IACAAnet

Illinois' Poverty Fighting Network

3435 Liberty Dr, Springfield, IL 62704 | 217-789-0125 , 217-789-0139 fax

Staff Bios

John Colgan
John Colgan is the Vice President for Public Policy for the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies. John has more than thirty years experience in community organizing, fundraising and not-for-profit administration. He is a veteran of legislative affairs working with the Illinois General Assembly and the U. S. Congress. He has significant experience in working with the media including print, radio and TV. He has lived and worked in geographically diverse areas of Illinois including Chicago, Peoria, Carbondale and Springfield. His specialty is networking diverse individuals and organizations to work in coalition to achieve collective results. Prior to his current position he was the founding executive director of the Illinois Hunger Coalition where he served for 11.5 years. In his current position at IACAA, John monitors existing policies and advocates for progressive new policies designed to help low-income people achieve and maintain self-sufficiency. Policy areas include energy assistance, asset building, welfare, food assistance programs, affordable housing and early childhood development. He is a member of: Brandeis University's Asset Development Institute's State Leader Advisory Group (appointed 2003), a member of the Woods Fund of Chicago's Illinois Asset Building Group, and a member of the Illinois Affordable Energy Campaign. John also served on the National Steering Committee of the Campaign to End Childhood Hunger from 1991-2000, and was Chairperson of that steering committee from 1996-1998. He was an eight year member of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs Community Service Advisory Council (three years as its Chairperson); was a founding member and eight of years service with the Illinois Interagency Nutrition Council; was a founder and six year member of the board of the Midwest Anti-Hunger Network (MAHN); founder and 10 year member of the Central Illinois Foodbank Board of Directors (eight years as a officer); three year member of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance Board of Directors (two years as President of the Board); and the founding president of the Peoria Area Anti-Hunger Coalition. He is the author of several publications including: Hunger in Illinois: The Work and Struggle for Food Security, 1990; Community Consultation on Federal Nutrition Program Reform: A Real World Perspective, 1996; and The Food Stamp Program: A Vital But Underutilized Safety Net for Low-Income Illinoisans, 2003. He is the recipient of the numerous awards and recognitions including the 1995 Raymond M. Wheeler Award for Distinguished Service in Fighting Hunger in America, presented by Food Research and Action Center of Washington, D.C.; the 1992 Recipient of the Cramer/Fisher Award presented annually by Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger for outstanding anti-hunger activists; and the 1993 Friend of EFNEP Award presented by the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service. John holds a bachelor degree in government from Southern Illinois University and a master's degree in Political Studies from the University of Illinois.

Dan Manfredo
Dan is the Energy Specialist for the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies. He works with LIHEAP, Weatherization, and Rate Relief programs for the Association. Before coming to IACAA in January, 2007, Dan worked for seven years as a teacher and administrator at Ursuline Academy and Sacred Heart-Griffin High School. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1995.

Sheila Powell
No bio.

Michelle Pulce
Michelle Pulce is the Vice President for Programs for IACAA. She received her Master's Degree in Public Administration at American University in Washington D.C., in 1995 and received her Bachelor's Degree in 1993 in Political Science. She has worked for the Association for eight years. She has also worked as the Community Services Block Grant Planner for the state of Illinois and a Budget Analyst for the Governor's Budget Office. Michelle is a certified Community Action Professional (CCAP) and has been certified as a national trainer in ROMA, an outcome management curriculum, and represents Illinois on the National Peer to Peer Advisory Committee on outcome management. In addition, she received a management certificate for Not for Profits at the University of Illinois, Springfield. Michelle is active in her church, a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Springfield Junior League. She is a distance runner and an avid tennis player.

Sara Ratcliffe
Sara Ratcliffe is the Director of Member Services for the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies. She is responsible for all meeting coordination and assists the Board and staff in their endeavors. Sara taught at Ursuline Academy for ten years prior to being employed at IACAA. She holds a BFA in Art History from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Sara is married and enjoys cooking, painting, playing volleyball, reading, and traveling.

Dalitso Sulamoyo
Dalitso Sulamoyo is the President and CEO of the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies. He also serves on the Mid America Community Action Association Board, the Office of Housing Coordination Services Advisory Board, Region V Head Start Task Force, the Great Lakes Rural Community Assistance Program Advisory Board, and on the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. In addition Dalitso has been recognized locally as one of the 40 under 40 business leaders in the Springfield area by the Springfield Business Journal and as the Not-for-Profit Business person of the year by the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Dalitso was recognized internationally by the Who's Who Historical Society as a professional who has demonstrated exemplary achievement and distinguished contributions to the business community. Dalitso is a Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP) and holds a BA in Political Science and International Relations from Illinois College and two Masters Degrees in Political Studies and Public Administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield. Dalitso is married and has a son and a daughter.

Allan Timke
Allan Timke is IACAA's Housing and Homelessness Specialist and has been with IACAA since 1991 working on a range of housing and homelessness-related policy issues and providing technical assistance in those areas to community action agencies and other nonprofit organizations. Since 1999, he has been IACAA's lead person working in partnership with the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to organize the annual HUD Peer-to-Peer Homeless Providers Conference that has grown to serve hundreds of social service professionals. Since 1991, he also has edited IACAA's Homeless Headlines newsletter funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services. The publication has a monthly mail circulation of approximately 1100 and is also available on the IACAA web site, and by email. He has staffed an IACAA Housing Sub-Committee and was active in IACAA activities that led to the incorporation of IACAA's Illinois Community Action Development Corporation in 1999. He has served on the board of Housing Action Illinois (formerly the Statewide Housing Action Coalition or SHAC) since 1989. He is currently Chair of Housing Action Illinois' Advocacy Committee. Mr. Timke also represents IACAA in a range of housing-related organizations in Illinois, including the It Takes a Home to Raise a Child Campaign, the Housing Roundtable, Rural Partners and the Supportive Housing Providers Association. Prior to coming to IACAA, Mr. Timke had approximately fifteen years experience in direct services to low income Illinois residents, much of which involved work with homeless families, individuals and youth. He has more than thirty years of social service experience overall. Mr. Timke has a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from Western Illinois University, and a Masters Degree in Sociology from Illinois State Univesity. Mr. Timke has an interest in drumming, blues music, astronomy, computing, and reading.

Christine Westerlund
Christine Westerlund is the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies's Training Specialist. She has over twenty years of experience working with governmental entities and non-profit organizations as a researcher, grant writer and trainer. Christine is a nationally certified ROMA (results oriented management and accountability) trainer for the Community Action network and recently received specialist certification in Illinois' Family and Community Development program. A graduate of Eastern Illinois University, she is also an active community volunteer, published author and elected local official.

Niccole Clements
Niccole Clements is the Development Coordinator for Illinois Community Action Development Corporation, a subsidiary of the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies. She has been employed with the Association since July of 2008. Since joining the Association she has become certified in low income housing tax credits and housing quality standards. Niccole has assisted with various grants for the association including the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. She also works to secure funding for various projects taken on by the development corporation, market such projects, and research new grant opportunities and funding sources. Previous to her employment with IACAA, Niccole worked for Springfield Housing Authority assisting with the Section 8 program as well as many other housing assistance programs. Niccole also has over 5 years of management experience through small business administration. She is a graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in Business Administration. She is a resident of Springfield, IL.

Pat Gleason
Pat is a Rural Development Specialist in the Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP). He received his B.A. in History and M.A. in Public History from the University of Illinois at Springfield. Prior to his arrival at IACAA, Pat was Cultural Resource Manager at the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. He lives in Springfield with his wife, son and dog . Pat is involved with various charitable organizations on Springfield. He is a history and baseball enthusiast and enjoys reading, music, yard work, and gardening.

Tami Rechner
Tamara Rechner is the Housing Coordinator for IACAA as of August 2008. Prior to joining IACAA, she held the position of Housing Coordinator for the Springfield Housing Authority (SHA) where she was responsible for the Madison Park Place Lease-to-Purchase Program, the Section 8 Homeownership Housing Choice Voucher Program, liasion to HUD developing, implementing and the maintenance of programmatic reporting standards. Tami provided Homebuyer Education and Credit Counseling for SHA, TSP Hope, Habitat for Humanity, Springfield Independent Living Center (SILC), HUD, City of Springfield, and the CRA Council of local lenders in Springfield. Tami has experience in researching and securing grant funding with such sources as Federal Home Loan Bank, City of Springfield, and HUD through the SuperNofa process. Tami has a great deal of Community Development experience with new construction as well as the rehabilitation of existing properties through her employment with the Springfield Urban League. Prior to the positions mentioned, Tami worked in banking for 12 years and has extensive consumer & mortgage lending background.

Kay Gregg
Kay is the Vice President of the Illinois Community Action Development Corporation (ICADC). Her background brings 25 years of extensive real estate and financial management experience comprised through positions held with private Real Estate Developers, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Springfield Housing Authority working in affiliation with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She began her career with a private real estate developer and then went on to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. She held a Section Chief position with FDIC which allowed her the opportunity to work with both US and foreign assets through financial receiverships. Kay was responsible for the concept of the receiverships operating assets through stability prior to disposition during her tenure. She was the Director of Housing Development in Springfield with her responsibilities including the HOPE VI development of Madison Park Place. Kay also has served on numerous Boards of both community and state wide organization or agencies including the University of Illinois Extension Partners; Project Return, a faith based non-profit organization that brings the opportunity that affords mothers with children the tools to allow a successful transition process back into community living; St. John's Lutheran Church; Illinois Governor's Rural Affair's Council; Governor's Housing Task Force; Peace Corps; and Rural Partners. She Is also a charter member of Illinois Women in Leadership. She has three children and two grandchildren.

Melissa Taylor
Melissa Taylor is IACAA's Business Services Coordinator. Her duties include the day to day payables and assistance with other Fiscal duties such as audits, time sheets, and insurances. She has 10 years of experience working with Non Profits in the Fiscal field. Before coming to IACAA, Melissa was the Business Manager for the Children's Advocacy Centers of Illinois. She is married and enjoys reading and pet sitting.

Dawn Kuzel
Dawn Kuzel is the Rural Community Assistance Programs State Coordinator. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Springfield with a BS in Biology and is currently working on her Masters in Public/Environmental Health. Before coming to IACAA in February 2008 as a Rural Development Specialist in the Rural Community Assistance program, Dawn worked as an Environmental Specialist Trainee at an Environmental Engineering Firm. She enjoys walks in the park with her dog Charlie, cooking, and running. She currently lives in Springfield with her husband Jake.

Bud Mason
Bud Mason is a Technical Assistance Provider for RCAP. He is a certified water & wastewater operator in the State of Illinois who began his career in the Summer Youth Employment Program pulling weeds around sewer lagoons and has went on to spend over twenty-five years operating and managing water & wastewater systems throughout Illinois. Bud had several mentors that made a difference in his career and he believes that he can return the favor by assisting other operators in need through his RCAP position. Bud earned his masters degree from the school of hard knocks while working in small systems.

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