Board of Directors
Percy Bell , Reformed Jewish
Percy Bell is the chairperson for the environment committee of Beth Emet Synagogue in Evanston, Illinois. Percy has been active with Faith in Place since its founding. He has a myriad of experience as a senior executive in management, and is a member of the Round Table Group. This group has over 3,000 international speakers on subjects such as law and business.
Cynthia Bowman , United Church of Christ
Cynthia Bowman is a consultant and teacher specializing in tax preparation, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and faith-based community development. She has held positions with major corporations, including Touche Ross, Sara Lee Corporation, GATX and Trinity United Church of Christ.
She earned a Master's in Community Development from North Park University, a Bachelor's in Accounting, Management and Entrepreneurship, from the U. of Illinois, and is an alumnus of Harvard University's Summer Leadership Institute.
Cynthia is a published author, an avid art collector, loves to travel and experience new cultures, and is passionate about issues relating to politics, social justice and authentic empowerment. She is a member of Trinity United Church of Christ and a native of Chicago's Bronzeville community.
Dr. Suzanne Canfield , Episcopalian
Dr. Suzanne Booker-Canfield is a writer, editor, and educator who has worked in the fields of communications and finance. As Vice Chairman of National Affairs and Legislation for The Garden Club of America, she covers climate change issues. She also chairs the U.S. Mentoring Program for Linacre College, Oxford. At Christ Church, Winnetka, Suzanne serves as a lay Eucharistic minister and co-chairs the green committee. With a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Asheville (summa cum laude) and an M.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she was a Richard M. Weaver Fellow at Linacre College, University of Oxford and received her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Alison Gerlach Blaser , Presbyterian
Alison Gerlach Blaser is a commercial account executive with Wells Fargo Insurance Services where she works to meet the insurance and risk management needs of architects and engineers. A docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Alison appreciates and shares her enthusiasm for the vibrant urban landscape that is Chicago. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College and received her Masters in Liberal Studies degree from the University of Minnesota, where she wrote her thesis on the development and influence of the architectural profession. A life-long Presbyterian, she is a member of Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago where she is a deacon and chair of that congregation’s Care of Creation Committee.
Rashmi Ramaswamy , Hindu
Rashmi Ramaswamy is a principal at Shed Studio in Chicago, a new architectural and sustainable design collaborative. She has worked as an architect in Chicago for 12 years, and has a diverse background in architecture, education , public housing and environmental issues. Rashmi worked for 9 years at McBride Kelley Baurer as project manager and senior associate prior to opening Shed Studio with Mike Newman. She has also been involved in several projects for non-profit clients including a campus for at-risk teens, a transitional shelter for women, HUD 202 senior housing and a day care facility. She has also worked on an assortment of projects for faith based clients. Rashmi is a LEED professional, and a USGBC member.
Cyrus Rivetna , Zoroastrian
Cyrus Rivetna is principal architect at Rivetna Architects, Inc. His portfolio includes municipal buildings, commercial, hospitality, multi-family housing and high-end single-family homes, and a new Zoroastrian center in the Dallas area. He previously worked in Ahmedabad, India as a senior architect at Sangath, the office of noted architect Shri. Balkrshina Doshi. There he gained a profound understanding of traditional building techniques to naturally cool a building. Cyrus studied at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. An avid photographer, his photographs have been published in the Chicago Tribune and exhibited in art galleries. Cyrus is an active member of the Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Chicago and is on the board of directors for Sacred Space International.
Nancy Garcia , Vice President of Mission Services
Nancy Garcia works as Vice President of Mission Services for Provena Life Connections—a non-profit constellation of long term care, home care, hospice and senior housing services in Illinois and Indiana. She is responsible for ethics, spiritual health, community outreach, diversity and mission integration in the workplace. She is a Board Certified Chaplain through the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. She received her Master in Theological Studies from the University of Dallas. She is an advocate for environmental sustainability in healthcare services. Nancy relaxes through travel, cooking, and designing jewelry.
Rand Sparling , Investment Advisor
Rand and his wife Adrienne Meisel reside in Chicago, Illinois. He retired in 1999 as President and Chief Financial Officer of First Chicago Capital Markets. Rand was educated at Princeton University and at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In his professional experience, he participated in financing a variety of large and small business while living and working in New York, San Francisco, Brussels and Chicago. Having moved into the City of Chicago some twenty-seven years ago Rand developed a series of active interests in preserving and protecting clean air, clean water, wild life, open spaces and their supporting systems in the City of Chicago. He has also been active in several environmental groups including the Sierra Club where he has held local, state and national positions. He recently completed four years as President of the Illinois Environmental Council, a group representing a number of environmental organizations and concerned citizens in Illinois.
Loving the wild places, he and his wife go backpacking and exploring in the high Sierras, the Rocky Mountains, in Cordillera Azul in Peru as well as well as kayaking, biking and skiing here and there. He has four children and ten grandchildren and is happy to share his interests with them.
James Vroman , Attorney (retired)
James Vroman retired from the practice of law after 33 years, on January 1, 2011. He began his legal career in 1977, after graduating from the University of Illinois College of Law, as an associate at Winston and Strawn. He became a partner at Winston in 1984 and then joined Jenner and Block as a Partner in 1993. Before attending law school, Jim was a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
In 1986 Jim began to focus his practice on environmental law and it remained his focus until retirement. Although he primarily represented business and commercial clients, he was also able to provide critical pro bono assistance (through the Jenner and Block program) for groups such as the Alliance for the Great Lakes, the Glenview Prairie Preservation Association and the Pierce Downer Heritage Alliance.
While his four children were young, Jim volunteered with scouting, sports activities and Sunday School. He is currently an Elder at Hope Presbyterian Church in Wheaton. He and his wife Susan live in Wheaton.
