90% of neighbors experiencing food insecurity through a more dignified, equitable and convenient experience. A goal that was achieved two years early in 2023.
Julie has more than 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Prior to joining the Food Bank, Julie worked for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Children’s Memorial Foundation (now Lurie’s Children’s Medical Center) and the Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo. Julie has served as President of the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement, and on the Boards of the Special Education Alliance for District 200, and Teen Parent Connection.
Julie serves on the Boards of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago, Feeding Illinois, Thrivent Member Network Regional Board and will be joining The Global FoodBanking Network Board in 2025. She is a past member of the Illinois Commission to End Hunger.
Julie has a degree in music and business from Northern Illinois University. She and her family live in Winfield.
Chris White, Chief Operations Officer
Chris joined the Food Bank in February 2005, following eight years serving in the U.S. Army & Reserves, working for Dierks Foods and the Hunger Connection (the local food bank which Northern Illinois Food Bank later acquired). Chris has worked in all facets of operations at the Food Bank, including as Warehouse Manager, Director of Warehouse & Food Processing, Director of Continuous Improvement, and Vice President of Operations. Chris became the Chief Operations Offer in 2021. He and his family reside in Rockford.
Ron Hausner, Chief Financial Officer
Ron joined Northern Illinois Food Bank in October 2023 as the Chief Financial Officer for the organization. Prior to joining the Food Bank, Ron served as the CFO for the National Safety Council based in Itasca, IL for nearly three years as his first foray into serving with a non-profit organization. Before entering the non-profit world, Ron held various roles over the last 20+ years leading Finance, Accounting, and IT teams with the Options Clearing Corporation in Chicago, Orion Energy Systems in Manitowoc, WI, and with CDK Global (ADP Dealer Services) in Hoffman Estates, IL. Ron has also worked with Jefferson Wells International, Ameritech, and the Quaker Oats Company earlier in his career.
Currently Ron serves on the advisory board with the Chicago chapter of the CFO Leadership Council.
Ron holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan in Asian Studies and Chinese Language, and an M.B.A. from Tulane University. He and his wife live in Carol Stream
Jennifer Bucko Lamplough, Chief Impact Officer
Jennifer Bucko Lamplough joined Northern Illinois Food Bank in 2015 as the Director of Nutrition Programs and Executive Chef. In 2020 Jen became the Senior Director of Strategy, overseeing all of the Direct Services programs. Jen was named Chief Impact Officer in the summer of 2021 and she and her team ensure all of our neighbors receive the food they need to thrive through our network of agencies and programs.
Jen has a Certificate in Professional Cooking from the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the Morris Graduate School of Management in Chicago, Illinois.
LaDora Robinson-Locke, Chief People Officer
LaDora Robinson – Locke joined Northern Illinois Food Bank in 2023 as the Chief People Officer. Prior to joining the Food Bank, LaDora worked at Heartland Alliance as their Senior Director of People & Culture and at Lincoln Park Zoo as their Director of Human Resources. LaDora has 20 years of human resource management experience. In addition, LaDora teaches HR Management, HR Management Law, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace at Oakton College.
LaDora holds certificates in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and is a Senior Human Resources Professional (SPHR). She has graduate degrees in Industrial/Organizational Psychology & Business Psychology and a BS in Psychology. She and her family live in Lombard.
Melissa Kochan, Executive Assistant to the President and CEO
Melissa Kochan joined Northern Illinois Food Bank in 2020 as the Executive Administrative Assistant to President and CEO Julie Yurko. Prior to joining the Food Bank, Melissa worked at Honeywell-UOP and LanzaTech supporting C-Level Executives. Melissa is a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt. She and her family reside in Schaumburg.
Board
Executive Committee
- William (Bill) Connell, Chair – Duchossois Capital Management, Chief Financial Officer
- Nate Carden, Vice Chair – Skadden, Arps, Slate, Megher & Flom, LLP, Partner
- Nadine Moore, Treasurer – Boston Consulting Group, Managing Director and Partner
- Kim Holmes, DEI Chair – Inclusion Nation, Strategy Consultant
- Julie Yurko – Northern Illinois Food Bank, President & Chief Executive Officer
Board Members
- Corey Berends, Footprint, Chief Commercial Officer
- David Brearton, Mondelez International (retired)
- Michael Gurin, CogniTek, CEO & CTO
- Judy Hsu, WLS TV ABC 7 Eyewitness News, News Anchor
- Joe Intrakamhang, Google, Senior Data Science and ML Manager
- Lela Johnson, Attorney (retired)
- Shan Johnson, The Salvation Army Winnebago County Director, Rockford Social Services
- Cathy Lang, Epsilon Auto/CRM, President
- Justin Massa, Midwest Quality Consulting
- John Millner, John Millner & Associates, President
- Maydene Moore, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Director, Chicago Market Leader
- Shawn Porter, Shaw’s/Star Market, President
- Kevin Poorten, Northwestern Medicine, Senior Vice President, Administration
- Elizabeth Protich, Holsten Human Capital Development
- Dale Richardson, Compeer Financial (retired)
- Paul Rodriguez, Xperi, Vice President, IP Rights Management and Head of Portfolio Management Media
- Sandy Rodriguez, McDonald’s USA, VP, USA Communications
- Craig Sesemann, Partners Warehouse Logistics Services
- Nicole Scharrenberg, CDW, LLC, Director, Head of Talent Acquisition
- Anthony Suggs, Albertsons, GVP Center Store
- Wilbur You, Youtech & Associates, CEO & Founder
- Michelle Borman, RSM US LLP
- Eileen Buck, Epsilon Auto/CRM
- Renee Carter, RPC Consulting
- Courtney Dutter, iCIMS, Inc.
- Kris Fletcher, Dover Corporation
- Jackie Flick, First Back of Highland Park
- Megan Gatley
- Lauren Genuardi
- Karen J. Golden
- Tracey Gorrell, Ecolab
- Krista Harris, Capgemini
- Tammy Incapreo, Assurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company
- Becky Juhant, Fifth Third Private Bank
- Amanda Kennedy, Comcast Business
- Jill Kruckenberg, Thrivent
- Cathy Lang, Epsilon Auto/CRM
- Noel Leatherbury, npxone
- Rachel Oleksiak
- Eileen Rico
- Caroline Rossow, Wintrust
- Melanie Shaker, FHN Financial Capital Markets
- Erin Stein, CITGO Petroleum
- Laura Swarts,Vertex Resource Group
- Kathy Szymanowski, Ascension At Home Northwest
- Stephanie Taylor, Affinity Strategies
- Bernessa Wilson, Illinois Mutual
- Kathryn Winans, First Centennial Mortgage
- Tiffany King, Special Events Manager, Northern IL Food Bank
- Anne Moore, Strategic and Legacy Gifts Manager, Northern IL Food Bank
- Darcy Bretz, Middleby, Director of Corporate Communications
- Jeff Causemaker, Uline, Inc., Senior Finance Manager – Financial Planning & Analysis
- Chris Chromy, Conagra, Senior Vice President of Sales
- Ron Coleman, Vernon Hills Bank & Trust (Wintrust), President, Commercial Banking
- Chris Dugan, Richelieu Roods, Chief Commercial Officer
- Cassie Felix, Pipestone Veterinary Service, Practice Manager
- Dennis Finney, Jewel-Osco (Retired), Store Director (Retired)
- Kristy Gray, Great Lakes Credit Union, Vice President, Loan Operations
- Rahul Kalsi, Nicor Gas, Director of Government Affairs
- Meghan Netzband, Northwestern Medicine, Community Support Specialist, Community Affairs
- Allan Pixton, Quinn Emanuel, Trial Attorney and Partner
- Tola Sobitan, CDW, Director, Senior Privacy Counsel
- Domonic Wilkerson, Target, Senior Director of Operations, Region 3
- Sarah Woodman, CDW, Director, Small Business Marketing, CDW
- Joseph V. Benedtti, Owner, 4 Oaks Wealth Management, LLC
- Paul Chadwich, Owner, Fearer Nye & Chadwick
- William A. Deitch, Founder, The Estate Planning Law Group
- J. Amber Drew, Partner, Clingen, Callow & McLean, LLC
- Shanise Evans, Owner & Attorney Evans Legacy Law Group
- Mark Farina, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
- Marifran Georgis, Vice President & Trust Officer
- Thomas W. Hentshel, Financial Advisor, Waddell & Reed
- Joan Kelley, Private Wealth Advisor, Ameriprise
- Kathleen Lamonica Krochock, First Vice President & Senior Trust Officer, The State Bank of Geneva
- Ted Kuczek, Founder, Kuczek & Associates
- McKenzie Kuhn, Attorney, Kuhn, Heap & Monson
- Brian Lampsa, Senior Vice President, Investments, True North Retirement Partners of Raymond James
- John T. Matejcak, J.D., First Vice President and Trust Administrative Officer, Old Second National Bank
- Raymond C. Odom, Senior Vice President & Director of Wealth Transfer Services The North Trust
- Allyson B. Russo, Owner, Russo Law Offices
- John T. Schmidt, Managing Director & Senior Trust Advisor, CIBC Private Wealth Management
- Scott L. Seraphin, Shareholder, Seraphin & Rogers, Ltd.
- Jonathan M. Thornton, Partner, Bruett Reyes Thornton, Attorneys at Law