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Steve Green, Chairperson

Current Chairperson and founding member.  Moved to Chicago in 2007 and Galewood resident since 2011.  Active in multiple GN committees including the Mars Co-design Team. Member of Rush Hospitals Community Engagement Council. Realtor with Baird & Warner in Oak Park.

Tom Drebenstedt, Asst. Treasurer

22-year Galewoodian in a bungalow.  Retired from construction management. Rebooted the Rutherford Sayre Park Advisory Council, co-steward of the Rutherford Sayre Park Natural Area, officer of the Garden Club of Galewood Montclare, created many tours/programs for Chicago Architecture Center including Bungalow Belt, Louis Sullivan, Pilsen, Humboldt Park, the 606, Galewood, and Austin. Member of teams evaluating North Avenue and Mars.

Michael Woods

Long running career as a public servant (Chief Operations Professional).  Lived in Galewood for over 25 years. Enjoys volunteering and being of service as giving back is extremely important to him.  Empathy, respect, courtesy, kindness and understanding are mantras he strives to live by. Everyday of existence is a teachable moment.  Loves traveling, always immersing himself into the culture where he travels whether overseas or here in the USA.

John Boratto

Former construction professional, now stay at home dad to four amazing kids. Galewood resident for 8 years.  Enjoys landscaping and vegetable gardening.  Hobbies include keeping fresh water fish and playing disc golf.

Wanda Gilmer

Wife and Mother. Executive professional in the retirement industry and entrepreneur in the catering industry. Has a passion to assist those suffering from food insecurity. Adheres to core values of family, love, integrity, quality, and service.

Sarah Cunningham, Vice Chairperson

Illinois native. Moved to Galewood in 2014 from Cincinnati with her husband Jim. Tree Ambassador with CRTI and TreeKeeper with Openlands.  Worked for Medline Industries for 24 years in Operations, Sales and Human Resources. Avid runner, cyclist and swimmer. Plays the bass flute in the St Paul Melrose Park Flute Choir. 

Omar Sanchez, Treasurer

Originally from Humboldt Park Omar has the great privilege to grow up in some of Chicago's great neighborhoods. A business entrepreneur who owned a barbershop and now is a local realtor, Omar understands the need to make connections within the community to help make it stronger.  A fun fact is that Omar's mom worked at the Mars candy factory for over 36 years and now and ironically he lives only a few blocks away. 

Stephanie Joy Jackson-Rowe

Stephanie Joy Jackson-Rowe is the founder, president, and CEO of the Christian Aerobics & Fitness Association (CAFA), a nonprofit organization established in 2001. CAFA is dedicated to improving the quality of life for poor to moderate-income African Americans and others living with obesity and health disparities.  Ms. Jackson-Rowe was raised in Waukegan, Illinois, and now resides in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated with a B.A. degree in Political Science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois, and earned her M.S. degree in Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Stephanie Joy is a mother and grandmother. She is a member of Living Word Christian Center in Forest Park, Illinois, and an associate member at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois.

Beth Ranucci

Mom of two, wife, real estate and estate planning lawyer, business owner.  Promoter of all things Galewood!  Loves exploring, trees, animals, and being part of a team that makes things happen.  Committee Lead for Galewoodstock and Co-Lead of the Tree Ambassador Program.

Kisha Buford, Secretary

Born and raised on the west side of Chicago, Tikisha always desired to live in Galewood.  By profession, she is an executive at a Fortune 500 insurance company. By passion, she serves her community joyfully by volunteering with several organizations.  As a current resident of Galewood, she enjoys meeting neighbors and spending time with her family and friends. 

Charlie Byrne

A 35-year Galewood resident. Married to Nancy. Retired, former sales professional and high school teacher/coach. "Traveling makes returning to Galewood all the better."

Elaine Sanchez

A recent addition to our Galewood neighborhood Elaine has been a lifelong Chicagoan and a middle school science teacher for over 21 years.  Her oldest son lives next door and her teenage daughter is an avid swimmer. As a middle school teacher and mother of two kids Elaine brings a great skill set to take on and organize tasks. In her spare time she is a feral cat mom who cares for between 8 to 10 cats in the neighborhood. She also loves to craft and garden.

Erin Drain

Originally from Philadelphia Erin moved to Chicago in 2004 to attend the University of Chicago. Entering into her 20th year in the city Erin is eager to give back to her community.  Erin is currently in her second term as a community representative on the Sayre Local School Council. Erin firmly believes that stronger local schools benefit everyone around them. In her spare time she is a professional cellist, an avid wine sommelier and dog mom.

Janice Grant

A Chicago native and originally from the city's southside Janice is very excited to become active in the Galewood community.  As a retired human resources professional her job was to encourage, motivate and help people as well as manage projects. She looks forward to using her skills to help our organization achieve its goals. Her hobbies are reading, gardening and craft projects.  Lead for Health and Resource Fair. Tree Ambassador. 

Jennifer Marling

My name is Jen Marling and I have lived on the 1900 block of North New England in Galewood for almost 25 years. I was raised to give back to my community and have served as an active volunteer, and on several boards and advisory councils for a variety of organizations including Chicago a cappella, Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple in Oak Park, Housing Forward, Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America (FORA), Gilda's Club Chicago and The Alliance to End Homelessness, to name a few. I am a cat mom to two aging indoor cats, and to countless feral cats.