Board of Directors
Paula Elliott
President 
Michael Garrity
Vice-President 
Bennett Dixon
Treasurer 
Diana Alberts
Secretary 
Vicky Fligel
Rodriguez Gray
Kahinde Longmire
Sara Master
Mike Ostermeier
Norm Smith
Richard Smith
John Swicegood
Susan Syriac
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Paula Elliott is currently the President of the ChiME Board of Directors. She has served on the Board since 2020 and has a passion for the mission and focus of ChiME. She had a long career in Healthcare Finance and IT, spending the last 35 years in consulting. Her strengths lie in large scale project management and organizational change. She enjoys team building and creating a collaborative work environment. She has two bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Business Education and an MBA in systems management.
Michael Garrity has been a board member of ChiME since 2019. In his professional life Michael currently focuses on delivering labor relations and human resource solutions in higher education. Michael found his way to the ChiME Board through participation in the OnBoard program hosted by the Arts and Business Council of Chicago. Having grown up on the Northwest side of Chicago, Michael finds satisfaction in knowing his work with ChiME is helping to provide Chicago area children with music access that may not be otherwise available to them.
Bennett Dixon is a West Town neighbor, which is how he first discovered ChiME some ten years ago. Each of Bennett's children became ChiME students beginning at the age of six months (Twinkle Tots, Beat Explorers and Rhythm Explorers) then continued learning their instrument of choice (one violin and the other guitar). Bennett joined the ChiME board in 2022 and has served as its Treasurer since 2023. In his professional life, Bennett is a brand marketing consultant and in his personal life, he enjoys playing golf, playing music and spending time with his family.
Diana Alberts is a healthcare leader with over 25 years of service in the hospital and consulting industry. Diana brings experience in leadership, team development, process improvement, and building service cultures. She is passionate about developing community, giving back, and succeeding together. She believes that music is a thread with the potential to tie all that is good together for the health of our community. With a heart for service, Diana values the work of ChiME and the exponential impact it has on its students, their families, and society. Growing up in a rural area, Diana understands the importance of providing everyone access to music programs. She has personally experienced the impact that music programs can have on self and social growth, character development, and confidence. Serving on the ChiME Board is a natural extension of Diana’s desire to give back in a purposeful way that positively changes lives for the community it serves and beyond.
Vicky Fligel is a parent of a current ChiME student from the Buddy Band program, who “shines through music.” Her son has been diagnosed with Williams Syndrome and has diverse learning needs. His affinity for music helps him learn and acquire new skills. Vicky’s desire is to provide accessibility to music education to all kids with varying backgrounds and learning styles. With a degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition as well as an MBA in International Business and Marketing, Vicky will bring to ChiME her vast experience that encompasses all aspects of growing and developing markets, launching new products and technologies, creating value propositions, building new relationships, and driving innovation. She currently serves as the Senior Director of Global Business Development at Griffith Foods.
Rodriguez Gray has enjoyed a long career as a consultant, having partnered with primarily healthcare companies, small businesses, and non-profit organizations to provide project management and advisory services. He holds degrees in Computer Science, Business Administration, and Non-Profit Business Administration. Typically he delivers strategic planning, program development, leadership training/team building, capacity building, and project implementation. He has volunteered for ChiME in the past year, having helped with facility projects and Gala planning.
Kahinde Longmire is a dedicated education leader with over 30 years of experience, passionately advocating for children’s success. Holding a BA in Education from Trinity Christian College and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Chicago State University, she has committed her career to fostering equitable and inspiring learning environments. Starting as a teacher on Chicago’s west side, Kahinde rose to assistant principal and principal roles in Chicago Public Schools, championing innovation and inclusivity for over 30 years. As Principal of McCutcheon STEAM Elementary, she has transformed the school into a celebrated STEAM Demonstration Site. Honored with the CPS Game Changer Award and nominated as a Cahn Fellowship Leader, Kahinde’s impact extends citywide. A lifelong lover of music, Kahinde believes deeply in the power of the arts to enrich and empower young minds. She is thrilled to serve on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Center for Music Education (ChiME), where she looks forward to helping expand access to high-quality music education for all children. Kahinde’s passion for music and commitment to equity align perfectly with ChiME’s mission, and she is excited to help inspire the next generation of musicians and creative thinkers.
Sara Hall Master is a past ChiME student, a parent of a past student, and a self-proclaimed music lover. She holds a degree in English Education and an MBA in Marketing Management. As an innovative leader, mentor, and ally, she aspires to be an organizational change agent in all her roles. Employed by Constellation Brands, Inc. she currently serves as Director of Digital Business Acceleration and GenAI, where she is focused on developing generative AI strategy and leading operations for the Digital Business Acceleration team. Sara is committed to non-profit work; she is the founder of a 24/7 accessible food pantry hosted at Near North Montessori School in Chicago, and a past member of the Junior Board of the Art Institute of Chicago. She also co-led Constellation Brands’ Business Resource Group for Women and was a member of the Global Inclusion Council.
Mike Ostermeier has been a ChiME Board member since 2024. He has been in the Healthcare IT industry
for over 40 years both as a consultant and then as part of a large nationwide not-for-profit Healthcare provider. When not working he has been involved with music and sports organizations teaching children not only music/sports skills but self-confidence, teamwork, and long-term life skills. He is proud to be working with everyone associated with ChiME as their energy, dedication, and enthusiasm creates a great opportunity for the children in the West Town and Chicago communities. Norm D. Smith, MD, FACS, and his family started their musical journey with ChiME when their first-born son was 8 years old and asked for guitar lessons. Shaan has Williams syndrome and from a young age showed strong affinity and deep emotional connection to music. Soon the whole family was involved, with Shaan’s three younger sisters all taking both guitar and voice lessons at Chime from age 4 until high school graduation. The girls blossomed into very talented guitarists and singers with various involvements in choir, musical theatre, open mics, and college acapella groups, with the oldest two even playing original music in a rock band with another former Chime student.
Richard Smith has a long and distinguished career as a school administrator and teacher.
Following his work as a special education teacher and school psychologist, Dr. Smith has held positions within the Chicago Public Schools as a School Principal, Chief Network Officer and Chief Officer for the Office of Special Education and Supports (now Office for Students with Disabilities). Dr. Smith was an award-winning School Principal, including being the recipient of the Chicago Public Schools Outstanding Principal Award. In 2013 the street in front of the school where Dr. Smith was the principal was renamed “Dr. Richard G. Smith Way” in his honor. For the past 10 years Dr. Smith has been a leadership coach/mentor for The Illinois Principals Association, working with aspiring, new and experienced school administrators. He is also a frequent presenter for the Illinois Administrator Academy. Since his retirement Dr. Smith has been an Administrator- in-Charge at multiple schools, an interim Chief Network Officer, an interim Officer for the Office of Students with Disabilities and interim Chief of Schools. Dr. Smith is also a varsity baseball coach at Mather High School. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Psychology, a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education from Northern Illinois University, and a Masters Degree in Special Education from National Louis University. John Swicegood brings 20 years of experience in finance and technology to the board, having worked at J.P. Morgan and Citadel Securities.He fell in love with ChiME's mission shortly after his daughter enrolled in the school's private lesson program and is proud to have been on the board since 2015. John received a B.S. in European Studies and Music from Vanderbilt University and an M.A. from the University of Chicago, where he concentrated on public health policy. He enjoys reading, cooking, backgammon, and playing saxophone when he’s not spending time with his wife and daughter.
Susan Syriac is a parent of two ChiME students and an avid supporter of early childhood music education. She was introduced to the limitless possibilities of self and social growth through music when her two kids started learning music education through Beat and Rhythm Explorer classes six years ago at ChiME. A master’s graduate, both in Software Engineering(National University of Singapore) and in Business Administration (University of Michigan), and a Certified Information Security Manager, she serves as a Senior Manager at Abbott Laboratories. At Abbott, a multinational, she leads manufacturing and supply chain cybersecurity programs. Susan is a results and relationship-oriented leader with a proven record of success in implementing innovative and trust-building information technology and cyber risk strategies and programs at large global companies for over two decades. An innovative thinker and analytical problem solver with an understanding of multiple cultural nuances, developed through living and working internationally, she feels honored to get the opportunity to apply her skills and experience to make an impact and help ChiME grow and thrive.
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Board Member Emeriti
John Doty
Sylvia Pozarnsky
Peggy Wise, Founder
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John Doty joined the Board of Directors of ChiME in 2008 and actively participated in finding the right leadership for the school. He served as President of the Board for 6 of the 12 years he was active. He is a strong believer that learning about music at an early age develops critical skills and promotes self-esteem and social growth. He considers himself a decent hand drummer who is occasionally seen with a local band and leads a drum circle at Fourth Presbyterian Church. John earned his MBA in Finance from Oklahoma State University and lives in Streeterville with his wife.
John and his wife Sue Hed Doty are currently the owners of Vanguard Cleaning Systems of Chicago, a master franchise of Vanguard Cleaning Systems, Inc. Vanguard's franchisees provide commercial contract office cleaning services across the Chicagoland area. Before starting his own business John was a Technology Program Manager for the US Treasury, McDonald's, and Accenture. Earlier in his career, he worked in oil and gas pipeline project management and spent several years living and working around the world, including stints in Singapore, Dubai, Iran, Brazil, and Alaska. Sylvia Pozarnsky has supported ChiME for almost 40 years, and has twice served on the Board. She has had a life-long interest in music, starting with piano lessons at age 6, playing the saxophone through high school, and majoring in music at the University of Iowa. After a brief stint in music publishing, she had successful career in personal tax and financial planning, ultimately becoming a partner at Ernst & Young in Chicago, where she was introduced to ChiME (then called the Suzuki-Off School for Young Musicians) by a friend who was on the Board. Sylvia understood from her own experience the value of music in children’s lives, and she was intrigued by the mission of the School. She first joined the Board in the late 1980s, and served on the Board for 10 years, including serving as Board Chair during the time when the School was searching for a permanent home and purchased the current building.
Sylvia joined the Board again in the early 2000s to help the School navigate difficult times. She could see the impact on the lives of children and their families in many ways, and wanted to make sure ChiME remained viable for a long time in the future. Peggy Wise is the founder and retired executive director of ChiME, then known as the Suzuki-Orff School of Music. In 1981 Ms. Wise was invited to bring the Suzuki-Orff program into Chicago from its origin at the Music Institute of Chicago to fill a void in the music education of inner city children. 15 families of diverse backgrounds were invited into her tuition-free program in the Cabrini Green neighborhood. Instruction included individual instrument lessons through the Suzuki method and group Orff classes. In 1986 Ms. Wise expanded the school’s programming by establishing a partnership with the Chicago Public Schools to deliver literacy-enhancing music curricula that she had created. Later she expanded the school’s offering further by adding an early childhood program.
Ms. Wise holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin and received her Orff-Schulwerk certification at the DePaul School of Music in Chicago, IL. She has been a guest clinician at workshops and institutes throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and Central America and has addressed the Suzuki Teachers' Conference, the National Guild of Community Schools, the Illinois PTA, and the Chicago Association for the Education of Young Children. Ms. Wise conducted music in-service teacher training sessions for classroom teachers in the Chicago Public Schools, instructing them on the daily use of music in the classroom as a natural outgrowth of the curriculum. She also conducted enrichment courses for music teachers on effective methods of teaching note reading. Ms. Wise co-authored Ready, Set, READ!, a teaching manual for note-reading and musicianship skills in 1975, and in 1986 wrote accompanying workbooks for children, Tap, Clap, and Sing! Books 1 and 2. Ms. Wise was a member of the U.S. Department of Education Task Force on Early Childhood Education and the Art: Birth to Eight and the Kohl Children's Museum Music Garden Advisory Council. She also served on the Youth Education Committee of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Alliance for Arts in Education Citizens Committee, the Chicago Research Symposium Committee for Arts in Education, and the Working Together West Town Committee to build community through the arts. Ms. Wise served on the 2009 NEA Music/Opera Grant Panel. She is herself a Suzuki parent of four. In 2015, Ms. Wise partnered with the Institute of Therapy Through the Arts in founding Musical Bridges to Memory, a program working with dementia patients. Beginning in residential locations, a pilot has been delivered to those living at home with early stage dementia, and the program is now in a research phase with Northwestern University. |
