Open Books :: About

Collectively, we can make a quilt, throw a grenade, rock the house, play the bass, play the saxophone, bake bread, and write books. Individually, we are:

	Stacy Ratner (Founder / Executive Director) has spent the last decade as a serial entrepreneur in key roles at Snapdragon Technologies, Wired Business, Ionospeed, Driveitaway, Picoesque, and Sittercity. She is a past recipient of PhillyTech's Thirty Under 30 award, a graduate of Boston College Law School and Brandeis University, a 7-time Winner of National Novel Writing Month, and an annual volunteer monitor for Blogathon who has served on the Boards of Directors of Literacy Chicago, The Nanotechnology Alliance, and OperaModa. Stacy recently received her Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. She eats ice cream every day.
	Kevin Elliott (Bookstore Manager) is an eight year shellback of the bookstore world. He is a lifelong proponent of the written word and books-as-social media. Most recently, he served as store manager and events coordinator for Barbara's Bookstore. He has worked in libraries, on printing presses, and around complete chaos, so he is well prepared to tame the Open Books store for all of Chicago's readers. Kevin writes consumer reviews, makes silly videos and will eat any food once...and most foods repeatedly.
	Becca Keaty (Director of Marketing and PR) comes to Open Books after years of experience in marketing and public relations for the American Cancer Society, Funnel Incorporated, Woodfield Mall, OperaModa, and Sittercity. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison, she has been a proud saxophone-playing member of the United States Army National Guard Band for over 10 years and volunteers with literacy and marketing groups across the city.
	Stacy Shafer Peterson (Director of Development) comes to Open Books with experience as the Director of Development at both Namaste Charter School and Rush NeuroBehavioral Center. Prior to taking the plunge into the world of nonprofit development, she worked in Chicago's film & television industry for nearly a decade. Stacy received her B.A. in Theatre & Communication Arts from Kalamazoo College and her Master's in Public Service Management from DePaul University. She enjoys nothing more than hiking and traveling with her husband. Next on the list? Peru, Chile and Nepal!
	Anna Piepmeyer (Program Coordinator) recently graduated from the University of Chicago with her MA in English. She was raised in Park City, Utah, and although she misses the mountains, she's excited about life in Chicago's urban metropolis. When she's not at Open Books, Anna can be found reading, writing, or hauling her giant camera around the streets of Chicago, taking blurry pictures and chasing rabbits. Her favorite authors are Haruki Murakami, Milan Kundera, Vladimir Nabokov, and WG Sebald.
	Dustin M. Walsh (Book Director) comes to Open Books as a recent graduate of Columbia College, where he majored in Marketing Communications and minored in Product Design. His past experience includes working with Washington Mutual's Mortgage Division, working with Brandtrust on product development as a class representative at Columbia, winning the Ryan Marketing Creative Marketing Challenge, and tutoring faculty and students in computer fluency. Dustin spent much of his time growing up volunteering with numerous organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters, PADS, and Students of Service. He is an outdoor enthusiast as well as an avid cyclist who enjoys spending his time camping, traveling and boating.
	Erin Walter (Literacy Director) is thrilled to be able to combine her life's passions -- reading, writing, and teaching -- at Open Books. A Northwestern University journalism graduate, she has worked as a reporter for the Austin American-Statesman, an editor for the Texas Legislature, and a first grade teacher at her beloved public school alma mater, Travis Heights Elementary. She plays bass and sings in the Chicago band The Hidden Mitten and has volunteered for 826CHI, Girls Rock! Chicago, and the Chicago Independent Radio Project.
	Natalie Weiss (Director of Finance and Operations) most recently served as the Chief Operating Officer and Director of School Supports for the Illinois Network of Charter Schools where she worked to improve the quality of education throughout Illinois by helping to promote and strengthen charter schools. Her previous experience also includes NewSchools Venture Fund, a venture philanthropy working to transform K-12 public education, and Cornerstone Research, a consulting firm that provides financial, economic and strategic analysis for issues arising in complex business litigation and regulatory proceedings. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in Economics. Natalie currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Bronzeville Lighthouse Charter School and Lighthouse Academies and as a Wish Granter for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois.
	Ava Zeligson (Volunteer Coordinator) recently graduated from Oberlin College, where she majored in Comparative Literature and French and did research on trauma in Romanian literature. She is a first-generation Romanian who loves purple but is trying to curb it, never wears pants, and is burdened by at least 15 superstitions.

	Brittany Baker (Open Books Fellow) recently graduated from Trinity College, CT with a BA in English. She spent the first eighteen years of her life in sunny Southern California, but was more interested in bookstores than the beach. Her lifelong love of books and her growing love for Chicago make Open Books a very exciting opportunity to engage with the city and spread her passion for reading. Favorite books include anything by Roald Dahl, Pride and Prejudice, and Harry Potter.
	Aaron Lippelt (Bookseller) recently graduated from the extremely dirty world of industrial manufacturing. He previously attended Purdue University, where he graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He lived and worked in Belgium for a time, but couldn't learn to enjoy warm Coke Cola. As a result, he returned to the U.S. of A to dedicate his life to kindness.

	Stephanie Buelow (PR Intern) is graduating from DePaul University with a major in Public Relations and a minor in Spanish. Originally from St.Paul, Minnesota she embraces the cold but always looks forward to summer. After a year of studying in both Spain and Chile, she is now focused on entering the "real world." Stephanie spends her free time enjoying all the free events that Chicago offers. She also loves snowboarding, live music, yoga, sports, being outdoors, traveling and of course reading.
	Christina Carani (Literacy Intern) is a native Chicagoan and is thrilled to be back after four years of undergraduate study at Miami University in Ohio. Her main focus was English/Creative Writing, in which she was able to fuel her love for writing, reading, poetry and creative projects! In her free time, Christina loves to be active by biking, hiking, walking aimlessly and practicing yoga. She also loves to eat, cook, read cookbooks and is always up for trying new restaurants and cuisines.
	Chidori Harris (Literacy Intern) was born and raised in Chicago (West Side!). Always intrigued by the complexities of the human experience, she graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BS in Psychology in 2007. As a child, she wrote short stories as a means of entertainment for family and friends, and continues to do so whenever time permits. Chidori's newest hobby is learning how to cook via old cookbooks handed down to her by her grandmother. While in the kitchen, she likes to pretend she's the host of her very own cooking show.
	Erica Hawkinson (Marketing/Social Media Intern) is delighted to add Open Books to the eclectic list of positions where she has garnered work (and life!) experience. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Spanish Literature and Language, she ventured off to San Diego, California and earned her credential as a bilingual multiple-subjects teacher. With three rewarding years as a 2nd grade classroom teacher under her belt, she moved back to Chicago and secured a job teaching Spanish, but the world of literacy was still calling for her! Originally a reading Buddy, she will now be working with Open Books as the Marketing and Social Media Networking intern. She has a passion for crafty projects, prefers public transportation to finding parking, and wonders why "quite a few" and "quite a lot" mean the same thing.
	Sarah Hyde (Literacy Intern) is a recent graduate of the University of Denver. She majored in Creative Writing/English where she fell in love with all things creative and poetic. Sarah has been a camp counselor, participant in Big Brothers Big Sisters, and an employee at the Boys and Girls Club. So it's no surprise she's thrilled to be working with children again at Open Books. Sarah lives for writing, music and highbrow reading (does Twilight count?). As a new fixture in Chicago, Sarah also enjoys exploring new neighborhoods and the diverse restaurant scene.
	Annie Kennedy (Literacy Intern) is currently a triple threat in the world of nonprofits: when she's not interning at Open Books or volunteering at 826CHI, she works as the Literacy Coordinator at the Glen Ellyn Children's Resource Center, where she runs a literacy and creative writing program for the sassiest bunch of 1st-5th graders she knows. A graduate of Columbia College Chicago's Fiction Writing program, her work has appeared in Word Riot, Windy City Times, and bookslut. In her spare time, Annie co-edits the zine Paper Planes Press, supports Munster Rugby, and reads books by Roddy Doyle, John Steinbeck, and more.
	Aarti Nagaraju (Author Intern) comes to Open Books after four years working in corporate America. She graduated more than a couple of years ago from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and hopes to return to a university setting next year for graduate school. She is a lifelong Chicagoan who still manages to get completely lost in the city. She enjoys reading (obviously), traveling and cooking. Her favorite authors are Terry Pratchett and Jane Austen, and her favorite book is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
	Jacob Wilson (Literacy Intern) is one of two brand-new literacy interns for the spring 2010 semester at Open Books. Writing has always been a great passion of his, and derives directly from an early love for reading. Having the opportunity to share and spread these delights with children and adults of all ages makes him extremely excited to be interning with this organization. This comes on the cusp of Jacob's graduation from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. It is his firm belief that the political future of this country rests partly on a positive approach to social issues such as literacy rates. Be it in the realm of art, literature, news media, philosophy, politics, etc., engaging the future readers and writers of America will no doubt aid generations to come.

Interns Emeritus: Megan Ashley Max Barry Will Berger Christine Blaine Hehershe Busuego Jasett Chatham Carly DiVito Kelly Dykwell Carly Evans Erin Dostal Alexandria Dunn Becky Eisinger Marie Elliott Ashley Elskus Shoshannah Feinberg Rachel Fischhoff Jenna Fischman Mollie Franklin Matt Gilles Lauren Hammond Alex Heimbach Lane Imberman Allison James Matt Johnson Hayley Kahn Ashley Keyser Nathan Kosky Vanessa Lee Laura Loeck Suzanne Marlatt Colleen O'Brien Sarah Petersen Jennifer Plaskota Krista Ravenscraft Annie Rooney Matt Roper Chrissy Ruby Valerie Tonyan Tranette Williams Joia Williamson Rebecca Witheridge Shara Zaval