Board of Directors
Robert Dunn, President
Robert Dunn serves as Chief Risk Officer and Investment Committee member for MCP Alternative Asset Partners, a global asset management firm specializing in hedge fund investments. He has been with MCP since 2005 and previously held senior investment positions with several financial firms in the Chicago area.
Robert earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame, along with a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago.
He became interested in refugee issues after following media reports highlighting the plight of refugees in 2014 and 2015. Robert and his wife Kelley got involved with RefugeeOne when they co-sponsored the resettlement of a family from Myanmar and witnessed the impact the process had on the family. He joined RefugeeOne’s Board of Directors in November 2016.
Robert and his wife Kelley live in Clarendon Hills. They have three adult children.
Robert earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame, along with a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago.
He became interested in refugee issues after following media reports highlighting the plight of refugees in 2014 and 2015. Robert and his wife Kelley got involved with RefugeeOne when they co-sponsored the resettlement of a family from Myanmar and witnessed the impact the process had on the family. He joined RefugeeOne’s Board of Directors in November 2016.
Robert and his wife Kelley live in Clarendon Hills. They have three adult children.
Nathan Brown, Vice President
Nathan Brown is a Managing Director at Wind Point Partners, a private equity firm that partners with executives to acquire and maximize the potential of middle-market businesses. Nathan joined Wind Point in 1997 and was promoted to Managing Director in 2004.
Nathan holds a BA in Philosophy from Queen’s University, with Distinction. He received his MBA with honors from the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business.
Nathan became aware of RefugeeOne through Kenilworth Union Church. His first hands-on experience came in 2015, when his family partnered with other church members to co-sponsor 6 refugees from South Sudan. Helping them settle into the U.S. was a fantastic experience for his entire family and they especially cherished the bond they formed with the children. In 2016, Wind Point Partners formed a Mentor Team for a Congolese family. The experience has been a great team- and culture-building opportunity for employees.
Nathan and his wife, Barbara, have been living in the Chicago area for 20 years. They currently reside in Winnetka with their three children.
Nathan holds a BA in Philosophy from Queen’s University, with Distinction. He received his MBA with honors from the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business.
Nathan became aware of RefugeeOne through Kenilworth Union Church. His first hands-on experience came in 2015, when his family partnered with other church members to co-sponsor 6 refugees from South Sudan. Helping them settle into the U.S. was a fantastic experience for his entire family and they especially cherished the bond they formed with the children. In 2016, Wind Point Partners formed a Mentor Team for a Congolese family. The experience has been a great team- and culture-building opportunity for employees.
Nathan and his wife, Barbara, have been living in the Chicago area for 20 years. They currently reside in Winnetka with their three children.
Tom Mitchell, Treasurer
Tom retired in 2019 after a 33 year career at The Northern Trust Company in the Wealth Management side of the business. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.
Tom and his family became aware of RefugeeOne through The First Congregational Church of Western Springs. Over the past few years, they have had the privilege to meet some of the wonderful families that RefugeeOne serves.
Tom and his wife, Stacia Kopplin, reside in Western Springs. They have three children.
Tom and his family became aware of RefugeeOne through The First Congregational Church of Western Springs. Over the past few years, they have had the privilege to meet some of the wonderful families that RefugeeOne serves.
Tom and his wife, Stacia Kopplin, reside in Western Springs. They have three children.
Felice Weinberg Nelson, Secretary
Felice Weinberg Nelson is the president of Weinberg Hosiery Co., a family-owned company on the near South Side of Chicago founded by her father. Felice has been an integral part of her family’s business since 1986, and believes in giving back to the community that has fostered it for 69 years.
A first generation American, Felice knows firsthand the resilience and resourcefulness brought to the U.S. by its diverse refugee and immigrant communities. Working with RefugeeOne was a natural fit as she sought to support the needs of Chicago’s refugee population. Felice has previously volunteered with JUF, the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, GirlForward, Skokie School District 28 ELL Center, Youth for Understanding, and Northbrook School District 28.
Felice and her husband Richard have 4 grown children and live in Chicago.
A first generation American, Felice knows firsthand the resilience and resourcefulness brought to the U.S. by its diverse refugee and immigrant communities. Working with RefugeeOne was a natural fit as she sought to support the needs of Chicago’s refugee population. Felice has previously volunteered with JUF, the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, GirlForward, Skokie School District 28 ELL Center, Youth for Understanding, and Northbrook School District 28.
Felice and her husband Richard have 4 grown children and live in Chicago.
Sonia Bobra
Sonia Bobra is a Neuroradiologist at the Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Hospital, and Assistant Professor at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine. She earned her MD from Northwestern University Medical School and MPH from the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Bobra’s interest in public and global health have spanned the last 20+ years, including internships at the World Health Organization and Physicians for Human Rights. A lifelong advocate for the underserved, she has traveled to rural India to provide medical care and to Tanzania to teach radiology at Kilimanjaro Medical College. She is part of the 2021-22 Class of the Chicago Council of Global Affairs Emerging Leaders Program.
Bobra is married to Sachin D. Shah and the mother of 3 young children. In 2021, they brought together the ‘Chitown Dreamers’, a group of friends who cosponsored a refugee family arriving from Syria through RefugeeOne. As children of immigrants, they feel a deep connection to families settling in a new country, and hope to help refugees as they build a new life and home to fulfill their dreams in Chicago.
Dr. Bobra’s interest in public and global health have spanned the last 20+ years, including internships at the World Health Organization and Physicians for Human Rights. A lifelong advocate for the underserved, she has traveled to rural India to provide medical care and to Tanzania to teach radiology at Kilimanjaro Medical College. She is part of the 2021-22 Class of the Chicago Council of Global Affairs Emerging Leaders Program.
Bobra is married to Sachin D. Shah and the mother of 3 young children. In 2021, they brought together the ‘Chitown Dreamers’, a group of friends who cosponsored a refugee family arriving from Syria through RefugeeOne. As children of immigrants, they feel a deep connection to families settling in a new country, and hope to help refugees as they build a new life and home to fulfill their dreams in Chicago.
Jennifer Borrell
Jennifer Borrell has a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science and currently works at Etsy, where she acts as a "librarian of products," working to make it easier for customers to find what they are looking for. Jenn has previously held similar positions with Grainger, Sears, and Motorola.
In 2015, she called Rep. Jan Schakowsky's office to find out how she could help in response to the Syrian refugee crisis. They referred her to RefugeeOne and she and her husband, Jay, have been supporters ever since. As an avid crafter, Jenn was especially excited to see RefugeeOne open the Sewing Studio and begin offering sewing classes as a way for refugees to learn a new skill and break into the job market in their new home.
Jenn lives in Arlington Heights with Jay and their son. They are active members of St. John United Church of Christ.
In 2015, she called Rep. Jan Schakowsky's office to find out how she could help in response to the Syrian refugee crisis. They referred her to RefugeeOne and she and her husband, Jay, have been supporters ever since. As an avid crafter, Jenn was especially excited to see RefugeeOne open the Sewing Studio and begin offering sewing classes as a way for refugees to learn a new skill and break into the job market in their new home.
Jenn lives in Arlington Heights with Jay and their son. They are active members of St. John United Church of Christ.
Anne Brody
Anne Brody is committed to welcoming and assisting refugees who have worked hard to come to this country. At RefugeeOne, she has volunteered in the office, tutored adults in English, and interfaced with major donors. She was most inspired by an Afghani “woman of a certain age” who could not read in her native language but has managed to learn to read English and negotiate public transportation.
Previously, as an attorney in private practice, she spent 17 years as a transactional attorney at Mayer Brown and Platt (now Mayer Brown) and Holleb & Coff. She has advised non-profits and served on numerous non-profit boards.
Anne graduated cum laude from Occidental College and with high honors from Chicago Kent Law School where she served as Managing Editor of the Law Review.
Previously, as an attorney in private practice, she spent 17 years as a transactional attorney at Mayer Brown and Platt (now Mayer Brown) and Holleb & Coff. She has advised non-profits and served on numerous non-profit boards.
Anne graduated cum laude from Occidental College and with high honors from Chicago Kent Law School where she served as Managing Editor of the Law Review.
Rebecca Carlins
Born in Rangoon, Burma, Rebecca Carlins spent her early childhood there before immigrating to the United States in 1971 with her parents, brother and sister. Her family settled in Skokie, Illinois. She went on to graduate from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology, and from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. Previously, Rebecca served as a Litigation Associate for Rooks, Pitts and Poust and as an attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Midwest Regional Office.
Rebecca has been a supporter of RefugeeOne for more than 10 years. She previously served on the RefugeeOne board from 2013-2019, co-chairing several annual galas. She currently serves as the chair of its capital campaign committee and chair of its building committee.
Rebecca spends her free time traveling, running, biking, doing yoga and volunteering with a variety of Chicago philanthropic organizations.
Rebecca has been a supporter of RefugeeOne for more than 10 years. She previously served on the RefugeeOne board from 2013-2019, co-chairing several annual galas. She currently serves as the chair of its capital campaign committee and chair of its building committee.
Rebecca spends her free time traveling, running, biking, doing yoga and volunteering with a variety of Chicago philanthropic organizations.
Diana Fulaza
Born in Rwanda, Diana Fulaza has called Chicago home since 2004 when she arrived as a 22-year-old refugee.
From the start, Diana was determined to take advantage of opportunities available to her. She began studying English at Truman College, and as her language skills developed, enrolled in nursing school. Her passion to help others allowed her to quickly work her way from Nursing Assistant, to BSN Nurse, to Nurse Practitioner. In 2020, she earned a Master’s Degree in Nursing, with an Advance Practice Certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner, from Chamberlain University. She has been working for Northshore University HealthSystem’s Evanston Hospital for 13 years as an Oncology Nurse with a concentration in stem cell reinfusion.
Simultaneously, Diana has been compelled to help other refugees through RefugeeOne —first as an interpreter and later by organizing colleagues to collect more than 120 coats for Syrian refugees. As a medical volunteer, she helped a refugee through a high-risk pregnancy and many others with health needs, and recently mentored a young Congolese refugee as she started nursing school.
From the start, Diana was determined to take advantage of opportunities available to her. She began studying English at Truman College, and as her language skills developed, enrolled in nursing school. Her passion to help others allowed her to quickly work her way from Nursing Assistant, to BSN Nurse, to Nurse Practitioner. In 2020, she earned a Master’s Degree in Nursing, with an Advance Practice Certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner, from Chamberlain University. She has been working for Northshore University HealthSystem’s Evanston Hospital for 13 years as an Oncology Nurse with a concentration in stem cell reinfusion.
Simultaneously, Diana has been compelled to help other refugees through RefugeeOne —first as an interpreter and later by organizing colleagues to collect more than 120 coats for Syrian refugees. As a medical volunteer, she helped a refugee through a high-risk pregnancy and many others with health needs, and recently mentored a young Congolese refugee as she started nursing school.
Julie Grafe
Julie Grafe is completing her Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. She currently serves as the pastoral intern at Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Northfield, Illinois. A registered nurse, Julie earned a B.S.N. from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. She spent many years in home health nursing before entering seminary.
Julie was introduced to RefugeeOne and refugee resettlement in 2009 by the pastor of her home congregation. Recognizing the call to love our neighbors, she jumped at the invitation to be involved, coordinating co-sponsorship efforts for refugee families and stewarding donation drive collections.
Julie and her husband live in Deerfield, Illinois. Their two children attend Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.
Julie was introduced to RefugeeOne and refugee resettlement in 2009 by the pastor of her home congregation. Recognizing the call to love our neighbors, she jumped at the invitation to be involved, coordinating co-sponsorship efforts for refugee families and stewarding donation drive collections.
Julie and her husband live in Deerfield, Illinois. Their two children attend Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.
Catherine Guthrie
Catherine Guthrie is the former President of Leo Burnett Worldwide, an advertising agency, where she spent 34 years managing large global clients. Her time working and living overseas, often traveling to third world countries, has given Catherine first hand experience with the plight of refugees. She has been tutoring English at RefugeeOne since 2016.
Catherine currently serves on the Board of Directors for NorthShore University Health Systems. She received a B.A. in communications and B.S. in Journalism from the University of Colorado.
Catherine and her husband Warren live in Winnetka and have three sons.
Catherine currently serves on the Board of Directors for NorthShore University Health Systems. She received a B.A. in communications and B.S. in Journalism from the University of Colorado.
Catherine and her husband Warren live in Winnetka and have three sons.
Gary Kaufman
Dr. Gary Kaufman serves as the medical director of the Antillas health center at Sinai Chicago, the largest refugee clinic in Illinois. He has provided medical care to refugees for 20 years. Boarded in both internal medicine and pediatrics, he has treated refugees of all ages and has assured proper treatment of patients with diagnoses as diverse as severe heart disease to leprosy. Under his direction, the clinic boasts more than 15 languages spoken in-house and welcomes all patients to its doors.
Dr. Kaufman has worked intimately with RefugeeOne and through mutual cooperation have assured that the most ill refugees have effective treatment plans in place prior to U.S. arrival. Through his role on the board, he provides RefugeeOne with guidance as to the medical needs of refugee groups.
Aside from working with refugees, Dr. Kaufman speaks American Sign Language and is the medical director for Sinai Deaf Health. He is passionate about bringing healthcare to marginalized populations.
Dr. Kaufman has worked intimately with RefugeeOne and through mutual cooperation have assured that the most ill refugees have effective treatment plans in place prior to U.S. arrival. Through his role on the board, he provides RefugeeOne with guidance as to the medical needs of refugee groups.
Aside from working with refugees, Dr. Kaufman speaks American Sign Language and is the medical director for Sinai Deaf Health. He is passionate about bringing healthcare to marginalized populations.
Talla Saghafi Mountjoy
Born in the US to parents who left Iran in the wake of the Islamic Revolution, Talla grew up in a household invigorated by American opportunity yet steeped in the rich traditions of Iran.
The issue of refugee resettlement is personal for her. Growing up, she heard far too many stories of family and friends fleeing Iran, unable to go back to the place they called home. And witnessed how hard resettlement can be without strong institutions when she worked with refugees in New York and Egypt. She is honored to be part of RefugeeOne’s board, an organization that helps refugees from the moment they land in Chicago.
Talla leads her own consulting practice, providing strategic counsel and direction to nonprofits and mission-driven organizations. As a consultant, she brings 10+ years of experience working at Deloitte, where she built a wealth of knowledge across strategy consulting, brand management, and digital technologies. She also received her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She lives in Hyde Park with her husband and two children.
The issue of refugee resettlement is personal for her. Growing up, she heard far too many stories of family and friends fleeing Iran, unable to go back to the place they called home. And witnessed how hard resettlement can be without strong institutions when she worked with refugees in New York and Egypt. She is honored to be part of RefugeeOne’s board, an organization that helps refugees from the moment they land in Chicago.
Talla leads her own consulting practice, providing strategic counsel and direction to nonprofits and mission-driven organizations. As a consultant, she brings 10+ years of experience working at Deloitte, where she built a wealth of knowledge across strategy consulting, brand management, and digital technologies. She also received her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She lives in Hyde Park with her husband and two children.
Douglas Meyer
Rev. Douglas Meyer recently retired after 40 years as an ordained minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. For the last 25 years he served as Co-Pastor with his wife of Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Lincolnshire, Illinois, a congregation which actively co-sponsored the resettlement of three refugee families.
Pastor Doug earned his Bachelor degree from Augustana College in Rock Island and his Divinity degree from Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He previously served parishes on Chicago’s southside and in the southwest suburbs. Over the years he has served in a variety of community and synodical capacities including as Dean of the North Conference of the Metro Chicago Synod and Chair of the Synodical Outreach Committee. He previously served on the RefugeeOne board from 2010-2016 including years as board secretary and president.
Pastor Doug is married to the Rev. Christine Meyer and lives in Galena, Illinois. They have three grown sons.
Pastor Doug earned his Bachelor degree from Augustana College in Rock Island and his Divinity degree from Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He previously served parishes on Chicago’s southside and in the southwest suburbs. Over the years he has served in a variety of community and synodical capacities including as Dean of the North Conference of the Metro Chicago Synod and Chair of the Synodical Outreach Committee. He previously served on the RefugeeOne board from 2010-2016 including years as board secretary and president.
Pastor Doug is married to the Rev. Christine Meyer and lives in Galena, Illinois. They have three grown sons.
Stacy French Reynolds
Stacy French Reynolds is a strategic advising consultant and partner at Anchor Advisors, LLC. She guides organizations to make tangible, lasting change to create the transformation they seek. She has advised more than 70 clients, with a focus on social service non-profits, law firms, and those with governance or advisory boards.
Stacy has been involved with RefugeeOne since 2007. Initially a consultant, Stacy quickly fell in love with the organization’s mission, and she has been a regular supporter since. Stacy particularly enjoys the annual benefit as an opportunity to celebrate the incredible successes that refugee families and staff achieve every day. She joined the board in 2020.
Stacy earned her Master of Science in Managerial Communication from Northwestern and her bachelor’s degree from Calvin University. Stacy enjoys baking, entertaining, and motorcycle riding. She resides in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood with her husband David.
Stacy has been involved with RefugeeOne since 2007. Initially a consultant, Stacy quickly fell in love with the organization’s mission, and she has been a regular supporter since. Stacy particularly enjoys the annual benefit as an opportunity to celebrate the incredible successes that refugee families and staff achieve every day. She joined the board in 2020.
Stacy earned her Master of Science in Managerial Communication from Northwestern and her bachelor’s degree from Calvin University. Stacy enjoys baking, entertaining, and motorcycle riding. She resides in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood with her husband David.
Seng Rimpakone
Seng Rimpakone, her widowed mother, older brother and sister escaped war torn Laos and spent three years in a refugee camp before landing in the rural town of Portland, Indiana in May of 1980.
Ever grateful for the kindness and support that the Rimpakone family received during their assimilation process, Seng felt compelled to pay it forward. Seng has volunteered with RefugeeOne since September of 2018 and joined the board in August of 2019. In addition to her duties as a Board member, she is involved in the adult mentor/tutor and housing program.
She currently serves as a consulting Executive Producer for major advertising agencies in Chicago. She has also co-directed and co-produced a short documentary “Just One Story” that has been accepted to the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival and Heartland Film Festival. She hopes to tell more positive stories about refugees and those who helped along the way.
She enjoys spending time with her family and two mutts. She loves traveling, cooking, and weekend rides on her Vespa with her “Vesparados” friends.
Ever grateful for the kindness and support that the Rimpakone family received during their assimilation process, Seng felt compelled to pay it forward. Seng has volunteered with RefugeeOne since September of 2018 and joined the board in August of 2019. In addition to her duties as a Board member, she is involved in the adult mentor/tutor and housing program.
She currently serves as a consulting Executive Producer for major advertising agencies in Chicago. She has also co-directed and co-produced a short documentary “Just One Story” that has been accepted to the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival and Heartland Film Festival. She hopes to tell more positive stories about refugees and those who helped along the way.
She enjoys spending time with her family and two mutts. She loves traveling, cooking, and weekend rides on her Vespa with her “Vesparados” friends.
Bradley Schmarak
Brad Schmarak is a Partner and the Global Co-Head of the Private Equity Group at ReedSmith law firm, where he has worked for more than 30 years. ReedSmith is well known internationally for its pro bono work representing asylum-seekers, refugees and victims of torture.
Brad’s work with refugees began while interning for a Member of Parliament in London during college. He worked closely with two Russian Pentecostal families fleeing religious persecution. They were eventually offered asylum in the United States.
Brad holds an MS in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. He is the lead pro bono lawyer for One Goal, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois’ Middle Market Open, and a trustee of Ravinia Festival.
Brad’s work with refugees began while interning for a Member of Parliament in London during college. He worked closely with two Russian Pentecostal families fleeing religious persecution. They were eventually offered asylum in the United States.
Brad holds an MS in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. He is the lead pro bono lawyer for One Goal, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois’ Middle Market Open, and a trustee of Ravinia Festival.
Steve Varick
Steve Varick retired as a partner from Holland & Knight, LLP and McBride Baker & Coles, where he practiced commercial litigation, combined with an active pro bono practice, for 38 years. In his retirement, he continues to represent asylum seekers in Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Courts of Appeals.
Steve earned a Bachelor of Arts from Knox College, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago.
Steve’s path to RefugeeOne was the confluence of several sources. Steve’s wife, Susan, has volunteered with RefugeeOne for over a decade as a mentor to refugees from Iraq, Myanmar and Syria. Steve’s asylum practice helped him recognize the challenges facing refugees and those hoping to become refugees. And, as a member of Congregation Hakafa, Steve has seen how a faith community can come together to help refugees meet some of those challenges. And all of those experiences taught Steve the invaluable role played by RefugeeOne.
Steve and Susan live in Glencoe. They have three grown children and one grandchild.
Steve earned a Bachelor of Arts from Knox College, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago.
Steve’s path to RefugeeOne was the confluence of several sources. Steve’s wife, Susan, has volunteered with RefugeeOne for over a decade as a mentor to refugees from Iraq, Myanmar and Syria. Steve’s asylum practice helped him recognize the challenges facing refugees and those hoping to become refugees. And, as a member of Congregation Hakafa, Steve has seen how a faith community can come together to help refugees meet some of those challenges. And all of those experiences taught Steve the invaluable role played by RefugeeOne.
Steve and Susan live in Glencoe. They have three grown children and one grandchild.