Victor Ravago is Co-founder and CEO of Bravo Hospitality Group, a Midwest based hotel ownership company. Victor has spent the last 18 years as an advocate for social and economic justice, both in and out of the workplace. His work began when he became a founding member of the San Diego Dream Team in 2010, a youth-led immigrant rights group that works to organize and advocate for immigrant communities. Since then Victor has been committed to fighting for social progress for immigrant and LGBTQ communities of color.

Victor has served as Board Chair for Center on Halsted since July 2022 and served as Finance Chair for two years prior to his current role. Before joining the Center on Halsted Board, Victor served on the Board of Directors for United We Dream, Board of Director for the San Diego LGBT Community Center, and Board of Governors for the Human Rights Campaign.

In addition to his community involvement, Victor is an active member of the business community. He currently serves as the Treasurer-Secretary for the Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association and serves on the policy committee for the Illinois Hotel Association. Prior to moving to Chicago, Victor was appointed by Mayor Pete Buttigieg to serve on the Board of Managers for the St. Joseph County Hotel Motel Tax Board.

Victor earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from California State University, East Bay, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.

Jason Lyrla is an audit partner at BDO, where he is responsible for the performance of financial statement audits and audits of internal control for companies in the technology, manufacturing, and professional services industries. He has experience conducting audits under PCAOB and AICPA auditing standards, and serves as a partner on audits of both public SEC registrants and privately-held companies, including those in the emerging growth space. Jason has been an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the Chicago corporate community throughout his career, and has been recognized by Crain's Chicago Business as a "Notable LBGTQ Executive" and the Windy City Times with its "30 Under 30" award.

Susan Betteridge is Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at dame creative, a female-led advertising agency she launched in early 2020. Prior to that she led teams at Chicago's largest ad agencies including FCB, Ogilvy and dentsu for brands including Volkswagen, Disney and more. She is also an angel investor with The Josephine Collective which co-funds underrepresented startups especially women, people of color and those in the LGBTQ+ community.

Susan has served on the Center on Halsted Board since 2022 and most recently was the Chair of the Development Committee. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Common Threads, Chef Art Smith's non-profit promoting nutrition for children. Susan is also active in the advertising community, especially mentoring young female creatives and has served in various roles with the American Advertising Federation, Chief a women's leadership organization, and was named a Working Mother of the Year by She Runs It.

Susan began her career as a Copywriter and earned a dual BA in English and Advertising from Michigan State University's Honors College. She and her wife Julie are proud parents to two young girls.

Joanna Ruiz, Vice President of Wallin/Gomez Architects, has been instrumental in driving the firm's success since 2007. With a relentless commitment to excellence and a penchant for innovation, Joanna navigates the complexities of construction projects with finesse, managing diverse teams and exceeding client expectations. Her adeptness at re-designing scope mid-project while adhering to budgetary constraints has earned her the trust of numerous clients, resulting in enduring partnerships.

Having successfully overseen construction projects totaling over $250 million, Joanna's expertise extends beyond traditional architecture. As a LEED® AP accredited professional, she champions sustainable design principles, advocating for environmentally-conscious solutions in all her endeavors.

In 2020, Joanna launched Prism 312, LLC, an architectural consulting firm certified as both WBE and MBE. Driven by her vision for innovation and inclusivity, she looks forward to expanding Prism 312's footprint and shaping the future of architectural practice.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Joanna is a dedicated member of The National Museum of Mexican Art's Auxiliary Board, where she nurtures young philanthropic leaders and supports initiatives that celebrate Mexican culture through art. Her unwavering commitment to community engagement underscores her belief in the transformative power of art and culture. Joanna holds a degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology, where she honed her craft and laid the foundation for her career. She currently resides in East Rogers Park with her wife, Evie, and their beloved cat, Tigger.

As Joanna continues to push the boundaries of architectural innovation and social impact, she looks forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead, both personally and professionally.

Dr. Shantá R. Robinson is the Senior Research Director at the Inclusive Economy Lab and Research Associate at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. She holds a BA in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and an MA in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She earned her PhD in educational policy and foundations at the University of Michigan where she specialized in empirical investigations of marginalized student achievement and underachievement; inequities in the distribution of educational resources; and the history, culture, and social organization of K-12 educational institutions. She began her professional career as a high school history teacher in North Carolina.

Nicholas Bruce is a Senior Vice President/Team Lead in the Government, Not-for-Profit, Higher Ed & Healthcare Division at Wintrust Bank, N.A. and is responsible for helping non-profits achieve their goals through cash flow management and lending. He has been involved in all levels of banking with an emphasis on developing, cultivating, and maintaining client relationships. Nick works directly with the Executive Directors, Presidents, CEOs, and CFOs of organizations to help them achieve their overall goals. He is the primary point of contact for the relationship and ensures that client’s expectations are met and that the banks quality standards are upheld. Nick joined the Houston Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors from December 2019 – December 2022, and was able to provide insight into the organization to help with operational efficiencies. By the time he left Houston Habitat he had helped streamline the homeownership process for applicants. Through this, the organization was able to accept more applicants into the program thus eliminating backlog. He currently sits on the board of Bright Promises Foundation, Chicago Youth Programs, and Center on Halsted in Chicago, IL. Nick and his husband/partner reside in the Andersonville area of Chicago. In his free time, he enjoys many hobbies such as traveling, taking up golf, sporting events, cooking, reading, and spending time with family and friends

As BBDO’s Global Business Leader for SC Johnson, Anne’s focus is ensuring BBDO and their partners around the world collaborate to create brilliant strategies, ideas and integrated communications that work “media to shelf” to accelerate growth for SCJ. Her professional experience prepares her well for this.

Prior to taking on this role, Anne served as COO of Omnicom’s Batten & Co, a consultancy that works with C-Suite clients to help them achieve transformational growth. Their client roster spanned the Health, Agriculture, Beauty, CPG, Hospitality, Luxury and Entertainment categories.

Prior to joining Omnicom, Anne led Strategy and Business Development in Kraft Foods’ Meals Division. She began her career at Leo Burnett, working on the P&G account for eight years. Anne’s passion is developing and coaching others to achieve their full potential. She accomplishes this as a member of the Faculty of BBDO University and is also actively involved in mentoring many professionals in the Omnicom global community. She is currently the Executive Sponsor advising the LGBTQ ERG OpenPride.

She is currently the Executive Sponsor advising LGBTQ colleagues at BBDO and other Omnicom agencies on the formation of an ERG and the launch of a chapter of Omnicom’s OpenPride in Chicago.

She is the proud mother of three amazing young adults, one of whom is a member of the LGBTQ community.

Jason Lyrla is an audit partner at BDO, where he is responsible for the performance of financial statement audits and audits of internal control for companies in the technology, manufacturing, and professional services industries. He has experience conducting audits under PCAOB and AICPA auditing standards, and serves as a partner on audits of both public SEC registrants and privately-held companies, including those in the emerging growth space. Jason has been an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the Chicago corporate community throughout his career, and has been recognized by Crain's Chicago Business as a "Notable LBGTQ Executive" and the Windy City Times with its "30 Under 30" award.

Lupe Sanchez is the Cleveland Market Leader where he currently manages the market that has 14 FCs and is working with the Expansion Division leadership team on the opening of 2 more Financial Center in 2024.

Lupe has 20 years of banking experience, 13 of which have been with Bank of America. Prior to being the Cleveland Market leader, he was a Small Business Banker Manager and managed the SBCs in the East Expansion Market (Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Lexington). He has also held the roles of Consumer Market Leader in Chicago and the Operations Market Manager in Arkansas. Lupe started with Bank of America as a Financial Center Manager in the Chicago Downtown market.

When not out in the field he volunteers at multiple non-profits. He works to ensure that everyone can bring their full self to work within Bank of America.

Joanna Ruiz, Vice President of Wallin/Gomez Architects, has been instrumental in driving the firm's success since 2007. With a relentless commitment to excellence and a penchant for innovation, Joanna navigates the complexities of construction projects with finesse, managing diverse teams and exceeding client expectations. Her adeptness at re-designing scope mid-project while adhering to budgetary constraints has earned her the trust of numerous clients, resulting in enduring partnerships.

Having successfully overseen construction projects totaling over $250 million, Joanna's expertise extends beyond traditional architecture. As a LEED® AP accredited professional, she champions sustainable design principles, advocating for environmentally-conscious solutions in all her endeavors.

In 2020, Joanna launched Prism 312, LLC, an architectural consulting firm certified as both WBE and MBE. Driven by her vision for innovation and inclusivity, she looks forward to expanding Prism 312's footprint and shaping the future of architectural practice.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Joanna is a dedicated member of The National Museum of Mexican Art's Auxiliary Board, where she nurtures young philanthropic leaders and supports initiatives that celebrate Mexican culture through art. Her unwavering commitment to community engagement underscores her belief in the transformative power of art and culture. Joanna holds a degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology, where she honed her craft and laid the foundation for her career. She currently resides in East Rogers Park with her wife, Evie, and their beloved cat, Tigger.

As Joanna continues to push the boundaries of architectural innovation and social impact, she looks forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead, both personally and professionally.

Jesse is a product and growth strategist working at the intersection of healthcare, life sciences, technology and data science. He is a product marketing and strategy leader at Verily, an Alphabet company, supporting the firm’s product strategy and go-to-market efforts. He has previously worked at leading healthcare and technology organizations, including IQVIA (formerly QuintilesIMS), Komodo Health, and the New York Presbyterian Healthcare System.

Jesse was born and raised in Rhode Island, but now lives in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood with his partner and two cats. He enjoys fitness, traveling, culinary arts, exploring new restaurants and bars, and a good sale.

Jesse received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, MHA from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and BA from Brandeis University.

Chartise Clark is a Managing Director at Koya Partners | Diversified Search Group, a leading executive search firm dedicated to placing C-suite and VP-level leaders who can navigate today’s most pressing organizational challenges. Chartise works with clients to find leaders who can thrive in diverse, multigenerational environments, foster a sense of belonging and shared purpose, and guide organizations through significant change with a collaborative spirit. Her portfolio spans national and global clients, including foundations, cultural institutions, social justice organizations, and social service agencies.

Before joining Koya, Chartise's career was marked by achievements in the Bay Area and Boston, where she led recruitment efforts for education nonprofits, focusing on creating diverse and inclusive teams.

As a proud queer Black woman rooted in the West Side of Chicago, Chartise is deeply passionate about supporting her community. To that end, she has built meaningful partnerships with a wide range of Chicago-based organizations, community leaders, and advocates. Beyond her professional endeavors, Chartise serves as a Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the West Side Giving Circle, supported by the Chicago Foundation for Women. She also contributes to the arts community as a member of the Joffrey Ballet Auxiliary Board.

Chartise holds a BA in American Studies, with thesis honors, from Tufts University. She has furthered her expertise through graduate studies in business and organizational development at Howard University.

Calvin Cottrell (he/him) works at the intersection of local government and community development as the Director of Constituent Services for the 4th Ward of Chicago. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Calvin's family ties to the Southside of Chicago inspired his deep interest in equity and policy change early in life.
He is a graduate of the University of Chicago and has lived in Chicago for approximately a decade. Calvin has worked on the JB Pritzker gubernatorial campaign, at the award-winning political advertising firm AL Media, and for the 44th Ward of Chicago.
In his current role he manages government service requests and stakeholder relations in a district of approximately 50,000 constituents. The 4th Ward of Chicago is a historic majority-Black district that includes sections of the Hyde Park, Bronzeville, South Loop, and Loop neighborhoods. Iconic Chicago landmarks such as Soldier Field and the various Museum Campus institutions are located in the ward as well.
Calvin was named to the Windy City Times' 30 Under 30 list in 2024 for his contributions to the Chicagoland LGBTQ Community. He is also a recent graduate of the Black Bench program, which seeks to train the next generation of Chicago's Black civic leaders. Outside of work Calvin is an avid reader and watch collector.

Troy Fahey is the Senior Director, U.S. Corporate Finance at McDonald’s Corporation, the world's leading global foodservice retailer, where he is responsible for providing leadership and oversight to a team of 40+ people across U.S. Financial Planning & Analysis, U.S. McOpCo Finance (company owned restaurants), and National Field Finance (Home Office COE). Starting his career with McDonald’s in Australia in 2000 as restaurant crew, he worked his way up to a Restaurant Manager before joining the Corporate team where he has held various Finance and Franchising roles since. In 2018, Troy was given the opportunity to relocate to the U.S. to progress his career in the McDonald’s U.S. business.

Over his 20+ year career with McDonald’s so far, he has a track record of delivering high-level commercial negotiations, facilitating strategic business partnerships, developing key financial processes and internal control tools, building strong relationship across Corporate, Franchisees and Suppliers, and building and developing a strong people pipeline.

Troy is a values-based leader who has been a strong advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion within McDonald’s and the LGBTQ+ community. He serves as Chair of the McDonald’s PRIDE Employee Business Network, which consists of a network of 600+ members and allies whose vision is to create an inclusive and welcoming workplace where every LGBTQ+ employee feels seen, safe and supported so they can bring their authentic selves to work.

Troy moved to Chicago in March 2022 and enjoys spending his free time exploring Chicago’s endless restaurant options, immersing himself in the arts by attending concerts and the theater, and volunteering at Ronald McDonald House Charities Chicagoland.

Lee VanderLinden is the managing attorney for NIJC’s LGBTQ Immigrant Rights Initiative. Lee graduated with a degree in politics from Princeton University and obtained their J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston. While in law school, they interned with GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), the Irish International Immigrant Center, the People’s Law Office, and NIJC’s LGBTQ Immigrant Rights Initiative. Lee serves on the board of the Midwest Immigration Bond Fund and the Center on Halsted. Lee is licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois.

Alithia Zamantakis, Ph.D. is a Research Assistant Professor at Northwestern University's Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing and the Department of Medical Social Sciences. She is involved in numerous social justice organizations within higher education, including currently serving as chair of Sociologists for Trans Justice. alithia was also previously the Director of LGBTQIA Programs & Services at Shippensburg University.

Having grown up in a working class, coal mining town, alithia is committed in everything she does to marginalized groups and the working class. She has been involved in community organizing since she was sixteen, when she started the first GSA at her rural Utah high school. Currently, alithia is a community organizer at the Chicago Liberation Center and a member of Educators for Justice in Palestine.

Jacqueline (Jyoti) Sinclair is a spirituality teacher and freelance choreographer who uses spiritual concepts and channeled guidance to create art in various forms from space activations, photoshoots, art installations, to movie productions. Additionally, she teaches dance master classes and Kundalini yoga practices nationwide.

Currently, Jyoti is pursuing her passion with her partner teaching and writing curriculum on spirituality globally to thousands of students in both classes online and immersions in person.

Previously, Jyoti cherished a 33-year career with Joel Hall Dancers & Center, moving from professional jazz dancer to Artistic Director. As Artistic Director, she amplified LGBTQ voices through artistry. Simultaneously, she was a devoted public high school educator who wrote and implemented dance curriculum that grew into a thriving arts program for students over her 28 year career.

She has been recognized by Crain's Chicago Business as a "Notable LGBTQ Executive”. Additionally, she was featured in: Chicago Tribune, WTTW, Windy City Times, and choreographed a Leonardo Di Caprio produced Apple TV series titled The Shining Girls.

Jyoti holds a BA in Dance from Columbia College of Chicago, a secondary teacher’s certification from Northeastern Illinois University, and an MA in Theatre from Northwestern University.

To learn more about Jyoti, please visit www.jackisinclair.com.