Emerald City Announces New Members to Board of Directors

Emerald City Announces New Members to Board of Directors 1 Emerald City Theatre, whose mission is to create theatre experiences that inspire early learners through play, announces the addition of six new members to its elite Board of Directors.

unnamed (1)Emerald City Theatre, whose mission is to create theatre experiences that inspire early learners through play, announces the addition of six new members to its elite Board of Directors.

The six newest members are:
Sean Baca – Founder and Managing Partner, Caisson Capital
Capital Partners is a private equity investment partnership which invests in middle market companies across industries. Before joining Caisson, Sean worked at Hispania Capital Partners (now HCP & Co.) sourcing, screening, and closing investments at the $200 million private equity firm.

Kathleen Candela – Certified Public Accountant and Audit Director at Deloitte
Kathleen is an Audit Director in Deloitte’s Public Sector Group with a focus on Government and Not-for Profit clients, such as the City of Chicago, The Archdiocese of Chicago and The American Medical Association among others. In addition to auditing, Kathleen is the Inclusion Leader for Deloitte’s Chicago Office where she is responsible for Diversity (Business Resource Groups), Women’s Initiative (WIN) and Work-Life initiatives.

Seth Klein – Assistant Vice President of Operations at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation
At Lurie, Seth is responsible for managing internal operations for a 75-person fundraising team and the management of the database and web teams, as well as the Operations team and hospital retail initiatives. Most recently, Seth helped lead the Foundation through a $675 million comprehensive fundraising campaign – its most successful ever — to build the new hospital in downtown Chicago.

Michelle Kohanzo- Managing Director, The Land of Nod
Michelle brings 20 years of business management and strategic planning to Emerald City Theatre’s Board. At The Land of Nod, she manages all aspects, including merchandising, marketing, design, finance, operations and all strategic plans, of the popular children’s specialty retailer business. Michelle also works with the New Mount Hope Cavalry Baptist Church to support at-risk children.

Tom Shumaker – Vice President at BMO Capital Markets
Tom works with companies in the packaged food and specialty retail sectors, providing strategic and capital-raising advice. Prior to joining BMO, Tom worked in similar positions at Credit Suisse in Chicago and Salomon Smith Barney in New York.

Heike Spahn – Director of Woodcraft Camp, Culver Summer Schools & Camps, in Culver, Indiana
At Woodcraft Camp, Heike establishes the foundation for others (campers, staff and sometimes parents) to grow and develop. Woodcraft is home to about 700 campers from over 20 countries. She is responsible for all operations of the camp, including the hiring of about 190 staff members. Before her time at Woodcraft Camp, Heike worked for Admissions Consultants, Inc., a consulting firm which assists applicants who are applying to undergraduate or graduate school. She has helped hundreds of applicants who are considering law school.

“We are delighted to welcome these six new members to our Board of Directors,” said Karen Cardarelli, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Emerald City Theatre. “As one of Chicago’s most attended non-profit theatres, Board members with their broad knowledge are fundamental resources to the company. These accomplished leaders are integral in maintaining Emerald City Theatre’s standing as a national leader in cultivating original work for young audiences.”

The Chairman of Emerald City Theatre’s Board of Directors is Kevin V. Rath, Executive Director of Alexian Brothers Women and Children’s Hospital in Hoffman Estates. The newly elected Vice Chairman is Toni Diprizio, Audit Partner at Plante and Moran, PLLC. For a full list of Board members bios visit emeraldcitytheatre.com
About Emerald City Theatre
Founded in 1996, Emerald City Theatre creates theatre experiences that inspire early learners through play. Emerald City is one of Chicago’s most attended non-profit theatres, with an annual programing reach of 80,000.

Through a rigorous collaboration between innovating artists and leading educators, Emerald City develops new work for young audiences, with over 29 world premieres; produces professional productions at the Apollo Theater in Lincoln Park and The Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place; and provides acclaimed educational programming throughout Chicago through Emerald City Theatre School. Emerald City’s newly renovated Little Theatre is the nation’s first facility dedicated to theatre for the very young (ages 0-4).

Emerald City’s lead funders include the McArthur Fund for the Arts and Culture, the National Endowment for the Arts, Illinois Arts Council, The Land of Nod, KPMG, Beerman Pritikin Mirabelli Swerdlove, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and Clear Channel Communications.

For more information, visit www.EmeraldCityTheatre.com

Emerald City Theatre
2936 N. Southport Avenue Chicago 60657 | P 773.529.2690 | F 773.529.2693