Board of Directors - Board of Directors

Interested in joining our Board of Directors?

We seek members who are passionate about our mission, support housing and social justice issues, and are motivated to serve a community. We seek members who bring positivity along with professional skills, strong networks, and a readiness to raise resources and build connections. We care about equity and social justice, and seek members who will serve PADS mission in alignment with our values. Skills of all kinds are welcomed (HR, strategic planning, finance, marketing, special events, healthcare, education, etc.).

Please email Leadership@padslakecounty.org and provide a brief note sharing why you’re interested and attach a recent resume or simply provide a general description of your professional background.

Learn More

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Kevin Woodside

President

Jason Gunther

Vice President

A woman in a black jacket standing in the snow.

Shelley Majewski

Secretary

Kiearrah Lawrence

Treasurer

A young woman wearing a floral dress and hoop earrings.

A woman in a suit smiling for the camera.

President

Kevin Woodside

Kevin has been a board member here at PADS Lake County since 2019, as well as serving as a long-time member of the Gurnee Exchange Club. Kevin has served the village since 1988 as a police officer, and as Chief of Police from 2011 to 2019, when he retired. He also is a Village Trustee since 2021.

Kevin has been active in the church that he and his wife Cathy have attended for the past 20 years, serving on the Board of Elders and volunteering with the food pantry and other ministries

Vice President

Jason Gunther

Secretary

Shelley Majewski

Shelley has been a resident of Lake County for over 25 years. She, along with family members own and operate a small business in Lake County, Cost Per Copy Consultants, Inc. their company has been in Lake County for over 30 years. While working and raising her children at the same time, she involved herself with several community organizations and school programs in the Lake Count area. She finds joy in her volunteering work, especially in organizing events, fundraising, and providing support to those needing help in her community. She joined PADS of Lake County Board of Directors in July 2021, even as she has been involved through various activities and events of PADS prior to accepting her Board position. As a Board Member, she is closely involved with the Development Committee and looks forward to continuing efforts of fundraising, creating awareness and supporting the mission of PADS.

Treasurer

Kiearrah Lawrence

Living through the words of Dr. King, “Life’s most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”, Kiearrah keeps the spirit of service alive by giving back to her community in many ways. Kiearrah was introduced to PADS through volunteerism with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She currently serves as DEI Action Co-Chair and seeks to use her knowledge and passion for equity, diversity, and inclusion to advocate for marginalized people.

Professionally, she is a finance manager at AbbVie, where she is responsible for Sales Forecasting. In addition to her core responsibilities, Kiearrah is the Global Chair of AbbVie’s Black Business Network (BBN) employee resource group. In this organization of more than 2,500 members, she is responsible for leading the development and execution of strategy aligned with the enterprise’s equity, equality, diversity, and inclusion mission and vision.

Alexandra Beiriger

Alexandra Beiriger joined the PADS Board of directors in 2016 and is a tireless advocate for marginalized populations. She has a Master of Arts in women’s and gender studies and has served in the nonprofit sector for nearly a decade, primarily through counseling survivors of sexual violence and raising funds and awareness to keep those services strong for the community. Alex currently works as a grants and contracts specialist at DePaul University, collaborating with professors to secure grant funding for their research and providing policy and guidance with carrying out the research projects. In addition to PADS, she also promotes philanthropy for women and the LGBT community as an active young professionals’ board member of the Chicago Foundation for Women.

Patrick Niday

Patrick joined the board in early 2020 and currently serves on the finance committee. He is an AVP with First Bank Chicago working in the Lease Finance and Large Corporate departments focusing on the analysis and underwriting of equipment leases and large syndicated credit facilities. Patrick has an MBA from Ashland University in Ohio. He lives in Deerfield with his wife and two children and is also member of Highland Park Presbyterian who has a long history of making lunches for PADS. Patrick sought out the opportunity to get more involved with PADS and really wants to help those in need in his community.

Laura Comilla

Laura Comilla joined PADS Board of Directors in 2022 and serves as board lead for the Strategic Plan and a member on the Development Committee. She lives in Libertyville, IL with her husband and two teenage daughters. She works at Siemens Healthineers as the Senior Director and Head of the Global Healthcare Consulting Solutions organization, where her team designs efficient and cost-effective laboratory solutions. Laura was introduced to PADS through CrossLife Evangelical Church as a volunteer at a nearby shelter. The joy of serving others and seeing the importance of PADS mission, led her to becoming involved in the organization.

Adam Carson

Adam is a social entrepreneur focused on shaping the community in a positive way, leveraging his professional experience in healthcare, public health, and community development. He launched Drip and Culture, a socially minded coffee shop, housed within Supermercado Gonzales in Waukegan, Illinois, which he operates with his wife, Nydia. They envision these spaces as a vibrant community hub that fosters meaningful social engagements and activities. He aims to use his understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities PADS face to humanize the unhoused, shape policy, systems, and environmental change, and to build partnerships towards shared solutions. Adam has a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospital Administration from Jackson State University. Adam and Nydia have two daughters.

Carissa Casbon

Carissa is a passionate public servant, organizer, and community advocate. She is a Lake County Board member and has served in its Housing and Community Development Commission and the Advisory and Recommendation Committee on Homelessness. She also was a Team Leader for the county’s Homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) Count.

I joined the PADS Board to help end homelessness in Lake County, a cause I’ve cared about since childhood. My government experience will be valuable during crises to support our unhoused residents. Above all, I hope to prioritize prevention, coordinating with agencies to address root causes. I look forward to working with the PADS Board to create lasting solutions!” Carissa lives in Warren Township with her husband Larry, kids Sam and Lillian, and their two crazy rescue dogs, Percy, and Delilah.

Dr. Daniel Woestman

Dr. Daniel Woestman (Danny) began his profession in education 15 years ago, leading in his various roles with the commitment to rethinking education from the ground up. He has worked in classroom and leadership positions in school systems and currently serves as the Superintendent for Warren Township Schools in Gurnee, Illinois.

He was previously Superintendent for Belvidere School District which received continuous local and national recognition for their advanced achievements in college readiness and positive work environments. He also served as a senior administrator for the Rockford Public School District.

Dr. Woestman holds a Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in English Education, a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati and a Doctorate of Education from Northern Illinois University.

Kelly Wojda

Kelly’s decision to forge a new path after a 33-year corporate career at Caterpillar, Inc., as its VP of Learning and Development allowed her to be grateful for the fruitful years of helping organizations and people adapt to change, achieve better human outcomes, career, and business results. At this stage in her life, Kelly likes to be a mindful innovative coach to help others make the most of their professional lives.

She is committed to providing access and resources so individuals can reach their full potential as human beings. “I recognize the need for new strategies to achieve better outcomes and agility to navigate change for those we serve. As a board member, I am eager to communicate the mission, and be a sounding board and cheerleader!”

Kelly lives in Libertyville with her husband. They have a son in school at Michigan State University.