Iris Krieg, President
A BPI Director since 1992, Iris was elected President of the Board in 2004. She is the President of Iris Krieg & Associates, a professional advisory firm in philanthropy. A former foundation executive, Iris is one of the co-founders of the Chicago Foundation for Women and served as its first Board chair. She holds masters degrees from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago.
Lucy B. Ascoli, Vice President
Lucy helped found the Crossroads Fund and was a Board member of that foundation for seven years. As a staff member of the Donors Forum of Chicago, she directed a project to encourage people to start family foundations. Lucy has been the Director of Development for two non-profit low-income housing developers and two refugee assistance organizations serving Chicago’s Ethiopian and Cambodian communities. A BPI Director since 1981, she currently serves as Board President of Changing Worlds and is a Board member of the Neighborhood Writing Alliance, Chicago Chapter of Human Rights Watch, and the Cambodian American Heritage Museum. Lucy currently chairs BPI's Public Housing Committee.
Steven Kersten, Vice President
Steve joined BPI’s Board in 1995. He is President of Water Saver Faucet Company, the largest worldwide manufacturer of laboratory faucets, and Guardian Equipment Company, which manufactures laboratory safety equipment. An attorney and graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, Steve is also a Trustee of the University and serves on its Chicago Regional Planning Cabinet.
Steve co-chairs BPI’s Endowment Committee.
Deborah A. Harrington, Secretary
A BPI Director since 2001, Deborah was named President of the Woods Fund of Chicago in 2006 after serving as its Program Director of Public Policy. Previously Deborah held posts at both the Illinois Department of Employment Security and the Department of Human Services, and she served on Governor Edgar’s Task Force on Human Services Reform. She has served on the Boards of the Association of Black Foundation Executives and Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy.
David Gottlieb, Treasurer
David is Senior Vice President of Banner Property Management, a family-owned and operated property management company. Since 2000, David has also served as Executive Director of Full Circle Communities, Inc., a philanthropic nonprofit acquirer and manager of affordable housing. Previously, David worked in theater, historic preservation and public relations, and served as executive director of the Lower Downtown District, Inc., the community advocacy and preservation association that oversaw redevelopment of Denver’s Lower Downtown Historic District. David has been a BPI Director since 2002. In addition to BPI, David serves on the Boards of the Ark, a Jewish social services agency in Chicago, the Torah Learning Center, and the John J. Hill Memorial Challenge.
E. Hoy McConnell, II, Executive Director
Even before Hoy McConnell became BPI’s third Executive Director in September 1999, he was active on the Board of Directors—as a member since 1981 and president from 1990-96. Previously Hoy led a distinguished career in the advertising agency business. At the Leo Burnett Company, Hoy was Senior Vice President, Account Director. He joined Burnett from D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles Worldwide (DMB&B), where from 1983 until 1995 he served as Managing Director of DMB&B/Chicago, leading the 160-person Chicago office, which steadily grew under his direction. Hoy received a BA magna cum laude from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Sheldon L. Baskin
An attorney and real estate developer, since 1971 Sheldon has been a principal in more than 150 multifamily housing developments. As owner of Metroplex, Inc., he oversees the management of more than 15,000 rental housing units in Illinois and across the country. He is also a principal of Partners for Senior Communities and ActiveLife Retirement Communities. Sheldon joined BPI's Board in 1989 and currently serves as Chair of BPI's Board Development Committee. A life trustee of the Francis W. Parker School, he is a member of the Policy Committee and Advisory Board of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs.
Robin S. Coffey
A BPI Director since 2004 and Co-Chair of the Annual Dinner Committee, Robin has served as Board Chair of the Illinois Facilities Fund and currently serves as Vice President of the Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago Board. She has also served on the Boards of the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders, and the Federal Reserve Consumer Advisory Council. Previously Robin headed the Harris Bank Foundation and served as the bank’s senior officer on all community-related matters. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Robin is also a licensed architect.
Camilla Hawk Diaz-Perez
Camilla joined BPI’s Board in 1990. A real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in Chicago, Camilla is a graduate of the Goodman School of Drama. A professional actress, she also serves on the Board of the Teatro Vista Theatre, a nonprofit theater company focused on celebrating Latino culture. She has for many years managed event planning for BPI’s Annual Dinner.
William H. Farley, Jr.
President of BPI’s Board from 2001 – 2004, Bill served as First Assistant Corporation Counsel under Mayor Harold Washington and then as General Counsel of the Chicago Transit Authority. A partner in the law firm of Gonzalez, Saggio & Harlan LLP, Bill is a past President of the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois and presently serves as a Commissioner of the Illinois Racing Board. Bill earned his JD from Yale University Law School and attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.
Robert B. Lifton
Bud Lifton has been a BPI Director since 1972, serving as Board President from 1977 - 1982. He serves on the Executive Committee of ShoreBank and as President of Working in the Schools (WITS) and Chair of the Albert Pick, Jr. Fund. A past president of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, Bud’s numerous philanthropic and civic commitments include the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago, National Board of the New Israel Fund, WBEZ-FM, and the Irving B. Harris School of Public Policy Studies Visiting Committee.
Bettylu K. Saltzman
President of BPI’s Board from 1995 - 2001, Bettylu was the first woman to serve in that role. She became a BPI Director in 1981, and has served in leadership positions in numerous philanthropic and civic organizations, including her current service as Vice Chair of the Sinai Health System and the National Alzheimer Association’s Executive and Public Policy Committees. She serves or has served on Boards of the New Israel Fund, Crossroads Fund, and Young Women’s Leadership Charter School, among many others. She previously served as Executive Assistant for Northern Illinois to Senator Paul Simon. Bettylu is Co-Chair of BPI’s Endowment Committee.
Ann E. Smith
Ann is President of the Gamaliel Foundation, following her service as Assistant Chancellor and Director of Community Relations at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In addition to numerous teaching positions at the college and high school levels, she also served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Northeastern Illinois University. Ann served a six-year term on the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, the first African American woman to hold office in Illinois through a statewide election. She has served in leadership roles on numerous boards throughout her business and academic careers. Ann holds a PhD from Union Institute & University and an MA from the University of Iowa, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by Lincoln University.
Robert M. Weissbourd
Bob is President of RW Ventures LLC, an economic development firm focused on technical economic analysis of urban assets and markets. After receiving his JD from the University of Chicago Law School, Bob was an attorney specializing in federal constitutional litigation and then served for ten years in executive positions at Shorebank Corp. He is a frequent public speaker and guest lecturer on poverty and urban development issues. Bob has served on many boards including as President or Vice President of the City Colleges of Chicago, Crossroads Fund, and Center for Neighborhood Technology. Bob chairs BPI’s Affordable Housing Committee.
Judy Wise
Judy Wise is a Senior Director for Facing History and Ourselves, an organization that trains teachers and educates for a safer, saner world. Judy facilitates the organization's growth both inside and outside the United States. She is also on the Chicago Executive Committee of Human Rights Watch and a member of the International Women’s Forum. Previously, she worked at CBS TV and NBC TV. Judy holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago and received her BA from Washington University. A BPI Director since 1989, Judy chairs BPI’s Public Education Committee.
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