YJC would like to take this opportunity to recognize the fantastic individuals who have joined our Board of Directors this past year: Mike Rogers, Mary Dolan, Dr. Patricia Efiom, and Sergio Hernandez, Jr.
Mike Rogers is the CEO of Dimension Design, an event and experience agency that delivers custom environments to support the face-to-face marketing activities of exhibit houses and brands, and turns visions into reality. In this unusual economic environment, Mike’s company and another one he is acquiring are making Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for front line workers. Mike’s first job was working at the Burger King in downtown Evanston and Mike shares YJC’s passion for helping young people in career development.
Mary Dolan is the President of Pro-Am Team Sports, which produces branded apparel on-site in it’s locations in Mokena, IL and Schererville, IL. Mary founded the company after practicing law with LifeSpan Center for Legal Services and the U.S Postal Service. Since the pandemic began, they have started making PPE, including the beautiful custom YJC masks. Mary has enjoyed serving on many boards including Rape Victim Advocates (now Resilience), Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Newtork, Pope John XXIII School Board and the McGaw YMCA. With her husband, Dave Haracz, she has five children, ranging in age from 14 to 24.
Sergio Hernandez, Jr. is the Director of the Family and Community Engagement Department at the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Prior to becoming a director, Sergio worked as a Principal Consultant with the Early Childhood Department at ISBE providing technical assistance and reviewing Prevention Initiative, Preschool for All, and Preschool for All Expansion grants for programs across the state. He has also presented on best practices in Multilingual-serving early childhood programs in various ISBE-sponsored conferences. Sergio is currently a school board member of Evanston/Skokie School District 65, and served as the Chair of the Policy Committee. He has been a bilingual (Spanish) endorsed educator for over 15 years and taught in CPS Schools in Chicago’s Little Village and Lawndale neighborhoods, as well as in the Western suburbs.
Dr. Patricia A. Efiom is the founder of Efiom & Associates LLC. She is a strategic leader with a lifelong passion for racial equity and social justice advocacy, and is well respected for her ability to build and maintain relationships across lines of differences. Pat has worked across many disciplines including local government, higher education, nonprofits, and corporate. She most recently served as the Chief Equity Officer for the City of Evanston from 2017-2020 where she led a city-wide effort to develop an equity action plan that would embed equity in all City operations. Pat’s love of diverse culture and traditions has provided her the opportunity to do equity work across the United States as well as in Jamaica, India, Mexico, and West Africa. Pat lives in Evanston, IL where she enjoys spending time with her husband of 40 years and traveling to see her grandchildren.
Each of these individuals possess unique experiences, perspectives, expertise, and skills that will help YJC continue to evolve to best meet the needs of the young people in our community and we are grateful for their passion for YJC’s mission of, “Success for young people, in the workplace and in life.”
To learn more about each of these outstanding individuals please visit: https://youthjobcenter.org/board-of-directors
