Staff

Jack Lavin

President & Chief Executive Officer, Chamber Senior Executives

Jack has more than 35 years of financial and management experience in both the public and private sectors. Throughout his career, Jack has focused on economic and business development in order to create jobs and improve the quality of life for people in Chicago and Illinois. 

Jack served as Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the state’s economic and workforce development agency. He also served as Chief of Staff for Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, and Chief Operating Officer of the State of Illinois. He led the passage and implementation of the largest capital infrastructure bill in Illinois history and was responsible for managing the operations of the Governor’s office and all State government agencies. 

Jack serves his community on the boards of the Chicago Children’s Theatre and the University YMCA. He also served on several task forces for the Mayor of Chicago, including most recently The Museum Campus Working Group and the Central Business District Recovery Task Force. Jack is a strong advocate for people with disabilities. He led a Task Force for Mayor Daley on Special Education in the Chicago Public Schools and serves on the advisory board of the Adult Down Syndrome Center. 

Education
MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
MS, International Relations, University of Chicago
BS, University of Illinois, Finance

Contact: jlavin@chicagolandchamber.org

Sara Barnett Bruckmann

Senior Vice President of Operations & Administration, Chamber Senior Executives

Sara guides strategic planning efforts and directs timelines and resources for both the Chamber and Foundation. She advises the Chamber’s senior management on human resources, financial planning, budgeting, cost efficiencies, cash flow, investment priorities, and policy matters. 

Previously, Sara served as the President and CEO of the destination marketing organization, Visit Oak Park, promoting the 18 community area covering western Cook County to leisure and business travelers.

Prior to that, Sara served as Chief of Staff and Chief Transition Officer for the Illinois Lottery, and her role included management of the relationship with the Lottery’s first-ever private manager. She served as the key policy advisor on the historic launch of Internet Lottery ticket sales and provided oversight to four specialty funded lottery tickets supporting health and veterans services. Sara served as chief of intergovernmental affairs and led the Lottery’s legislative initiatives, and she was named one of Global Gaming Business Magazine’s 40 Under 40 for 2015 for her work.

Outside of work, Sara enjoys swimming, biking, and attending concerts with her husband. She is an active Berwyn resident, and she previously served on the Board of Oak Park’s Unity Temple Restoration Foundation.  

Education
MA, Northwestern University, Public Policy and Administration
BA, Marquette University, Political Science 

Contact: sbarnett@chicagolandchamber.org

Jan Kostner

Senior Vice President, Membership & Corporate Relations, Chamber Senior Executives

She has a wealth of experience in both the private and public sectors. She began her career at Jasculca Terman Strategic Communications, where she served many corporate clients. In government, Jan was the longest-serving Director of Tourism for the State of Illinois. She later was part of the team that created the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. Most recently, Jan served as Director of Marketing at the Chicago Architecture Biennial.

Education
BA, New England College, Communications
Certificate in Social Media Marketing, DePaul University

Contact: jkostner@chicagolandchamber.org

Andy Buchanan

Vice President, Strategic Communications, Chamber Senior Executives

Andy leads communications for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, overseeing a team responsible for interaction with the news media, updates to the Chamber’s web site and social media platforms, and communications support of the broader Chamber team including relevant public policy issues.  

Prior to his time at the Chamber, Andy spent the previous several years in public health communications, for the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Chicago Department of Public Health. At CDPH he oversaw communications during the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as on other important public health issues – violence prevention, mental healthcare, substance use, chronic disease, and health and racial equity. Prior to that he worked in healthcare communications for Northwestern Memorial Hospital and NorthShore University HealthSystem, and was a Chicago-based journalist reporting for the Associated Press, the Chicago Tribune and other outlets over the course of his career.  

Andy serves on the Board of Directors of the Chicago youth development organization My Block, My Hood, My City and lives with his family in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood. He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, reading, and exploring Chicago’s cultural, sports and restaurant scenes.  

Education
MUPP, University of Illinois-Chicago, Urban Planning & Policy
BA, Franklin and Marshall College, History 

Contact: abuchanan@chicagolandchamber.org

Emily Cooper

Vice President, Programs, Chamber Senior Executives

As the Vice President of Programs, Emily drives innovative and impactful programming for the Chamber. She leads a dynamic team, working collaboratively with government relations, communications, and events teams to ensure the successful implementation of events and strategies. Emily’s focus on Emerging Leaders, DEIA programming, Technology Council, Workforce and Talent Council, and Mid-Market Chicago has enhanced membership engagement and contributed to the advancement of advocacy and policy priorities in the Chicago business landscape. 

Previously, Emily held the role of Director at the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, where she spearheaded the development of partnerships and initiatives with top companies.  

Outside of her professional commitments, Emily enjoys traveling, exploring Chicago’s thriving culinary scene, and practicing Pilates and yoga. She is also involved in several community organizations, including the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, All Raise Chicago, Chicago Youth Centers, and Chicago Women in Philanthropy. 

Education
MPP, American University, Public Policy
BA, Indiana University, Sociology

Contact: ecooper@chicagolandchamber.org

Marianne Floriano

Vice President, Corporate Development, Chamber Senior Executives

Marianne oversees the Chamber’s corporate development and fundraising efforts, including directing the Chamber’s four annual signature events: the Annual Daniel H. Burnham Award Dinner, The Exchange, the Annual Meeting of Membership, and the Chicagoland Chamber Golf Classic.

Outside of work, Marianne enjoys reading and spending time with her grandchildren.

Education
BA, Saint Mary’s College, Business Communications, Economics

Contact: mfloriano@chicagolandchamber.org

Carl Gutierrez

Vice President, Government Relations and Public Policy, Chamber Senior Executives

Carl leads public policy advocacy and lobbying on behalf of the Chamber’s members across the City of Chicago, Cook County, and the State of Illinois. In addition, Carl manages the development of policies through member committees, programs, and the Chamber’s Political Action Committee (PAC).

Previously, Carl served on the legislative affairs team at the Illinois Department  of Financial and Professional Regulation, where he implemented the agency’s legislative and policy agenda within the Illinois General Assembly and strategic outreach initiatives. Prior to that, Carl served in the press offices of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Before that, Carl worked in financial journalism at Bloomberg TV and Forbes.com.

When he’s not working, Carl enjoys spending time with his family, training for endurance events, playing music with friends, reading, traveling, and experiencing Chicago’s incredible cultural life.

Education
BA, Indiana University, Political Science

Contact: cgutierrez@chicagolandchamber.org

Chase Berman

Manager, Member Engagement, Chamber Staff

Chase’s role entails recruiting new Chamber members and reactivating former members. By driving engagement with prospective and current members, he works to spread the Chamber’s mission to businesses across Chicagoland.

Previously, Chase was at Command Transportation (later acquired by Echo Global Logistics), a freight brokerage company. There, he worked in sales, customer service, new business development, and learned the complexities of government-business relationships.

In his spare time, Chase explores new restaurants around Chicago — and the world — with his wife.

Education
BA, University of Arizona, Political Science

Contact: cberman@chicagolandchamber.org

Megan Broderick

Senior Manager, Government Relations and Public Policy, Chamber Staff

Megan aids with public policy advocacy and lobbying for pro-business initiatives on behalf of Chamber members in the City government, State government, and Cook County government. In addition, Megan works on policy development through various member committees, programs, and the Chamber’s Political Action Committee (PAC). 

Previously, Megan served as the Chief of Staff for 35^th District Illinois State Representative Mary Gill, where she managed the Representative’s legislative agenda, community outreach, and constituent services. As well as serving on the state side of Representative Gill’s office, Megan also managed her political campaigns, engaging in voter outreach, door to door canvassing, and political messaging. Prior to that, she served as a Legislative Coordinator for the Office of the Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch at the Illinois State Capitol, working with all General Assembly members during legislative session.

Outside of work, Megan enjoys trying new restaurants, reading, exercising, and spending time with friends and family. She is a Southside native and loves going to White Sox games over the summer and enjoying Chicago food favorites. 

Education
BA, University of Dayton, Political Science; Minor in Journalism

Contact: mbroderick@chicagolandchamber.org

Corbett Campbell

Manager, Membership Retention, Chamber Staff

Corbett’s responsibilities include helping Chamber members achieve short- and long-term success, consulting with members to understand their business goals, facilitating connections within the Chamber community, and advising companies on opportunities for involvement. 

Prior to joining the Chamber, Corbett worked as the Programs and Events Manager at the Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce in Louisville, Kentucky, where he organized programs and events. During his time there, the organization was awarded the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives Excellence in Events Award for 2021. 

Outside of work, Corbett can be found honing his rock-climbing skills or planning his next skiing or camping adventure. 

Education
BA, Centre College, International Studies 

Contact: ccampbell@chicagolandchamber.org

Pati Flannery

ETIP Consultant, Chamber Staff

Pati manages partnerships between the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and various stakeholders, including universities, community colleges, and trainers. This role helps the process of upskilling employees in Illinois-based companies and nonprofits through the employee training grant programs. 

Previously, Pati served as Director of Strategic Partnerships at Ariadne Maps and as Director of Strategic Sponsorships for the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism. In this role, she developed partnerships for analytics, print, digital, and social media campaigns that generated billions of dollars in economic value for the travel and tourism industry in more than 40 states.   

When she’s not at the Chamber, you can find Pati exploring Chicago’s neighborhoods and Midwest running trails chasing the elusive runner’s high. She’s also an avid book lover of enlightening non-fiction, historical fiction, inspiring biographies, and thrilling mysteries. 

Education
BS, Business Management, National Louis University 

Contact: pflannery@chicagolandchamber.org

Will Garrett

Associate, Member Resources, Chamber Staff

Eric Horn

Business Advisor, SBDC, Chamber Staff

Gena Killian

Director, Events, Chamber Staff

Gena oversees and collaborates closely with the Events Coordinator for Membership Events, engages with the VP of Corporate Development for Signature Events, and provides support to the VP and Manager of Programs as needed.  

Prior to joining the Chamber, Gena served as a Senior Program Manager at Tangerine Meetings & Events, where she oversaw national sales meetings and incentive programs for prominent health care companies. Before that, her work included stints at Jefferies LLC, Barclays Capital, and Lehman Brothers.  

Outside of work, Gena cherishes moments with her husband, two sons, and stepdaughter, and enjoys culinary adventures with friends and family. 

Education
BS, University of Dayton, Marketing

Contact: gkillian@chicagolandchamber.org

Emma Kosnik

Executive Assistant & Board Liaison, Chamber Staff

Emma supports the President and CEO Jack Lavin in the day-to-day operations, including scheduling high-level meetings, communicating with senior executives and members, and coordinating with events and programs. As the Board Liaison, she serves as the primary point of contact for the Board of Directors. Emma leads planning and logistics for Board and Executive Committee meetings and events, while also managing ongoing engagement and correspondence.

Previously, Emma worked as the RoundTable Coordinator for Visus Group, organizing multi-day events for executives in the staffing and recruiting industry. Her members saw on average a 20% YoY growth in their businesses when they were part of the RoundTable Program.

In her free time, Emma loves spending time with her family, visiting the Art Institute, and watching movies.

Education
BS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Communications

Contact: ekosnik@chicagolandchamber.org

Alex Krebs

Sr. Director, Marketing and Communications, Chamber Staff

Alex orchestrates comprehensive marketing strategies that enhance organizational visibility and engagement. He also manages the Chamber’s social media and email campaigns, maintains the website, provides graphic design work, and assists with events.  

Before joining the Chamber, Alex served as Assistant Director of Marketing and Fan Engagement at Oregon State University Athletics Department, where he spearheaded several marketing initiatives. He helped direct the successful “We Are Family” campaign, which led to significant increases in ticket revenue and digital engagement.  

Outside of work, he enjoys playing pond hockey in the winter, beach volleyball in the summer, and basketball year-round. 

Education
MBA (Candidate), University of Chicago Booth School of Business
MS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Recreation, Sport, and Tourism 
BS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Recreation, Sport, and Tourism 

Contact: akrebs@chicagolandchamber.org

Adrienne McFarland

Center Director, Illinois Small Business Development Center at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Chamber Staff

Adrienne provides leadership, managing operations, fosters community engagement, and monitors the performance of the Center to ensure it effectively supports the development and growth of small businesses in the Chicagoland area.  

Adrienne previously served as the Senior Midwest Regional Development Representative at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she helped generate revenue, manage donor efforts, and orchestrate impactful fundraising events. Additionally, she previously co-owned and operated an event furniture rental and retail company called Chaibles.  

Outside of her work, Adrienne enjoys spending quality time with her husband and children, and exploring the vibrant city of Chicago. 

Education
M.Ed, Tennessee State University, Sports Administration
BA, Tennessee State University, Mass Communication

Contact: amcfarland@chicagolandchamber.org

Sicilia Mirante

Manager, Programs, Chamber Staff

As Program Manager, Sici supports the development and execution of programs within the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. She works closely with teams across the organization to strengthen membership engagement, elevate Council programming, and create impactful experiences for Chicago’s business community. Sici brings experience in events, relationship building, member engagement, and creative strategy from her work at the Executives’ Club of Chicago and through partnerships with local organizations and businesses.

Outside of her professional work, Sici enjoys seeing live music around the city, exploring Chicago’s arts and culture scene, and hosting monthly pickle parties with friends.

Education
BBA, Loyola University Chicago, Quinlan School of Business, Marketing

Contact: smirante@chicagolandchamber.org

Ianna Perdomo

Coordinator, Marketing and Communications, Chamber Staff

Thorsten Sahlin

Manager, Member Engagement, Chamber Staff

Thorsten fosters strong relationships with members and creates meaningful engagement between them and the Chamber. His responsibilities include prospecting and onboarding new members, organizing member events, providing advice to ensure an optimal Chamber experience, and facilitating collaborations among members. 

Prior to his current role, Thorsten worked at Groupon as a Merchant Success Manager, where he was promoted three times within a two-year span. 

Outside of his professional commitments, Thorsten is an avid painter with a studio in Humboldt Park, he skateboards and snowboards, and he is writing a novel. 

Education
BFAW, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Creative Writing (Poetry) 

Contact: tsahlin@chicagolandchamber.org

Yavna Srihariprasad

Staff Accountant, Chamber Staff

Yavna manages revenues and payables to ensure accurate records across the Chamber’s financial systems. Her responsibilities include preparing financial reports and providing accounting support for audits and budgeting.

Prior to the Chamber, Yavna served as a Financial Analyst for a fintech start-up, focusing on investment analysis and financial modeling. She also has experience as an Accounts Payable and Reporting Associate at an international retail brand and as a finance intern supporting nonprofit growth initiatives.

Outside of work, Yavna enjoys cooking, usually by experimenting with new cuisines, and traveling to places on her bucket-list.

Education
MS, University of Exeter (UK), Accounting and Finance
BC, Bangalore University (India)

Contact: YSrihariprasad@chicagolandchamber.org

Jill Synoga

Controller, Chamber Staff

Jill manages the Chamber’s finances, and her responsibilities include overseeing financial operations, preparing monthly statements and annual budgets, coordinating audits, and managing cash reports for grants.  

Jill has been with the Chamber since graduating from college, starting as a Staff Accountant and progressing through roles such as Senior Accountant, Director, and Senior Director before assuming her current position.  

During her free time, Jill enjoys baking cookies and staying active by swimming and participating in 5K walks. 

Education
MBA, St. Xavier University, Finance
BS, St. Xavier University, Accounting

Contact: jsynoga@chicagolandchamber.org

Sarah Tuohy

Director of Membership, Chamber Staff

Sarah focuses on bringing new members onboard and ensuring existing members utilize their benefits effectively, including attending networking and programming events.  

Before she began working at the Chamber, Sarah worked as a Senior Event Marketing Representative at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she organized impactful fundraising events in the Midwest and cultivated relationships with sponsors, donors, and volunteers.  

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys traveling with friends and hosting cocktail and dinner parties. She also volunteers for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, JDRF, and Gateway to Learning. 

Education
BA, St. Norbert College, Sociology 

Contact: stuohy@chicagolandchamber.org

John Yoo

Senior Manager, CRM Administrator & IT, Chamber Staff

John oversees the management of the Chamber’s CRM/database, builds queries for custom reporting, handles day-to-day CRM issues, and collaborates with IT vendors on upgrades and new projects.  

Prior to joining the Chamber, John worked at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese as a Web Developer and Microsoft SharePoint Administrator, where he was responsible for all stages of DNN website development and maintenance. 

Outside of work, John enjoys staying active with workouts at the gym and CrossFit, reading about technology and world news, exploring the city with friends, and watching documentaries. 

Education
BS, Michigan State University, Business Administration/Management Information Systems  

Contact: jyoo@chicagolandchamber.org

Sofia Zipparo

Coordinator, Events, Chamber Staff

Sofia supports the planning and execution of various Chamber events, working cross-functionally to ensure goals and logistics are thoughtfully carried out.

Prior to the Chamber, Sofia has completed several internships including industrial advertising at Sonnhalter, event coordination and fundraising at both Lago Custom Events and the Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio, payroll at John Carroll University, and has restaurant industry experience at her family’s restaurant, 424 Walnut.

Outside of work, Sofia enjoys exploring Chicago’s restaurant and bar scene with friends and family, cooking and baking different recipes for her loved ones, and visiting her family and pets back in Pittsburgh.

Education
BA, John Carroll University, Communication, Integrated Marketing; Minor in Business 

Contact: szipparo@chicagolandchamber.org