Our people

To make an outsize impact, we rely on the talent, vision, commitment, and energy of an outstanding team of collaborators.

Collaborating to Drive Workforce Development and Community Empowerment

Effective and committed partners helps us identify needs, reach isolated communities, tailor our trainings, support learners outside the classroom, and work toward integrated solutions to problems that no single individual or organization can solve. Below are just a few of those collaborators and partners.

  • CitySquare – Dallas, TX
    NuStart Career Builders – Kansas City, KS
    Era Environmental – Kansas City, MO

  • State of Kentucky Fire and Police
    State of Minnesota Fire
    Cold Zone Conference – MN
    Mendez Environmental – New Orleans, LA
    Boat People SOS – Gulf South and VA
    YouthBuild USA – nationwide
    Black United Fund of Illinois
    Building Materials Reuse Association – Chicago, IL
    Raise the Floor Worker Centers – Chicago, IL
    Cara Program’s Cleanslate – Chicago, IL
    ReBuilding Exchange – Chicago, IL
    Midwest Hazmat Conference – Northbrook, IL

  • Austin Coming Together – Chicago, IL
    Breakthrough Ministries – Chicago, IL
    Business and Career Services, Inc. – Arlington Heights, IL
    Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council – Chicago, IL
    Literacy Chicago – Chicago, IL
    Little Village Environmental Justice Organization – Chicago, IL
    National Able Network – Chicago, IL
    Southland Healthcare Forum – Chicago Heights, IL
    Southland Human Services Leadership Council – Matteson, IL
    Greencorps Chicago – Chicago, IL
    St. Sabina Employment Resource Center – Chicago, IL
    Chicago Women in Trades – Chicago, IL

  • The following represents a sample of employer partners in the Chicagoland region and is not comprehensive.
    Republic Services, Chicago, IL
    Applied Ecological Services, Chicago, IL
    WRD Environmental, Chicago, IL
    Signature Staffing Resources, Lemoyne, PA
    Ardagh Group, Dolton, IL
    Silverline Windows, Lansing, IL
    AEP Industries, Alsip, IL
    Enterprises, Chicago Heights, IL
    Federal Signal, University Park, IL
    Esmark Steel, Chicago Heights, IL
    Arbon Steel, University Park, IL
    LB Steel, Harvey, IL
    Trialco, Inc., Chicago Heights, IL
    ARI Packaging, Chicago, IL
    Food and Paper Supply, Alsip, IL
    Anderson Fittings, Frankfort, IL
    Mifab, Inc., Chicago, IL
    Best Diamond Plastics, Chicago, IL
    Arkema, Inc., Alsip, IL
    INX International, Homewood, IL
    Luster Products, Inc., Chicago. IL

  • Chicago Jobs Council, Chicago, IL
    Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation – East Hazel Crest, IL. Calumet Manufacturing Industry Sector Partnership. Chicagoland Healthcare Worker Collaborative
    Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce, East Hazel Crest, IL. Southland Human Services Leadership Council

  • Village of Park Forest, IL
    Village of Dolton, IL
    City of Chicago, Department of Transportation
    City of Chicago, Fleet and Facilities Management
    Cook County Department of Environmental Control
    Cook County Bureau of Economic Development
    Chicago Metro Metals Consortium
    Forest Preserves of Cook County
    Chicago Park District
    South suburban Land Bank and Development Authority

  • Moraine Valley Community College – Palos Hills, IL
    Prairie State College – Chicago Heights, IL
    South Suburban College – South Holland, IL
    University of Illinois at Chicago – Chicago, IL
    Olive-Harvey College, Chicago City Colleges – Chicago, IL
    Richard J. Daley, Chicago City Colleges – Chicago, IL
    Governors State University, University Park, IL

  • Our funders’ support—in many cases spanning decades—extends beyond financial resources to include ongoing thought leadership, knowledge, and good counsel.

    • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

    • US Environmental Protection Agency

    • US Department of Labor

    • Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

    • Illinois Manufacturing Association

    • Illinois Department of Natural Resources

    • United Way of Metro Chicago

    • Chicago-Cook Workforce Partnership

    • Cook County Justice Advisory Council

    • The Nature Conservancy

    • Lloyd A. Fry Foundation

    • Nicor Illinois Community Investment

    • Polk Bros Foundation

    • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

    • Chicago Community Trust

    • Southland Human Services Leadership Council.

    • Village of Park Forest

    • Amazon

    • ComEd

    • Turner Construction

    • Bank of America

    • Old National Bank

    • Telligen Community Initiative

    • Business and Career Services, Inc.

    • Glen W Bailey Foundation

    • Provident Bank and Trust

    • Cook County Digital Equity

    • IFF

    • Cook County BED

    • Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

    • City Colleges of Chicago

    • LISC

    • Governor State University

    • Dot Foods

Our Dedicated Team of Professionals

  • Adudire, Olufunke

    Salesforce Administrator

  • Anderson, Mark

    Program Coordinator
    OAI Chicago Southland

  • Bell, Yvette

    Program Manager
    OAI Chicago Southland

  • Carmona, Miguel

    Senior Career Coach
    OAI Chicago

  • Dafiaghor, Sandra PhD

    Executive Director

  • Dyseng, Johansen

    IT Manager

  • Sierra-Flores, Catalina

    Youth and Employer Engagement Specialist
    OAI Chicago Southland

  • Gundlach, Virginia

    Operations Manager

  • Hamilton, Nikola

    Employer Relations Specialist
    OAI Chicago Southland

  • Hill, Alexandra

    Employer Relations Executive
    OAI Chicago Southland

  • Licea, Maribel

    Program Manager
    OAI Chicago Southland

  • Lynch, Kimberly

    Budget Manager

  • Mohamed, Ahmed

    Career Coach
    OAI Chicago Southland

  • Deidigha, Tj

    Financial Coach
    OAI Chicago

  • Munoz, Angie

    Employer Relations Specialist
    OAI Chicago

  • Nwokolo, Uchenna

    Senior Career Coach
    OAI Chicago Southland

  • Pfeifer, Shane

    Program Coordinator
    OAI Chicago Southland

  • Ross, Michale

    Program Assistant
    OAI Chicago

  • Slater, Shaquita

    Program Manager
    OAI Chicago

  • Smith, Kennedy

    Financial Coach
    OAI Chicago Southland

  • Thompson, Stephanie

    Director of Programs

  • Thorpe, Kimmya

    Budget Manager

  • Williams, Cherise

    Program Manager - OAI
    Park Forest/Richton Park Neighborhood Network Organizer

  • Woods, Jasmyne

    Program Assistant,
    OAI Chicago Southland

  • Liu, Xiao Fan

    Chief Operating Officer

  • Bolton, Raquel

    Program Manager OAI Chicago

  • Allen, Aja

    Program Assistant
    OAI Chicago Southland

Board of Directors

  • Danielle Gallet

    Founding Principal & Water Strategist, Waterwell LLC

    As an expert in the water and climate resiliency sectors, workforce development—particularly as it relates to nature-based infrastructure and environmental remediation—is essential to ensuring livable, thriving communities for all.

  • Sanobeia Brima, CSP

    EHS Regional Lead, Verizon
    Board Secretary

    Realize the most valuable things in life are your time and energy, and both are limited. Guard them, because where you decide to give your time and energy, will define your existence.

  • Jun Zhao, Phd

    Dean, College of Business (Retired), Governors State University
    Board Treasurer

    As a lifelong educator, I believe strongly the value of quality education and its impact on people’s lives.

  • Mollie Dowling

    Mollie Dowling

    Vice President of Resource Development IFF (CDFI)
    Board Chair

    After many years serving OAI’s mission as the former Executive Director, I am eager to leverage my expertise as an equity-focused fundraiser and people leader by serving on OAI’s Board of Directors.

  • Carlos Galindo, CSP, SMS

    Director, Health and Safety at U.S. Compliance

    I entered the safety field by chance, and I discovered that the most powerful tools we can have in being safe are education and communication. The impact of these two components in a workplace can be dramatically beneficial for all, keeping workers safe while contributing to a healthy economic bottom line.

  • Justeen Robinson

    Program Officer, Workforce Development - North Lawndale, Steans Family Foundation, Chicago, IL

    As a program officer in workforce development, I am committed to building equitable pathways to quality employment and empowering communities through training, education, and economic mobility. OAI’s mission aligns closely with this commitment. OAI’s work to advance workforce equity, especially for underserved and marginalized populations, resonates with both my professional experience and values.