Forest Preserve Foundation Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Theresa Salus, Chair, National Field Service Manager, Co-op Experiences, REI Co-op
LeeAnn Tomas-Foster, Vice Chair, Chicago City Executive, Arcadis U.S., Inc
Ankur Udani, Treasurer, Director, PwC
Jeffrey Gray, Secretary, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Dr. Michael Adkesson, President & CEO, Brookfield Zoo Chicago | Chicago Zoological Society
Jim Beck, Executive Relationship Manager, Nationwide Retirement Solutions
Stuart A. Cohn, Chair emeritus, Attorney, Law Offices of Stuart A. Cohn
Howard A. Learner, President and Executive Director, Environmental Law & Policy Center
Rana Lee, Principal, HOK
Kandace Lenti, Managing Director, Executive Vice President, Government, Nonprofit & Healthcare Banking, Wintrust Bank
Mark Lester, Senior Vice President, Commercial Middle Market Team Lead, Fifth Third Bank
Tom Livingston, Vice President, Government Affairs, CSX Transportation
Anngie Richter, Senior Principal, Regional Sales Leader, Stantec
Eric Rockhold, Managing Director, Co-Head Central Region, Bank of America Securities
Representing the Forest Preserve District
Eileen Figel, Deputy General Superintendent, Forest Preserves of Cook County
Cathy Geraghty, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Forest Preserves of Cook County
Board news
MAY 2023: Board Visits River Trail Nature Center, Site of CCLC Youth Program Funding
JANUARY 2023: Forest Preserve Foundation 2022 Annual Report Celebrates Fun and Hard Work
JUNE 2022: Rana Lee Shares Memories of a "Bigger Backyard" & Why She Supports the Forest Preserve Foundation
JUNE 2022: Forest Preserve Foundation Awards $130,000 in Grants for Two Youth Conservation Corps Programs
FEBRUARY 2022: Forest Preserve Foundation 2021 Annual Report Offers Hope and Much to Celebrate
SEPTEMBER 2021: Claudette Grant, Rana Lee and Eric Rockhold named to Foundation Board of Directors
MARCH 2020: Debra Walker Johnson named President & Executive Director
NOVEMBER 2019: Theresa Salus and LeeAnn Tomas-Foster named to Foundation board of directors
MARCH 2019: Jim Beck and Stephen Friedman join Foundation board
MARCH 2018: Kerri Daniels, business development director, joins Foundation’s board
FEBRUARY 2017: Two Business leaders join Foundation's board
JULY 2016: Corporate leaders join the Foundation board
Theresa Salus, Board Chair
Theresa Salus is National Field Service Manager for REI Co-op Experiences, where she is responsible for leading regional field teams who provide life-changing experiences in the outdoors. REI Co-op Experiences is a portfolio of adventures and rental programs, both single day and multiday, offered across the country at locally and nationally iconic outdoor destinations. Theresa leads a team of six regional managers who are responsible for financials, participation and program growth, training, program risk management, and location relationships. In her tenure with REI Co-op, Theresa has served in a variety of capacities leading local teams, community partnership, brand events, and philanthropy.
After serving as a featured speaker at Foundation symposia for two years, Theresa joined the board in 2019. She served as vice chair for the last two years and is now honored to serve as board chair. “Supporting the mission of the Forest Preserve Foundation, specifically through board service, allows me to share expertise and connect resources in a more intentional way," Salus said.
Salus holds a master’s degree in recreation administration from Aurora University and a bachelor of science degree in environmental education from Slippery Rock University. Before joining REI, she worked for the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago and Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
Theresa lives in Chicago with her wife and two sons. In her free time, she enjoys camping, kayaking, hiking, and exploring the outdoors with her family. “The Forest Preserves are the places we go as a family to capture our dose of nature as well as the places we gather to celebrate occasions.”