We are here to start something

Lisa Morel Las
Chief Executive Officer

In August 2004, Lisa Morel Las was named Chief Executive Officer and is only the third person to lead Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties. Lisa came to Big Brothers Big Sisters with 30 years of public relations, marketing, public affairs and fund-raising experiences in a government, education and health care.

She previously served as District Administrator for Illinois Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, and as the Director of Public Administration & Information for Will County State's Attorney James W. Glasgow. Lisa wrote the grant for Will County's first drug court program and coordinated the activities of the Will County Domestic Violence Commission, the Will County Child Advocacy Advisory Board and the Douglas C. Petan Crime Victims Assistance Commission. She was also instrumental in the lobbying efforts for all of the state's attorney's successful legislative initiatives.

Lisa earned a Bachelor's degree in Government from Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame and a Master's degree in Counseling from Loyola University, Chicago. She also completed post-graduate business administrative courses for not-for-profit organizations at the University of Notre Dame. 

She was honored by the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce with the 2012 ATHENA AWARD, and by the Joliet Catholic Academy Alumni Association with the 2011 Career Achievement Award. 

Lisa is a member of the Rotary Club of Joliet, Will County Take Back the Night, the Zonta Club of Joliet  and the Holly Club, and she serves on the Board of Directors for the Will County Children's Advocacy Center. She is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Will County Sunny Hill TB Sanatorium Board of Directors, United Cerebral Palsy of Will County, Family Counseling Agency, Child Care Resource and Referral, St. Paul the Apostle School, and the Joliet Diocesean Board of Education. She also served as past chairperson of the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School. As a Joliet community access cable TV volunteer, Lisa has produced numerous cable television shows on historic preservation, domestic violence, child safety on the Internet, juvenile justice reforms and political candidate forums.

Lisa is proudest of her role as mother to Lauren, a 2008 graduate of Harvard University where she was a four-year, NCAA Division I volleyball athlete.

Suzanne Vilt, M.S.W.
Program Manager, Enrollment & Match Specialist

Suzanne Vilt of Plainfield, provides performance management supervision of the program staff along with her Enrollment & Matching role for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Laurie Keigher
Director of Finance

Laurie came to Big Brothers Big Sisters after retiring from the United Way of Will County where she served 12-years as their Finance Director. Prior to that she was employed by several local Accounting firms. With 34 years of accounting experience she brings a wealth of knowledge to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will & Grundy Counties. She has been secured by BBBS as a part time Director of Finance. She is responsible for the preparation of Payroll and related tax returns, A/P, A/R, Financial Statements and to assist where needed.

Lisa A. Hellman, M.A.
Major Gifts Officer

With nearly two decades of development and marketing experience, Lisa A. Hellman joins the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties team as Major Gifts Officer. A professional fundraiser who has local, state, national and international experience, including Midwestern University, Special Olympics, Alzheimer's Association and Lions Clubs International Foundation, Lisa is responsible for securing donations to support the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Lisa previously worked closely with communities and individuals in Will and Grundy Counties as the Centennial Specialist at Joliet Junior College, where she was responsible for marketing, educating and fundraising for its 100^th year anniversary. Additionally, Lisa serves as the elected Vice President of the Suburban Chicago Planned Giving Council.

Lisa has a long relationship with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Lisa and her husband Michael, who is a partner at the Chicago law firm Anesi, Ozmon, Rodin, Novak and Kohen chaired Bowl For Kids' Sake at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fox Valley (Elgin) for two years which resulted in Lisa joining the Board of Directors.

Lisa has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology and has completed additional post-graduate work in Education at Northern Illinois University. Lisa is an active animal rights activist who volunteers for Chicago-based American Animal Rescue Society and Companion Animal Protection Society. Lisa has several companion animals that she and her husband have rescued. Lisa also enjoys travel, church and visiting her family who all live out of state.