Board of Directors - Bios

Ginger Williams - Executive Director

Ginger is a founding member of Edgewater Village Chicago where she focuses her efforts on results-oriented programs for older adults. Motivated by helping others, she brings her life experiences as a former registered nurse in psychiatry and geriatrics and directs them to supportive and practical goals. She sets her goals in alignment with the mission of Edgewater Village Chicago – to engage and support older adults. She chairs the Community Relations Committee, reaching out to aligned programs in our neighborhoods. She is the chief Editor for Edgewater Village’s newsletter. As a caseworker for former Alderman Harry Osterman in the 48th ward, she shares her values of compassion and understanding with a focus on housing and mental health issues. She has been an active volunteer for various community organizations and was named a Living Treasure of Edgewater by the Edgewater Historical Society in 2019. Photo courtesy of Edgewater Historical Society.

Rich Norman - President

Rich Norman is a retired Chicago Public Schools Principal at Nicholas Senn High School in Edgewater. He has lived in the community for 16 years. Rich studied history at Loyola University of Chicago. Rich also worked in the Beach and Pool (Lifeguard) Unit of the Chicago Park District for 25 years. He is a member of the Edgewater Historical Society and Friends of the Edgewater Library. He participates in the No Book Club and Coffee and Conversation programs sponsored by the Edgewater Village. Rich lives in Thorndale Beach North, also known as the Bob Newhart building. Rich joined the Board in July 2022. Current term expires September 30, 2026.

Gerhard Schutte - Vice President

Gerhard has taught anthropology and sociology at universities in South Africa, Germany and the United States. As a member of Edgewater Village Chicago, he enjoys working with the senior community sharing their life experiences and wisdom. It provides him with the opportunity to apply his lifelong interest and concern about race and ethnic relations and social inequality to the realities of our community. As a member of the Program Committee and the Community Relations Committee, he looks forward to fostering greater diversity in the membership of the Village and making it more representative of the larger geographic area it serves. Gerhard was appointed to the Board when it was initially formed in August 2018. Current term expires September 30, 2025.

Lisa Skemp - Secretary

Lisa is a Professor at Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing with a secondary appointment in the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health. As a gerontological nurse with expertise in ethnography and public health, she has worked in Wisconsin, Iowa, the Caribbean and south India on community programming to promote health. This has included the development of the culturally informed healthy aging community partnership model. Upon her move to Edgewater, she began collaborating with with community partners on local health-related projects. Lisa’s Health Systems Management students helped with an initial community survey and an intergenerational book club regarding “Blue Zones.” Lisa enjoys the rich experiences Edgewater Village Chicago provides for her students to not only destigmatize aging but foster intergenerational relationships and healthy aging. Lisa joined the Board in 2022. Current term expires September 30, 2025.

Tom Murphy - Treasurer

Tom is a founding member of Edgewater Village Chicago where he is the treasurer and a member of the Program Committee. He was attracted to the Village by the variety and quality of its programs. He is a retired scientist and has been involved directly and indirectly in bringing science-based programs to the Village. Tom likes the outdoors and has long been involved as a volunteer in the restoration of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. More recently, he joined the Chicago Park District’s Park Advisory Council for the new West Ridge Nature Preserve on Western Avenue where he serves as the site steward. His focus now is working with other EVC members to enhance the appeal of the Village to Chicago’s residents. Tom was appointed to the Board when it was formed in 2018. Current term expires September 30, 2025.

Chandra Jadhwani

Chandra Jadhwani (she/her) moved back to the city in 2021, after 40 years in the Western suburbs. Born in Mumbai, she landed in Chicago in 1974, and instantly fell in love with the views of the lake. She loves the vibrancy and diversity that Chicago has to offer! Upon retirement she "right sized" and circled back to Sheridan Road. She resides in the Malibu building, where she is an active member of the social committee.

She was introduced to Edgewater Village by the Senior Center at the Broadway Armory and was quickly taken in by the quality and variety of Edgewater Village’s programs. She enjoys serving on the program committee, where she can pursue her passion of promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for the seniors. In her spare time, she volunteers as an education guide for the Chicago Architecture Center and enjoys cooking healthy meals for her family. Chandra worked as a physical therapist for 50+ years and earned her master’s degree from Northwestern University. She joined the board in June 2024. Her current term expires September 2026.

Betsy Kane

Betsy is the chair of the Program Committee for Edgewater Village Chicago and is a founding member of the organization. A graphic designer, she created the Edgewater Village logo and has designed many of our program posters. As a member of the Program Committee, Betsy has planned and hosted most of our monthly social meet-ups at local restaurants. During the COVID shutdown she even hosted a series of Zoom “Quarantinis.” Betsy also volunteers with the Edgewater Historical Society and has been a board member of the West Andersonville Neighbors Together group. She joined the Board in October 2022. Current term expires September 30, 2026.

Kim Kaulas

Kim Kaulas is a retired landscape designer/contractor who has lived in the community for over 40 years. She has served on the board of Edgewater Glen Association for over 20 years as Garden Walk Chair and administrating several public parkway beautification programs for Edgewater organizations. She spearheaded EV Chicagos sponsorship of the monthly 'Flashback Dance Party' held in Andersonville’s Atmosphere Bar. She hopes to enjoy Edgewater Village programs and activities for many years to come. Kim joined the board in June 2024. Her current term expires in September 2026.

Katy Linehan

Katy is a member of the Program Committee for Edgewater Village Chicago and is the Adult Services Librarian at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library. Katy originally became involved with Edgewater Village Chicago through library programming and has enjoyed the variety of consistently high-quality presentations that Edgewater Village Chicago has provided to North Side residents. She will continue to support free or low-cost programming to all ages, but especially older adults, through her involvement on the Program Committee. Katy joined the Board in January 2020. Current term expires September 30, 2026.

David Miller

David Miller has lived in the Edgewater community for over 37 years. He is a recently retired board-certified life fellow healthcare executive with 40 years’ experience working in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and a hospice. David currently works part-time serving older adults as a Personal Assistant to several Clients in downtown Chicago. David serves on the Edgewater Village Program Committee, is a volunteer for the newly formed Memory Cafe, and participates in the No Book Club. David enjoys working out at a local fitness club, reading, traveling, art, and his hobby is gardening. He is also a volunteer on the evaluation committee at the Wild Onion Market, a new co-op grocery store that recently opened in Rogers Park. He joined the board in June 2024. His current term expires September 2026.