Meet the 2025 Zoning Advisory Council
Zoning Advisory Council (ZAC) members are neighbors in our community who are interested in land-use and development in the 48th ward. ZAC members hold a one-year term, with the option of re-applying for a second year. Read more about the ZAC here.
TRAVIS KLUSKA
Travis Kluska is the co-chair of the ZAC; this is his second year serving on the Committee. Travis joined Full Circle Communities in 2022. He supports the Real Estate Development Team by project managing new affordable housing development projects. Prior to joining Full Circle, Travis served as Assistant Commissioner of the Construction Services Division at the Department of Housing (DOH). He also worked as Chief Planning Analyst of the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) Grants, Policy and Research Division. Prior to his work for the City of Chicago, Travis worked for the Community Investment Corporation serving as a Troubled Buildings Initiative Program Office. There, he managed a portfolio of multifamily properties under receivership appointment from the Court of Cook County.
ANTHONY PENCE
Anthony Pence (he/him) grew up in rural Kentucky and moved to Chicago nearly 20 years ago to pursue a degree in Environmental Policy, with a concentration in policy and economics, from the University of Chicago. Today he is the Director of Organization Design at CVS Health, where he works across the company to align stakeholders and drive collaboration. Anthony brings this same spirit of collaboration to his neighborhood, where he serves as president of the Edgewater Triangle Neighborhood Association (ETNA), representing the community bounded by Ridge, Clark, and Bryn Mawr. He and his husband have called the area home for a decade. You’ll often find them biking around the city and advocating for safer streets, attempting to cultivate a pollinator-friendly garden, or cheering on their favorite soccer teams.
AURIE PENNICK
Aurie Pennick is a native Chicagoan and an attorney. In 2016 she retired from the position of Executive Director and Treasurer of the Field Foundation of Illinois, Inc. where, for over a decade, she was responsible for grant management and oversight for approximately sixty million dollars in foundation assets. Aurie was appointed by Mayor Harold Washington to serve on the Chicago Police Board from 1983-1987. At that time, she was the Assistant Director for Special Grants of the MacArthur Foundation where she designed and implemented The Fund for Neighborhood Initiatives: a multi-million dollar grants program for small and emerging community organizations. In 2018, Aurie was one of the co-producers of Shame of Chicago, a five-part documentary series about Chicago’s decades of systemic segregation. Today, she serves on the board of Chicago Women Take Action (CWTA).
DAJOIN WILLIAMS
Dajoin Williams is a 48th ward resident living in Edgewater. His work includes mapping the National Zoning Atlas, which helps the public better understand what zoning regulations say can be developed from each jurisdiction and how those regulations translate from one jurisdiction to another. His work in the ZAC aims to explore how zoning can support lowering housing-cost burden, increasing access to active transportation, and building on the ward's built and natural institutions that have worked to create its current diversity, sense of belonging, and strong civic engagement.
DONOVAN HARVEY
Donovan Harvey is a research associate at the Urban Institute, a DC-based non-profit research organization. In this role, he has evaluated equitable development projects (including eTOD) and conducted policy research related to increasing the supply of affordable housing. His research interests include urban mobility, governance, and housing, with focuses on social and cooperatively owned housing. Prior to his work with the Urban Institute, Donovan completed his Masters of Public Policy at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy where he held leadership roles in the Black Graduate Coalition and OUTPolitik!, the LGBTQ+ policy organization. An avid biker, Donovan is committed to a safe and affordable environment for all those who walk, ride and roll in our community.
JEAN COCHRANE
Jean grew up in Hyde Park and has rented in Edgewater with her girlfriend since 2020. During the workday, she is a data scientist for Cook County government; after hours, she is the captain of her women's softball team and plays guitar in an indie pop band. She loves the 48th Ward for its diversity, its affordability, and its vernacular architecture.
JENNIFER FRANKLIN
Jennifer D. Franklin, J.D., MBA is a managing attorney at Consillio, a global leader in delivering high-quality, secure eDiscovery, document review, and legal operations solutions. Over the past 16 years, Jennifer has had a diverse career in the legal field serving as an assistant attorney general in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, as a staff attorney at Polsinelli PC, as a legislative analyst for the City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen, and assistant dean for Career Services at Southern Illinois University School of Law. Jennifer is a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner and has an EEO Investigator Certification from the EEOC Training Institute. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Technologies from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, her Juris Doctor from University of Akron School of Law, and her MBA from Washington University Olin Business School.
MAIKO LEHMAN
Maiko Lehman lives on the border of Edgewater and Uptown where she is active in the leadership committee of the tenant union in her building. As a lifelong non-driver, she appreciates the excellent transit and shopping convenience (particularly all the local groceries!) of the 48th ward, in addition to being close to her friends and family. A computer programmer by trade, Maiko enjoys walking the lakefront daily before work, hanging out in a hammock reading library books, and taking endless pictures of buildings and birds. She's also never met a cat she didn't like. Maiko is interested in equitable transit-oriented development, to keep people able to live in this great area and hopefully bring more in!
MANUEL RAMOS
Manuel (Manu) Ramos is a dedicated public transportation consultant specializing in rail and transit and has been involved in the planning, design, and construction of major infrastructure projects across the country. He is passionate about leveraging sustainable public infrastructure to support equitable and diverse developments that improve people's quality of life. Originally from Spain, Manu spent nearly a decade in Brooklyn before relocating to Chicago a couple of years ago. Now rooted in Edgewater, he lives with his wife and their six-month-old child. An avid cyclist and strong advocate for public transportation, Manu is devoted to creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming community for everyone.
NEVILLE HEMMING
Neville is a strategy and operations manager in the mobility space and a safe streets advocate passionate about building more livable, sustainable cities. A Chicago-area native with family roots in South Shore, he grew up riding the Purple and Red Lines as well as Metra—experiences that shaped his commitment to equitable transportation and accessible urban development. He lives in a car-free household and believes everyone should be able to afford to live in a walkable, transit-oriented community.
He has lived in Copenhagen, Beijing, Shanghai, Washington, D.C., and most recently San Francisco, all of which inform his perspective on what makes cities vibrant, inclusive, and connected.
Neville previously served on the board of Walk San Francisco, a pedestrian advocacy nonprofit, and is excited to be back in Chicago, working to improve housing affordability and expand access to walking, biking, and public transit.
ROBERT REMER
After 49 years in Edgewater, Robert has seen and been involved with most aspects of physical and community development, including as block club officer, president of the Edgewater Community Council, 48th Ward Democratic Committeeman under Mayor Harold Washington, and founder/President Emeritus of the Edgewater Historical Society. He also served on the board of Friends of the Parks, a lakefront passion. He was honored to be on the first 48th Ward Zoning Advisory Committee under Ald. Volini. His professional life offered valuable development experience, having served as CFO then CEO of the Chicago Public Library, and CFO of the county’s clinic system involved in the review, planning, and implementation of scores of public facility construction projects throughout the city and county. He looks forward to serving a second term on ZAC as we face significant, historic challenges to our community.
SAM COMRIE
Originally from Scotland, Sam works for a Chicago-based Affordable Housing Developer, where he uses his project management, design, and finance skills to develop housing throughout Illinois and Michigan. Some of the things Sam likes to do in his free time include climbing at First Ascent Uptown, grabbing a coffee from the Understudy, and taking a stroll down Clark Street to enjoy all of the amazing local businesses.
SANDY CHAET
Sandy Chaet is a Chicago Bears fan and a dog lover. She worked for East Maine School District 63 (Nelson School) for 35 years and taught 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. After retiring in June 2004, she has been a substitute teacher. Sandy is also a realtor. She grew up in West Rogers Park moving to a Sheridan Road condominium in 1978, and was immediately active as a board member, chair, and participant of various committees such as Architecture & Maintenance, Community Affairs, Security/Life Safety, and Social. Sandy became her condo representative to ASCO (Association of Sheridan Condominium/Co-op Owners) in the 1980s. ASCO represents over 31 buildings and 6,000 individual units on Sheridan from Devon to Balmoral and is involved with any issue (ie: lakefront erosion, legislation, infrastructure, traffic, safety, etc.) that affects quality of life on Sheridan. Sandy is also active in charitable and community organizations such as the Alan Brin Leukemia Group and the Emanuel Congregation committee, who worked with the city to name Interfaith Park at Thorndale/Sheridan in honor of Rabbi Herman Schaalman and his wife, Lotte. Sandy enjoys living in the 48th ward and Edgewater where there is a mixed racial, ethnic, and demographic diversity.
SETH TORRES
Seth Torres is a Licensed Social Worker working as an auditor for the City of Chicago. Seth's favorite city is Chicago, and he is thrilled to have the opportunity to advocate for safer streets, affordable housing, and a welcoming environment for all in the 48th ward. Seth holds a Bachelors in psychology from Northwestern and a Masters of Public Policy and a Masters of Arts in Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration from the University of Chicago. In his free time, you can find Seth rock climbing, drinking bubble tea on Argyle, or hanging out with his husband Lex and his cats Pinto Bean and Toast.
TERESA NEUMAYER
Teresa Neumayer is a native Chicagoan and works in the 48th ward. She and her husband co-own a business in North Edgewater that has been in her husband’s family since 1961. Teresa is passionate about connecting the businesses in the neighborhood with its residents and local university students and feels that communication and collaboration between all is what will continue to allow the 48th ward to thrive. Prior to working in the family business, Teresa attended the University of Illinois at Chicago receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and going on to work for pharmaceutical companies’ quality assurance departments. Teresa and her husband have two sons in college and in their spare time love to support local businesses, play golf, and enjoy the beautiful lakefront.
TROY MCMILLAN
Troy McMillan has been a proud resident of Edgewater for 25 years, dedicating her life to public service and nonprofit leadership that uplifts and strengthens the community. She brings a deep-rooted commitment to service, adaptability, and civic responsibility. In her professional life, Troy works to ensure equitable access to critical employment, educational and community resources. Her influence extends beyond her professional duties—she is a passionate volunteer who has helped shape organizations that promote civic engagement and community connection. With a background in economics, linguistics, and gender equality, Troy brings a systems-level perspective to tackling disparities in education, economic development, and social justice.
NOT PICTURED:
Alan Keribar
Benjamin J. A. Jouras
Ellen Duong
Jackie Lorens Harris
Lauren Ward
Meghan Cuneo