 Richard Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
Rich Johnson is Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Spark Ventures. He was born and spent his early childhood in Japan and California, prior to moving to northern Illinois. Rich received a BA in Communications and MA both from Trinity International University. His work experience has included business marketing and consulting, leadership and management for several nonprofits, and higher education administration. Rich has volunteered with charities including Children International, Breakthrough Urban Ministries in Chicago, and FFHM working with orphans in Mexico.
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 Joann Chen
Program Director
Joann was born and raised in Plano, TX. She attended the University of Chicago where she received a BA in Economics with a minor in African Studies. As an undergraduate, Joann was an intern at the South African Consulate General in Chicago and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. After graduating she worked as an analyst for The Cambridge Group, a growth strategy consulting firm. Joann has volunteered internationally in Togo, and she currently volunteers as an advocate for children with Court Appointed Special Advocates of Cook County and as a consultant with Pivot Nonprofit Consulting.
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 Erin Brown
Interim Director of Resource Development
Born and raised in California, Erin attended Williams College, where she received a BA with honors in Critical Theory and is now earning a Master in Public Policy from the Harris School at the University of Chicago. Erin has worked in fundraising and business development for the last six years with organizations like Equal Access International in San Francisco and Pact in Washington DC. In her free time, Erin volunteers at Found Dog and Cat Rescue and trains for marathons.
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 Sarah Teachout
Project Manager
Sarah was born in Seoul, South Korea, adopted at 4 months old and raised in Mason, MI. She attended North Park University in Chicago where she received her BA in psychology. Sarah has interned for World Vision and hopes to pursue an MA in International Development. Her volunteer work includes various organizations in Mexico, Lesotho and Jamaica.
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 Scott Barbeau
Chief Financial Officer
Scott Barbeau is co-founder of Spark Ventures and has served on the board since its inception. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he received a BA in Business-Administration. He spent the first 15 years of his professional career working at Lucent Technologies, Parson Group, and Hyperion Solutions in sales and management roles. He has been actively involved with Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, FFHM Orphanage, and Songs of Love Foundation. He is currently employed as a professional musician.
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 Dave Hryszczuk
Accounting Manager
Dave was born and raised in Rockford, IL. He received a BS in Finance from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and currently works as a computer consultant. In 2006 he went through an alternative certification program called Chicago Teaching Fellows and earned a degree in Elementary Education from National Louis University and spent 3 years teaching 6-7th grade math and literacy in two different Chicago Public Schools. He met Rich and Scott in 2002 on a trip to FFHM Orphanage in Mexico. He has also tutored at Kids Klubs in Cabrini Green.
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 Nilwona Nowlin
Communications Coordinator
Nilwona Nowlin is a native of Chicago’s Roseland community. She attended Columbia College Chicago, where she studied music, theater and creative writing and received a BA. She’s spent over ten years working in the nonprofit sector, including positions as an AmeriCorps*NCCC team leader, a fifth grade teacher and youth shelter case manager. Nilwona is currently pursuing a Master of Nonprofit Management and MA in Christian Ministry at North Park University & Theological Seminary. She is passionate about service and encouraging others to serve. She also enjoys the Arts, and is pursuing her dream of being a published fiction writer. Nilwona has traveled to Zambia twice and is excited to be a part of the Spark team.
Email Nilwona
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 Michelle Wells
Event Coordinator
Hailing originally from Washington, Michelle has come to call Chicago home while attending North Park University where she is in her final year. Upon graduating in May, she will end her formal education of Global Studies, Spanish and Nonprofit Leaderships and Management and enter the real world. She has previously worked for Starbucks and worked as an intern for a community development NGO in Quito, Educador in 2010. Michelle has traveled to Zambia with Spark in 2010 as well as volunteered internationally in the Dominican Republic. She looks forward to a full year in one place in Chicago after living and traveling in South America for the past six months.
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Sarah Blumenshine
Spark Global Intern
Sara will be spending seven months focusing on supporting education at Hope Ministries
Sara received her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from North Park University in May 2010. While at North Park, she developed a zeal for travel, studying abroad in Sweden for a semester and traveling with Spark to Africa over the winter of 2010. Sara is strongly passionate about teaching the youth of today, most specifically those in under-privileged communities. She is currently subbing for Chicago Public Schools, learning new things about herself and teaching with every new classroom.
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Stacey Ernvall
Spark Global Intern
Stacey will be spending seven months focusing on supporting education at Hope Ministries
Stacey Ernvall is originally from Muskegon, Michigan but currently resides in Chicago, IL. She attended North Park University until 2009 when she graduated with a BA in both Elementary Education and Youth Ministry. While at North Park, she was very involved with Urban Outreach, played varsity softball, sang in a choir and served as a resident assistant for two years. She left North Park with a passion to serve in many different capacities. She loves education and is very grateful for the opportunity to teach and develop the next generation of leaders!
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