Monique B. Jones, President & CEO

Monique B. Jones, LCSW, is a visionary leader with an extensive background in mental health, violence prevention, philanthropy, and gender & racial equity. Her career and civic interests span the intersections where the lives of those most vulnerable fall victim to structural oppression and inequity. As a thriving Multiple Sclerosis warrior, she uses her experience and platform for education, encouragement, advocacy and daily reality checks.

She brings over 25 years of leadership in the nonprofit sector to her role as the fourth President & CEO for Forefront; Illinois’ premier organization focused on connecting philanthropy, operating nonprofits, and their allies to improve the lives of all people in Illinois. Monique led the establishment of the organization’s Racial Equity Collective and an expanded public policy footprint.

In her past leadership at the Evanston Community Foundation, she led the implementation of racial equity with grant making, fundraising and leadership development. She was successful at increasing the asset size of the organization from $18M to $30M in just five years. Under Monique’s leadership the Foundation established the Evanston Reparations Community Fund, the first of any Community Foundation nationally in support of the City of Evanston’s resolution to support reparations. Of note is her restructuring of the Foundation during the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, releasing grant restrictions, raising $6M. Monique is highly experienced at leading during difficult times.

Monique is Vice Chair of IFF (Illinois Facilities Fund) a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) responsible for providing capital for community centers, housing, and early childhood projects in the Midwest. Locally she serves on the CAN TV Board supporting their mission to give a voice to all Chicagoans. Monique also serves on the National Association of Social Work Foundation Board.

Monique is a member of the African Citizen Descent Reparations Commission (ACDRC) for the State of Illinois. She is a 2024 How Women Lead –Women Leaders for the World Fellow and a class of 2022 Leadership Greater Chicago, Daniel Burnham Fellow. In 2022 she also became a Co-Curator of Voice. Vision. Value: Black Women Leading Philanthropy Book and Online Experience.  Her community recognitions include being named a 2024 MS Luncheon for a Cure Honoree, 2020 Changemaker by Better Magazine, and receiving the 2020 Nonprofit Person of The Year award from the Evanston Chamber of Commerce. She received the 2018 NAACP (Evanston North Shore chapter) Community Service Award and the 2014 Chicago African Americans in Chicago, Nonprofit Champion of Diversity Award.

Monique is a graduate of University of Arkansas Fayetteville with a B.A in Social Work and University of Texas Austin with a M.S. in Social Work. She is a charter member of the Magnificent Mile chapter of Jack & Jill of America, serving as the chapter’s inaugural foundation chairperson and current parliamentarian.  She has been a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. since 1997, currently with the Chicago Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter. She enjoys running, reading, golfing, and showing appreciation for life with her husband- Drennon, daughter-Brielle, and two doggies -Ollie & Piper, on the far southwest side of her hometown, Chicago.

Dawn Ademokunwa, Chief Advancement Officer

Dawn M. J. Ademokunwa, MSW, is a seasoned nonprofit executive with 20 years of experience in philanthropy, strategic fundraising, and organizational leadership. She specializes in major gift fundraising, digital marketing, board relations, and alumni engagement, consistently driving innovative strategies that enhance donor acquisition and retention.

A graduate of Loyola University Chicago with both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Dawn’s academic focus on nonprofit management has shaped her career as a leader in the social impact sector. Her professional journey includes key roles at prominent institutions such as the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Loyola University Chicago, and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Indiana University School of Medicine-Northwest, where she developed and executed comprehensive advancement strategies aligned with organizational missions.

Dawn is also an accomplished grant writing and fundraising consultant, leveraging her expertise to secure significant funding for diverse nonprofit clients. Her skill set includes crafting persuasive proposals, integrating digital marketing strategies into traditional fundraising methods, and mentoring teams to achieve ambitious revenue goals. She is deeply committed to fostering culturally responsive stewardship practices and building meaningful partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders.

In addition to her professional achievements, Dawn has served on boards and committees dedicated to advancing education, health equity, and social justice. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Her certifications in digital marketing further underscore her ability to navigate modern communication channels to amplify organizational impact.

Dawn’s leadership philosophy centers on collaboration, innovation, and empowering teams to excel while advancing the missions of the organizations she serves.

In her down time, she enjoys reading, relaxing, and exploring life with her beloved husband and three children.

Lisa May Simpson, Chief of Staff

Lisa joined Forefront in 2012. Prior, she served as an independent coach, facilitator, and consultant for a variety of individuals and organizations and held a variety of roles at Arts Alliance Illinois. Lisa has trained as a facilitator and educator with Kansas Leadership Center, Interaction Institute for Social Change, and the Institute of Cultural Affairs in the U.S.A., and holds a BA in theater from Western Washington University. She currently serves on the board of Thousand Waves Martial Arts and Self-Defense Center where she also trains in Seido karate.

Diane Sotiros, Chief Finance & Operations Officer

Diane Sotiros is a seasoned CPA with extensive expertise in finance, accounting, and operations management across nonprofit and corporate sectors. Most recently, she served as the Chief Administrative Officer and VP of Finance for Openlands, a conservation organization and accredited land trust operating across northeastern Illinois. Her experience includes work in the grantmaking part of the nonprofit sector, working as the controller for the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, a private foundation supporting efforts in Arts Education, Education, Employment, and Health. She founded and operated a financial consulting practice providing comprehensive financial management, reporting, and budgeting services for nonprofit organizations and small businesses.

In addition to her bachelor’s in accounting from Illinois State University, she earned a master’s in history with a focus on Latin America and the Caribbean from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She enjoys hiking in the forest preserves around the Chicagoland region, and spending time at home with her husband and two Collie Shepard dogs.

Holly Ambuehl, Senior Director of Policy and Government Affairs

Holly is a seasoned public policy expert and advocate, with twenty years of experience in the nonprofit, philanthropic, and public sectors. Most recently, Holly worked for Illinois Partners for Human Service as the Central Illinois community organizer and statewide public policy manager, representing over 100 nonprofit organizations at every level of government. Holly achieved a master’s degree in social work from Boston College, with a concentration in community organizing, policy, planning, and administration. She is a Phoenix native and mountain lover but currently lives happily with her husband, son, and mountain dog in a 105-year-old house in the mostly flat Normal, IL.

Doris Bowens, Membership Engagement Manager

Doris Bowens is a tenured former Bank Manager Executive for 33 years. She has experience in bank acquisitions, finance, building client relationships, client retention and excellent customer service. Doris attended Jackson State University with studies in Management. She later became Membership Director of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis servicing multiple Doctoral accredited professionals around the world with membership and continuing education. Doris is passionate in making sure each and every member is rewarded with the benefits of their membership. She spends her off time with her husband and family cooking, listening to Jazz, decorating, and travel.

Christina Caputo, Knowledge Services Manager

Christina Giovannelli Caputo joins Forefront as the Knowledge Services Manager. She has over 20 years’ experience in education and librarianship. A graduate from Dominican University with advanced degrees in Studio Art and Education, she began her career as a teacher with experiences in private and public schools. After completion of her Master’s in Library and Information Sciences from Dominican University she transitioned into librarianship. Caputo quickly became noticed in the library arena for her dedication and advocacy for inclusive and equitable services while she was a Youth Services Librarian at Arlington Heights Memorial Library. Her work and teachings with American Library Association has united administration, libraries, and school districts to work cohesively across the nation to support schooling diversity. She is known for increasing the professions awareness on schooling diversity and library partnerships through, publications, presentations, and professional development groups. During the Covid-19 pandemic she was recruited by the Center for Educators and Schools, a division of the New York Public Library as an Outreach and Partnership Librarian to teach librarians across New York how to create pathways between library branches and schools. She has taught at the university level, most recently the University of Wisconsin Madison. She is a mom to 4, the founder of All Learners Welcome (ALL), author of Library Services to Homeschoolers, a Guide, and constant advocate for youth everywhere.

Anthony Gordon, Accounting & Administration Coordinator

Anthony grew up in Frankfort. Ill. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in management. While in college, he manage accounts payable and receivable for a bowling alley and ran track. In his free time, he enjoy reading, playing video games and catching up on any sports news.

James Hayakawa, Racial Equity & Network Coordinator

James Hayakawa (he/him) is a recent graduate of Ball State University in Muncie, IN. He is originally from Northern California and moved to Chicago in 2023. James is a theatre artist and is excited to use his background in advocating for racial justice within the arts in this new position at Forefront. In his spare time, James loves board games, history, and music.

Rita Kerrigan, Knowledge Services Coordinator

Rita joins the library team at Forefront. She has worked in the field of education for over twenty years in traditional classrooms, online learning environments, enrichment programs, and as a tutor and curriculum developer. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from St. Norbert College and later received a Master’s degree in Literacy Education from Northeastern Illinois University. Rita most recently received her certification as a Library Information Specialist and is excited to use her knowledge to provide useful services to Forefront members and help advance Forefront’s mission and goals.  In her free time, she loves to spend time with her husband and 5 sons, and also enjoys reading, traveling, and staying active.

Ilina Lazarov, Director of Finance and Administration

Ilina Lazarov brings over a decade of experience in corporate accounting, financial operations, and process improvement across the real estate and nonprofit sectors. She has managed complex, multi-entity portfolios and is skilled in full-cycle accounting, budgeting, compliance, and financial reporting.

Before joining Forefront, Ilina held finance leadership roles at Heartland Alliance, Clear Investment Group, and Santefort Real Estate Group. In these positions, she led initiatives in fund management, grant reporting, and system optimization while supporting portfolios valued at over $200 million. Ilina is recognized for her strong work ethic, analytical approach, and ability to improve financial performance through collaborative leadership and process efficiency.

Outside of her core professional work, Ilina actively contributes to educational initiatives, drawing on her accounting expertise to teach college-level courses and support diverse learners through roles in ESL instruction, substitute teaching, and community-based language programs. Her involvement in education reflects a strong commitment to knowledge-sharing, personal development, and community engagement.

Suzy Lee, Senior Director of Programs and Learning

As part of the Program Team, Suzy’s focus areas include Forefront’s flagship series and services for grantmakers, advisors, and nonprofits. Suzy previously served as the Senior Manager of Children’s Nutrition Policy at the Greater Chicago Food Depository and led the Illinois No Kid Hungry campaign. Prior to that, Suzy served as the Vice-Chair of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program Association and was responsible for policy research, program evaluation, and development. Suzy actively volunteers for many organizations and is a member of the Hanover College Alumni Recruitment Team. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Hanover College, and a Master’s of Public Administration from DePaul University School of Public Service. When she’s not working or volunteering, you can find her in her garden, trying a new ice-cream recipe, or playing with her English bulldog. Follow her on Twitter @ClassicLee_Suzy.

Emily Long, Program Services Manager

Emily assists in the development and execution of Forefront trainings, workshops, and other educational programs and manages the Peer Skill Share program. Previously, Emily worked on the communications team for the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and fine art from Loyola University Chicago and a Certificate in Historic Preservation from Northwestern University.

Caroline Manley, Director of the Nonprofit Resilience Hub

Caroline Manley is the Director of the Nonprofit Resilience Hub at Forefront, where she leads efforts to strengthen the capacity, sustainability, and long-term resilience of Illinois’ nonprofit sector. In this role, she helps organizations navigate challenges, build strategic partnerships, and connect to the resources they need to thrive.

Caroline previously served as Executive Director of the Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL), where she oversaw a period of significant growth—tripling the organization’s annual budget and expanding staff capacity to meet rising community needs. During her tenure, she managed multiple aspects of operations, including strategic leadership, finance, and fundraising. Earlier in her career at CDEL, Caroline developed community-based legal clinics across Cook County and provided direct legal representation to clients.

Caroline earned her Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law and her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Illinois.

Dilane Mitchell, Director of Communications and Marketing

Dilane is a communications professional with 15 years of experience in writing, editing, and social media. She helps organizations craft messaging and use the right tools to spread that messaging. She strives to use language to highlight all of good work organizations have done in the social impact sector. Dilane is a voracious reader and can usually be found under a pile of half-read novels.

Kenneatha Montgomery, Director of Philanthropic Networks

Kenneatha (also known as Key) supports efforts in managing, organizing and promoting programs to engage Members in Peer Networking, Collective Action Groups, and educational opportunities. She has several years of experience in health promotion and program expansion to increase the accessibility of services for resource-limited populations. She earned a Bachelor of Science in applied health science and a Master’s of Public Health from Indiana University Bloomington. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing Bikram yoga, which allows her to embrace life one pose at a time.

Sharmin Shahjahan, Racial Equity Collective Director

Sharmin serves as our Racial Equity Collective Director. She brings with her experience in government, non-profit and corporate environments. After earning a degree in Finance at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Sharmin (pronounced shar-meen) worked as a Pricing Leader at GE Healthcare where she helped expand rural healthcare in Bangladesh. In 2016, she broke barriers by becoming the first Asian American, non-Christian, and also first immigrant to serve on Hanover Park’s City Council. There, she drafted the diversity, equity, and inclusion ordinance, championed language access, and focused on public-private partnerships to better serve the community. As vice chair of the National League of Cities Human Development Committee, she gave a Capitol Hill Briefing to emphasize local economic impact of immigrants. Sharmin continues to work as a community leader as part of School District U46’s United U-46 Campaign developing recommendations on equitable education. She serves as an advisor to suburban newspaper, Daily Herald’s Editorial Board and she is also an Associate Director at Volunteers Association for Bangladesh focusing on increasing access to quality rural education.

Lacee Winfield, Public Policy Coordinator

Lacee was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology with a double concentration in Spanish and Business Administration from Millsaps College. During her undergraduate studies, Lacee interned with the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi and the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy.

After graduating, she began her career as an Operations and Research Associate at an investment firm based in Chicago. Outside of work, Lacee enjoys staying active, exploring Chicago’s vibrant food scene, and spending quality time with her cat, Greyson.

Sebastian Wong, Policy Manager

Sebastian received his bachelor of social work and his bachelor of arts in political science from Aurora University. Sebastian started his career in public service as Communications Coordinator for a State Representative, an intern for the U.S. House of Representatives, a Constituent Caseworker for a State Senator, and then as Legislative Assistant for the same State Senator. In the latter role, Sebastian was located in the Illinois State Capitol where he handled over 40 pieces of legislation, clerked the Senate Public Health and Senate Health and Human Services Committees, and staffed the Senate Latino and Progressives Caucuses.

In his role as Policy Manager at Forefront, Sebastian will be joining the public policy team to work on state and federal legislative affairs to advocate for the diverse membership of Forefront which includes all types of nonprofits and foundations across the state of Illinois. He is based in Chicago, but will be traveling frequently to Springfield and on occasion to Washington D.C. to help advocate for Forefront’s policy initiatives when the state legislature and U.S. Congress are in session.

In his free time, Sebastian likes to try new coffee shops, read about American history, and volunteer at local social service agencies.