Meet The Team

Jessica Barr, Project Manager

My Clifton Strengths are: Relator, Achiever, Learner, Responsibility, Discipline

Favorite Sport or Sports Team: Chicago White Sox

Cats or Dogs? Dogs

My top 3 books are: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, To Stop A Warlord by Shannon Sedgwick Davis, and November 9 by Colleen Hoover

What I love about my job is: Seeing the final, successful outcomes of our hardwork and how they affect each organization and company we work with.

The most important thing I learned from high school was: You can’t control other people’s actions, but you can control your reaction to them.

My superpower would be: To fly

When I was growing up, I was pretty sure I'd be a: An astronaut or a tornado chaser.

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is: Happiness is a choice.

Nick Fagen, Head of Storytelling and Marketing

My Clifton Strengths are: Empathy, Input, Individualization, Developer, Ideation

Favorite Sport or Sports Team: Baseball! Go Cubs Go!

Cats or Dogs? I genuinely adore ALL animals, but certainly have a special spot for dogs!

My top 3 books are: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Star Wars: Thrawn by Timothy Zahn, and The Bucket List Journal by Ben Nemtin

What I love about my job is: Having the opportunity to share empathy-based storytelling with all sorts of potential audiences!

The most important thing I learned from high school was: The only thing permanent is impermanence. Every minute is uniquely distinct from the last, so cherish the present moment while you can!

My superpower would be: Telepathy

When I was growing up, I was pretty sure I'd be a: Songwriter & Screenwriter

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is: Many times it is the most difficult decision that is, in fact, the right one.

Alex Hearn, Business Manager

My Clifton Strengths are: Empathy, Input, Developer, Intellection and Harmony

Favorite Sport or Sports Team: Chicago Cubs

Cats or Dogs? Cats

My top 3 books are: The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu, Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor and The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

What I love about my job is: Every day brings a new & interesting challenge, allowing me to always learn new things.

The most important thing I learned from high school was: How to form healthy habits

My superpower would be: Teleportation

When I was growing up, I was pretty sure I'd be a: Marine Biologist

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is: When you stop worrying about what you can't control, you have time to change the things you can control.

Alexandra Henkel, Database and Office Assistant

My Clifton Strengths are: Input, Learner, Intellection, Achiever, Restorative

Favorite Sport or Sports Team: Chicago Bears, Bear down!

Cats or Dogs? Dogs

My top 3 books are: “Dark Matter” by Blake Crouch, “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albom, and “Let My People Go Surfing” by Yvon Chouinard

What I love about my job is: Getting to do something new every day and learn so much from the people around me.

The most important thing I learned from high school was: If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.

My superpower would be: Flying, so I can get over my fear of heights but also travel the world without having to pay for or sit on an airplane!

When I was growing up, I was pretty sure I'd be a: a veterinarian

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is: “To not dance when you had the health and could hear the music could be the biggest regret of your life,” both figuratively and literally.

Sara Karlovics, Partner

My Clifton Strengths are: Achiever, Maximizer, Input, Empathy, Includer

Favorite Sport or Sports Team: Chicago Cubs

Cats or Dogs? Dogs for sure – I have a dog, Bentley a Cavapoo (when I got him they said he’s a Yorkiepoo but he’s 30 pounds and looks like a Cavapoo)

My top 3 books are: The Four Agreements, Think Like A Monk and The Kite Runner

What I love about my job is: Feeling like I’ve made the world a better place

The most important thing I learned from high school was: Winning didn’t always mean being first

My superpower would be: Time travel

When I was growing up, I was pretty sure I'd be a: Pilot or Flight Attendant because I wanted to travel

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is: Life is a roller coaster ride, sometimes it’s up, and sometimes it’s down, but it never sticks either way

Victoria Login, Director of Strategic Events & Fundraising

My Clifton Strengths are: Restorative, Individualization, Positivity, Connectedness, and Empathy

Favorite Sport or Sports Team: Chicago Bulls

Cats or Dogs? Cats! Boris and Barry have my entire heart and then some.

My top 3 books are: “Treating People Well” by Lea Berman and Jeremy Bernard, “Love Does” by Bob Goff, and my all-time favorite and constant, “The Bible.”

What I love about my job is: The opportunity to learn something new each day.

The most important thing I learned from high school was: to never schedule P.E. as your first class, especially if it’s your rotation to do swim..

My superpower would be: to eat without packing on the calories.

When I was growing up, I was pretty sure I'd be a: professional dancer.

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is: to find joy in the small and mundane moments of life.

Samuel Miller, Office Assistant

My Clifton Strengths are: Restorative, Context, Deliberative, Responsibility, and Analytical

Favorite Sport or Sports Team: Tennis, especially Novak Djokovic

Cats or Dogs? Dogs

My top 3 books are: A World of Ideas by Lee A. Jacobus, How To Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie, and The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

What I love about my job is: Having the ability to work alongside a strong and resilient team who value accountability, but also perfecting their craft. 

The most important thing I learned from high school was: Commitment and hard work can open doors. 

My superpower would be: Telekinesis

When I was growing up, I was pretty sure I'd be a: Endocrinologist

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is: Plan your work and work your plan.

Lisa Wagner, Managing Partner

My Clifton Strengths are: Strategic, Connectedness, Achiever, Futuristic, Belief, Activator

Favorite Sport or Sports Team: All Chicago Teams!

Cats or Dogs? Um…I had a cat growing up, but now have a dog, Patton. Like choosing between your children!

My top 3 books are: The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay, NeuroTribes by Steve Silberman, and The End of Average by L. Todd Rose

What I love about my job is: all the awesome people we get to work with and meet!

The most important thing I learned from high school was: ...is not found in a book

My superpower would be: Managing chaos and achieving the impossible

When I was growing up, I was pretty sure I'd be a: I was pretty sure I'd be a teacher or high school principal.

The best piece of advice I've ever been given is: You must earn your salt.