Embrace the Children Secretary

Internet Consultant; counselor on Earning Income on the Internet; Web mistress for Chicago/Rockford Consultants Network; Actively building on-line business; extensive background in development, research and management; Founder, PADS in DeKalb County, Long Term Care Ombudsman, Chairman St. Mary’s Renew program, Eucharistic Minister, DAMES (mentor to teen girls in detention), PTA fund raiser chair; Teachers Aide, soccer coach, cub scout leader; Certified Word Processing and Multi-Media; mother of four, grandmother to ten; Foreign travel includes Canada, Mexico, South America, Trinidad, Barbados, Haiti, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Nationally all 50 states.

Dr. Gary Blank

Embrace the Children Treasurer/Advisor

Engineering Consultant receiving his Ph.D. at age 24 from University of Wisconsin (Ford Foundation Fellowship); Professor of Electrical/Computer Engineering at IIT, Northern Illinois University, U.C.L.A., Marquette University, University of Florida; Authored, presented and published 23 papers on various technical subjects; Awarded “Best Paper” at Pan American Congress of Electrical /Mechanical Engineers and voted Outstanding Professor IIT; Patent on velocity-controller for a Brushless DC motor and Funded Research Grants; Vice President IEEE with USA membership of 250,000; National Chairman of Alliance of IEEE Consultants Networks, Founding Chairman of Chicago/Rockford Consultants Network, Region 4 (13 States) Chairman of IEEE Student Activities at all Universities; Midcon Board of Directors, Convention/Conference Chair Midcon 1994; extensive background in management, consulting and development; Long time advocate for humanitarian issues founding PADS in DeKalb County, volunteer Long Term Care Ombudsman; Chairman at St. Mary’s for both the Il. Renew program and Long Range Planning Committee; Started first recycling program and Chaired committee for developing drug education program for schools in San Fernando Valley , CA.; President of West Valley Soccer League, coach and referee; YMCA baseball/soccer coach; father of four, grandfather of ten; Foreign travel includes Canada, Mexico, South America, Trinidad, Barbados, Haiti, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Nationally all 50 states.

Leslie Edstrom

Embrace the Children Vice President

Masters Degree in Public Administration; former Director for Senior Services McHenry County ; School Board Member for St. Catherine’s; extensive back ground in management, fundraising, public relations, social work and humanitarian aid. Committed advocate of children’s issues; mother of five; Foreign travel includes England , Canada .

Shannon Mogilinski

Embrace the Children President

Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology; former Administrator of Fox River Pavilion; former Long Term Care Ombudsman for Kane, Kendall, McHenry Counties; Vice President for Le Duex Properties, Inc.;  former Humanitarian Aid Co-Chair for Uniting Families; extensive background in management, fundraising, training, volunteer recruitment and business/organization start-ups.   Knowledgeable in impoverished children’s issues;  Mother of two;  Foreign travel includes Russia, England, France, Yugoslavia, Switzerland, Austria, Jamaica, Germany, Canada.

Jeanne Beckner , R.N.

Embrace the Children Founding Board Member

Nursing Administrator fifteen years experienced in ER, critical care and home health. USAir Force in Vietnam doing med evac and flight line nursing; Alumni of Liberty University—Biblical Studies; Residing in Russia as founding member of Utecheyne; founding member of Embrace the Children; creator of food distribution program for the Vladimir region now supplying food supplements, antibiotics and basic necessities since 1995. Foreign travel includes Eastern Europe , Thailand .

Mary Kemerling

Embrace the Children Vice President

Product Sourcing Manager for a West Chicago, IL marketing firm who received her Bachelor’s of  Science degree in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. She has an extensive background in management, customer service and fundraising. She was a former President of “Larkin Friends of the Arts” in a role supporting for administrators, teachers and students at the high school level. In addition, she was a Pop Warner Cheerleading Coach and Team Mom for Classic League softball.  Mother of 1 daughter-(Katie 21)—husband Tom (married for 26 years)-oldest of seven- and an advocate of children’s issues and rights. Travel includes: US, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, Mexico, Guatemala, the US Virgin Islands, Hong Kong and China.

Heather Baumgartner

Embrace the Children Chief Financial Officer

Received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She has an extensive background in customer service, banking and mortgage lending. She has been in the finance industry for the last 11 years. She was recently married on September 19, 2004. No children yet, but have 6 wonderful nieces and nephews (4 nieces, 2 nephews). She adores children and loves the opportunity to help children in need.   Travel includes: Canada and Fiji.