Lake Forest on Topic

Transitioning into high school can cause a great deal of anxiety for young teens. Knowing someone is there to look out for you makes all the difference. Coach Phil LaScala developed the Lake Forest High School (LFHS) basketball program and ran it for nearly 20 years with the deliberate intention of supporting young players. He paired seniors on the team with underclassman and it meant everything t...

Susie Kullby is a 30 year resident, educator and coach in Lake Forest. Coach Kullby played a variety of sports growing up but fell in love with soccer as a varsity player at New Trier high school. She went on to play at Xavier University. She has coached soccer for LFSA for 20 years and has a national C license from U.S. soccer. In 2020 Susie received the Illinois Women in Soccer Award in 2020. Jo...

Representative Morgan was first elected to the 58th District, which includes Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Highwood, Highland Park, Deerfield and Bannockburn, in 2018. In Springfield, Representative Morgan has made gun safety and healthcare access his focus. Prior to running for office, Mr. Morgan was a healthcare attorney for the Governor’s Office and General Counsel for the Department of Health. He w...

Melanie and Kent are co-Chairs of the Adhoc Bylaws committee for the Lake Forest Caucus. Melanie is along time resident of Lake Forest and has served the community in many ways, most recently as an Alderman. Prior to that she has also served as an office of the Lake Forest Open Lands Association including a stint as Chairperson. She has been a member of the Board and past President of the Lake For...

Joanna is the longtime Executive Director of the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce. Joanna, a graduate of Boston University, began her career as a singer and actress. Her stage career included productions in Boston, Denver, and the Chicago area. She transitioned into public relations and marketing by working with two symphony orchestras, including the Lake Forest Symphony. Joanna then wen...

Dr. Lenart came to Lake Forest High School in 2021 from Fairfax High School in Fairfax, Virginia. Dr. Lenart began her career as an English teacher and later has served as an Assistant Principal and Principal at both the Junior High and High School levels.  She holds a Bachelors degree in English form Austin Peay University, a Masters in Education Administration from Trevecca Nazarene University,...

Jim Carris is a candidate for the Illinois 10th District in the House of Representatives. Jim is a longtime commercial real estate executive who has put that career on hold to run for congress. He has an undergraduate degree from Notre Dame and a law degree from Loyola University in Chicago. Jim, his wife, and three children are residents of Lake Forest.

Congressman Schneider is currently serving his 5th term representing the 10th District of Illinois. He presently serves on the House Ways and Means and the Foreign Affairs Committees. Congressman Schieder is a recognized leader on the Middle East and has focused extensively on the U.S.-Israel relationship. Mr. Schneider holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and an MBA both from Northwestern Uni...

Dr. Jill M. Baren. In July of 2022, Dr. Baren was appointed the fourteenth president of Lake Forest College. Lake Forest College was founded in 1857 and is home to nearly 1600 students. Last year the Wall Street Journal rated Lake Forest College the top liberal arts college in the Midwest. Dr. Baren is a medical doctor, educator, and researcher, who brings nearly 30 years of academic medicine and...

Joe and Tim talk about the Caucus, bylaw modernization and restoring trust within the community. Joe is the current president of the Lake Forest Caucus. He has lived in Lake Forest since 2015 with his wife and four children. Joe previously served as Caucus Vice President, Treasurer, and on numerous subcommittees, leading searches for elected and appointed volunteers for various positions. He also...

Paul Sacaridiz is the Executive Director of Ragdale located here in Lake Forest. Ragdale is a nonprofit artist community located on the former country estate of Arts & Crafts architect Howard Van Doren Shaw and his wife, poet and playwright, Frances Wells Shaw.  Each year it offers 150 residencies and fellowships to creative professionals of all types, making Ragdale one of the largest interdiscip...

Mr. Laximinarayan became the Executive Director of the Lake Forest Library on May 1, 2023. He has previously worked at libraries across India and the United States and has most recently worked for a consulting firm that assists libraries in strategic planning, community engagement, and marketing. Ishwar has been active in local, state, regional, and national library organizations and was selected...

Chris has lived in Lake Forest since 2011 with his wife and two sons. Born and raised in Chicago, Chris graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Computer Science.  He has spent his career in the telecommunications and technology industries. Founded in 1935, the mission of the Lake Forest Caucus is to recommend qualified citizens to serve in Lake Forest government and on the School Boards vi...

Susan has authored four historical books: Downtown Lake Forest, West Lake Forest, Legendary Locals of Lake Forest and Billy Caldwell (1780-1841) Chicago and the Great Lakes Trail.  Previously, Susan was the Economic Development Officer for the City of Lake Forest for ten years where she worked with commercial property owners to recruit businesses to Lake Forest.  Susan and her family have lived in...

Matthew Montgomery, Superintendent of Districts 115 and 67 and John Noble, President of the District 115 School Board.  Dr. Montgomery and Mr. Noble first appeared on this podcast last November. We’re having them back today to catch up on recent events at Lake Forest High School.

Paula Turelli serves as the Executive Director of Mother’s Trust Foundation, which offers immediate aid to low-income children in Lake County during crises. Peggy Talbot, an early supporter and former Board Chair of Beacon Place in Waukegan, IL, champions programs fostering academic growth, better health, and skill-building for children and families. Anne McAveeney, a founder of Fill A Heart for C...

Rick has written for newspapers and magazines as varied as Esquire, National Wildlife, Premiere, TV Guide, Playboy, Men’s Journal, PTA Magazine, American Libraries, Baseball Digest, Outside, and others. In 1972, Sports Illustrated published his first national article. It was about the jolt of being done with football, and being forced to, as Kansas City head coach Hank Stram advised him, “get on w...

Dr. E, as she’s known by audiences around the world, is a sought-after keynote speaker, author, and coach. She helps people identify how critical moments of high stress, what she refers to as “The Red Zone”, is shaping their behaviors, decisions, health, and overall performance. Dr. E has helped teams at many Fortune 500 companies unleash performance, profits, and untapped potential by showing the...

Mark McMahon is a lifetime resident of Lake Forest. To say he comes from a creative family would be a massive understatement. His father Franklin was a globally recognized artist and his mother a writer. Five of his eight siblings pursued art professionally in various forms. His wife Carolyn and children Elise and Drew are also professional artists and two of his grandchildren are active in the ar...

Jennifer Karras has lived in Lake Forest for 22 years. She has held senior marketing positions for several organizations, including most recently at Guggenheim Partners. Jennifer is a former Ward One alderman and has served as president of DPM’s APT, Chairman of CROYA, and executive member of LFHS Foundation and LFHS Boosters. She is the founder of YD3, a college recruiting company focused on Divi...

Dr. Matthew Montgomery began his career at the Waterloo School District in Atwater, Ohio, first as a science teacher, and later, as principal of Waterloo Middle School and Waterloo High School.  In July 2013 he became Superintendent of the Waterloo School District. Two years later Dr. Montgomery became Superintendent of the Revere School District in Bath, Ohio and in 2021, came to Lake Forest as t...

Dr. Matthew Montgomery began his career at the Waterloo School District in Atwater, Ohio, first as a science teacher, and later, as principal of Waterloo Middle School and Waterloo High School.  In July 2013 he became Superintendent of the Waterloo School District. Two years later Dr. Montgomery became Superintendent of the Revere School District in Bath, Ohio and in 2021, came to Lake Forest as t...

Michael has been a lifelong resident of Lake Forest and was very active in our city government. Michael has held the position of Alderman with the opposing Lake Forest Independence Party, and served on the Lake Forest Caucus . During 90’s and early 2000’s, there was much opposition with our Caucus leadership and Michael was instrumental is reforming and restoring our Lake Forest Caucus.   

Sheila Henretta is a Lake Forest resident with a track record of public service, including in the Illinois Governor’s office and as the state’s chief banking regulator; as an elected Local School Council member in Chicago; and on the board and as an officer of the Better Government Association. More recently, she served as a member of the Lake Forest Caucus and was the Caucus’ President in 2019-20...

Phillippe has a background in political campaigns and advocacy. He worked closely with former Congressman Robert Dold and has managed various campaigns in Illinois. Jeff is the President and CEO of Consumer Financial Services. He has served on a number of National and Local boards and in 2015 was appointed by Governor Bruce Rauner to Chair the State Racing Board, which he did for 5 years.