Board of Directors
PEER Services’ volunteer Board of Directors provides leadership and oversight to ensure organizational sustainability and fulfillment of PEER’s mission and work to provide top-quality substance use prevention and treatment services to youth and adults across Northern Cook County.
We are currently seeking new board members with experience in healthcare/public health, social work and counseling, education and youth development, human resources, marketing and communications, and technology. We are prioritizing BIPOC individuals and people with lived experience with substance use and recovery.
Please review the PEER Services Board Member Job Description and contact Noy Frial-Lopez at nfrial-lopez@peerservices.org to learn more.
Board Members
Michael Baskin, Board Chairperson
Mike Baskin served as Co-President of Mark Shale (1987-2009), a $60 million retail apparel business, with eight stores in four states, a nationally distributed catalog and website. Mark Shale was named one of the 10 best Men’s Specialty Stores in the U.S. for three straight years by Esquire Magazine and was awarded Store of the Year by the Institute of Store Planners International Store Design Competition.
Mike’s experience co-running a larger business was brought into service from 2012-2014 as President of Inclusion=Solutions, whose products make businesses accessible to people with disabilities. Most recently, he established a business consulting and coaching practice (mikebaskinconsulting.com). Mike also serves on the faculty at the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management’s Center for Leadership, where he received the Distinguished Faculty Award in 2012. Mike received his master’s degree in Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Vassar College. He is also a Certified Professional Coach. Mike is an avid cyclist, logging 5,000 miles per year climbing the overpasses of Illinois and, on occasion, real hills in other states.
Samantha Handley, Board Member and Chair, Fund Development and Community Engagement Committee
Samantha is currently the President and CEO of Anixter Center, a nonprofit organization that focuses on community-based services for individuals with mental health issues, developmental or intellectual disabilities, and for individuals who are Deaf, DeafBlind or Hard of Hearing.
Samantha began her career working with dually diagnosed clients as a case manager and quickly advanced to Team Leader and eventually Program Director. Samantha has served in a variety of roles at agencies across the United States, focusing on mental health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, and employment programs.
Samantha returned to Chicago in August of 2007 to join Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare. Samantha started as the Director of Human Resources and Program Content and supervised the residential and employment programs. Eventually Samantha was promoted to COO and then to COO and Executive Vice President, before accepting the opportunity to be Trilogy’s CEO in January 2019. Over Samantha’s tenure, Trilogy’s budget and client base increased tenfold.
Samantha graduated with bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and received her Master’s in Counseling from West Virginia University. She is also an LCPC and CSADC and lives in south Evanston with her husband and their two teenagers.
Adele Martel, Board Member
Bio coming soon
Melissa Sacluti, Board Member
Melissa Sacluti currently serves as the Deputy Chief of the Evanston Police Department. Since 2003, she has served in a variety of assignments such as patrol, gangs and narcotics, and criminal investigations. Promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2010, she served in patrol operations and the office of professional standards. In 2015, she was promoted to the rank of Commander and served in patrol operations and the criminal investigations division. Then, in 2020 she was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief and served in field operations and the support services division.
Melissa earned her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Master’s Degree in Public Administration/Leadership from DePaul University. She serves as Adjunct Professor for Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety. She is a member of AALEA (Asian American Law Enforcement Association), National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, Peer Support member, member of the Evanston PD’s use of force review board, and LGBT liaison. During her free time, Melissa loves to spend time with her wife and three children (12, 11 and 8), travel, read, and coach youth sports.
Tom Schneider, Board Secretary
Tom retired in 2013 from the Cook County Juvenile Probation Department where he served as a probation officer for 40 years. During that time he worked in various inner city areas of Chicago, including the Uptown, Edgewater and Rogers Park communities. It was while working on the northeast side of Chicago that he became familiar with PEER Services, having referred numerous juvenile offenders to the agency for substance abuse counseling. His last assignment for the Probation Department was as supervisor of the Englewood Unit.
Tom grew up on the south side but has been a resident of Rogers Park for 42 years. He is a baby boomer and Army veteran. He has a bachelor’s degree in the Administration of Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois Chicago and a master’s degree in Corrections from Chicago State University. Aside from being a member of the PEER Services Board, he is the Director of Project Lifeline, a privately funded college scholarship program that targets young men and women with a history of involvement with the Cook County Juvenile Court. He is also an avid cyclist.
Adriana Stanovici, Board Vice-Chairperson
Adriana Stanovici serves as the Director of Global Relations at YMCA of the USA, the national resource office supporting YMCAs across the country. In her role, Adriana strengthens global partnerships and supports local YMCA staff and volunteers in the areas of community engagement, intercultural learning, and global collaboration. She is passionate about building connected, inclusive communities and expanding access to opportunities for all.
Adriana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Learning and Organizational Change from Northwestern University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from DePaul University. In 2023, she completed the Board Leadership Institute through Northwestern University and United Way. She is also a member of the Skokie Valley Rotary Club, where she contributes to local service initiatives and community-building efforts.
A first-generation immigrant from Romania, Adriana lives in Skokie and is committed to advancing equity, belonging, and cross-cultural understanding. She is fluent in Romanian and Spanish.
Monica M. Weed, Board Member and Chair, Board Development and Governance Committee
Monica is a corporate lawyer, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Navigant Consulting, Inc. until its sale in October 2019. Currently, is working with for-profit and non-profit organizations that need assistance with critical legal, governance, compliance and/or strategy matters. In addition to serving as Chair of the Board of PEER Services, Monica serves on the Board of Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana and on the Board and Executive Committee of the Chicago History Museum. Monica and her husband live on the north side of Chicago and in Taos Ski Valley, NM in the winter months, indulging in their love of skiing and hiking. Monica received her BA in Classics from Northwestern University, her JD from Northwestern University School of Law and her MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University. (Go ’Cats!)
Aaron Whetstone, Board Treasurer and Chair, Finance and Audit Committee
Aaron Whetstone is a Certified Public Accountant and Director of Accounting Services at Northwestern University. He is a finance professional with a passion for enhancing operations, reporting, and processes within large not-for-profit organizations. Throughout his career, he has focused on strengthening financial stewardship, improving transparency, and supporting mission-driven work through sound governance and thoughtful collaboration.
Aaron earned his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Beloit College, where he was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Honor.
Nicole Willis, Board Member
Nicole Willis is a proven healthcare leader experienced in leading acute care and community-based operations in Maryland, Illinois and Washington D.C. with over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry in a variety of clinical, operations and leadership roles. Willis joined Tapestry 360 Health (formerly Heartland Health Centers) in 2018 as Director of Community Health Centers and became Vice President of Operations in 2019. Her clinical background is in respiratory care with a focus on population health and respiratory disease management. Prior to Tapestry 360 Health, she held various management and clinical positions including Manager of Respiratory Care and Pulmonary Services at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Nicole holds an MBA from Robert Morris Graduate School and a B.S. from Howard University. Her professional and civic affiliations include the Illinois Society of Respiratory Care; Illinois Primary Health Care Association; National Association of Community Health Centers; and American Association for Respiratory Care.
Carolyn Schafer, Kellogg Board Scholar and Ex-Officio Board Member
Carolyn Schafer is the Center Administrator for the Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. In her role, Carolyn supports physician scientists, social scientists, economists, and research staff to implement large-scale public health research projects by managing finances, strategic initiatives, and personnel. Carolyn is passionate about understanding health system strategic change and operational efficiency. Carolyn is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer in Burkina Faso and has lived in Malawi and Sierra Leone conducting health services research. Carolyn has an MPH from St. Louis University and is working towards her MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.