Board of Directors

MEET OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, & STAFF

Executive Officers

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Anya Maziak
Role at CWIP
Board Co-Chair, Annual Luncheon Committee
Where She Works: 
Clean Grid Alliance
What She Does:
Senior Director, Development
Why Support Women & Girls? 
Growing up surrounded by strong women in my big immigrant family, I learned early on that when you support a woman, you uplift not just her, but her entire community: all those who rely on her and all those who she in turn chooses to support. Investing in women and girls pays rich dividends for all, and the world would be transformed if each one of us had the means to reach our full potential.
Fun Fact: 
I am a Detroit-area transplant, and it took me about 15 years of living in Chicago before I stopped sharing that within the first five minutes of meeting someone new. I love reading fiction and am slowly getting back to that joy while raising two little ones with my spouse in Logan Square.
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Morgan Benson
Role at CWIP
Treasurer, Co-Chair of the Communications Committee, RESJ Committee
Where She Works: 
University of Illinois at Chicago
What She Does:
Senior Director of Foundation Relations
Why Support Women & Girls? 
When we invest in, support and trust women, we all benefit. Women and girls are so powerful, but too often and for far too long that power has been feared, demonized, and suppressed. I feel passionately that removing the barriers to opportunity and raising up the voices of women and girls from all walks of life and all marginalized groups is essential to creating real equity - in our sector, and in our society as a whole.
Fun Fact: 
I grew up in Brooklyn, NY to parents who were both classical musicians and peace activists. A love of opera and commitment to social justice are still big parts of me today, and I now share those passions with my children, who my husband and I are raising in Oak Park.
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Margaret Jones
Role at CWIP
Past Board Co-Chair
Where She Works: 
Chicago Housing Authority
What She Does:
Director, Resident and Public Engagement
Why Support Women & Girls? 
Healthy, educated and empowered women and girls can further the changes needed to create empowered communities and, consequently, a more sustainable and peaceful future for all. “When women support each other, amazing things happen.” – Viola Davis
Fun Fact: 
Margaret enjoys traveling, cycling along lake shore drive and listening to all music genres.
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Hilary Ward
Role at CWIP
Board Co-Chair, Annual Luncheon Committee
Where She Works: 
The Growth Collective
What She Does:
Founder & Principal
Why Support Women & Girls? 
It's simple: I firmly believe that investing in women not only sustains communities but helps them thrive... and yields the greatest ROI.
Fun Fact: 
I am a HUGE fan of House music and always attend house music festivals throughout the city and a few in D.C.
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Cheryl Collins
Role at CWIP
Secretary, Co-Chair of the GIRLS Committee
Where She Works: 
Cheryl Collins Coaching and Consulting
What She Does:
Coach, Consultant
Why Support Women & Girls? 
I believe that women have great power and influence to change a world greatly in need of being changed. We can bring to families, communities, organizations and political arenas our generative nature and our collaborative and inclusive lens of leadership. As women, we should be influencing girls to become leaders as well.
Fun Fact: 
I love all types of music and enjoy dancing. I would one day like to study dance and enter a contest!
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Diane Knoepke
Role at CWIP
Past Board Co-Chair
Where She Works: 
Paperweight Advising
What She Does:
Lead Coach and Consultant
Why Support Women & Girls? 
I am committed to disrupting the status quo and building new ways of being in community that achieve real equity. As adrienne maree brown writes, "our smaller choices today will become our next norms." In CWIP, we make both small and big choices that shape the future for women and girls, and thus people of all genders, in and beyond Chicagoland.
Fun Fact: 
I am a devoted lover of books, and my love includes the (not always related) activities of reading, buying books, going to book talks and festivals, hanging out in libraries and independent bookstores, and trading book recommendations.

Directors & Staff

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Crystal Amah
Role at CWIP
Member of the Board of Directors
Where She Works: 
FAME Center
What She Does:
Director of Marketing
Why Support Women & Girls? 
At my core, I am an advocate; and I believe that women and girls are among the greatest catalysts for positive change in society. When women believe, even just a little bit, that they are empowered to be all they can be, their households, neighborhoods, communities, societies, and nations are changed for the better. Imagine what could happen if they believed this to the fullest extent! Supporting women and girls is one of my life’s greatest pleasures.
Fun Fact: 
I am a creative at heart, and I enjoy expressing myself through multiple art forms, including photography, music and songwriting, and poetry.
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Ailiana Denis
Role at CWIP
Member of the Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the RESJ Committee
Where She Works: 
Axia Amplified Consulting
What She Does:
Principal
Why Support Women & Girls? 
Fun Fact: 
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Rachel Hanley
Role at CWIP
Member of the Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the Membership Committee
Where She Works: 
PicDiversity, Inc.
What She Does:
CEO & Founder
Why Support Women & Girls? 
Fun Fact: 
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Donna Jacobson
Role at CWIP
Member of the Board of Directors
Where She Works: 
Riverbend Advising, LLC
What She Does:
Founder & Guide
Why Support Women & Girls? 
The most effective way to promote equity and justice is to champion women. When women unite and focus on our shared challenges and strengths, we make the world a better and safer place. When women are empowered, everyone benefits.
Fun Fact: 
I suffer from chronic wanderlust and have visited over 26 countries. I am a fourth-generation Chicagoan, a certified yoga instructor, and have co-led a book club in Lincoln Square for over 16 years.
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Shruti Saxena
Role at CWIP
Member of the Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the WLMP Committee
Where She Works: 
Chicago Public Schools
What She Does:
Program Director
Why Support Women & Girls? 
I grew up in the contradiction of having great support for my education and ambition but making sure it fit within a socially-acceptable definition of a woman's role. I was still luckier than most. I care because I want to see a world where all women and girls' belief in what they can achieve far exceeds the doubts and limiting social beliefs that can hold them back.
Fun Fact: 
I'm an Army kid and went to seven different schools when growing up in India I'm also a huge fan of the show The Office (the US version), and have been to Scranton for the 5k (iykyk).
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Emma Walsh
Role at CWIP
Member of the Board of Directors, Co-chair of the GIRLS committee
Where She Works: 
American Academy of Pediatrics
What She Does:
Manager, Corporate Relations
Why Support Women & Girls? 
Over my life and career, I've met and created an amazing group of women and they've helped me get to where I am today. I think it's so important for girls and women to have a community of other girls and women to turn to for whatever life throws. I support women and girls in hope to create a network for someone else and be there for my fellow members not only in their career but their life as well.
Fun Fact: 
I really enjoy running and endurance events. I'm currently training for my second marathon which is at the end of September in Berlin, Germany.
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Gabrielle Caverl-McNeal
Role at CWIP
Member of the Board of Directors
Where She Works: 
Lloyd A. Fry Foundation
What She Does:
Program Officer
Why Support Women & Girls? 
When you support a woman in her surviving, you support a community in its thriving. When women succeed in education, business or leadership, she strengthens her family, her community, and creates pathways for the women and girls coming behind her.
Fun Fact: 
Gabrielle spends her free time rummaging through thrift stores and spoiling her granddaughter.
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Leslie Drish
Role at CWIP
Member of the Board of Directors
Where She Works: 
Drish Consulting, Principal
What She Does:
I help organizations and their people grow, connect, and thrive by turning bold ideas into meaningful strategies, stronger leaders, and lasting impact.
Why Support Women & Girls? 
I’ve been fortunate to have incredible women support, encourage, and open doors for me throughout my career. It’s important to me to do the same—bringing other women and girls along on the journey, introducing them to new opportunities, and helping them see what’s possible.
Fun Fact: 
I'm a former English teacher who can turn almost anything into a teachable moment—or a good story.
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Tasasha Henderson
Role at CWIP
Member of the Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the RESJ Committee
Where She Works: 
AMARA
What She Does:
Why Support Women & Girls? 
Supporting women and girls so that they experience freedom (freedom to exist as their amazing selves, freedom from violence and oppression), and have the resources to create healthy and empowered lives for themselves will result in thriving families and communities.
Fun Fact: 
I am a music nerd who loves collecting and listening to vinyl records, attending concerts, reading books and articles and talking about music.
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Monica Thorns
Role at CWIP
Member of the Board of Directors, WLMP Committee, Membership Committee
Where She Works: 
Christopher Family Foundation
What She Does:
Grants Manager
Why Support Women & Girls? 
I’ve seen various iterations of this, but the intent is the same: “You educate a man, you educate a man. You educate a woman, you educate a generation.” Statistics have repeatedly shown that women-led institutions traditionally receive less financial support. When we support causes that champion girls, we’re not only showing them that we believe in them but also ensuring that they, too, will contribute to others—again proving the validity of the opening message.
Fun Fact: 
My favorite reading genre is true crime. I’ve always found the “nature-nurture” controversy interesting and why one turns right and the other left, despite a similar upbringing and experience. In another life I probably would be a profiler or forensics investigator since I like puzzles. I was a “Why?” kid growing up, which drove my mother crazy.
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Jessica Sivels
Role at CWIP
Member of the Board of Directors
Where She Works: 
Associated Bank
What She Does:
Vice President, Community Accountability Officer
Why Support Women & Girls? 
Supporting women and girls’ means creating space for them to grow, lead, advocate for themselves, and open doors for those coming behind them. When that happens, our communities move forward too. That is the future I want to help build here in Chicago.
Fun Fact: 
I’m a die-hard Chicago Bears fan, which means I’ve developed patience, loyalty, and an unreasonable amount of optimism.
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Sarah Witt
Role at CWIP
Association Manager
Where She Works: 
Chicago Association Management (CAM)
What She Does:
Association Manager at CAM, an association management company with over 30 years of experience.
Why Support Women & Girls? 
I wholeheartedly believe women should run the world! I love being able to support women and girls as they grow, learn, and advance themselves, and to help create more opportunities for them to break through that glass ceiling and continue paving the way for those who come after them.
Fun Fact: 
I’m a huge Survivor fan—like, seriously nerd-level! I’m in a fantasy league and am a dedicated Wednesday-night watcher. I absolutely love the show!

Committee Co-Chairs

Lindsey Moorman
Role at CWIP
Fundraising Committee Co-Chair
Where She Works: 
Feeding America
What She Does:
Director, Foundation Relations
Why Support Women & Girls? 
I believe deeply in CWIP's mission to build an inclusive community educating and empowering professional women to grow personally and professionally, speak up, and advocate boldly for themselves and their communities. We all have a role to play in leveraging our personal privilege, platforms, and resources to engage in this meaningful work and to empower each other at every opportunity.
Fun Fact: 
I believe deeply in CWIP's mission to build an inclusive community educating and empowering professional women to grow personally and professionally, speak up, and advocate boldly for themselves and their communities. We all have a role to play in leveraging our personal privilege, platforms, and resources to engage in this meaningful work and to empower each other at every opportunity.
Carrie Goodale
Role at CWIP
Programs & Capacity Building Committee Co-Chair
Where She Works: 
What She Does:
Why Support Women & Girls? 
Fun Fact: 
Gizelle Clemens
Role at CWIP
Programs & Capacity Building Committee Co-Chair
Where She Works: 
What She Does:
Why Support Women & Girls? 
Fun Fact: 
Kimberly Bolton
Role at CWIP
Programs & Capacity Building Committee Co-Chair
Where She Works: 
What She Does:
Why Support Women & Girls? 
Fun Fact: 

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