DuPage Foundation is pleased to welcome the following members to its board, approved at the September 15 Board of Trustees meeting:
Richard G. Cline Jr. has over 30 years of experience in real estate investments, lending and asset management and is currently a managing partner and a co-founder of Calzada. Prior to forming Calzada in 2013, he served as Hometown America’s senior vice president and director of acquisitions from 1998 through 2001, before serving as CEO through his retirement in December 2011. Prior to joining Hometown America, he held various positions with Heller Financial, Inc., JMB Realty Corporation, and The First National Bank of Chicago. Cline, a Wheaton resident, earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of Calzada and oversees the Partnership’s investments, including serving on the advisory boards of nine portfolio companies. Cline will serve on the Foundation’s Grant Committee.
Julie W. Curran is a retired senior executive with 30-plus years of experience in program development and management, business strategy and financial management. Her experience includes human resources, change and program management, revenue and expense management and partner governance. She was recognized in the Business Ledger, among “Women of Influence” and among the “Most Powerful Women in Banking” for “Top Banking Team” from 2010 through 2016 from U.S. Banker. Curran has sizable experience in community leadership and fundraising through board engagement in human services, education, community development and the arts from organizations including Elmhurst University, Choose DuPage and Arts DuPage, a DuPage Foundation initiative. Curran is a Hinsdale resident and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from Northwestern University and an MBA with an emphasis in accounting and finance from the University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Robert L. Fernandez is a Partner in the Corporate Department of Latham & Watkins LLP, where he advises clients on corporate and real estate transactions across the United States, with a particular focus on acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, finance, commercial leasing, and real estate development. Prior to joining Latham & Watkins in 2019, he was a partner at Dentons US LLP, where he served as the chair of its Real Estate Department and served on the firm’s U.S. Board of Directors. Fernandez currently serves as the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Downers Grove Economic Development Corporation, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Civic Federation. He is a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and has been a fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago since 2013. Fernandez served as a member of the State of Illinois Medical Disciplinary Review Board from 2007 to 2010 and was recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as a member of its 40 Under 40 Class in 2013 and its 2018-2022 lists of Most Influential Minority Lawyers in Chicago. He received his bachelor’s degree from DePaul University, with high honors, and his juris doctorate from Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law. Fernandez lives in Downers Grove with his wife and four daughters. Fernandez will serve on the Arts DuPage, Board Development and Bylaws committees.
Braden N. Waverley has served in multiple leadership roles, ranging from early stage technology companies to Global 100 enterprises and is currently the COO at RAY-ALLEN Inc., a global provider of information technology asset management and recurring revenue solutions. Prior to RAY-ALLEN, he was the COO of CyFIR, LLC, a Virginia-based cyber security software company serving global enterprise customers in the finance, government and technology sectors. Waverley is the founder and managing director of ABW Holdings, LLC where he has invested in multiple private placements over the past 15 years. Prior to his experience as a public company CFO, he worked with multiple private equity and venture capital firms on transactions throughout the investment cycle. Waverley serves on DuPage Foundation’s Investment Committee and is a board member of the School District 181 Foundation. He previously served as chairman of board of The Community House in Hinsdale, where he resides. Waverley earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Anyone interested in serving on DuPage Foundation’s Board of Trustees should contact Office Manager Karen Vicary at 630-665-5556 or karen@dupagefoundation.org.
