UPTOWN CHICAGO COMMISSION

Board of Directors

Cindi Anderson

An 11-year Uptown resident, Cindi is a certified public accountant and treasurer of the UCC. Former President and Chair of UCC's Zoning and TIF Committee, she is also an active member of the Lake Side Area Neighbors' Association and the Uptown Historical Society and enjoys volunteering at animal shelters.

Cortne Anway

Cortne Anway joined the board in 2006 after helping out as the UCC's temporary Executive Director in the 4th quarter of 2005. Cortne has lived in the Uptown area for 6 years. She is a residential mortgage consultant. She has seen the neighborhood change and grow during her time here and wants to be a part of making the neighborhood flourish.

Keitha Benkowski

Keitha has been a member of the UCC Board for over 30 years, and currently serves on its Fundraising and Events Committees. She has been an active member of the Girl Scouts of America for the past 35 years, Stewart School's Local School Council, and the Facility Health Board/Uptown Neighborhood Health Center. Keitha is a member of Buena Park Neighbors block club.

Joseph J. Cain, Jr.

A member of UCC's Events Committee, Joe has been active with UCC since the mid 1980s. He is involved in numerous neighborhood groups, including Buena Park Neighbors, the East Graceland Organization and the Challenger Park Development and Advisory Committee. Joe has served as a docent and tour director with the Chicago Architecture Foundation since 1981.

Dan Caliendo

A board member for over 30 years, Dan Co-Chairs the Fundraising Committee. He has been involved in the Winona-Foster-Carmen-Winnemac Block Club and volunteers his time with the Uptown Theatre and Center for Arts and the Chicago International Film Festival.

James Cappleman

Former UCC President and a member of UCC's Public Safety Committee, James is a licensed clinical social worker at the University of Chicago Children's Hospital, where he is also chair of the hospital's family advisory board. James has worked extensively with homeless people living with chronic mental illness or drug dependence. He is also a member of Dignity Chicago, a gay and lesbian organization for Catholics, and an active participant in CAPS.

Kathy Cook

UCC President, and a board member since 2000, Kathy remains active in UCC's Communication and Zoning and Land Use Committees. She has worked in the real estate industry for many years, and works currently in building management for a commercial real estate firm in the east Loop. Kathy also serves as President of the Magnolia-Malden Neighbors Association.

Catherine Denny

Vice President, co-chair of the of the Fundraising Committee and a member of UCC’s Public Safety Committee, Catherine is a former event planner and works with her husband, Matthew, at Uptown Recording Studio, an endeavor they created in 2000. An 13-year resident of Uptown, she has worked extensively to address public safety concerns in the community.

William Hersh

A 25-year board member, Bill has served as President, Vice-President, and treasurer. He is active in several Uptown organizations, including the Margate Park Advisory Council, Scrap Mettle Soul, and the People's Music School. He is also a member of UCC's Zoning Committee.

Nancy Kellum-Rose

President of the Foster-Winona-Carmen-Winnemac Block Club, Nancy has been a UCC board member for the past five years. She is a member of UCC's Zoning Committee and owns and manages residential real estate.

Martin Tangora

A professor of mathematics, statistics and computer science at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Marty is involved in numerous landmark preservation and neighborhood organizations. He has been a UCC board member for the past ten years and was the founding vice-president of the Uptown Historical Society.

Richard Thale

Richard is a Vice-President, and Chairs both the UCC’s Public Safety Committee and its Nominating Committe. A landscape designer and six-year Uptown resident, he also serves as chair of the 23rd District Court Advocacy Program and former chair of the Magnolia-Malden Block Club Beautification Committee.

Cathy Tokarski

A member of the UCC's Communication Committee, Cathy is a writer for a medical consulting firm. She has lived in Uptown for six years, returning to Chicago after living in Washington, D.C. and New York. She is a member of the Graceland-Wilson Neighbors Association.

Patrick Waters

A clinical pharmacist with a particular interest in the treatment of HIV infections, Patrick is UCC's Immediate Past-President and current Zoning Chair. He has lived in Uptown for the past 13 years, and has been active in the Lake Side Area Neighbors' Association and the Zoning and Land Use Committee of the 48th Ward.

Brian Wells

A Kansas native, Brian is owner of Crew, a new bar and restaurant in Uptown and is interested in beautification and zoning issues, and is UCC's bookkeeper. Brian also volunteers with the Night Ministry and is a member of Gay and Lesbian Outreach.