BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Members of the Board are among CAASE’s best ambassadors, strongest champions, and most generous supporters. They volunteer their time and expertise to ensure that the organization is fulfilling its mission and operating in the public interest. You can learn about our current members below.

Meet Our Board

Denise Fogus Gibson, Community Leader

Joined CAASE Board in 2023

Denise Fogus Gibson is a marketing consultant, strategic advisor, and philanthropist, with a particular focus on support and enrichment of the city of Chicago. In addition to CAASE, Denise sits on the boards of Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, Chicago Cares, Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago (Women’s Board), and Latin School of Chicago (Executive Committee and Development Committee Chair).

For over a decade, Denise worked for American Express Company’s small business division, where she designed, managed, and executed above and below-the-line marketing initiatives to support key relationships and drive card acquisition. Denise began her professional career in politcal and charitable fundraising, managing large-scale events for federal and gubernatorial candidates and national direct mail programs for nonprofit organizations. Denise holds a B.A. degree from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

Denise is excited to share her enthusiasm and experience to help CAASE build on its strong foundation and seize the moment to expand its reach and influence.

Judy Gold, Lamb Partners

Joined CAASE Board in 2013

Judy Gold is a partner at Perkins Coie in both Government Relations and Business Law practices. Judy has two decades of transactional experience in general corporate, real estate, and private equity as well as in the areas of government relations, public affairs, and crisis management. In addition to the private practice of law, Judy has significant public sector experience. Judy served in the Clinton White House, Mayor Daley’s Cabinet as Chief of Policy for the City of Chicago, chaired the Illinois Commission on the Status of Women, was a member of the Illinois State Board of Education, and chaired Women’s Policy for the Obama for America Campaign.  Judy was appointed by the Obama Administration to serve as U.S. representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and serves on numerous local boards including Chicago’s Civic Federation and the Chicago Chamber of Commerce. Judy is the recipient of numerous awards and honors and resides in Chicago with her husband and young family.

Rachel Graber, Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Parks

Joined CAASE Board in 2023

Rachel Graber is the managing director for the Minnesota territory of Urban Air Adventure Parks. She established Rachel Ray’s Consulting in 2020 with the goal of assisting companies in identifying and resolving problematic areas.

Rachel earned a Bachelor’s degree in criminology, psychology, and sociology from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2007. At an early age, Rachel had a strong desire to make a difference and a strong enthusiasm for helping others. She began her career in the juvenile probation victim services unit, and proceeded to work as a probation officer in social services before entering the nonprofit sector.

In 2017, her love of events and entertainment, her enthusiasm for youngsters, and her own appreciation of providing the gift of lifelong experiences brought her to Urban Adventure Parks.

In 2020, she launched her own consulting business, and today, she applies her entrepreneurial spirit to assist teams and businesses worldwide in recognizing and resolving shared problems. She specializes in viewing things from the viewpoint of the guest and has an eye for operational efficiency.

Rachel is incredibly passionate, honored, and dedicated in serving on the CAASE Board of Directors, where she can contribute to education and awareness-raising as a survivor of sexual assault and as someone who has benefited from CAASE’s resources firsthand.

George Haines, Mayer Brown

Board Vice President

Joined CAASE Board in 2020

George is a tax associate at Mayer Brown, where his practice focuses on securitization, structured finance, and fund formation. George’s pro bono work has included representing survivors of sexual assault and trafficking, as well as assisting in the formation of nonprofit entities and applications for 501(c)(3) status.

George received a law degree with honors from the University of Michigan, where he was an Executive Editor of the Michigan Journal of Gender and Law, and a B.A. with honors from Columbia University, where he majored in Economics and Classics.

Courtney Henderson, Ulta Beauty

Joined CAASE Board in 2023

Courtney Henderson (she/her/hers) has the pleasure of serving as the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Senior Director at Ulta Beauty, where there is nothing more beautiful than possibility. She is a self-motivated leader creating inclusive environments through implementing impactful strategies and collaboration with key stakeholders. Within her role, she utilizes her adept skills of coaching, facilitation and program management to support employees and leaders across the enterprise as they further their personal DEI journey.

Courtney began her career within the advertising industry serving in various roles from client services, talent acquisition, HR business partner, learning & development, and DEI. She attended Drake University where she studied advertising and marketing and now resides in Chicago’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood. She has a passion for volunteering at organizations that promote women empowerment and safety through an equitable lens and is honored to have a board position at CAASE (Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation)

Lisa Holl-Chang, Mayer Brown LLP

Joined CAASE Board in 2021

Lisa is a partner in the Restructuring Group of Mayer Brown LLP where she focuses on representing companies, lenders, and other parties in workouts, restructurings, and bankruptcy proceedings. Through her pro bono work, she has assisted survivors of sex trafficking to vacate prostitution convictions under the Justice for Victims of Sex Trafficking Act. Lisa received her law degree with honors from the University of Wisconsin Law School, where she was a member of the Wisconsin Law Review, and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California. Prior to law school, she lived in Taiwan for six years, where she worked as a magazine editor and learned to speak Chinese fluently.

Lisa is excited to support CAASE in the deeply meaningful but exceedingly challenging work of advocating for survivors in Chicago.

Clare Lilek, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates

Joined CAASE Board in 2023

Clare Lilek focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, data protection and cybersecurity, and investigations. Ms. Lilek has represented clients in civil cases at all phases of litigation, including pleadings, discovery and trials. She has experience counseling on a variety of matters, including disputes related to commercial contracts, cybersecurity policies and compliance, and common law claims.

Ms. Lilek maintains an active pro bono practice. She has represented survivors of sexual violence under the Illinois Gender Violence Act and individuals seeking asylum and change of status before the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services.

Holly Verdeyen, Mercer

Board President

Joined CAASE Board in 2020

Holly Verdeyen is a Partner in Mercer’s Chicago, IL office and serves as the Defined Contribution and Financial Wellness Leader in the US. Holly has overall responsibility the strategy, development, and growth of Mercer’s defined contribution and financial wellness business within the US. In addition, she is responsible for solutions development and the deployment intellectual capital and research to our clients and the industry.

Holly has over 20 years of investment experience and has held leadership roles in both the institutional and financial intermediary distribution channels. Holly is a member of our Wealth Leadership Team, US Investment Policy Committee, and Defined Contribution Investment Committee. Holly has been appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Labor to serve on the 15 member DOL ERISA Advisory Council, representing the interest of employers. Holly was also recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in Institutional Investing by Pension & Investments in 2023.

Prior to joining Mercer, Holly worked at Russell Investments, where she led the US Institutional and Intermediary DC business units, which included investment consulting, traditional outsourced CIO, target date funds and managed accounts. Holly has previously held roles as a founding member of the Defined Contribution Group at UBS and on the Defined Contribution Team at Barclays Global Investors, now Blackrock.

Holly is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago. She serves as the Board President for the not-for-profit organization Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), and on the Advisory Council for the Women in Leadership Executive Program at The George Washington University. Holly earned her MBA from Northwestern University and her Bachelor’s degree from St. Norbert College. She holds a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation. 

In memoriam: Cynthia Cuyjet

Joined CAASE Board in 2021

Prior to launching Cuyjet Management Consultants, Ms. Cuyjet found success in positions such as vice president of leadership development at Bank of America and senior associate director of MBA Career Management for the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. A mentor to corporate leaders, she had been an adviser to and Board member with organizations including the Metro Achievement Center for Girls, the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago, and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Highly active in the community, Cynthia was a Leadership Greater Chicago nominee.

Please read Remembering Cynthia K. Cuyjet to join CAASE in honoring Cynthia’s memory.