(773) 989-9800

STAFF & BOARD

There are approximately 70 staff who support the agency’s mission.

Friedman Place is governed by a
VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mary Haley, President

Mary has over 25 years experience in banking, including as a former Assistant Vice-President at Associated Bank. She has served as an officer of several not-for-profit organizations and was a long-time volunteer in Friedman Place’s Activity Department. Mary is also a survivor of polio and joined our Board in 2015.

Ian Kay, Vice-President

Ian has extensive experience in the banking industry and is currently a Vice-President at Customers Bank Private and Commercial Banking.

Richard Goldberg, Treasurer

Rich is a Certified Public Accountant and partner in the accounting firm Wippman, Gozum & Goldberg, Ltd. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Illinois CPA Society, and has been the Treasurer for the Wheeling Prospect Heights Chamber of Commerce and Congregation Beth Am and has served on several other nonprofit.

Bruce Goldstick, MD, Director

Bruce is a partner with Eye Physicians in Skokie, Illinois. He specializes in comprehensive ophthalmology, glaucoma, and cataract surgery. He is Board Certified by the Board of Ophthalmology and a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. Bruce received his MD at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Bruce joined our board in 2014.

Evelyn Hoffmann, JD, Director

Evelyn is an attorney with a specialty in disability issues and has in the past held a variety of senior-level positions in the Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services, and Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs.

Brandon McGhee, Director

Brandon is an educated professional with extensive of experience in project management and the insurance industry spanning Property & Casualty and Executive Liability. Special areas of knowledge include leadership practice, process improvement, and public/private sector analysis. He holds a Property and Casualty Insurance License and Health and Life Insurance License and has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from DePaul University’s School of Public Service. He is currently a Production Underwriter in Management Liability for the Hanover Insurance Group. He lives on the Northside of Chicago.

Barry Newman, JD, Director

Barry has been associated with Friedman Place and its predecessor, Kagan Home, for decades and has served on our Board since 2010. His uncle, David Herman, the agency’s first blind-deaf resident, remained an integral member of our community for nearly 25 years. Barry and his family have been long-time volunteers and supporters. Barry has been in private legal practice as well as a federal, state, and county attorney and was the founder and coordinator of multiple programs for nonprofit organizations.

Paul Rink, JD, Director

Paul is an attorney who retired in 2010 as a Commissioner of the the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission following a twenty year career with the organization. Previously, he worked for many years as a Senior Attorney with Continental Bank. He currently serves as a pro-bono attorney for people with a wide range of disabilities, most of whom have visual impairments and he also serves on the boards of several other nonprofit organizations that serve people who are blind. A lifelong Chicagoan, Paul has been blind since birth and received his law degree from Northwestern University. Paul has served on our board since 2004.

Beverly Shapiro, Director

Bev is a social worker with a long history of working in a community-based nonprofit organization where for many years provided direct services to individuals, couples, and families and later served as a supervisor, administrator, and assistant executive director. She currently serves as a board member of a nonprofit that leverages the unique abilities of people with Asperger’s Syndrome to offer software testing services and on an Advisory Committee for adoption services at an inner-city pre-school. Bev received her Master’s degree from the School of Social Services Administration at the University of Chicago. She has served on our board since 2008.

Jill Strong, Director

Jill Strong has worked at Associated Bank for 25 years and is currently in Commercial Senior Support. Before joining the board she volunteered at Friedman Place for many years in roles as varied as the yearly boat rides sponsored by Associated Bank, Saturday Bingo, tagging and selling items at Friedman Fest, and Music Trivia.

Aaron Thompson, Director

Aaron Thompson is President at ACT Consulting Inc. and regional Developer at Strong Family Financial. He has extensive senior-level experience in banking (Liberty Bank, Associated Bank, JP Morgan Chase), insurance, sales, and personal financial-management services. He lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.