Committees
CEPC 2025 - 2026 Committees Listing
Annual Outing Committee
Meetings/Conference Calls up to 4 times each year (May, June, July and October)
- Outing is scheduled in August - Ravinia Green Country Club in Riverwoods, IL
- August 18, 2025
- Outing Events include:
- Golf – Scramble Format
- Tennis – Round Robin Format
- Pickleball – Round Robin Format
- Lunch
- Reception
- Prize Table (everyone attending gets to select a prize)
- Calcutta Drawing (for cash prizes)
- Committee members assist with various tasks including:
- Soliciting sponsorships
- Soliciting items for the ‘Gift’ bag
- Shopping for gifts for the prize table
- Planning and Running golf and tennis events
- Volunteering at the registration desk
- Volunteering to stuff 'Gift' bags
- Reviewing Signage on Course
- Other outing tasks
- Commit to attend the CEPC Annual Outing
Diana Larson, Chair
Reed Smith
Afton Gauron, Chair/Board Liaison
Diversity Committee
Meets Quarterly
The Diversity Committee is focused on improving all forms of diversity by:
- Recruiting and retaining members who increase CEPC’s diversity; and
- Encouraging students in universities to enter the field.
To ensure we are building a culture of belonging where everyone feels respected, we define diversity broadly. Diversity includes the visible and invisible differences in who we are such as race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability.
During the year, there are several ways committee members can get involved.
- Emerging Leader Program. Started in 2019, this program gives individuals with less than two years’ estate planning experience membership in CEPC for two years, substantive mentoring, and an opportunity to become involved in the work and future leadership of CEPC.
- Members volunteer to:
- Review applications;
- Greet Emerging Leaders and Emerging Members (including law students) at luncheons and events; and serve as a mentor.
- Members volunteer to:
- Student Outreach Program. This program serves to encourage students at local law schools and business schools to enter the field. Members volunteer to:
- Coordinate panel discussions; and
- Participate on panels.
The panels are held usually during the Fall and Spring semester and are in-person or virtual, depending upon the school’s preference.
- Annual Networking Breakfast. This program is held to celebrate the end of tax season and is co-hosted by the Diversity, Membership, Networking and Welcome committees. Members volunteer to:
- Invite potential members;
- Attend the event; and
- During the event, greet members at the registration desk, serve as an ambassador to answer questions for attendees or both.
There are often other opportunities to ensure all feel welcome.
Keyana Payne, Chair
Goldstine, Skrodzki, Russian, Nemec and Hoff, Ltd.
Tel: (630) 655-6000
Email: kjp@gsrnh.com
Jessica Handy-Burris, Vice Chair
Law Office of Jessica Handy-Burris
Tel: (312) 852-9841
Email: jessica@lawofficeofjhb.com
Aisha Fashawe, Past Chair
Reetu Pepoff, Board Liaison
Membership Committee
Meets 3 -5 per year
- Goal:
- Expanding and retaining membership
- Working together with other committees, especially the Welcome, Networking, and Diversity Committees
- Developing targeted strategies for soliciting new members
- Determining and utilizing related professional organizations in the estate planning field and other sources for qualified new members in a cost-efficient manner
- Developing methods to solicit existing members for qualified new members from their organization
- Developing methods to solicit qualified new members from outside organizations
- Assisting individuals seeking membership who do not have a sponsor in finding one
Erica Lord, Chair and Board Liaison
Birchwood Lane Advisory, LLC
Tel: (630) 974-9747
Email: erica@lordlegalgroup.com
Networking Committee
Meets 2-3 times per year
- Goal:
- The Networking Committee was established to foster interaction among CEPC members across the various disciplines. Accordingly, the objective of the Networking Committee is to develop and plan networking events that give CEPC members the valuable opportunity to interact with each other for professional purposes. These events take place throughout the entirety of the CEPC year and include the Annual After-Tax Breakfast, Giving Day Drive, Happy Hours, and more.
- In addition to in-person events, the Networking Committee also sponsors and manages Informal Virtual Networking sessions known as “Fourth Fridays.” A result of the pandemic, these networking sessions have quickly become a beloved and successful tradition of the CEPC.
- Networking Committee members are a vital part of the CEPC, fostering interaction and facilitating networking at the monthly CEPC program meetings.
- Each Networking Committee member should be willing to:
- ​Attend Networking Committee meetings
- Attend Networking Committee sponsored in-person events and Informal Virtual Virtual Networking “Fourth Friday” meetings
- Participate on a Networking Event Planning Subcommittee
- Foster networking in advance of each monthly CEPC program meeting
Communications Subcommittee
Meets 2-3 Quarterly
Goal: Further the mission of the Council through effective online promotion of CEPC member benefits, programs, and events.
- Coordinate with Membership, Public Outreach, and other committees to identify and support their communication needs
- Make recommendations to improve the use of social media
- Review Website Content and submit revisions to headquarters
- Propose changes to the CEPC website
- Adress social media and communication needs as they arise
Erica Khan, Chair
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Office: 312.696.2113
Email: Erica.Khan@ml.com
Miranda Maxfield, Vice Chair
Freeman's Auctions
Office: (312) 334-4208
Email: mirandamaxfield@hindmanauctions.com
Jamie V. Paldino II, Past Chair
Leigh Harter, Board Liaison
Public Outreach Committee
Meets at least 3 times per year
- Goal:
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The Committee furthers the Council’s goal of public outreach by presenting in-person and virtual educational programming to the public on the following topic: Estate Planning for Peace of Mind.
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Presentations are given to various groups during the year, including public libraries, donor groups, public charities, company employees, and community organizations.
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Members of the committee have the option to present the educational programming. In addition (or alternative) to presenting, members may assist the committee by generating leads for where to host the programming.
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The Committee updates, as needed, the presentation materials provided during the educational programming, FAQs available on the CEPC website, and the marketing materials used for the programming.
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Victoria L. Cejka, Chair
Harrison LLP
Tel: (312) 332-3396
Email: vcejka@harrisonllp.com
Jeff Miller, Vice Chair
Fifth Third Private Bank
Tel: (847) 653-0303
Email: jeff.miller@53.com
Debra Anthony, Past Chair
Afton Gauron, Board Liaison
Welcome Committee
Meets 2-3 times per year
- Goal:
- Get new members integrated into CEPC activities. This committee serves to foster active membership as well as retain and attract new members.
- We are seeking committee members who will take an active and regular role in the following activities:
- Phone calls to welcome new members to membership and answering any questions
- Host the New Member table at CEPC lunches
- Serve as point of contact for new members
- Committee members to plan and host one event designed to build networks and integrate with current members beyond lunch meetings
- Commit to attend one of the CEPC extracurricular events each year as well and host the new member table at two (2) monthly luncheon programs
Josefina ‘Josie’ Corona, Chair
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Tel: (312) 732-3091
Email: Josefina.corona@jpmorgan.com
Samantha Contreras, Vice Chair
Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres
Tel: (815) 592-7691
Email: scontreras@crockefairchild.com
Candice Cole, Board Liaison
Workshops and Fundamentals Committee
Meets 2-3 times per year with entire Committee
- Goal:
- Schedule educational programming on hot topics and new developments relevant to membership in addition to the CEPC monthly luncheons
The Committee accomplishes its goals through two Subcommittees, which meet separately as needed, including by video calls. Committee members can select which Subcommittee to join, or they can join both:
- Workshop Subcommittee:
- Plan four (4) workshops sessions per fiscal year
- Brainstorm topics and speakers for Board approval
- Responsible for working with executive director and speakers to coordinate program logistics and deadlines
- Fundamentals Course Subcommittee:
- Plan 5-part educational Fundamentals Course each fiscal year
- Brainstorm topics and speakers for Board approval
- Responsible for working with executive director and speakers to coordinate program logistics and deadlines
- Responsible for outreach to other regional councils to invite participation
Jessica Coutré, Chair
Thompson Coburn LLP
Tel: (312) 580-2308
Email: JCoutre@thompsoncoburn.com
Christopher Floss, Vice Chair
ArentFox Schiff LLP
Tel: (847) 295-4320
Email: christopher.floss@afslaw.com
Rick Springer, Vice Chair
Deloitte Transactions and Busines Analytics LLP
Tel: (312) 486-2859
Email: rispringer@deloitte.com
Bridget Byrne, Past Chair
Allison Pfeiffle, Board Liaison
Tadd Lindsay, Board Liaison
