Our Team

Driven by a passion for advocacy and a deep understanding of senior living and disability support, I have dedicated my career to leading teams and initiatives that empower older adults and individuals with developmental disabilities. My leadership is rooted in hands-on experience, strategic vision, and a commitment to creating inclusive, supportive environments where every person feels seen and valued.

Much of my work centers on comprehensive case management and dementia awareness. I guide families and professionals through complex care transitions with clarity, empathy, and practical support, recognizing that these moments often carry emotional weight as well as logistical challenges. I am deeply committed to expanding community understanding of dementia and championing programs and events that foster dignity, connection, and inclusion.

My approach is shaped by the values of patience, compassion, and inclusion, instilled in me from a young age by my Grandma Marle. Her influence continues to guide my work as I build collaborative partnerships, mentor emerging professionals, and advocate for innovative, person-centered solutions. I believe effective leadership means listening deeply, advocating boldly, and ensuring that every individual has access to the resources and opportunities they deserve.

If you’d like to learn more about how I can help, I invite you to email me at leslee@ouragingservices.org for a free 15-minute consultation.

I’ve spent the past 15 years walking alongside students with developmental disabilities and their families—helping them navigate IEPs, 504 Plans, and the maze of transition planning. My work in a large north suburban high school district has centered on one goal: making sure families don’t have to face these systems alone.

But this isn’t just my profession—it’s personal. My son Hank lives with a catastrophic form of epilepsy that impacts every part of his daily life. Because of him, I’ve lived the overwhelm, the paperwork, the waiting lists, and the heartbreak. I’ve also felt the power of persistence, advocacy, and community.

I eat, sleep, and breathe the search for support services—SSI, SSDI, Medicaid Waivers, therapies, adaptive tech—you name it. I know how hard it is to find what you need, and I know how transformative it is when you do.

That’s why I co-founded Our Aging Services. My mission is to make sure no family feels lost in the system. Whether you’re planning for adulthood, navigating eligibility, or just trying to catch your breath—I’m here to help you build a support network that lasts.

I serve as Board Chair for Our Aging Services, where I bring together my passion for advocacy and my long-standing commitment to individuals with developmental disabilities. My work is shaped by years of volunteering with Easy Street Theater and River Valley Special Recreation, as well as a 12-week fellowship with Our Aging Services that strengthened our sustainability, expanded revenue growth, modernized marketing, and deepened community engagement. That experience reinforced my belief that families, caregivers, and aging adults deserve clear guidance and compassionate support as they navigate complex systems.

Professionally, I work at Cigna Healthcare as a Product Strategy Advisor for Fortune 500 clients, leading the execution of the U.S. Commercial Strategy and Core Solutions roadmap. I partner across product, sales, and market teams to translate innovation into clear, scalable market execution and ensure programs and clinical solutions are effectively positioned and adopted.

My leadership—both in my career and in the community—is grounded in inclusion, dignity, and connection. I believe in listening first, advocating boldly, and building systems that help every person, regardless of age or ability, access the resources they need to thrive.

I am a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with over 30 years of experience in disability advocacy, person-centered planning, and vocational rehabilitation. Since 2010, I have served as an independent counseling provider within the State of Illinois Early Intervention Program, where I assist families in navigating government benefits, insurance plans, and medical management. I also provide social-emotional support and help families manage the complex transition from Early Intervention into the public school system.

My leadership experience spans clinical practice, management, and academia. I previously served as a Director at Anixter Center in Chicago and as a Rehabilitation Services Supervisor for Niles Township Districts #807 and #219, where I managed state-funded vocational contracts and supervised teams supporting individuals with disabilities in vocational training and employment. I have also worked in higher education as a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, training educators in advanced behavior intervention and collaborative leadership.

I hold an M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. My deep commitment to individuals with disabilities and their families, along with my long history of advocacy, guides my work and fuels my dedication to serving on the Our Aging Services Board.

I’m excited to join the Board of Our Aging Services and bring both personal and professional experience to support the organization’s mission of helping seniors and individuals with disabilities find the care and resources they need. When my mom was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, I learned firsthand how overwhelming it can be to navigate the system. That experience sparked my passion for helping others feel more informed, supported, and confident as they make decisions for their loved ones.

In my career in marketing, I’ve focused on communication, storytelling, and building connections — skills I look forward to using to help spread the word about Our Aging Services. I’m eager to raise awareness about the organization’s incredible work and get more people involved in events and programs that truly make a difference in our community.

Outside of work, I love to travel, cook and bake, go for runs on the Chicago lakefront, and spend time with my family and friends — usually around a good meal.

I am excited to be on the board of Our Aging Services. I have been working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since my early twenties. I have a passion for making sure that their voices are heard, especially in the legal system.

I am a lawyer who works in the estate planning and guardianship space. I serve as a Guardian Ad Litem in the Kankakee County Court, specifically in Guardianships for those with mental health diagnoses, cognitive impairment, intellectual or developmental disabilities.

I also volunteer my time to educate about estate planning and special needs planning, as knowing and understanding what resources are available makes an enormous difference in everyone’s lives.

Listening to and advocating for those whose voices get drowned and pushed aside, because the system is designed that way, is my number one goal.

I joined the Our Aging Services Board of Directors in January 2026, committed to connecting seniors and individuals with developmental disabilities to essential community resources that promote independence, dignity, and quality of life.

As a retired Career and Technical Education (CTE) educator, I taught Family and Consumer Sciences for 35 years at Reed-Custer High School in Braidwood, Illinois. My roles included coordinating the Cooperative Work Experience and Introduction to Teaching Internship programs, which provided students with real-world experience, professional skills, and career preparation. I also advised Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), mentoring students in leadership and career readiness.

After retiring, I served as a Career Coach at Kankakee Area Career Center, helping seniors develop professional portfolios and workplace readiness skills for career and post-secondary transitions.

I am an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG), an international professional organization for women educators, serving in the Upsilon Chapter (Kankakee and Iroquois Counties) as current Vice President and past President/Co-President. Through DKG initiatives, I support local children and adults.

I am passionate about using my leadership and educational background to strengthen the network of resources at Our Aging Services, empowering adults, individuals with disabilities, families, caregivers, and professionals in the community to live with dignity and independence.

I am honored to be on the board of Our Aging Services. I joined the board in 2025 bringing over 35 years of experience in the healthcare industry. As a hospital medical social worker my expertise is community services and discharge planning has a large focus on the geriatric population. I have also worked with many families and local agencies caring for those with intellectual disabilities. I am committed to building a community where every individual is treated with dignity, respect, and kindness regardless of age and ability.

I believe that families know their loved ones better than anybody else. Listening to their concerns and needs has been a practice of mine throughout my career. I am able to advocate and offer assistance in planning for life changes as they arise.

Professionally I have worked for Riverside Medical Center for the past 30 years. I enjoy advocating for and supporting people as they are meeting life changes they never imagined they would endure. My goal is to help ease the challenges that come along with medical uncertainties. Personally I take pride in being from a large family that includes more than just my relatives, but the community in which I serve.

I am proud to be part of the solutions that Our Aging Services brings to so many in need.

Community involvement and its lasting impact has always been important to me, and I am honored to serve on Our Aging Services Board of Directors. I bring experience in financial planning and governance, strategic insight, a collaborative mindset and thoughtful financial stewardship to the Board. I’m committed to supporting Leslee and Megan and Our Aging Services’ mission and long-term success.

I am a Financial Advisor with over 20 years of experience helping individuals and families make confident and informed financial decisions. I am passionate about building long-term relationships and guiding clients through meaningful financial milestones with clarity, strategy and care

My career started over 30 years ago after I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Accounting. I worked in public accounting, private corporate accounting and now the financial services industry. I have built a strong foundation in analytical thinking and financial stewardship – skills that continue to guide my work today.

I live in Herscher, Illinois where my husband, Tim, and I have proudly raised our 2 children, Blaise and Delaney. I have been involved in our community and am guided by the belief that when a community invests in you, you have a responsibility to invest right back.