The CAPE Board of Directors can be depended upon to share their many years of experience and knowledge to help to steer the organization to success. Board members come from a wide variety of different professional backgrounds who share the desire to bring the positive influences of arts education into more classrooms.
Officers
President
Kyle Johnson
Adobe
Kyle is a passionate innovator who creates inclusive environments for successful software development and product go-to-market strategies. Kyle currently works at Adobe, focusing on the use of generative AI in creativity.
Vice President
Kirti Parakh
Deloitte LLP
Kirti is a Managing Director at Deloitte with over 20 years of experience in finance transformation and public accounting, serving both public and private companies across various industries. Since joining the CAPE board in 2022, Kirti is deeply committed to advancing equity in education for students in underserved communities.
Treasurer
Timothy John Slomka
Redwood Logistics
Tim is a CPA and MBA grad specializing in finance and accounting. Tim is the VP of Finance at Redwood Logistics, LLC. Tim joined CAPE in 2023 and also services on his kid’s school finance board.
Secretary
William Estrada
University of Illinois at Chicago
William’s art and teaching is a collaborative discourse that critically re-examines public and private spaces with people to engage in radical imagination. He presents on community programming, arts integration, and social justice curricula. He is a visual art teacher at Telpochcalli Elementary and faculty at the School of Art and Art History at UIC.
Directors
Richard M. Assmus
Mayer Brown LLP
Richard is an intellectual property partner at the law firm Mayer Brown LLP, and has served on the Board since 2007. Rich served as President of CAPE from 2015-2019.
Nathan G. Echols II
Better Business Bureau
Nathan is the Senior Director of Operation at the Better Business Bureau with over 15 years of Leadership Experience. Nathan joined the CAPE Board in 2023.
Adam Engle
Fund for Equitable Business Growth at Chicago Community Trust
Adam is the Director of the Fund for Equitable Business Growth, a multi-funder collaborative housed at the Chicago Community Trust that invests in a marketplace of services and products to support entrepreneurs of color in Chicago.
Carrie Olivia Adams
University of Chicago Press
Carrie is a poet, the Promotions and Marketing Communications Director for the University of Chicago Press, and the poetry editor for the small press Black Ocean.
Lisa Zambrano Anderson
Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago
Lisa is a CPA with over 20 years of finance and banking experience. She has served on several non-profit boards.
Mekia Hearn
AVID Center
Mekia is a distinguished leader with extensive experience in non-profit organizations, Mekia has held various roles, including Secretary, Fundraising Chair, and Service Project Chair.
Kat Delgado
Law Offices of Kat Delgado
Kat is an Attorney who also trained as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She is passionate about social justice and bridging gaps between communities through education and shared experiences.
Neel Pandya
Research Triangle Institute
Neel is a non-profit leader with extensive experience in designing and executing programs in healthcare, education, and youth development.
Olivia Manning
PwC
Olivia is a seasoned technology consultant and product manager for all things data, deeply committed to bridging the gap and driving impactful solutions for arts and STEM education.
Ramya Bavikatte Tallarovic
Beds Plus Inc
Ramya received her Master of Accountancy from DePaul University in 2010. She serves as the COO for Beds Plus, a non-profit organization based in La Grange, IL that serves those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
