HEAR provides financial and mentoring support to low-income Chicagoland high school seniors who demonstrate academic excellence, commitment to community, and personal integrity in their pursuit of a college education.
The HEAR Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Joe Lamberti – President
Involved with HEAR since its inception. President since 2022
Resides in Lake Forest, IL. Graduate of Miami University in Oxford, OH with a BA in Finance and an economics minor. Private Wealth Advisor and Managing Director in the Merrill Lynch Private Banking and Investment Group. Holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a Certified Financial Planner certificant.
Email: joe@hearfoundation.org
Michael Spaniak – Secretary/Treasurer
Board member since 2018.
Resides in Northbrook, IL (raised in the suburbs of Chicago). Graduate of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BA in Accounting and Northwestern University School of Law with a Law degree. Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Evergreen Bank Group. Previously served as Director and President of Latin American Medical Providers, a not-for-profit organization.
Email: mike@hearfoundation.org
DIRECTORS
Greg Cadichon
Board member since 2018.
Resides in Buffalo Grove, IL. Graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. Founder and Director of Rebound Fitness & Rehabilitation in Northbrook, IL and Rebound Athletics (operating primarily in Asia). National Athletic Trainers Association approved provider of continuing education to sports medicine professionals. Patented two athletic braces.
Email: greg@hearfoundation.org
Teresa Devereux – Mentoring Chair
Board member since 2021
Resides in Lemont, IL. Graduate of the University of Phoenix. Currently Managing Director of Administration for William Blair’s Wealth Management. Previously worked at Barclays and in branch operations management, regional management, and corporate administration at Morgan Stanley/Smith Barney.
Email: teresa@hearfoundation.org
Chris Eigel
Board member since 2012, Board President 2018-2021.
Resides in Hartland, WI. Previously from Glenview, IL. Graduate of the University of Illinois and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago. Now retired, Former president/CEO of Koenig & Strey (now KoenigRubloff Berkshire Hathaway) Prudential Rubloff real estate brokerage firms. Currently Chairman Emeritus of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services (BHHS) KoenigRubloff Realty Group.
Email: chris@hearfoundation.org
Karoline Eigel
Board member since 2016.
Resides in Glenview, IL. Graduate of Ithaca College with a BA in Broadcast Journalism and a vocal performance minor. Senior Vice President at MB Real Estate, oversees marketing for Murphy Development Group. Previously a principal at MarketHooks Consulting.
Email: karoline@hearfoundation.org
Stephen Hall
Involved with HEAR since its inception.
Resides in Evanston, IL. Graduate of Butler University with a BA in Journalism. Student athlete (football) for four years. Also holds FINRA Series 7, 6, and 63 licenses and Retirement Income Certified Professional designation (RICP) from the American College. Regional Vice President at Athene. Previously Regional Vice President at Genworth Financial. Started career in financial services at Deutsche Bank, Chicago.
Email: steve@hearfoundation.org
Mary Kate Hatfield – Scholarship Chair
Board member since 2020.
Resides in Wilmette, IL. Graduate of University of Dayton with a BA in Marketing and Communications. Former VP, Account Director at Foote, Cone & Belding and Director’s Agent at H.S.I. Productions. Founder and Owner of MKH Representation.
Email: mk@hearfoundation.org
Rula Marziani
Board member since 2021.
Resides in Glenview, IL. Graduate of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BA in Economics and a JD from the University of Illinois Chicago Law School. Assistant General Counsel of IDEX Corporation. Previously Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Anixter International.
Email: rula@hearfoundation.org
George Silca
Board member since 2015.
Resides in Glenview, IL. Graduate of Indiana University with a BS in Business Administration and an MBA from Loyola University. Began career at IBM, Chicago. Joined The First National Bank of Chicago, continuing through mergers with NBD, Bank One and Chase. Involved with treasury management, energy lending and product management. Retired as Vice President at JPMorgan Chase. Frequent guest instructor for the Mortgage Banking Association.
Email: george@hearfoundation.org
Rana Strellis
Board member since 2023.
Resides in Glenview, IL. Graduate of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BA in Economics and a Master’s degree from Cornell University. Previously Senior Vice President, Communications, Culture and Corporate Social Responsibility at Alexion Pharmaceuticals and at Baxalta. Currently a Founder & Principal at RVision Consulting.
Email: rana@hearfoundation.org
James Weiss – Finance Chair
Board member since HEAR was founded.
Resides in Vero Beach, FL (born and raised in Chicago). Graduate of Marquette University with a BA in Psychology and Wharton School with an MBA. Served in the U.S. Army. Previously Partner at Stein Roe & Farnham in Chicago, Opened own firm, Weiss Capital Management in 2002. Upon retirement, was Senior Portfolio Manager at Segall Bryant & Hamill, Chicago. Previously worked at State Street Research & Management and IDS Equity Advisors. Involved with numerous non-profit organizations since the 1970’s and currently a member of the Board of Trustees for Marquette University.
Email: jimw@hearfoundation.org
James Ziemba – Feeds Co-Chair
Founder of The HEAR Foundation.
Resides in Glenview, IL. Graduate of Michigan-State University with a degree in Packaging Engineering.
Made a career for himself in the investment business, specializing in commodities, and went on to found Ziemba Capital LLC. In 2006, helped found The HEAR Foundation to pursue commitment to efficiently invest in smaller charitable projects that make a measurable difference in individuals’ lives. Believes that the best way to change Chicago, and the world, for the better is through education.
Email: jim@hearfoundation.org
STAFF
Vera Pollina
Vera PollinaHEAR Executive Director
vera@hearfoundation.org
Lucy Burne
HEAR Marketing & Communications Manager
lucy@hearfoundation.org
For general Information about our scholarship program, please email:
info@hearfoundation.org