DuPage Children's Museum forms new board to look to future

DuPage Children's Museum has formed the Next Gen (Next Generation) Board with the goal of strengthening the leadership core and broadening support for the museum.

New for 2014, the Next Gen Board is comprised of young professionals and community leaders who believe in the museum's mission to stimulate curiosity, creativity, thinking and problem-solving in young children through self-directed, open-ended experiences.

The board is responsible for increasing community involvement through both family- and adult-focused events, while supporting the museum's fundraising efforts. With 35 active members and their families, the Next Gen Board plays an important leadership role in the future success of the museum while offering an opportunity to meet new families in the community.

The board's inaugural "Back for the Future" event will take place from 8 to 11 p.m. June 20 at museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville. The adults' night will include '80s music and trivia.

Dolly McCarthy will serve as honorary chairwoman for the event. McCarthy is an anchor for CLTV News and also hosts the Internet radio show "The Dolly McCarthy Show."

Tickets are $75 per person. For information or to buy tickets, visit dupagechildrens.org/event/next-gen-back-for-the-future.

The Next Gen Board is accepting new members through the end of 2014. Requirements for membership include participation on at least one planning committee along with attending board meetings. The board meets monthly during the six-month event-planning season and quarterly thereafter.

For information on the Next Gen Board, including how to join or help out, contact Julie O'Keefe at (630) 637-8000, ext. 3190, or jokeefe@dupagechildrensmuseum.org.

The founding board members of DuPage Children's Museum's Next Gen Board are Brian Baier; Ellena Boddie, Associates of Inpatient Management; Christina Brady, community volunteer; Scott Brodrick, Price Waterhouse Cooper; Ryan Burgette, Naperville Medical Group; John Burton, Echo Design Group; Brad Dalton, Wheaton Bank and Trust; Jenel Damis, SunGard Brokerage and Securities Services; Dana Davenport, Accenture; Lisa Davis, Davis Capital; Rachel DiGovanni, community volunteer; Anne Dills, School of Rock; Maggie Fahner, community volunteer; Eileen Mullin-Gasteier, Davis Phinney Foundation; Andy Gripp, Crowe Horwath; Lynda Horton Denson, EcoLab Inc.; Peter Jameson, Curvendar; Matt Kirch, TriZetto Corporation; Ryan Lubniewski, Crowe Horwath; Mary Beth Luna, Chicago Public Schools; Charley Margosian, Highlight Management Associates; Shane Mikula, Excel Displays and Packaging; Rich Ochenkowski, DHJJ; Steve O'Connell, Northern Trust; Erica Okenzie-Phillips, McCormick Foundation; Natalie Perry, Ice Miller; Eric Pfanenstiel, Schiller, DuCanto and Fleck; Christopher J. Pohlman, Mesirow Financial; Melissa Reinbold, Crowe Horwath; Franklin Rivera, Prudential; Scott Selfridge, Crowe Horwath; Fernanda Valentino, community volunteer; Oriana Van Someren, community volunteer; Lindsey Wagner, Aristocracy Group; Melinda Watson, community volunteer; Craig Ziegler, Legacy.com.