Board of Trustees

Leading our Community, Leading our Community Foundation

The members of the CFNIL Board of Trustees represent communities across the foundation's service area, numerous professional backgrounds, and have a variety of community engagement and volunteer experience. Every trustee volunteered as a CFNIL scholarship or grant advisor before becoming a member of the Board of Trustees. 

Kathy Kwiat-Hess headshot
Kathy Kwiat-Hess – Chair
Retired – Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Email: Kathy Kwiat-Hess – Chair
Steve Schmeling headshot
Stephen Schmeling - Vice Chair
Schmeling Construction, Co.
Dayton Smith photo
Dayton Smith, III – Treasurer
DBS Accounting
Dan Ross - President - headshot
Dan Ross – Board Secretary
CFNIL President
Phone: 779-210-8201
Email: Dan Ross – Board Secretary
Cheryl Balsam headshot
Cheryl Balsam
Retired – Hyzer, Hyzer & Jacobs
Ed Clift headshot
Edward Clift - Assistant Treasurer
Remax Professional Advantage
Jim Derry headshot
Jim Derry
Field Fastener
Derek Dreier headshot
Derek Dreier
SPX Flow Inc.
Mike Gann photo
Mike Gann
Retired - MPEC
Sherry Gaumond photo
Sherry Gaumond
Larson & Darby Group
Bryan Heidemann Headshot
Bryan Heidemann
CoyleKiley Insurance Agency
Annie Hobson headshot
Annie Hobson
Active Minds
Beth Howard photo
Beth S. Howard
Friends of the Coronado / Rockford Coronado Concert Association
John Kehoe photo
John Kehoe
Retired – Mercyhealth
Becky Kendall photo
Rebecca Kendall
Rockford Health Council
Dino Pandya headshot
Dr. Dinesh (Dino) Pandya
Retired - Doctor of Podiatry
Bill Reilly headshot
William Reilly II
Reilly Law Offices
Karen Schiller photo
Karen Schiller
Winnebago County CASA
Beth Thacker photo
M. Beth Thacker
Northwestern Mutual
placeholder image - CFNIL tree logo
Richard T. Leighton
Trustee Emeritus