Our Board of Directors

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Lilia Figueroa is the Policy Initiatives Advisor for the Department of Children and Families’ Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services (DMCPS) and works to implement strategic child welfare plans in Milwaukee County. Lilia earned her bachelor’s degree in Social and Cultural Sciences from Marquette University (2010) and her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a concentration in Children and Families (2016). Prior to joining DMCPS, Lilia worked for Wellpoint Care Network and held positions as an ongoing case manager, mentor, and supervisor. While with Wellpoint Care Network, she was a founding member of Wellpoint Care Network's Aspiring Women of Color Affinity group and assisted in leading the organization’s Equity and Inclusion work. She has also utilized her expertise with the Spanish language to train foster parents through the Milwaukee Child Welfare Partnership.

Lilia has presented at local and national conferences and completed the UW-Milwaukee Latino Nonprofit Leadership Program in 2011. Lilia attended Camp HOPE as a camper after her father passed away when she was 13 years old. She went on to volunteer at Camp as a junior counselor in high school and continues to volunteer as a counselor in addition to serving on the Board of Directors for Camp HOPE. She has assisted Camp HOPE in creating and facilitating an equity and inclusion training for their volunteers. 

Kristi has spent the past decade working with both community and family foundations, deploying capital and supporting programs driven by place-centered approaches to systems-level impact. Her grantmaking approach is grounded in principles of participatory philanthropy and trust-based practice. She currently serves as Director of Programs and Research with Wisconsin Philanthropy Network – a statewide membership organization working to support and inspire philanthropy that makes meaningful and lasting change to improve lives across Wisconsin. Kristi brings a wealth of experience when it comes to grant writing and nonprofit sustainability as well as volunteer and project management.

Kristi’s first introduction to Camp HOPE was as a camper, after her dad died of a heart attack in 2000. She knows what it feels like to walk through life with a piece of your soul missing after the death of a loved one. Like many campers – Kristi wasn’t sure she wanted to come to a grief camp all those years ago – but now serves as living proof of the power of Camp to bring healing and hope. She believes the greatest gift Camp has to give is the community we share – a place where you’re not alone in your grief and where you can hold the sadness of death alongside joy of life with others who know what it feels like to live with loss.

Traci brings a background in Non-Profit Capital Campaign, Administrative, Outreach, and Donor Relations experiences to the Camp HOPE Board of Directors. Additionally, she has worked in the Early Childhood Education field for 30+ years, as a teacher, and more recently as an administrator.

Traci first attended Camp HOPE with her teenage son after the death of her husband in 2005. She felt compelled to return and volunteer at Camp HOPE due to a deep desire to reach and support others through their grief process.

She continues to support Camp because it aligns well with her passion to positively impact the lives of young children, and because of witnessing the lasting impact Camp HOPE has on all those it reaches.

Alexis Dean Jr. is a clean Hip-Hop artist, early childhood educator, author, AmeriCorps alumnus, DJ and Camp HOPE Board member. All these important commitments require creativity, compassion, love for teaching, attention to detail, and a desire to build community. His dream since a child has been to positively impact the world, and it started in his hometown of Milwaukee, WI.

When Alexis was seven years old his father was killed, but it wasn’t until adulthood that he was introduced to Camp for the first time. Since that first experience as a volunteer he has been devoted to helping as a frequent counselor, the DJ, and active member of the Board. 

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Rob is a geologist, educator, former environmental consultant, and has served as Academic Program Manager and lecturer in geosciences at UW-Milwaukee since 2003. After losing his young wife to cancer in 2001, Rob brought his 4 and 6 yr-old children to Camp, and found such great reward, that he’s returned every year for 20+ years, volunteering as a counselor to adults or children.

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Rob credits his willingness to ‘pay forward’ at Camp to the ‘gifts of sharing’ he received from others at Camp and to his late-wife’s willingness to share her cancer battle in a national documentary.  Since his loss, Rob has shared his story and advocated for caregivers through presentations to higher education, support groups, local and national cancer support organizations, and medical institutions.  He also served ~10 years as a camp volunteer for a local cancer support organization, and served as a coach or mentor in private organizations. Rob also brings his University experience in program management and fundraising to Camp, as well as his enthusiastic education and outreach experiences that span all ages of learners.

Carol enjoyed 25 years at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, initially employed as the Laboratory Supervisor in the Health Services. She completed her career in the Department of Clinical Science as an instructor and career counselor.

Carol is married to Fred and they have two daughters Katie and Abby, who reside in Colorado. It has been an honor for her to be a part of Camp HOPE.  As a member of the Board her support has been in fundraising and as a counselor at Camp.

In retirement she enjoy life on the lake, traveling and hiking.  She now have attained my most rewarding position as being “Mimi” to three beautiful grandchildren.

Fred Hebert has been retired from UW-Stevens Point for fifteen years.  Over the course of his thirty five year teaching/coaching career, Fred spent the last twenty five years at UW-Stevens Point, working as a teacher, coach, department chair, and associate dean. His teaching was in the area of health education, specifically dealing with: sexuality, drugs and alcohol, curriculum and teaching methods.

Fred has been actively involved with Camp HOPE since 2000 as a counselor, Board member and recently, as the director of the Camp HOPE annual golf outing. Fred has been married to his lovely wife Carol for 48 years and they have two daughters Katie and Abby.  His girls live in Denver, Colorado, which means a good deal of retired life is spent in that beautiful part of the world.

Recently retired, Marty served the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for 30 years holding positions as Provost, Dean, Professor, and Coach. His teaching and research were in the areas of stress management and grief and loss. He authored two books, one titled: Childhood Stress: A Handbook for Parents, Teachers and Therapists, Whole Person Associates, 2010; and, Losing a Parent to Suicide: Using Lived Experiences to Inform Bereavement Counseling, Routledge Publishing, 2013. 

Marty brings experiences with other non-profit boards, major gift fundraising, and is a member of the Camp HOPE Board of Directors. Marty is the husband of Becky Loy, and was her biggest volunteer and best camp counselor when Camp HOPE was founded in honor of their daughter Sara in 1989.

In addition to Sara, the Loys have four children; Emma, Ted, John and Maria. Maria now serves as the Executive Director of Camp HOPE. Marty and Becky were national recipients of the 2007 Champions of Children Award, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, which recognized their work with grieving children.

Founding Partner Chiro One Wellness Centers

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An author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist; Brett Penager has over 40 years of extraordinary success. Currently, Penager is a Founding Partner and owner of Medulla, LLC which provides support and services to comprehensive chiropractic care companies Chiro One Wellness Centers and MyoCore. Both are industry leaders in evidence-based, patient outcomes centered care. Medulla, LLC is the largest privately owned chiropractic healthcare organization in the world with over 160 offices nationwide and growing.

Brett sits on several nonprofit Boards including Camp HOPE, Logan's Heart and Smiles, and Beat The Streets Chicago. He’s been involved with Camp HOPE for over 30 years as a counselor, contributor, and Board member. He’s a sought-after business
consultant, inspirational speaker, and passionate about supporting others in discovering
their full potential.

Born and raised in the great state of Ohio, he now calls Chicago home where he resides with his wife Stephanie and daughter Mikayla.