In November, Board member Heather Russell was selected as a notable nonprofit board leader by Crain’s Chicago Business! In 2022, Crain’s chose 70 nonprofit board leaders from hundreds of nominations. Heather’s outstanding qualifications and achievements, both at ILAO and at TransUnion, convinced the Crain’s team that she was more than worthy of this award.
Please join us in congratulating Heather on this honor. We have long recognized Heather’s outstanding leadership and significant contributions to ILAO, and are excited for her to be honored - at a regional level - for her initiative and positive influence.
Resilient, dedicated, and compassionate best describes Kenneth Jennings.
Kenneth is the indomitable spirit personified. Despite suffering an injury while playing high school football 34 years ago, that rendered him as a quadriplegic and paralyzed from the neck down, Kenneth's persistence has culminated to a successful career focused on advocating for disability rights, the inclusion and uplifting marginalized communities, and organized sports.
Kenneth is the CEO of Gridiron Alliance a non-profit organization, a peer-mentor at the Shriley Ryan AbilityLab’s Lifecenter, a football coach, a motivational speaker, and poet.
He's the father of a 27-year-old daughter and has a 3-year-old grandson. He lives by the motto “I Am Blessed To Be Able”.
“It’s a privilege to serve on ILAO’s board. The opportunity to serve alongside a rich diversity of like-minded individuals that uphold the mission of this unique organization, who also recognize the importance of such an organization's existence, and its impact on the day-to-day lives of so many residents in Illinois,” says Kenneth.
