Board of Directors

Mikki Kendall

Mikki Kendall (born October 23, 1976) is an author, activist, and cultural critic. Her work often focuses on current events, media representation, the politics of food, and the history of the feminist movement. Penguin Random House published her graphic novel Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists in 2019, while her political nonfiction book Hood Feminism was released in early 2020

Ananda Badili

Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Ananda Badili studied classical voice at Chicago’s first public arts high school. She then continued her education at Knox College, where she graduated with a degree in psychology, gender studies, and education. Ananda is now a young professional with experience in DEI initiatives, fundraising, and community engagement. As a recent graduate of the Northwestern/United Way Board Leadership Institute, Ananda is committed to fostering inclusivity and advocating for marginalized communities. She is excited to use her skills to create a positive impact nationwide.

Rachel Pate
Board Chair

As the Director of Civic Partnerships, Rachel leads Chicago United for Equity’s strategy to engage key stakeholders (government, philanthropy, research, media) in organizational and systems change and creating accountability for long-term civic culture shift and transformation. Rachel is building a Racial Equity Impact Assessment sustainability pilot strategy and supporting partnership engagement as institutions work to shift power to communities.

Rachel was the inaugural alumni-in-residence/fellow with Chicago United for Equity and part of the 2018-2019 fellowship cohort. Prior, she was a CUE fellow in the 2017-2018 cohort.

Prior to joining CUE, Rachel worked at The Chicago Community Trust Foundation working with the Growing Household Wealth team to strategize, distribute grants, build community partners, strive for racial equity, communicate the importance of closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap and support coordination of the initiatives and grant making of the team.

In addition to being on the board of Alternatives, Rachel is also a board member at John Howard Association (JHA), a non-profit that independently monitors correctional facilities, policies and practices, and advances reforms needed to achieve a fair, humane and effective criminal justice system. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University and a Master of Arts from The University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. In her free time, Rachel likes to cook, watch the latest Netflix show, read for multiple book clubs and spend time with friends and family over good food and cocktails.

Katie Eng
Board Vice President

Katie is an accomplished Senior Executive, Advisor, and Board Member with more than 17 years of success across the marketing & advertising industries. Areas of expertise include business development, brand development, marketing, and strategy.

Jon Gortat
Board Treasurer

Jonathan Gortat is the Director of Licensing and Strategic Alliances at Stanford University’s Office of Technology Licensing with more than 15 years experience in technology transfer. Prior to joining Stanford, he was assistant director at the University of Illinois-Chicago Office of Technology Management and in various roles

Randall Doubet-King
Board Secretary

Randall is a retired ordained minister with Standing in the United Church of Christ.  In addition to 30 years of parish ministry Randall has provided over forty years of volunteer leadership for a variety of organizations focused on racial and economic justice, including work on organizing, housing, healthcare, and youth development.  He has been a volunteer at Alternatives for nearly twenty years.  This is his second rotation as a Board member having previously served from 2013 to 2020.

Penny Smith
Board Development Committee Chair

Penny Smith is a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD®), IDI®(Intercultural Development Instrument) Qualified Administrator, and co-creator of “Decolonizing Data and Language” workshop. She leads the Policy and Leadership Department at Erikson Institute as the director of learning and impact and is focused on developing capacity-building learning models that activate a base of committed Illinois leaders who can protect and increase investments in early childhood; contribute to building back the early childhood system; and amplify awareness of the importance of early childhood locally, statewide and nationally. Using her skillset and nonprofit experience of more than 20 years, she has built programs from the ground up. Stand-out programs such as the Barbara Bowman Leadership Fellows and the Executive Fellows have cultivated a pipeline of diverse leaders who examine racial equity issues and change policy to increase access to the programs and services all children and families need. She also builds partnerships with organizations, both local and across the U.S., seeking consultation on workshops designed with a racial equity lens and based in adult-learning theory. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Science degree in training and development from the University of St. Francis.

Erin Killingsworth-Walker

Erin Killingsworth-Walker is passionate about enhancing the lives of others and strengthening the social fabric of society.  Erin is a talent development leader and has focused her career on crafting experiences that propel careers.   Erin truly has a heart for public service and is engaged in an array of organizations focused on eradicating the social ills that impact communities.

Tom Ziegenfuss

Tom Ziegenfuss has worked his entire career of 38 years in the energy industry.  In 2004, Tom joined EN Engineering, LLC, and is currently Vice-Chairman. Additionally he served on the Board of Directors for GPRS, LLC in Ohio from 2018 to 2020 and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Thayer Power and Communications, LLC in Ohio.

Grace Taylor

Gracia (Grace) Taylor has extensive work experience in the field of design. Gracia (Grace) is currently working as a Lead Product Designer at SeatGeek since July 2023. Prior to that, they served as an Associate Council Member at Collaborative Gain from January 2022 to August 2023. Gracia (Grace) also worked at Dropbox as a Product Design from August 2022 to May 2023. Gracia has also held positions at The Washington Post as a Principal Product Designer from March 2022 to August 2022, and as a Senior Product Designer from August 2020 to February 2022. Before that, they were a Product Designer at SpotHero from January 2020 to June 2020. Gracia has also worked at SoFi as a Senior Interactive Designer from November 2018 to January 2020, and at AKQA as a Senior Designer from November 2017 to November 2018. Gracia (Grace) also gained experience as a Senior UX/UI Designer at Labdoor from March 2017 to November 2017. Gracia started their career as an Art Director at Manifest from March 2016 to March 2017, and as a Senior Visual Designer from January 2015 to March 2016. Gracia (Grace) also worked as a Designer at SapientNitro from May 2014 to January 2015.

Grace Taylor’s education history includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design from Columbia College Chicago. Gracia (Grace) also completed a program in Art Direction at the Chicago Portfolio School. Additionally, they obtained a certification in User Experience Design from General Assembly. In June 2021, they acquired a certification as a Racial Healing Practitioner from the Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation institution.

Veronica Cortez

Verónica has a B.A. in International Relations & Hispanic Studies from Brown University and a Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law. She has spent the last four years in early childhood advocacy work and the 10 years before that doing education and employment rights advocacy.  Verónica teaches Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy. As an attorney and advocate, she understands the earliest years can have the greatest impact and wants to make sure everyone has the tools they need to advocate for necessary change to improve children’s lives.

Kelly Sudnik

Kelly Sudnik has a strong background in account services and advertising. Kelly started their career at CMA Advertising in 2005 as an Account Executive. Kelly then worked at Virgen Advertising as an Account Executive from 2006 to 2008. After that, they joined Ogilvy & Mather as an Account Supervisor from 2008 to 2013. Since 2013, Kelly has been working at PACO Collective, where they have held various roles including Group Account Director, VP, Director of Account Services, and currently serves as the EVP, Managing Director.

Kelly Sudnik attended Cleveland State University from 2001 to 2005, where they pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Communication.

Dhyia Thompson-Phillips

Dhyia Thompson-Phillips brings more than 20 years of experience in strategy, social impact, and education. She has effectively led high stakes, multi-stakeholder, million-dollar initiatives in the education, mission-driven, public, and private sectors with a focus on strategy and growth. She serves as the Deputy Managing Director for the Nonprofit and Philanthropy practice where she manages business development and client projects focused on data, strategy and data systems.

Nikolas Armstrong

Dr. Armstrong is a practicing clinical neuropsychologist and longtime resident of Chicago. His interests include health psychology, social justice issues, mindfulness practices, and obsessively collecting houseplants.