We proudly celebrated several new and retiring Trustees and welcomed a new slate of officers at a special reception held on September 17 at Calamos Investments in Naperville. Friends and partners joined us to help recognize the work of these committed volunteers. The event was generously sponsored by Cray Kaiser, Ltd. based in Oakbrook Terrace.
As part of the reception, we welcomed new trustees Tricia Buhrfiend (Elmhurst), Diana Doyle (Downers Grove), and Tom Schnell (Lisle) and introduced our FY2027 slate of officers: new Chair Roger McDougal (Glen Ellyn) and Vice Chair Joan Vilim (Oak Brook), who join returning Secretary Rich Cline (Wheaton), Treasurer Braden Waverley (Hinsdale), and Immediate Past Chair Bill Blum (Naperville), who was recognized for completing a two-year term as Board Chair.
Also among those honored were retiring trustees Julie Curran (Hinsdale), Bob Fernandez (Downers Grove), John Kaiser (Glen Ellyn), and Kevin Phillips (St. Charles). John Kaiser was named a Trustee Emeritus in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the Foundation throughout his tenure.
“Serving on DuPage Foundation’s Board gave me the opportunity to give back in the community where we have lived, worked and raised our children,” said Kaiser. “Over nine years as a Trustee, I’ve been amazed to see the growth of the Foundation as a philanthropic leader, bringing together government, business, donors, and nonprofits to address challenges and raise the quality of life throughout DuPage County.”
Professionally, McDougal has been with Northern Trust since 1995. He currently serves as Senior Managing Director of Commercial and Professional Services. A longtime Trustee who most recently served as vice chair, McDougal has been a member of the Foundation’s Board since 2017 and brings a wealth of experience to his new role.
“Taking on the role of Board Chair is both an honor and a responsibility,” said McDougal. “DuPage Foundation has a long history of bringing people together to make meaningful improvements throughout our greater community, and I am excited to work alongside our Board, staff, donors, and community partners to build on that legacy.”
“The collective expertise of these talented volunteers and the rest of our Board is powerful,” added Mike Sitrick, DuPage Foundation president and CEO. “Their collaborative leadership, advocacy, and support will help us continue the momentum of our growing impact and capacity to ensure the Foundation remains a trusted resource for our DuPage community for decades to come.”
About Our New Trustees
Tricia Buhrfiend is an attorney and certified public accountant whose practice focuses on estate planning, estate administration, taxation, succession planning, and corporate matters. She has held leadership roles with the DuPage County Bar Association and Fox Valley Estate Planning Council and was named the DuPage County Bar Association’s 2019 Lawyer of the Year.
Diana Doyle is partner at Latham & Watkins where she advises multinational companies on complex tax planning and transactions. A former chair of the firm’s Chicago Tax Department, Diana also brings extensive leadership experience within the legal profession, including work supporting women in law. Diana recently co-chaired Gloria Deo Lutheran Church’s capital campaign and supported the efforts of the Highland Park Community Foundation and Southern DuPage Crop Walk.
Tom Schnell brings more than 32 years of banking, capital markets, and investment experience. Before retiring in 2019, he served in leadership roles with J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in Chicago and London and previously worked with PNC Bank Corporation. A DuPage resident since 1999, Tom also currently serves on the board of Loaves & Fishes Community Services.
Learn more about our Board and their collective expertise here.
From the Event:
