Scott Best
Scott Best joined the Common Pantry in June 2008 in the role of Pantry Director. Previous to the pantry, Scott was a Sr. Program Manager in the corporate world for a number of years. The opportunity to oversee the operations of the pantry has been a very rewarding experience that has connected him to the non-profit sector in Chicago , specifically in hunger eradication, in which Scott is pursuing a life long career. Scott has recently completed an MBA program at Loyola University and is excited about continuing the success of the pantry by serving clients coming for assistance and increasing the scope of services offered by Common Pantry.

Colleen Oliver
Colleen is the President of the Board of Directors of the Common Pantry. She is dedicated to giving back to the community where she has always lived. Her mother always said that things look a little brighter with a decent meal. Growing up with that philosophy cultivated her passion that no one should go hungry, which in turn brought her to the Common Pantry. Outside of her service at the Common Pantry, Colleen is an HR Manager for a local privately owned company.

David Brown
David Brown is the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Common Pantry and has been very active in the Roscoe Village/Lakeview community for more than a decade.  In addition to various volunteer and charitable activities, David has served on the Boards of Roscoe Village Neighbors and Epiphany United Church of Christ.  David is currently on the Board of Rogers Park Montessori School.

David is particularly passionate about ensuring that pockets of need in Chicago’s generally affluent north side are not overlooked or ignored.  David attended Northwestern University and subsequently received a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, concentrating in Housing and Community Development.  David has been in the commercial real estate business for 25 years and is president of Harrington Brown, LLC.

Suzanne Geier
Suzanne Geier moved to Chicago in 2007 from Alexandria, Virginia where she had lived for 25 years.  While in Virginia, Suzy was an active volunteer with a number of community and school-based organizations.  She feels fortunate to have found the Common Pantry to continue her community involvement in her new home town.  Suzy lives in the Lakeview community, which she loves. Suzy serves as the Financial Secretary of the Board of Directors.

Elizabeth Press
Elizabeth Press is  Chair of Fundraising for the Common Pantry.    Elizabeth has been been volunteering at Common Pantry since 2001.  She is a real estate broker with @properties. She lives in the neighborhood with her two sons.

Patrick Butler
Patrick Butler is a lifelong Chicagoan who covered the North Side since the 1960s as a reporter for the Lerner Newspapers. During that time he reported on everything from the 1968 Democratic National Convention riots to the Tax Reform Action Coalition’s ongoing efforts to curb skyrocketing property taxes. Over the years, Butler has interviewed President Jimmy Carter, entertainer Jerry Springer, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin, Sweden’s King Carl Gustav and Queen Sylvia, President Vitus Adamkus of Lithuania, and Irish patriot Jerry Adams. He is the author of a 1985 version of “The Saga of Lake View,” did the “North Side Neighbors” cable-TV show, and served as president of the Ravenswood/Lake View Historical Association from 1989 to 2004.

Vanessa Bechtel
Vanessa Bechtel is the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Common Pantry. Vanessa’s desire to give back and love of food motivated her to become involved with Common Pantry.  She enjoys being able to see the faces of those who benefit from Common Pantry’s efforts on Wednesday evenings.  Vanessa is an accountant and works at a financial services office.

Ericka Foster
Ericka is an active community member and and resident of Lakeview.  Ericka began volunteering with Common Pantry and joined the board to help give back to her community and assist neighbors in need.  As a practicing attorney, Ericka also is committed to pro bono legal work and regularly provides free legal services to local non-profits.

Holly Dwyer
Holly moved to Chicago six years ago to attend Loyola University, where she received a BA in Political Science. She has been active in many different charitable organizations in and around Chicago. A resident of Roscoe Village, she began volunteering at the Common Pantry a year ago because she wanted to give back locally. Holly is in training to be a Manager at Starbucks Coffee Company and hopes to one day get into Non-Profit Management.

Julie Hobert
Julie has been a neighbor of the Common Pantry for 19 years. She is on the board of the Northcenter Neighborhood Association, currently serving as it’s President. Through Epiphany Church, she has served Wednesday night community meals for 10 years. She founded Common Community, a program that helps clients of the Common Pantry and is thrilled to have it grow under the guidance of the Common Pantry. She has 4 kids, and draws and paints in her spare time.