Board of Directors
The Chicago Metamorphosis Orchestra Project could not exist without the support and direction provided by its dedicated volunteer board of directors.
Kathy Schnure, President
Kathy Schnure joined the Board of ChiMOP in 2015. Kathy is a Leadership Advisory consultant at Spencer Stuart, and engages with clients on succession planning, leadership development, and top team effectiveness work. Kathy holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bucknell University, and earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Georgia Tech.
Joe Michalak, Treasurer
Joe Michalak joined the ChiMOP Board in September 2017, and has served as the Treasurer since. Joe is an Officer and Financial Analyst at CIBC, and also serves as the Vice President of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Young Professionals. Joe received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Michigan State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Elisabeth Scheffler-Madeja, Secretary
Elisabeth Scheffler-Madeja is a seasoned non-profit arts marketer with over 20 years’ experience. Liz works for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as Director of Marketing. In addition to planning and executing the marketing plans for over 250 concerts a season to achieve ticket revenue goals, Liz is responsible for audience research and development initiatives and the ongoing development of the CSO’s content strategy. Liz is an alum of the League of American Orchestra Emerging Leaders Program. Liz received her B.S from University of Illinois-Urbana in Business Administration-Marketing concentration, with a minor in Clarinet performance and her MBA from Smeal College of Business at Penn State University in State College PA. Liz is happily the personal assistant to a first grader and toddler, who are both just starting music lessons.
Laura Emerick
An editor/writer with more than 25 years of experience, including more than 20-plus years of managing a staff, dealing with freelance contributors and directing content publication. Though most of her journalism career was devoted to legacy media, she has spent the last decade working across multiple platforms, with the last few years dedicated to launching, managing and editing a new online publication, CSO Sounds & Stories, as a staffer of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association. Along with her full-time work in online journalism, she has maintained an active freelance career, specializing in film and music coverage for outlets including the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times and rogerebert.com. She also has served as a host and interviewer at various film festivals.
Erik Lillya, Board Member
Erik Lillya has served on ChiMOP's board since its inception in 2013. Erik is a Regulatory Counsel for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the Investment Management Examination Program. Erik received a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin College and its Conservatory of Music and a Juris Doctor from the Northwestern University School of Law.
Fabian Lopez
A native of Chicago suburbs, Fabian Lopez has been a Music educator (B.M.Ed) since he graduated VanderCook College of Music in 2011. Fabian’s most recent work has occurred in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) where he served as elementary Mariachi Director at Hurley Fine and Performing Arts Magnet School and is the current Music Director at North-Grand High School. Fabian comes from a plethora of teaching roles and non-for-profit consulting experiences including the Chicago Metamorphosis Orchestra Project (ChiMOP). Fabian served as a volunteer for ChiMOP’s Summer Youth Orchestra (SYO) in 2013 and 2014 and served as the organization’s assistant orchestra director during in 2015 and principal orchestra director during the 2016, 2017 and 2018 summer seasons. Throughout his career, Fabian has worked with numerous non-profit organizations including the People’s Music School, Opportunities for All, Little Kids Rock, the Mariachi Heritage Foundation, Merit School of Music, the Frida Kahlo Community Organization, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, the Chicago Teachers Union, and the Kenneth Young Center. Fabian recently earned his Master of Arts degree in teacher and community leadership at Northeastern Illinois University.
Kathleen Tamayo, Board Member
Kathleen Tamayo joined the Board of ChiMOP in 2020. She is the Director of Operations and Development for the North American Board Practice at Spencer Stuart and works with public and private companies on board director recruitment, succession planning and other senior leadership issues facing boards and CEOs. Kathleen holds a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Mary's College and earned her M.B.A. from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business.