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La Grange youth agency welcomes staff
Updated: October 2, 2012 9:33AM
The LeaderShop proudly welcomes many new staff to the agency this summer.
Alysa Lewandowski accepted a promotion from program manager of mentoring and tutoring programs to resource development director. Lewandowski graduated from Elmhurst College in 2009 and is pursuing a master’s in leadership and policy studies in the School of Public Service at DePaul University.
Jessica Kurpiel joins as program manager of mentoring and tutoring programs. In 2012, Kurpiel earned an master’s of social work and a certificate in evidence-based mental health practice with children from the University of Illinois in Chicago. She received her bachelor’s degree in social work from UIC, Springfield. Kurpiel brings experience providing services for children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders.
Chelsea Wertz joins the staff as a program coordinator. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in political science from Northeastern Illinois University. She graduated magna cum laude in 2012. Wertz brings experience working with children from early childhood through adolescence.
Sammi Grzeca is an alumna of The LeaderShop. She was involved in many different programs since 2004, until she ventured to the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Grzeca studied family sciences and sociology and graduated in 2012 with her bachelor’s degree. She joins The LeaderShop as a Program Manager.
Matt Helmholz is their third program coordinator to join the staff. In 2010 he earned an master’s of social work through University of Illinois at Chicago, specializing in Child and Family Social Work. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Taylor University in Upland, Ind. Helmholz has experience working with children who were victims of traumatic backgrounds, and in afterschool programming for at-risk youth in western DuPage County.
Deborah Matthews joins staff as marketing manager after volunteering in the office for several months. Her advocacy for young adults started as a youth group leader and continued through 15 years of leading youth programming in churches and communities in four states. Matthews holds a master’s of divinity degree and a master of arts in Christian spirituality from San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, Calif., and is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
