West Suburban Community Pantry Welcomes New Board Members As Global Pandemic Enters Second Year
Skilled Women Leaders in Health Care, Finance, and Hospitality Will Support Food Pantry’s Hunger-Fighting Mission
West Suburban Community Pantry is proud to announce the appointment of three new members to its board of directors – Nichole Edmonds, Lisa Kemper and Kelly Jeschke. These leadership additions will make a big difference as the food pantry continues serving many local families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meet Nichole Edmonds
Nichole’s strong background in public health, including varied experience with community health initiatives focused on under-served groups—will enable her support West Suburban Community Pantry’s efforts to alleviate hunger and improve health.
Nichole Edmonds’ passion for health equity aligns well with the food pantry’s desire to enable people to achieve their potential. She has significant experience working with non-profit organizations to address community health challenges.
Nichole is currently the regional director of community health in Central Chicagoland for Advocate Aurora Health. In this role, she leads several community health councils and oversees the community health department for Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, and Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.
Previously, Nichole served as a project manager for the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children at Lurie Children’s Hospital. In this position and others, she built up a wealth of experience in community coalition-building, grant-making, and program development and evaluation.
Nichole has a bachelor’s degree in public health administration from Northern Illinois University and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Illinois.
Meet Kelly Jeschke
With experience in accounting and finance leadership at top companies, Kelly’s guidance will help West Suburban Community Food Pantry adopt best practices that improve efficiency.
Kelly Jeschke is a visionary leader with a strong ability to motivate people. She is thrilled to share her results-oriented approach with West Suburban Community Pantry to strengthen her community against hunger.
Kelly is currently a customer finance director of transformation, training and product support at Jones Lang LaSalle, the world’s second-largest public brokerage firm. She draws on her strong work ethic to lead a large accounting, finance, and project development department; oversee a training and product support team across the United States, Canada, and Latin America; and manage a shared services center in Argentina.
Previously, she served as a customer financial services senior director of global financial controls at R.R. Donnelley, Inc., the world’s premier integrated communication services provider. Prior to that, she held several prominent accounting and finance roles at top companies.
Kelly received a bachelor’s degree from Webster University. She currently lives in Bloomingdale, IL.
Meet Lisa Kemper
Lisa’s decade of hospitality industry experience and active involvement in the food pantry’s fundraising events as a volunteer will allow her to assist with enhanced donor and customer outreach.
Lisa Kemper was raised with the mindset that giving back is important – and has held onto that belief throughout her life. She discovered West Suburban Community Pantry shortly after moving to Woodridge and has been a close partner of the food pantry ever since.
Lisa is currently an active volunteer, working closely with food pantry staff to make fundraising events a big success. She spent her entire professional career working in the hospitality industry before leaving to stay home with her children.
She worked as an office manager for the hospitality company behind the popular Chicagoland restaurants Labriola Café & Neopolitan Pizzeria and Stan’s Donuts. Prior to that, she worked for seven years as a division office supervisor at Lettuce Entertain You, a restaurant group that currently manages more than 120 restaurants.
Lisa lives in Woodridge with her husband, Brian, and their two sons, ages 5 and 4.