Deborah has displayed a passion for nonprofit management throughout her career. Before joining MWNEI she worked as the Executive Director of Interfaith Caregivers of Washington County, Wisconsin, where she grew a start-up non-profit into a network of volunteers serving more than 1,200 seniors a year with transportation, food services, and other chores like shoveling snow. Prior to her work at Interfaith, she held director and development positions with the American Heart Association, worked in Health and Safety with the American Red Cross, and held CEO and manager positions in the for-profit sector.

Now with Meals on Wheels on Northeastern Illinois, Deborah has grown the organization into a community powerhouse. Boasting a volunteer base of more than 800 who distribute daily meals made in the organization’s first meal production facility, MWNEI has become the organization others rely on when disaster strikes or when our community’s treasured older adults need fully prepared home delivered or congregate meals.

Niki brings significant experience in fundraising working in the past for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Her most recent experience includes over a decade as Director of Development for Center for Independent Futures. While at CIF, NIki built relationships with participants, families, funders, foundations and corporate sponsors resulting in noteable results in fundraising. Prior to CIF, Niki spent a decade at The Disney Company in a variety of roles.

Relationship building and passion for the mission of supporting the elderly and individuals with disabilities is what energizes Niki and excites her to join the Meals on Wheels Northeastern Illinois team. Niki’s primary responsibilities include planning and orchestrating the annual gala, building the donor base, increasing Major Donors along with building awareness of the important work MWNEI does. Niki recognizes firsthand the importance of nourishing and tasty meals delivered to the elderly, homebound and those with disabilities in the comfort of their home and knows this work is more than a meal, it is a health check and friendly smile to many that would not otherwise see anyone during the day. Niki is passionate about healthy eating and so MWNEI is the perfect match.

Niki received her BA from Eastern Illinois University and continued studies at Northwestern University, receiving her Master Scholar Certification in Strategic Leadership in the nonprofit  sector in 2020.

Niki loves living in Evanston with her three children and dog Brady. When not working, NIki enjoys the lakefront, biking, reading, cooking  and spending time with family and friends. Niki’s super power is Pilates!

Sam Landman learned to cook at the side of a master chef from Johnson and Wales University culinary school. Sam comes to MWNEI with more than a decade of experience in the senior healthcare field. He has been involved in everything food service related from menu engineering and cooking to budget and inventory control. He most recently led food service efforts at Bridgeway Senior Living in Bensenville, IL, was chef at Park Plaza Retirement Center in Chicago, and executive kosher chef for Aramark at the University of Chicago.

Don was MWNEI’s Client Coordinator from 2017 to 2019. He took an extended break to earn his Master’s degree from Northwestern University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. During his work in the mental health field, he conducted individual and group therapy, did case management, program coordination, program development, private practice development, and insurance claim filing. Mr. Tinsley  also worked at Lurie Children's Hospital. At MWNEI, he was Client Coordinator in charge of client recruitment, intake, onboarding, and community support services. He is happy to be back as the Program Director.

Ann Brennan is a nonprofit manager specializing in senior services. Over her career, she's consistently driven initiatives that boost organizational growth and foster meaningful connections with stakeholders. These initiatives highlight her skill in forging innovative community partnerships and collaboration with leading institutions. Deeply committed to community service, Ann's volunteer roles span from outreach programs in Vietnam to board memberships, reflecting her genuine dedication to creating lasting impact.

A Chicago native, Ann has lived across various parts of the U.S. and overseas but found her way back to the Windy City nine years ago. In her free time, Ann enjoys being with family, kayaking, traveling, and relaxing at the beach.

As the one of the newest Meals on Wheels NE IL team member, Ann looks forward to leveraging her experience and fervor for community service to further the organization's mission.

Alona has been working with volunteer management for the past three years. Alona graduated from the University of Iowa in 2020, where she studied Russian, International Studies, and Translation. Outside of her major, she was heavily involved with the community, where she held leadership roles at UI Students for Human rights and at the Iowa United Nations Association. After college, she completed an Americorps VISTA role where her primary goal was to increase access to food resources for low-income seniors through Meals on Wheels. Once she finished her VISTA year, she returned to Chicago and worked as the Volunteer Coordinator at A Safe Haven Foundation, and grew their volunteer base and corporate partnerships. She is excited to expand the volunteer base at Meals on Wheels Northeastern Illinois.

Amber Rodriguez brings a wealth of experience in the non-profit sector, dating back to her high school years. Her dedication has been particularly notable during her tenure with OneGoal, where she transitioned from a program participant to serving as a valued member of the Chicago Board of Directors for an impressive two years. Amber has a strong background in legal and administrative roles, including positions as a PA, paralegal, and intake coordinator. Her enthusiasm for this role is palpable, and she looks forward to contributing her expertise to the organization.