Meet the Board & Event Chairs
The Friends of Pulaski's Board has loved seeing the Pulaski community rally around our beloved school and appreciates all the support.
The Board of Director positions are voted in each June. Responsibilities include attending monthly meetings, researching and voting on expenditure decisions, and communicating with the school administration and Local School Council (LSC).
The Board
CO-PRESIDENT
Nicole and her husband Eric first moved to Bucktown in 2007, and after stints in Seattle and New York City, they returned in 2011. They now live across Western Ave. in Logan Square, with their daughter (a Pulaski 5th grader) and son (a Pulaski 2nd grader).
Nicole has a BFA in painting from Washington University in St. Louis and a MA in clinical psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has worked as a behavior analyst in a variety of academic settings across the country, and operated her own behavior consultancy for 10 years.
Nicole adores the Pulaski community and loves to volunteer. You will often find her lunch monitoring, helping out during school hours, and volunteering during FOP led events. She especially loves the opportunity to spend time with her own kids while meeting all of the amazing children who call Pulaski theirs.
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FUNDRAISING CHAIR
Michelle and her husband Johnny have been a part of the Bucktown community since 2010. They joined Pulaski in 2021 for pre-k and currently are proud Pulaski parents to twin boys (Aidan & Lochlan) in 1st grade and daughter (Shae) in kindergarten.
Michelle has a BA in marketing and MBA in finance from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She spent her early career in retail buying before moving into CPG where she was most recently a Marketing Director for RXBAR. She now consults part-time within the CPG space.
In addition to joining FOP, this will be the third year that Michelle will chair fundraising for the Saber Soirée. Joining any committee or volunteering is truly the best way to feel like you are part of the school and to get to know your community!
EVENTS CHAIR
Rachel and her husband Seth lived in Wicker Park for years, but Pulaski's academic reputation drew them to Bucktown. They had no idea the school had such an incredible community! They have a 2nd grade daughter, Vivi, and a son in Pre-K, Axton.
Rachel studied Psychology and International Relations at Lake Forest College. Prior to having kids, she left the world of advertising for a satellite-based tech startup, helping international health and education NGOs reach off-grid locations.
Rachel enjoys volunteering at Pulaski to build community and meet new families. In her free time, she loves travel, baking, reading, art, and exploring events and restaurants in the city.
CO-PRESIDENT
Sonia lives in Bucktown with her husband and twin boys, now 6th graders at Pulaski. Their family started their Pulaski journey in Kindergarten and they couldn't be happier with the experience. She says there is nothing better than living in the community where your kids go to school.
Sonia grew up in Wisconsin (yes, she is a Packers fan but her husband is definitely not) and graduated from Marquette University in 2003. She moved to Chicago in 2004, where she received her J.D. from University of Illinois at Chicago School of Law, and currently practices in the area of insurance law. In her free time, Sonia enjoys reading, gardening and traveling.
Sonia is thrilled to be part of the Friends of Pulaski Board again this year and hopes to continue meeting new families and positively impacting the Pulaski and Bucktown community.
TREASURER
Brian has been living in Bucktown since 2017 with his wife, Rebecca, and two sons, Tyson (6th grader) and Ethan (4th grader). Brian and Rebecca are originally native Southsiders and both are products of the CPS system (Go Dolphins!).
Brian has a B.S. in Finance from NYU's Stern School of Business and a M.B.A. from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. He also holds a MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Brian's financial career has spanned across investment banking, asset management, venture capital, and fintech startups. Additionally, he serves in Academia as an adjunct professor and has been involved in the local and global social impact space. You may already know Brian as the "Ice Cream Guy" with his local missional ice cream company Community Creamery.
SABER SOIRÉE CHAIR
Emily and her husband Jim have lived in Bucktown since 2011. Their son Alex (5th grade) started Kindergarten at Pulaski in 2019 and they have been delighted with their Pulaski experience! They absolutely love the Bucktown community and the "small town” feel you get right in the middle of a major city.
Emily is originally from Dalton, GA and graduated from the University of Tennessee (GO VOLS!) where she majored in Retail and Consumer Science with a minor in Dance. She was a member of the UT Performing Arts Dance Company and continued dancing upon moving to Chicago. After spending 18 years as a pharmaceutical sales representative, Emily left the industry to become a dance educator and teaches at various studios throughout Chicago. Emily has also been the Pulaski Competition Cheerleading Co-Coach since 2021 and loves promoting Saber Spirit!
This is Emily’s first year as the Event Chair for the Saber Soirée and she is thrilled to lead this amazing committee in coordinating Pulaski’s largest fundraising event which happens to also be a pretty epic party! If you are interested in joining the planning committee please reach out to Emily.
SECRETARY
Trini (aka Melissa-Trini) is a Chicago native who resides in Logan Square with her husband Lu and their 3 beautiful children. They are proud parents to Gustavo, a rising 2nd grader, and Sofia, a rising Kindergartener, both in Pulaski's RGC program. They were thrilled to find a school that would not only challenge their children but also help maintain their Spanish and heritage right in their neighborhood. Trini is also an active member of the RGC parent committee.
Trini grew up in the Lakeview neighborhood, she studied Latin American/Latino Studies at DePaul University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana University. She has been an operating room nurse for over 10 years and currently works at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
This is the family's third year at Pulaski and Trini is looking forward to volunteering at school events and fundraisers. Outside of school life, Trini enjoys photography, tennis/pickleball, gardening and just spending time with her family.
PROCUREMENT CHAIR
Garry lives in Bucktown with his two boys ages 7 & 9, along with his partner Meredith and her two twins ages 10.
Garry has an architecture degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has worked in commercial construction management for the last 18 years. He has built projects in healthcare, hospitality, office, and residential housing markets.
When not spending free time with his family, Garry is an avid wood and metal craftsman. He loves to build fine furniture or just about anything else that his mind conjures. You will also see him around the neighborhood playing soccer with his boys and enjoying the 606 trail.
Garry is very pleased for he and his boys to be a part of the Pulaski Community. He enjoys lending his skills and will keep trying to live up to the nickname his fellow FOP members have given him: "Get it done Garry".