Chicago Waldorf School - Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees focuses and activates the Mission of the school and holds the College of Teachers and the Administrative Director responsible for accomplishing the school’s Vision and Strategic Plan. The Board is responsible for legal and fiduciary stewardship, strategic planning, budget approval, fundraising leadership and risk management oversight of the school’s affairs.

Trustees for 2011-2012

Michael Motyka, President & Chair of the Board
Mike is the Chief Operating Officer at Butler Rubin Saltarelli & Boyd, a law firm in downtown Chicago that serves clients nationally and internationally in the areas of reinsurance and complex commercial litigation. He holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a BA from the University of Wisconsin, and has pursued advanced studies in finance and international relations at the University of Chicago and at the Jagiellonian University (Krakow, Poland). He has over twenty years of financial and executive management experience. Mike and his family enjoy beach-combing, hunting for pirate treasure and singing “Go, Cubs, Go.”

Wes Baumann, Board Member
Wes is a north side Chicago native currently living in Winnetka with his wife Deanna. He received degrees from Valparaiso University and Northeastern Illinois University as well as administrative endorsement from Northwestern University. He began his career at Luther High School North (his alma mater) in Chicago, then taught middle school science in Des Plaines before settling into New Trier High School in 1970. There he served as biology teacher, coach and administrator, including Principal from 1995-2002. He is also a recipient of the Winnetka Chamber of Commerce’s Educator of the Year award. Following retirement, Wes has served as part-time Executive Director of the New Trier High School Educational Foundation and as a consultant for Lake Forest High School. His extensive board experience includes the New Trier Educational Foundation, the Winnetka Youth Organization, United Way, and the Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield. He and his wife enjoy gardening, photography and foreign travel, especially to Europe.

Lee Boyce, Board Member
Lee is a Senior Finance Director and leads Global Financial Planning and Strategic and Business Analysis for Kraft Foods, a global food and beverage company headquartered in Northfield, Illinois. Lee has more than 20 years of broad experience in financial planning, business and strategic analysis, process reengineering, large scale project management, and in leading significant organizational change management. Prior to his 16 years at Kraft, Lee spent 4 years in public accounting and management consulting at Ernst & Young, a global “big 4” public accounting firm. He holds a BA (Hons) in Economics from the University of Kent at Canterbury (England), an MBA from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and is a CPA.  Lee loves international travel, and wants to take his family to see the myriad of wonders and diversity that make up our world.

Valerie Colis, Chair of Development Committee
Prior to raising her children full time, Valerie spent ten years underwriting Directors and Officers Liability Insurance and then consulting boards of directors of Fortune 500 companies around this exposure. After receiving her MBA, she then shifted her focus of consulting to sales and joined MOHR Development, a boutique consulting firm focused on engaging clients to develop value-driven sales strategies. She was a regional director at MOHR responsible for consulting around sales management solutions and implementing high level sales training programs. She holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a BA in International Studies with a minor in Political Science from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She and her husband and three children live in Chicago and love to ski and bike together.

Sylvie Desouches, Secretary
Sylvie has served CWS in a variety of leadership capacities, most recently as Chair of the Development Director Search Task Force, and as Reaccreditation Coordinator and Chair of the Reaccreditation Steering Committee. She was also a CWS class teacher (2006-2008), and worked as a part-time music teacher in the high school. Sylvie has a remarkably broad academic and artistic background as well as extensive experience in writing, editing, publishing and project management. She graduated cum laude from Vassar College and holds a BM and MM in vocal performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She has sung professionally for 20 years and currently sings freelance and with Bella Voce, a choral group that specializes in classic a cappella repertoire and contemporary music from all over the world.

John Figiel, Vice President
John is the Director of Learning and Organization Effectiveness at the University of Chicago. With over 25 years of experience in human resources, training and organizational development, he is an expert in the areas talent management, leadership development, and change management. John earned a MS in Labor & Industrial Relations, and a BS in Psychology, both from the University of Illinois, and holds over a dozen certifications in the areas of organizational development, training and leadership development.

Leukos Goodwin, Administrative Director
Luke manages the administrative functions of the school. He holds a BA in Art History from Davidson College, an MA Ed. from Antioch University and an Ed.D (pending dissertation) from the University of Toledo. His Waldorf experience includes teaching stints at Pine Hill Waldorf School in New Hampshire, Ashwood Waldorf School in Maine and Cape Ann Waldorf School in Massachusetts, where he served as Executive Committee Chair, College of Teachers Chair, Faculty Chair, Pedagogical Chair, Evaluation Committee Chair and as a member of the Board of Trustees. In addition to his work with Waldorf education, Luke’s career included teaching in the Sylvania Schools public school district in Ohio. Luke is a die-hard Red Sox fan.

Jim Kotz, Faculty Trustee & High School Level Chair
Jim has twenty years of Waldorf teaching experience and is a member of the College of Teachers. He currently teaches high school and middle school physics and chemistry, and serves as High School Level Chair. His stated goal is “to work with colleagues to strengthen an already well-integrated high school program to further meet the educational needs of 21st century adolescents, especially in regard to their relationship to science and technology.” He and his wife Karen are the parents of Gaelin (CWS ‘08 high school alum).

Adam Lazar, PTO Liaison
Adam is the general manager of Lazar’s Juvenile Furniture, where his responsibilities are focused on marketing, personnel management and sales. Previous to his work at his family’s business, Adam spent 10 years in the field of graphic design. He was a PTO representative last year, and this year the PTOC elected him to the position of PTO Liaison to the Board on the Development Committee. Like a number of parents at the Chicago Waldorf School, Adam and his husband Jim have built their family through adoption. In addition to his daughter, Adam has six brothers and sisters who are students and alumni of the school.

Clifton Muhammad, Board Member
Cliff is the President of Fathers Who Care, a social service initiative that provides a nurturing and educational environment for non-custodial and custodial fathers who are indigent, but interested in building their parental involvement and social skills. He also works as an analyst in the Inspector General’s office of the City of Chicago. Cliff holds an MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, and has over 20 years of experience leading complex business process transformation at organizations like ShoreBank, Infosys Technologies, Deloitte Consulting and Integrys Energy.

Kevin Rooney, Treasurer & Chair of Finance Committee
Kevin is Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Information Officer for American Access Casualty Company, a high-growth auto insurance company based in Oakbrook, IL, and Newins LLC, the captive agent for American Access. Kevin graduated magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame before starting his career at Anderson Consulting. He has over 18 years of management and consulting experience in business strategy and technology. Kevin volunteers as the Assistant Coach for the amazing middle school girls’ volleyball team. Kevin and his family enjoy zip-lining in tropical rainforests.

Michael Rosenthal, Vice President & Chair of Permanent Campus Committee
Mike is a partner at the law firm of SNR Denton, LLP, where he specializes in the Venture Capital and Emerging Growth Company practice and the Private Equity practice. Recognized by Chambers USA as one of the leading private equity lawyers in Illinois, he was one of the founders of the Illinois Business and Investor Forum, an innovative statewide angel investor forum. He is a member of the Illinois Venture Capital Association, where he serves on its Legislative Committee, and he speaks frequently on issues relating to venture capital and early-stage companies. Mike graduated magna cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School, Order of the Coif.

Carol Triggiano, Faculty Trustee and Chair of the College of Teachers
Carol has 19 years of Waldorf teaching experience and has served in a variety of leadership roles throughout her tenure. She began her CWS career as an Early Childhood teacher and is currently taking her second class through grades 1-8. Carol has served for multiple years as Grade School Level Chair and member of the Teacher Development Committee, Management Team, and College of Teachers. She is the AWSNA delegate for the Chicago Waldorf School and is the current Chair of the College of Teachers. She also serves as an evaluator, consultant and lecturer for Waldorf schools around the country and is an Arcturus instructor. Carol is the proud parent of two Waldorf 12-year graduates, Nick and Amy.

Frank Verciglio, PTO Liaison
Frank is a self employed carpenter with 30 years experience in the building trades. He is a parent of students who have attended the Chicago Waldorf School for many years. After serving as a PTO representative for two years, he was elected Liaison to the Board by the PTOC. He serves on the Committee on Trustees and the Governance Group. Frank builds top bar hives as a service to bee keepers interested in urban agriculture, biodynamic farming and the health of honey bees.

Robert Wild, Chair of Audit Committee
Bob is a partner in the corporate and securities practice at the law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. He is listed in the 2010 and 2011 editions of The Best Lawyers in America. Bob brings expertise on securities and business law, board corporate governance matters, and facilities issues ranging from contracts to leasehold improvements to capital projects. Bob also is a member of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. He earned his BBA from Loyola University Chicago and his JD from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He also holds an MST from DePaul University.