CEO Unplugged - a personal look at a leader Karen Beyer, Executive Director, Ecker Center for Mental Health
How does the leader of a not for profit organization manage the continual financial challenges it faces? Is it difficult to attract volunteers to assist its overall efforts? How did the experience of successfully defending a client in the United States Supreme Court affect her personally and professionally?
Find out how Karen Beyer, executive director of the Ecker Center for Mental Health in Elgin, keeps up with the ever-changing landscape of State budget cuts that drastically affect her clients at the next Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce popular series, CEO Unplugged, sponsored by the Grand Victoria Casino. The luncheon will be held on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at the Grand Victoria Casino pavilion, 250 South Grove, Elgin in the Fox River Room on the second floor, at 11:30 a.m. for registration with luncheon at noon. Questions and networking to follow. Cost $20 for members and $25 for guests. Reservations can be made online at www.elginchamber.com or call the Chamber office for information at 847-741-5660.
Beyer's interests are public policy, advocacy and government relations. She has master's degrees in social work, business administration and public administration.
Beyer was the therapist who successfully defended her client's right to privacy in the 1996 U.S. Supreme Court case Jaffey vs. Redmond and the Village of Hoffman Estates.
Her work experience is in mental health, child welfare services, individual, marital and group therapy as well as elder services and divorce mediation. She has worked for government and non-profit organizations and has had a private therapy practice. She is a licensed clinical social worker and a former AAMFT approved supervisor with a certificate in family therapy from Northwestern University's Family Institute.
She is a member of Rotary International, Cosmopolitan Club, League of Women Voters and City of Elgin Planning and Development Committee. Beyer serves on the boards of the Network for Social Work Managers and the National Associaiton of Social Worker's Legal Defense Fund, as well as the Advisory Board of the Northern Illinois University Department of Public Administration.
The luncheon series is led by members of the Elgin Area Chamber special events committee: chair Pat Szpekowski, PmS advertising, inc./PR Strategies, and Kelly Brown, Drapery Connection; Toni Diones, Winergy; Yvonne Irving, KCT Credit Union; Tena Robotham, Judson University, and Michael Storey, Beckatt Solutions.