Board of Directors
Our rockstar Board of Directors supports our growth in so many ways – solid governance, strategic guidance, fundraising, advocacy and ambassadorship.
BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Laura Sutphen
Golin
Managing Director, Social Impact + Inclusion
TPMS fills an expression gap for Chicago kids. It weds music with confidence and pride and expands the ability of students to think bigger across a variety of subjects. There is also a human-led intimacy that TPMS delivers – you feel like you are a part of something moving, something deeply personal and you feel that energy from every staff member. It’s a catalyst for change with a unique vision, rooted in a unique history, and prepares kids for a rich future.
Laura Sutphen
“Music has been a central part of my life since I was an infant,” says Laura. “My dad is an accomplished (and self-taught) piano player, and he used to lay me on top of the piano when I was as young as 2 months so I could feel the vibration of the music. He and my mom used to sing old Blood Sweat & Tears, and Stevie Wonder songs to help me learn my first words. I started with piano at the age of 4; began voice/singing in kindergarten; added the viola in 2nd grade, and then learned the harmonium as an adult. I even fell in love with my now husband in back middle school, over a curated mix tape he slipped into my notebook in 1984.
“Music expanded my heart and my mind and has made me a more creative adult. Today our house is filled with guitars, there’s music playing literally every day, my son is learning guitar, and I proudly display the viola I started playing when I was 7. As a professional, I worked in the charter school movement for over a decade, opening schools in communities across California, many of which had both arts and music programming and I got to watch firsthand (and sometimes join in on) the music classes alongside students from Compton, Watts, Oakland and Stockton.”
The People’s Music School is “the ‘perfect storm’ of rich legacy, authentic founding story born out of passion, grit, and creating true impact to bring music into the lives of more kids,” says Laura.
“There is nothing more powerful than watching a young person’s face change when they are lit from within after feeling how music can move his/her/their hearts. The TPMS mission and work is an extension of how I try to walk in the world every day, so I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”
The People’s Music School Board of Directors
Juanna Blackwell
TRANSFIX
Michael Buck*
Driehaus Capital Management LLC
Uma Chandrasekaran
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Kevin Dolan, Secretary
Retired
Ellen Feldman
Community volunteer
Gary Hart
Mowery & Schoenfeld
Emerald-Jane “EJ” Hunter
myWHY Agency
Joe Idaszak
Brookfield Asset Management
Carolyn Jaw
Federal Home Loan Bank
Nalini Kotamraju
Salesforce
Julie Lopez
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Adam Lucas, Treasurer
Concentric Equity Partners
Stephanie Macakanja, Vice Chair
BlackSheep General Store
Nancy Power
Ariel Investments
Steven Shaw, Board Chair
Verizon
Peter Sheren
Goldman Sachs
Laura Sutphen
The Golin Group
Cecilia VanGetson
Community volunteer
Rob Whiteman
Better Future Advisors LLC
Cici Zheng
ParkerGale, LLC
* indicates Lifetime Trustee
Interested in learning about Board Service?
This group is a great fit for individuals looking to be leaders at a fast-paced, professionally managed nonprofit. We welcome your interest and invite you to explore whether the Board or a Board Committee position might be the right fit for you.
