Board of DiRectors

The Board of Directors is composed of association members who strive to help the organization fulfill its mission. The board is composed of 12 dedicated individuals who actively plan and implement ways for our organization to grow and connect with the community.

Board terms are three years. A call for applications is sent out at the beginning of each year and, after an interview process, new members are elected in March.

Shane Devins

President

Meet Shane
Shane Devins is an attorney with Clean Energy Counsel, a mission-driven law firm focused on accelerating the transition to sustainability and clean energy. He and his husband, Ryan,
moved to North Center in 2022, but have lived in the Chicago area most of their lives. Shane has years of experience on nonprofit boards, including Friends of the Parks and SGA Youth & Family Services in Chicago. Shane is an avid Bulls fan, and in his free time enjoys exploring the latest restaurants and breweries in the City.

ERIN d'ESCOTO

Vice President

Meet Erin
Erin d'Escoto has called Chicago home for over 25 years. She and her husband settled in North Center in 2011, where they now raise their son and daughter, both of whom attend Coonley Elementary. With a background in project management, services delivery, and operations, Erin has extensive experience leading high-performing teams to deliver
complex projects on time and within budget. As a senior leader, she is adaptable, empathetic, and committed to cultivating an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity, fosters a strong sense of belonging, and empowers her team members to thrive. In her free time, Erin enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, being outdoors
(during the warmer months), and is deeply passionate about sustainability, particularly restoration, reuse, and recycling. She looks forward to contributing to the community in these areas and making a positive impact.

Kevin Saunders

Treasurer

Meet Kevin
Kevin Saunders grew up in Philadelphia and moved to Chicago in 2006 to attend law school at Chicago-Kent College of Law. He is a regulatory attorney at a Chicago financial institution. Kevin, his husband and their daughter moved to the North Center neighborhood in 2022 after 10 years in Andersonville.

BRIAN BIANCHI

Meet Brian
Brian was born and raised in a north suburb of Chicago and has lived in the city for the past 20 years. He is a Senior Vice President at Northern Trust, where he focuses on helping clients navigate commercial real estate financing, wealth management, and estate planning needs in a holistic way.

Before joining Northern Trust in 2013, Brian was a Vice President at TCF Bank, where he originated commercial real estate loans for individuals, investment partnerships, and REIT funds throughout the Chicagoland area. Over the course of his career, he has more than 20 years of experience in banking and commercial real estate lending and has closed over $400 million in real estate transactions.

Brian earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Iowa and later completed a Financial Decision Making Certificate through the University of Chicago Graham School. He is active in several professional organizations, including the Real Estate Investment Association, Urban Land Institute, International Council of Shopping Centers, and the Chicago Real Estate Council.

Brian lives on the north side of Chicago with his wife and their 11-year-old daughter. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, soccer, traveling, and cheering on the world-champion Chicago Cubs. He also owns and manages a small portfolio of residential rental condominiums along the lakefront.

Brian has volunteered with One Million Degrees, which supports students in the Chicago community college system, Junior Achievement, where he speaks with high school students about financial topics, and Habitat for Humanity, helping build affordable housing in Chicagoland neighborhoods.

Mary Keyes

Communications Chair

Meet Mary
Mary Keyes moved to Chicago in 2016. After her two young children joined a North Center elementary school in 2019, they moved from Lakeview to North Center in 2023. As a mother, Mary shifted from full-time positions to part-time roles focusing on social media, marketing, and event planning. Mary thrives in leveraging her creativity and networking skills to connect with others and bring people together.

BETSY HARMAN

Meet Betsy
Betsy Harman has had a long career in fundraising and marketing. She moved to Chicago in 1995 to work for Chicago Public Radio where she was responsible for diversifying their revenue streams to spend less time fundraising on air. She was instrumental in starting their online fundraising and email marketing efforts. Most recently Betsy worked at Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization which is based here in Chicago. During her 11 year tenure there, she helped grow their direct marketing revenue by more than 200%. In March of 2023 Betsy left full-time work to begin her next chapter which includes time with family and friends, focus on health and fitness, travel and adventure, life-long learning pursuits, and giving back to the community.
Betsy moved to North Center from the Andersonville neighborhood in 2017 when she got married to her husband, Mike McKewin, who has lived in North Center for over 20 years. Her step-son Eric attended Lane Tech. Hunger relief is an important issue to Betsy and she has volunteered at both The Friendship Center and The Common Pantry. She and her husband have loved attending the North Center Garden Walk and last year she had a great time as a volunteer for the walk. Betsy is thrilled to be joining the board and looks forward to serving on the Compassion in Action Committee and as a neighborhood front porch drop off location for the Common Pantry.

GINA CIAMETTI

Meet Gina
Gina Ciametti is a lifelong Illinoisian who has lived in Chicago since 2017. Gina and her husband moved to North Center after the pandemic in 2021 and continue to enjoy the big and small neighborhood joys that North Center has to offer. She holds an MBA in Nonprofit Management from National-Louis University and sits on the Employer Champions Committee through the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. Professionally, Gina is passionate about supporting the mission-driven community of nonprofits across Chicago and has built a career of people-focused work in higher education, STEM, staffing and consulting, and cultural institution organizations. Gina is the Talent Partner for the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry where she manages recruiting and talent operations along with high school and college-based internship programs. You can find Gina at a Chicago sports game, the newest brunch spot, or walking her dog Beans around town.

dan spiegel

Meet Dan
Dan Spiegel is a 35-year Chicago area resident, is deeply invested in the vibrancy of city living. Originally from Southern California, Dan and his wife Carole have called North Center home for the past two years, following five years in Ravenswood/Lincoln Square. He has an extensive background in commercial real estate, including six years as Managing Director of Coldwell Banker Commercial overseeing a national network, and enjoys the urban landscape and built environment. Dan's commitment to community is evident in his volunteer work as a walking tour and river cruise docent for the Chicago Architecture Center, sharing the city's rich history. He also served as Treasurer for the Heart of Lincoln Square Neighbors Association. Outside of his professional and volunteer endeavors, Dan enjoys running, cycling, and exploring new culinary creations.

LAUREN KASZUBA

MEET LAUREN
Lauren has called Chicago home since 2011. With a background in supply chain, strategic partnerships, services delivery, and membership development. Lauren has extensive experience scaling revenue operations while leading complex operational teams. Lauren has been the operational leader at WasteNot since 2015, transforming the company into the largest organics waste hauler in Chicagoland and one of the largest in the nation. She has called North Center home since 2019 and looks forward to furthering her commitment to the community through involvement in NCNA.

BECCA KAPLAN

Meet Becca
Becca Kaplan is a lifelong Midwesterner who grew up in the Chicago suburbs and has called the city home for more than a decade. She has lived in several neighborhoods over the years and most recently moved to North Center in 2025. Becca has built her career in the nonprofit sector and currently serves as the Sr. Director of Member Grant Strategy & Operations at Feeding America, a nonprofit supporting a nationwide network of food banks. In this role, she oversees a $120 million grant portfolio and leads efforts to strengthen consistent, transparent, and equitable grantmaking practices. Outside of work, Becca stays busy with multiple book clubs, tends to her tiny porch garden, and does her best to keep up with her opinionated dog, Mowgli.

ROBERTA

TERCHI NOCENTINI

Meet Roberta
Roberta Terchi Nocentini moved to North Center in 2021, when she, her husband Pierpaolo, and their son Christian found the house of their dreams. An Italian pianist and vocal coach, she has performed across Europe (Rome, Bucharest, and Strasbourg) and mainly in London where she lived for five years, while studying and working at the Royal Academy of Music. Roberta also performs in various venues in Chicago and for charitable organizations. In her free time, she likes working out, cooking, learning new languages, reading, and traveling with her family. She is thrilled to be a part of North Center Neighbors Association and is ready to collaborate with others to enrich the community through her diverse background.