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 executive 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 5-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. She also makes awesome cupcakes.
	Dani Brzozowski (Director of Development) puts the FUN in fundraising. Dani comes from a background in higher education development and is thrilled to find a place where her love of reading and writing can come together with her passion for matching the right giving opportunities to the right donors. Dani holds BAs from Purdue University in Creative Writing and Religious Studies. She loves baking, her husband, and Jimmy Choos, and is learning (slowly, poorly, and without adequate motivation) to play the acoustic guitar.
	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.
	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 volunteers for 826CHI.
	Dustin Walsh (Book Manager) 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.

	Brittany Baker (Literacy Intern) 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.
	Hehershe Busuego (Development Intern) is thrilled to join the Open Books team. She comes to Open Books after an early career in the executive recruiting industry, where she developed a specialty in corporate governance and diversity and inclusion. She is a graduate of Smith College and also spent a year studying at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. In addition to reading, she loves to write, spend time in the water (either swimming or kayaking), and travel.
	Rachel Fischhoff (Literacy Intern) is a recent graduate of Wesleyan University where she double majored in Dance and American Studies. After seven years on the East Coast, Rachel is happy to be back in the Midwest. She is excited about getting to know Chicago through the words of the city's finest young writers. When she's not at Open Books, Rachel is probably reading, riding her bike or studying maps of Chicago.
	Mollie Franklin (Literacy Intern) is thrilled to be a new literacy intern this fall! She is currently in her third year at Columbia College of Chicago, majoring in early childhood education and pursuing a minor in fiction writing. She has a deep passion for writing, reading, and helping children, which all center around her love of volunteer work. Thus far in her 20 years of life, she has found few things more rewarding than the ability to do what she loves and follow her highest aspirations. She is optimistic, outgoing, and motivated to be among the intern all-stars! She loves the color orange, her grandma's mashed potatoes, and everything literature-related. Most of all, she is a life-long learner and an Open Books enthusiast!
	Lauren Hammond (Marketing Intern) recently graduated from Miami University in Oxford, OH with a BA in mass communication. She grew up just outside of Washington, DC in Falls Church, VA. However she always had strong desire to come to Chicago, which may be attributed to her love of the Chicago dog, Lake Michigan and the Cubs. Lauren has always loved to read and be creative and she is so pleased that Open Books has given her the opportunity to do both at the same time.
	Rachel Levi (Development Intern) is delighted to be surrounded by bookworms on a mission. She recently graduated from the University of Chicago with an MA in the humanities. She has also spent time teaching English to high school students, volunteering for 826CHI, and writing across the genres. As a development intern, she looks forward to combining her enthusiasm for social engagement and her love of wordsmithing.
	Laura Loeck (Literacy Intern) is so excited to be a part of the literacy team at Open Books! She is currently a student at Northwestern University, majoring in psychology with a minor in legal studies. Among her favorite things are apples, swing sets, hot tea, autumn, and READING! She is passionate about experiencing and exploring all that Chicago has to offer, and doing some good for the city along the way.
	Colleen O'Brien (Literacy Intern) is delighted to share the exuberance and positive impression of books with the Chicago community. She loves to inspire the beauty of language and its human connection. Colleen graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a BA in English, concentrating in creative writing. She enjoys poetry, travel and photography and gained a new appreciation for Fantasy literature after studying abroad in New Zealand. Her roots grew in Long Island but have been nourished by the mountains of Montana, and the desert sandy lands of the southwest. Outside of books, she pursues the outdoors -- sauntering in the woods, biking, climbing or camping.

Interns Emeritus: Max Barry Christine Blaine Jasett Chatham Erin Dostal Becky Eisinger Marie Elliott Alex Heimbach Lane Imberman Matt Johnson Hayley Kahn Ashley Keyser Nathan Kosky Vanessa Lee Suzanne Marlatt Krista Ravenscraft Clare Riesman Annie Rooney Joia Williamson Shara Zaval Want to get in touch with a previous intern? Ask Erin.