Board

Ivan Solis | Chairman

Ivan Solis is President of Solis Construction, a Chicago based commercial general contractor founded in 1994. Solis specializes in interior build-outs, new construction and renovations of office spaces, retail, banks, schools, restaurants, clinics, multi-family buildings and light industrial facilities. In addition to its local portfolio, Solis has completed projects in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Mr. Solis’ civic engagement includes serving on the board of directors of the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA). Ivan was elected to HACIA’s Board in 2009 and he has served as Board President since 2013. In addition, Mr. Solis has served on the Catholic Charities regional advisory Board for the south region since 2010. He also serves on the Board of the Latino Worker Safety Center (LWSC), a nonprofit that provides multilingual workplace safety training. Ivan has been honored to serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure

P.S. Sriraj | Board Member

Terrence P. Fitzmaurice | Board Member

Terrence P. Fitzmaurice became Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer of Painters’ District Council #14 on January 1, 2005.

Mr. Fitzmaurice is also currently a Trustee on the Chicago Painters and Decorators Welfare Fund and Pension Fund, Vice President on the Executive Board of the Chicago & County Building & Construction Trades Council, Board Member of the Chicago Federation of Labor, and the Chairman of the Committee on Political Education with the CFL.

William S. Habel | Vice Chairman

William Habel is an Assistant Business Manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker Local Union 701.

Mr. Habel, his wife Judy and their two daughters, Stefanie and Lauren, have lived in Naperville for over twenty years. Mr. Habel has served on Naperville’s Building Review Board. Mr. Habel is also a commissioner for the DuPage County Ethics Commission.

Mr. Habel received his Bachelor’s degree from the National Labor College and a Master’s of Science Degree from George Mason University.

Charles R. Bowen | Board Member

Mr. Charles (Chuck) Bowen served as the link that connected the African American Communities to the City of Chicago through the Daley Administration. Before his retirement in December 2004, Mr. Bowen served as the Executive Assistant and Senior Cabinet Member to Mayor Richard M. Daley. As the Liaison for the Religious Leadership in the Metropolitan Area, he worked specifically with ministers to connect them with city government.

Born in Atlanta, Mr. Bowen moved to Chicago with his family at age 6. His political career began when he joined an organization called the Young Democrats. His people skills prepared him for 23 years in the private sector at Importers Somerset, one of the leading producers of beverages. He also worked as a liaison for the NAACP and the Urban League, served a 4-year term as Deputy Clerk of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, was elected to a 4-year term on the Cook County Board and during his tenure there, developed the first 30’s set-aside affirmative action program, which for the first time included women and minority participation in all county contracts.

Mr. Bowen and his wife of over 50 years, Verna, live in the Bronzeville area of Chicago where he is a passionate collector of African and African-American art, a member of the Coalition of Religious Leaders of Illinois, the Concerned Clergy For A Better Chicago, Civic Leaders of the Chicagoland Area, and founding member of the National African American Military Museum.

Terry Sullivan | Board Member

Terrence Sullivan was appointed to the Illinois International Port District Board of Directors in 2009 by Governor Quinn. Mr. Sullivan has over forty years experience in construction, facilities, and personnel management. He has also worked extensively in community building and relations. Mr. Sullivan is a resident of Orland Park.

Henry Wisniewski | Board Member

Henry V. Wisniewski, C.S.R. served in the United States Army from 1969 to 1972. Attended United States Army Transportation School, Fort Eustis, Virginia receiving a diploma to be a Transportation Movements Specialist. Served in Headquarters US Army Terminal Command, Thailand as a Transportation Control and Documentation Specialist. Served in US Army Combat Development Command Personnel and Logistic Systems Group, Fort Lee, Virginia as an aide to Brigadier General Ross R. Condit Jr. Additionally, Mr. Wisniewski graduated from Chicago College of Commerce with an Associate Degree in Business with a major in Court and Convention Reporting and is a Licensed Certified Shorthand Reporter.

Mr. Wisniewski is a life-long resident of Chicago and is married with three children.

Averil Edwards | Board Member

Averil Edwards is Managing Counsel – Environmental, Health & Safety at United Airlines, Inc., where she advises and represents the Company on all environmental and sustainability matters, occupational health and safety, and food safety regulatory matters. Ms. Edwards is also a member of United Airlines Legal Department’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee and Co-Chair of the Department’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. She is an alumni of the Chicago Urban League's IMPACT Leadership Development Program in partnership with The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a 2016 Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, and serves on the leadership team for United’s multicultural business resource group. Ms. Edwards received a B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Oakwood University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. She serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors of Ladies of Virtue, a non-profit organization focused on improving the lives of girls in Chicago’s underserved communities.

Danielle Metzler-Cassel | Board Member

Danielle Meltzer Cassel is a practicing attorney with 20+ years of experience dedicated to transactional real estate, land use, public incentives, and business licensing. Her work has spanned a wide range of urban and suburban contexts and included mixed-use developments, retail, office, hotel, entertainment, sports/health facilities, hospitals, schools, universities, residential, religious institutions, manufacturing, distribution and commercial signage. The elite Legal 500 United States lists Ms. Cassel as a "Leading Lawyer," nationally, in Real Estate and Construction-Land Use/Zoning. Ms. Cassel has been selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, named as a Leading Illinois Commercial Real Estate Lawyer by Leading Lawyers Network and recognized as an "up and coming" lawyer (Illinois Real Estate category) in Chambers USA , which noted her "phenomenal brain and terrific client skills.”