We are a diverse group of problem solvers, advocates, people connectors, and mission champions.
Meet our Team
Our seasoned team leverages shared values, unparalleled relationships, and collective wisdom to help our client organizations advance their agendas, build sustainability, raise their profiles, and cultivate long-term partnerships.
Kevin Conlon
Founder and President
Kevin Conlon
About
Kevin Conlon founded Conlon Public Strategies in 1998 with the goal of empowering organizations doing good work in their communities to have an even greater impact. A connector at heart with an entrepreneurial spirit, Kevin collaborates with clients in developing innovative approaches to achieving their objectives.
His wide-ranging background – in law, government, politics, business, academia, venture capital, and nonprofit growth – has resulted in a unique perspective and exceptional relationships. Kevin leverages these to assist organizations of all types successfully navigate the competitive landscape and position themselves for success. He leads a variety of client projects, including board development, government relations, organizational change and strategy, executive search, fundraising, issue advocacy campaigns, and profile-raising initiatives.
Kevin began his career as a labor and employment lawyer, and he has held leadership roles in campaigns at the national, state, and local levels. Kevin has also served in elected office and appointed positions in federal, state, and local government.
Kevin believes that there is nothing more important than family and will usually begin a conversation asking about yours.
Community
- Member of the Economic Club of Chicago
- Chair of the Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association Leadership Circle
- Member of the Board of Trustees of Equip for Equality and the Board of Directors of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation
- Member of the Advisory Committee for the Illinois Connection/University of Illinois Alumni Association
- Past president of the Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago
- Recipient of the first annual Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association Party Builder Award.
Education
Kevin holds a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University, a master’s degree from the University of Illinois, and a JD from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law.
Linda Diamond Shapiro
Executive Vice President
Linda Diamond Shapiro
About
Linda champions the sustainable growth strategies of our nonprofit clients. As a social worker with a strong business orientation, she helps leaders pursue effective growth and impact. She is acutely aware of the social and financial barriers that challenge nonprofits, as well as their clients and their communities. Linda is adroit at guiding comprehensive, forward-looking approaches to build organizational capacity.
Before joining Conlon Public Strategies in 2018, Linda served as a board member and interim CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois and as chief strategy officer at Cook County Health and Hospitals Systems. For several decades, she held executive roles at Access Community Health Network, American Medical Association, University of Chicago Medicine, Health and Medicine Policy Research Group, and LaRabida Children’s Hospital.
Teaching and Community
- Field liaison and seminar faculty for University of Chicago Crown School of Social Work, Policy and Practice, assisting master’s degree candidates in integrating their academic studies with their social service administration internship experiences
- “Health Equity Program Dean” and Leadership Fellows Association board member of Leadership Greater Chicago, introducing competitively selected civic-minded leaders from multiple sectors to new ways to explore key public issues; Leadership Greater Chicago fellow
- Past board chair and Development Committee member of the Hyde Park Youth Symphony, a distinctive South Side program bringing young musicians together for a high quality orchestral experience lacking in area schools
- Board member, Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company
- Executive Committee member of the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club, leading strategic planning and goal-setting for a historic local community treasure
Education
Linda received her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree in social service administration, and MBA all at the University of Chicago. She and her fellow alum husband continue to live in Hyde Park.
Patrick Crawford
Senior Advisor
Patrick Crawford
About
Patrick has more than 30 years of executive experience in government, nonprofit management, and the private sector building impactful partnerships addressing the issues of food insecurity, disaster relief and community resilience.
Prior to joining Conlon Public Strategies, Patrick served as senior director of disaster services at Feeding America, which Forbes recognizes as the nation’s largest charitable organization. In this role, he led disaster preparedness, capacity building, and relief efforts in service of Feeding America’s national network of 200 food banks.
Patrick held key leadership positions at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from 1994 to 2001, where he developed programmatic policy and defended FEMA’s budget requests before House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
After leaving government, Patrick joined forces with former FEMA Director James Lee Witt to provide strategic advice to clients within the emergency management and public safety domains. His consultancy focused on emergency planning, disaster mitigation, business continuity planning, and sustainability initiatives.
Patrick began his career as an educator, teaching government and US history at a high school in the Washington, DC, area. In his free time, you will find Patrick spending time with his family, tending to his garden and exploring new communities and cultures, both near and far.
Community
Patrick is a nationally recognized expert on disaster resilience and sustainability issues having served as:
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- Board Member, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (3-terms)
- Member, National Academies of Science’s Committee on Increasing National Resilience to Hazards and Disaster
- Member, National Mass Care Council
Education
Patrick attended the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a BA in Government and Public Administration, and he also obtained a M.Ed. from Loyola University Maryland.
Griselda Garibay
Senior Advisor
Griselda Garibay
About
Griselda is deeply committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice initiatives, as well as empowering others, especially women and children. A strategically minded advisor, she draws on her extensive nonprofit management experience to assist Conlon Public Strategies’ clients in a variety of areas. This includes facilitating discussions, leading focus groups in English and Spanish, conducting team-building events, and designing communications strategies.
Griselda has experience working in multiple industries, and is particularly proud of her collaboration with international and national nonprofits to expand their reach and fulfill their social impact missions. Before joining Conlon Public Strategies, Griselda serving as the national director of the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement Mujeres de HACE Program, a women’s professional and leadership development program. She has also served as finance and marketing director for the Vincentian Family Haiti Initiative.
In her free time, Griselda enjoys all things outdoors, from kayaking to camping with her husband and two teenage daughters and a loving Brittany Spaniel.
Community
- Co-chair of the American Cancer Society IL Area Board Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
- Imerman Angels volunteer, providing free one-on-one cancer support to cancer fighters, survivors, and caregivers
- Past board member of the Farther Foundation which supports first-generation college-bound students through educational and service travel opportunities
Education
Griselda attended Kenwood Academy in Chicago. She received a BA in French business from the University of Illinois at Chicago, as well as an MBA in international business and a master’s degree in international public service, both from DePaul University.
Bill Gerstein
Senior Advisor
Bill Gerstein
About
Bill brings exceptional experience in community engagement, development, education, and business to his work with our nonprofit clients. Leveraging his multi-sector relationships and expertise, Bill collaborates with nonprofits on strategic planning, leadership development, and community engagement to help them maximize their impact. Bill is a committed and thoughtful advisor with a unique perspective stemming from his work in the education and community development sectors and as an entrepreneur.
Before joining Conlon Public Strategies, Bill led a major effort within Chicago Public Schools to create comprehensive engagement strategies in South Side and West Side communities. He began his career as a Chicago Public Schools high school social studies teacher and track coach before taking over a small chain of supermarkets as an owner and operator. In this capacity as a South Side business owner, he became actively involved in community development work and became director of community relations for the Hyde Park Cooperative and executive director for Partners in Development in Bronzeville. Working with the community and a group of teachers, Bill organized high schools in the South Shore and Austin neighborhoods, serving as co-founder and principal of these two schools.
Community
- Board member of City Year Chicago, Firehouse Community Arts Center, and Woodlawn Children’s Promise Community
- Leadership Greater Chicago fellow and senior advisor
- Crain’s Chicago Business Forty under Forty
- Prior board president of Seminary Co-op bookstores
Education
Bill received his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Wisconsin and his master’s degree in school administration from the University of Illinois Chicago.
Dr. Joanne Howard
Senior Advisor
Dr. Joanne Howard
About
Joanne is an expert in strategic planning and evaluation research for nonprofit organizations. She believes organizations that examine their priorities on a periodic basis through the lens of their constituencies are the ones that are the most effective.
Joanne works collaboratively with Conlon Public Strategies’ clients with the goal of enhancing their boards, strategies, resource development, and organizational effectiveness. In addition to her work with our clients, Joanne is an associate professor of public administration at the Stuart School of Business at Illinois Institute of Technology. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member with the Heller School of Business at Roosevelt University. She teaches courses leading to the MPPA and MBA at both institutions.
Community
- American Society for Public Administration
- Conference of Minority Public Administrators
- American Evaluation Association
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America
- Planned Parenthood of Illinois
- Hyde Park Kenwood Community Conference
Education
Joanne received her primary school education in New Jersey, her BA from Hampton Institute (Virginia), her master’s in public administration from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) at the University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), and her doctorate in public administration from the College of Urban Planning and Public Administration (CUPPA) at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Jeff Lande
Senior Advisor
Jeff Lande
About
A Washington DC veteran, Jeff has advised governments, corporations and nonprofits in the US and overseas for more than three decades. He offers Conlon Public Strategies clients his extensive experience in government relations, public affairs, coalition building, research, geopolitical and market analysis, business facilitation, and strategic planning. He has particular expertise in assessing and helping shape the potential impact of public policies and politics on corporate and nonprofit organizations. Jeff is trained as a psychologist and has spent much of his career working on social programs for children, families, and veterans.
In addition to advising Conlon Public Strategies and its clients, Jeff leads a global consultancy he founded in Washington, DC. Before this, Jeff served as executive vice president of TechAmerica and senior vice president of the Information Technology Association of America. He served as the national legislative director and Washington office associate director of United Jewish Communities and the Council of Jewish Federations. He has also held legislative and committee staff positions in the US House of Representatives. Jeff spearheaded the US Technology Partnership, a cooperative sector initiative between the US Department of Commerce, US Office of Thrift Supervision, and the technology industry, to increase engagement opportunities by minorities with the technology sector.
In his free time, Jeff enjoys hanging with family and friends as well the family dog. He also likes hiking, reading/learning, volunteering, traveling, and just enjoying the day.
Teaching and Community
- Board member, Re-imagining Migration
- Advisory board member, First Women’s Bank
- Advisory board member, National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)
- Former board and executive board member, Friends of the Smithsonian National Zoological Park
- Former board member, CMO Axis
- Former board member, Rooted in Hope
- Lecturer and researcher at the University of Virginia
Education
Jeff obtained his graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Virginia and University of Wisconsin-Madison, respectively.
Dr. Kafi Moragne-Patterson
Senior Advisor
Dr. Kafi Moragne-Patterson
About
Dr. Moragne-Patterson serves as the executive director of the IMPACT Leadership Development Program and senior vice president of leadership programming and philanthropy at the Chicago Urban League (CUL). In this role, she is responsible for setting the vision for all leadership programs at CUL, specifically the IMPACT Leadership Development Program and IGNITE.
Prior to her role at CUL, Dr. Moragne-Patterson was the senior program director of the University of Chicago’s Inclusive Economy Lab, where she led a portfolio of work dedicated to understanding the impact of education initiatives across the city on college and career success. She also continues to serve as a lecturer across the university.
Previously, Dr. Moragne-Patterson led the University of Chicago’s Community Service Center and served as the vice president of program quality, innovation, and evaluation at Chicago Scholars. At Chicago Scholars, she directed research and strategy for college access and success programming that impacted thousands of talented, first-generation and/or low-income students attending high schools across the City of Chicago.
She resides in Kenwood with her three children, brother, and husband.
Community
- Board Member, Leadership Greater Chicago Alumni Association
- Steering Committee Member, UChicago Consortium on School Research
- Commissioner, State of Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission
- Volunteer, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Education
Dr. Moragne-Patterson is a proud alum of Kenwood Academy, received a BA in cultural anthropology and Africana studies from Vassar College, an MSW from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a PhD from the University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice.
Peggy Parfenoff
Senior Advisor
Peggy Parfenoff
About
Peggy Parfenoff has extensive experience in nonprofit management, having served as the president of WorldChicago for 22 years. At Conlon Public Strategies, Peggy shares her experience with nonprofit growth and capacity building, strategic plan creation, and board development. She also has experience with federal grant management, fundraising strategies, and intentional international travel and expansion.
Peggy’s international perspective stems from her time at WorldChicago, which implements international exchange programs for the U.S. Department of State. She welcomed thousands of emerging leaders from all over the world to Chicago, highlighting the amazing people throughout Chicagoland that work each day to make our community vibrant. Prior to leading WorldChicago, Peggy was the director of development at the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and worked at the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, D.C.
In her free time, Peggy and her husband love to travel around the world and around the beautiful United States. When not traveling, they enjoy exploring the many unique communities around Chicago. Peggy lives on the north side of the city along with her college-aged child and French bulldog.
Community
- International Women’s Forum, Programs Committee
- Adjunct Professor, Communications Department, Columbia College Chicago
- Japan America Society Board of Directors
- Past Board Member, Global Ties U.S.
Education
While at the Department of Cultural Affairs, Peggy earned her MBA in Public/Non-Profit Management and Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Peggy attended Central College in Pella, Iowa, for her communications and French undergraduate degrees. Her studies included the Chicago Semester and a year at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, the first of her many international travels.
Ruth Reiner
Senior Advisor
Ruth Reiner
About
Ruth Reiner is an executive leadership coach and organizational consultant committed to creating positive change for individuals, teams, organizations, and communities with a focus on inclusion, insight, and action. Ruth provides strategic support for organizational strategy and change by facilitating executive team conversations and decision making. Ruth’s style integrates an action-oriented approach with a collaborative and engaging style.
Before joining Conlon Public Strategies in 2022, Ruth created and led the Global Career and Leadership Development team for the Executive MBA Program at Chicago Booth. She also launched and led the Leadership Development team for part-time MBA students. In addition, Ruth provides leadership development to Chicago Urban League’s IMPACT Fellows.
Prior to joining Chicago Booth, Ruth held a number of roles in organization development, talent development, learning, and change management at Motorola, BP, and CSC Index Consulting. Ruth’s coaching and consulting clients have included a variety of large public organizations, as well as the City of Chicago and a number of nonprofit organizations, including Erie Family Health Centers.
When not working on client projects, Ruth enjoys outdoor sports, such as hiking and downhill skiing; speaking Italian as much as possible; and exploring Chicago’s restaurant scene.
Community
- Volunteer cohort facilitator and coach for the IMPACT Fellows program at the Chicago Urban League and Chicago alumnae of Harvard Business School Peer Circles
- Active member of Impact Grants Chicago, 2020-present
Education
Ruth received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in electrical engineering from Yale University.
Sara Stern
Senior Advisor
Sara Stern
About
Sara has a long and deep career as a marketing communications executive. She has worked both within organizations and as an agency executive and has broad experience as a strategist, team leader, and creative guide. She has shaped marketing campaigns for a wide variety of clients, including some of the nation’s most influential and consequential organizations. Her work has helped clients communicate their missions to niche audiences as well as to the broader public. She shapes internal and external communications that are defining, unified, purposeful, and productive. In her work to strengthen clients’ brands, she has helped to strengthen their market share, navigate crises, and raise private philanthropic investment.
Prior to joining Conlon Public Strategies, Sara led the philanthropic marketing practice at Lipman Hearne, a national agency focused exclusively on nonprofit and mission-driven organizations. There, she guided creative communications for fundraising campaigns with goals ranging from $10 million to $7 billion. Sara began her career in public relations with Burson-Marsteller and moved into marketing communications, holding leadership roles at Illinois Tech, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Rush University Medical Center before returning to agency life and consulting.
Sara is an avid runner, reader, and cultural consumer.
Community
Throughout her career, Sara has been actively engaged as a singer and actor in the professional Chicago theatre and music community. She enjoys bringing her offstage expertise to the performing arts as well, having served as an informal and formal adviser to many Chicago-area theater companies. Sara currently serves as the president of the board of directors for The Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company.
Education
Sara holds a bachelor’s degree in political science, with a minor in music, from Smith College.
Catherine Voigt
Senior Advisor
Catherine Voigt
About
Catherine uses the advocacy, writing, and research skills developed throughout her career to help Conlon Public Strategies clients develop the powerful messages, materials, and strategies needed to achieve their goals. She leads client projects focused on grant funding, strategic planning, board governance, and communications.
Before joining Conlon Public Strategies in 2006, Catherine worked in the Illinois appellate and supreme courts as a law clerk and practiced labor and employment law and school law before focusing on criminal appeals with the Illinois State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor.
When she is not working on client projects, Catherine can often be found cheering for the Illini with her husband and three girls (all Illini) or wandering around the hardware store planning her next project.
Community
- Treasurer for the West Suburban Philanthropic
- Member of the Board of Directors of the Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center (Finance and Human Resources Committees)
- Member of the Grants Professionals Association
Education
Catherine earned a law degree from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law and an undergraduate degree in English with Highest University Honors (Bronze Tablet) from the University of Illinois.
Elizabeth Vincent
Senior Advisor
Elizabeth Vincent
About
Liz draws on her expertise in public policy research, writing, advocacy, and project management to help Conlon Public Strategies’ nonprofit clients with policy analysis, strategic planning, and communications .
Before joining the Conlon team in 2022, Liz worked in a government affairs role at a nonprofit association and served as an assistant to Mayor Richard M. Daley for policy. Among her favorite projects for the city were two policy forums on protecting Chicago’s children from violence and improving early childhood literacy. Liz began her career as an education lawyer in private practice.
Throughout her career, Liz has been particularly committed to supporting programs and policies helping Chicago’s children. In her free time, Liz enjoys exploring Chicago with her husband and their three children, reading, and walking their family dog, Tod.
Community
- Volunteer at the Common Pantry in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood
- Past Advocacy Committee chair and member of Junior League Chicago
Education
Liz earned her law degree and master’s in public policy and administration from Northwestern University. She received her undergraduate degree in English and art history from Northwestern University.
Associates
Carl F. Hughes
Associate
Carl F. Hughes
About
Carl brings to the Conlon Public Strategies team access to his extensive domestic and international network and expertise in banking and finance. Prior to joining Conlon Public Strategies in 2020, Carl served as the chairman, president, and chief executive officer of an Ohio-based bank for over 30 years.
Carl has served as an ambassador for John Carroll University, where he fosters fellowship programs and facilitates institutional growth. He co-developed and co-funds an internship program for John Carroll University with the United Nations World Food Programme and Jesuit Refugee Service. Carl has served in numerous leadership roles for political campaigns at the national, state, and local levels.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from John Carroll University.
Kelly McKay
Associate
Kelly McKay
About
Kelly draws on her entrepreneurship, accounting, and project management experience to support Conlon’s internal operations, as well as assist nonprofit clients with select projects. Kelly leverages her background in software consulting, team management, and nonprofit consulting to utilize technology to assist clients.
Kelly has founded and leads a digital health company focused on providing non-opioid solutions for chronic pain and is committed to diminishing stigma and increasing access to substance use disorder treatment. Additionally, she specializes in supporting clients across a variety of industries with finance and accounting support.
Kelly earned her MBA with a concentration in entrepreneurship and strategic management from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and her undergraduate degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from Boston University. She is the chair of the Associate Board of the Haymarket Center.
Dr. David Soglin
Associate
Dr. David Soglin
About
With his background in pediatric medicine and patient care, Dr. Soglin offers Conlon Public Strategies’ clients extensive expertise in improving health and health care access for underserved children.
Before joining Conlon Public Strategies, Dr. Soglin was the chief medical officer at La Rabida Children’s Hospital. He was previously chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Cook County Health and Hospital Systems from 2002-2015, serving as director of the Pediatric Emergency Department and Pediatric Residency Program from 1994-2002.
As a founding member of the Partnership for Resilience, Dr. Soglin raises awareness of the impact of toxic stress, childhood trauma, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and works to improve children’s health, academic, and social outcomes.
Dr. Soglin earned his medical degree from Rush Medical College and completed a pediatrics residency at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center and a fellowship in pediatrics at Rush Medical College. He is board certified in pediatric emergency medicine and has a master’s degree in health professions education from the University of Illinois at Chicago.