Open Books :: About


Executive

Stacy Ratner Founder Thirtysomething years ago, Stacy learned to read. This life-changing experience led her through degrees in law and literature, made it possible for her to help take 3 startup companies from idea through a combined total of $30 million in committed venture funding, and finally inspired her to start Open Books in her basement in 2006. She is delighted to have received an Emerging Leader Fellowship from the Chicago Community Trust, a place on NewCity's Lit 50 List, and the Social Enterprise Alliance's Innovation award for her work with Open Books, but the greatest honor of all is the chance to work with the students, team, and volunteers who fuel the love of literacy across Chicago every day. Stacy writes a novel each year, lives and letterboxes with her beloved beagle, and is always starting something. (And, yes: her hair really is green.) Follow Stacy at: @stacyjratner.

Natalie Weiss Executive Director Natalie has spent most of her career dedicated to improving educational outcomes for underserved students. Her time with NewSchools Venture Fund and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools offered insight into the urgent need to transform K-12 public education. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in Economics. Natalie currently serves as the Board Chairperson of Lighthouse Academies and as a Wish Granter for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois. She reads Jane Eyre annually from one of her many prized copies of the book, and her favorite living authors include Ann Patchett and Richard Russo.
Programs

Anna Piepmeyer Program Director Anna 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.

Cary Mele Program Manager Cary was born and raised in Chicago and is happy to have found her home at Open Books, slowly weaseling her way in to the Open Books family -- first as a VWrite mentor, then as an Associate Board member, and finally as a staff member. She holds a BA in Elementary Education from Augustana College and a Masters Degree in literacy from DePaul University. She loves to travel, is obsessed with all things Irish, and is always starting up some new hobby or project. She also loves to read, but please don’t ask her what her favorite book is – it’s just too hard to pick!

Rebecca Witheridge Program Coordinator Rebecca is a proud graduate of Oberlin College with a B.A. in Anthropology and a minor in Sociology. She grew up in Minnesota, but with one parent in St. Paul and another in St. Louis, Missouri, she's used to the confines of cars and airplanes. She's obsessed with her cat, Blossom, and in her spare time she can be found reading, doing art, and exploring Chicago with her beloved friends and family.
Bookstore

Kevin Elliott Bookstore Manager Kevin began his reading life at two years old when his father would read him his favorite book before bedtime. When his father was particularly tired and would skip words, Kevin insisted upon re-reading the story in its entirety. This enthusiasm and care for the written word and the people who read it carries him through his days. On most of these days, you can find him in the Open Books Store, locating the perfect book for you. Other days, he is probably wandering Chicago in search of decent conversation, hidden culinary gems and the perfect addition to his record collection. He has worked as a library page, printer, research assistant and event coordinator. He also once worked in a clothing factory where he organized jeans in order by size for eight hours a day, so he knows something or other about numbers too.

Lizzy Boden Bookstore Coordinator Lizzy started as a volunteer in the Open Books store when it opened in November 2009. Stealthily worming her way into deeper involvement with them ever since, she now proudly claims the title of Bookstore Coordinator. Lizzy graduated from DePaul University with a degree in history in 2009. She wrote her honors thesis on llamas, and can discourse at length upon them. Did you know that llamas run a secret cabal that rules the earth? Lizzy can tell you about it (though she may have to kill you)! Her favorite authors are too many to name, but she collects Neil Gaiman memorabilia. In a shocking twist of fate, she got a tattoo of an open book on her foot in 2008; thus, it is proven that her involvement with Open Books was meant to be. The book remains untitled because her favorite book changes so often... and tattoos hurt. Lizzy is attempting (and currently failing) to learn to play the banjo. Most importantly, Lizzy loves reading more than any other thing (even breathing!) and is incredibly lucky to discuss books with Open Books customers all day!
Books

Dustin Walsh Book Director Dustin comes to Open Books as a graduate of Columbia College, where he majored in Marketing Communications and minored in Product Design. 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 and kayaking.

Aaron Lippelt Book Manager Aaron 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.
Volunteers

Ava Zeligson Volunteer Manager Ava hails from the East Coast but has gotten quite comfortable claiming to be a Midwesterner in the past few years. She received her B.A. in French and Comparative Literature with a focus on Trauma Studies from Oberlin College (the first of two Oberlin grads at Open Books!). Ava is a first-generation Romanian who spent most of her childhood traveling the globe, collecting embarrassing stories at each stop. Seriously, just ask. When she is not organizing the wonderful volunteer corps that makes Open Books possible, she is likely reading, cooking, or hanging out with her new best friend, Loomis the dog.
Marketing & Events

Erica Hawkinson Marketing Manager Erica is delighted to add Open Books to the eclectic list of positions where she has garnered work (and life!) experience. Equipped with a degree in Spanish Literature and Language from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she's been a bilingual 2nd grade classroom teacher, an elementary and middle school Spanish instructor, and is now proud to call Open Books home. Originally a reading Buddy and then an intern at Open Books, she is thrilled with her fabulous new position as Marketing Manager. She has a passion for crafty projects, loves a good pun, prefers public transportation to finding parking, and wonders why "quite a few" and "quite a lot" mean the same thing.
Finance & Operations

David Watkins Finance Manager David finished college in a year that begins with a two. He spent most of the previous decade as a health insurance actuary in Lake Forest, and the rest of the decade not being an actuary. When not at the store, he can be found avoiding sunlight and ingesting various cold forms of caffeine. At the risk of sounding like the most generic person on the planet -- he's only ninth, since he's under 60 and knows how to play bridge -- he enjoys books, movies, music, word puzzles, games of all sorts, and the occasional animated or odd TV show. His favorite film is Miller’s Crossing, his favorite flavor of Slurpee is banana, and he has the high score on the Ms. Pac-Man machine closest to his apartment. David startles easily if approached in the wild, but if you remain motionless, you might induce him to eat a cheeseburger right out of your hand.
Interns
	Danny Bell Literacy Intern
Danny graduated in 2002 from Macalester College with a major in Chemistry and minor in Physics. He did some research in chemistry and a lot of skiing of mountains and brewing of beer in Colorado before landing in Chicago with his fiancée. Danny is helpless in the face of new and exciting foods and recipes, which is a problem. He is constantly amazed by the dynamism of mind that adolescents have and is working towards becoming a science teacher in Chicago.
	Amanda Bruening Literacy Intern
Amanda recently graduated with her M.A. in secondary education from Roosevelt University. She discovered the joy that is Open Books during her last semester, and jumped on board as a volunteer. Now that she is back for another semester of fun as a literacy intern, she is thrilled to emerge herself in the nonprofit world. Ready for reading, writing, and research, Amanda is a little terrified about learning to use a Mac computer, but is determined to rise to the challenge! When not at Open Books, Amanda works as a server (which she admits she’s a little crazy for actually enjoying), loves spending time with her fiancée and friends, begrudges her failing attempts to talk herself into going to the gym, and dreams about what chaotic twists her life will take next.
	Mallory Cybulski Literacy Intern
Mallory very recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an honors degree in English and Creative Writing. Having grown up in Oak Park and River Forest, both western suburbs of Chicago, she is excited to be back in the city to begin her professional life. Mallory has a lot of experience working with children, specifically within the realms of special education and fitness programming, and can’t wait continue this type of youth-oriented work with Open Books. She also has a love for styling and fashion and works various retail jobs when she’s not pursuing her passion for creative writing and service work.
	Nora Frazin Literacy Intern
Nora graduated from Grinnell College in 2010 with an English major. After graduating, she lived in Europe for a while, and now she is excited to be back in Chicago and interning at Open Books! She currently works as a private test-prep and academic tutor for middle and high school students in the city and the western suburbs, and is in the process of applying to graduate school. In the past, she has worked as a pharmacy technician and a proofreader of legal documents. She also briefly flirted with a career as a barista but simply couldn't hack it. When she is not working, she spends her time riding the bus and the el around the city and thinking of witty rejoinders that she may hypothetically be able to use in conversation someday.
	Cassie Hightman Literacy Intern
Cassie recently graduated from DePaul University with a history major and philosophy minor. Chicago has always been home to Cassie as she grew up in the Northwest suburb of Buffalo Grove. Having tutored students ages 3-12 at a children's group home, she is excited to further her experience working with children. In addition to her work at Open Books, Cassie continues to volunteer at the children's home, works as a Social Media/Networking Intern for a dating company, and is contemplating applying to law school.
	Anne van den Goor Literacy Intern
Anne is a senior at Loyola University in Chicago where she is majoring in Political Science and minoring in English. She is currently applying to graduate school and hopes to become a social worker. Although she enjoys living in Chicago, she often misses her parents' farm in Michigan. After spending several summers working at a small summer camp, she is excited to work with kids in this setting. When she's not studying or working, she enjoys hanging out with friends,being outdoors, and reading (of course).
	Laura Werner Literacy Intern
Laura is brand-new to Chicago, but is very excited about exploring her new home and working with Open Books. She grew up in central Wisconsin and graduated in 2009 from the University of Minnesota Twin-Cities with an English B.A. She previously served with Americorps at Laura Jeffrey Academy, the first tuition-free, girl focused middle school in Minnesota, where she learned A LOT and was constantly inspired by the teachers and students. In her free time, Laura will be exploring her new neighborhood of Edgewater, finding the best restaurants and coffee shops and riding her bike on the lake shore trails. She also can’t wait for the day when she can adopt a little puppy of her own!