Our Board Members

Christine Walker, Executive Director

Christine Walker was inspired to create the Chasing Hope Foundation as an extension of her work in support families like her own who are raising a child with autism and related brain disorders.

With a strong background in public policy, Christine has worked for elected and appointed officials in Illinois, Ohio and Washington, D.C. Christine served in the administration of George H.W. Bush in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Labor Department.

Prior to becoming a parent of a child with autism, Christine was an award-winning sales executive within Tiffany & Co.’s Business Sales organization. Later as a regional manager, Christine mentored and developed the Business Sales force to exceed the expectations of corporate clients throughout the eastern half of the U.S.

Christine received a B.A. in Politics from Lake Forest College and a Masters in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University and is an Adjunct Faculty Member for Adler University’s Masters of Public Policy and Administration program. Christine lives in Winnetka, Illinois with her husband, Dave and their three children, ages 15, 13 and 12 and yellow lab, Scout.

Eric Fridman, President

Eric Fridman is Assistant Dean of Marketing and Communications for the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University and an independent executive coach. Prior to assuming his current role, Eric served as Assistant Dean of Marketing for the Kellogg School of Management’s Executive Education and EMBA Programs and managing director of the Kellogg School’s marketing and communications group.

Prior to coming to Northwestern University in 2003, Eric worked for a wide range of organizations, from Fortune 500 corporations (including 3Com and Sprint) to venture-funded start-ups in the high-tech industry. Additionally, he has consulted with corporations such as Baxter International, Lucent Technologies, SBC, the National Association of Blue-Cross Blue-Shield Plans, Coldwell-Banker Commercial Real Estate, and Hyatt Hotels, among others. He has taught graduate and undergraduate-level leadership development and organizational change courses at Northwestern and DePaul universities, and in 2003 he received DePaul University’s Excellence in Teaching Award.

Eric holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, an MA degree from the Division of the Humanities at the University of Chicago, and a BA degree in European history from Denison University. He has also received certification in organizational and leadership coaching from Northwestern University’s Masters of Science in Learning and Organizational Change program.

Linda Burkley, APR, Secretary

Linda Burkley is the President of Ardis Communications, a boutique public relations firm specializing in creative collateral, strategic campaign development and media/leadership/communications training for small businesses and non-profit organizations. A skilled facilitator and experienced practitioner, she is a Professor of Communications at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA.

Prior to a move to Central Pennsylvania from the Pittsburgh area, Linda served as an Associate Professor in the Communication Department of Slippery Rock University where she taught courses in public relations, writing, and public speaking and served as the faculty advisor for the university’s PRSSA Chapter. Before entering the education field in 2002, Linda spent almost 14 years with the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, where she served in a variety of capacities, including eight years as CEO. Linda also served as the Chief Clerk and Director of Administration for the County of Butler, the first woman appointed to the position.

Linda was named one of Pennsylvania’s Top 50 Women in Business by Governor Edward G. Rendell in 2008, in recognition of her professional achievements, leadership abilities and service to the community. She was named a Distinguished Alumni of La Roche College in Pittsburgh in 2013.

Linda received the prestigious APR in 2005, an accreditation conferred by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). She has served as President of the Central PA PRSA Chapter and chaired numerous PRSA committees for both the Central PA and Pittsburgh chapters. She has judged awards programs for PRSA chapters throughout the country and is the recipient of numerous awards for creative work from PRSA and IABC, including a recent Keystone Award for feature story writing in the Pittsburgh Sports Report.

Active in the communities in which she has lived, Linda has held leadership positions on over 26 boards of directors, committees and task forces. Her past service includes board membership with the Community Development Corporation of Butler County, Endowment for Butler County, Leadership Butler County, Junior Achievement, Big Brothers Big Sisters, YWCA Board of Trustees, Workforce Investment Board, CareerTRACK , Suit Yourself, Pennsylvania Economy League , Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce Executives, West Shore Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International, and Kupkakes for Kris, just to name a few.

Linda holds a B.A. in English and a minor in graphic design from La Roche College in Pittsburgh, and an M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Duquesne University. She is also a graduate of the Institutes for Organizational Development, a six-year graduate program dedicated to the study of non-profit and association management at the University of Delaware.

Linda and her husband are parents of twin boys, Andrew and Tommy. Andrew has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. As a special needs mom, Linda is fully committed to the mission and vision of The Chasing Hope Foundation.

Charles “Chuck” Lawless, AIF, Treasurer

Investment Advisory and Financial Planning

Head of The Lawless Advisory Group, which manages assets for individuals and provides retirement plan advisory services for organizations. Provides broad-based financial planning services, including cash flow forecasting for retirement and college planning, life insurance planning, and tax and estate planning issues. Joined Mesirow Financial in 1996 and has more than 20 years of experience
Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designee (AIF®)

Accomplishments:
Inducted into The Citadel School of Business Administration’s Hall of Fame as Leaders of Principle and a “2014 Alvah H. Chapman, Jr. Distinguished Leadership Award” recipient
Named “2014 Outstanding Volunteer” by the Association of Fundraising Professionals
Named “2013 Alumni Association President of the Year” by The Citadel military school
Nominated for New Trier Township High School 2010 Alumni Achievement Award given to select graduates each year whose lives and careers are spent upholding the New Trier values of inquiry, compassion and service.
Named one of Chicago Magazine’s “2010 Five Star Wealth Managers” as selected through an independent survey to identify Chicagoland wealth managers who scored the highest in overall client satisfaction.
Recipient of the firm’s 2009 Norman Award for Collaboration; named after the firm’s founder, Norman Mesirow, the award recognizes outstanding employees for their achievements and contributions
Author of The Tyro Dossier – Beginning Principles for Young Asset Managers to Engage Success at Work and Beyond

Education:
B.S., The Citadel

Affiliations:
New Trier Tyro Society Scholarship Program, founder
New Trier Educational Foundation Board, board member
Chicago/Midwest Citadel Alumni Club, president
The Citadel School of Business Advisory Board, member
Chicago Engineers Foundation Investment Committee, member
Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout and active member
International and Midwest Business Brokers Association, member
Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 2012 Breathe Benefit, co-chair

David Walker, Ex-Officio

Dave Walker brings his expertise in financial operations to the Chasing Hope Foundation. For the past 11 years, Dave was been the Managing Director of the Chicago office of R.W. Pressprich, a New York-based investment bank. Dave has also been part of the sales team at William Blair and Co., HSBC and Deutsche Bank.

Dave currently serves as an adjunct professor of corporate finance at Northwestern University where has taught since 2008, blending his practical experience with academic curricula to prepare his students for careers in the financial industry.

Dave received his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina and his MBA from the Yale School of Management. Dave volunteers his time to recruit for both schools at college fairs throughout the Chicago area.

A native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania Dave has played semi-pro football and coached boys’ basketball, football and baseball teams for the Winnetka Park District’s house leagues for the past three years. He and his wife, Christine, were married in 1998 and reside in Winnetka, Illinois with their three children, ages 13, 11 and 10, and yellow lab, Scout.

Beth Ann Beasley

Beth Beasley comes to the Chasing Hope Foundation with nearly 30 years of experience in health care. Beth shares the CHF’s mission of providing high quality, meaningful and socially-responsible support to families raising children with autism and related disorders in their own communities.

Professionally, Beth has worked for LifeSource and for the past ten years has been a leader in the ACL Division of Advocate Health Care, training and coaching the phlebotomy workforce to provide exceptional patient care.

Beth graduated from DePaul University with a B.S. in Biology and attended the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She is a native of Archbold, Ohio.

Beth and her husband, attorney Tim Howe, reside in Wauconda, Illinois where Tim serves as president of the Lions Club. Beth and Tim lend their expertise to several municipal endeavors in an effort to ensure the integrity of the public policy process.

Michelle Sheedy

Michelle is the Senior Director of Supply Chain Solutions at Pfizer. She has been working in the Pharmaceutical/Life Sciences industry for over 15 years starting at Hospira, Inc. a Spinoff of Abbott Labs. Michelle started her career at Arthur Andersen working in their business consulting division and eventually focusing on SAP.  She’s worked in many industries over the years but is passionate about the ability to bring products/drugs to the market that impact patients’ lives. 

Michelle holds an MBA from DePaul’s Kellstadt University and a BS in Marketing from Millikin University. She is also trained in various disciplines within Information technology, Organizational Change management, and business process management.  She regularly supports various STEM programs and organizations working with kids and young adults as they look for career guidance and support.  

Molly Stamer

Molly Stamer brings a wealth of experience in corporate communications, sales and marketing.  Currently, Molly is the Director of Sales for Clown Global Brands and has held business development positions at JConnelly, Inc. and Diageo, PLC.

A graduate of Miami University of Ohio and the University of Paris, Sorbonne, Molly's dedication to enhancing the lives of those who are struggle is evident.  Through volunteer efforts with the Wounded Warrior Project, CASA of Cook County and the Chasing Hope Foundation, Molly continues her family's legacy of service.

Molly lives in Winnetka, Illinois with her teenage twin boys.