Who We Are
Why are we successful? Because of the relationships and trust we have built. We have been part of our community for over 13 years since 2011 and are known as a safe place people can gather together.
Board of Directors
Maribeth Roberti
Founder and Executive Director
Maribeth Roberti recognized the need for, and consequently developed, a community house in Waukegan, Illinois in order to serve the community’s most vulnerable population. Roberti Community House (RCH) was purchased in 2010, extensively rehabbed, and opened its doors to the community in late 2011. Maribeth serves as the Executive Director and manages/oversees all aspects of the community house, i.e., program development, fundraising, volunteer recruitment and training, and networking with community based agencies. Maribeth began her professional work as a social worker. She received her BS in Criminal Justice from San Diego State University. She soon went on to obtain a Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Chicago and graduated in 1988. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Pam Fisher
Board Chair, Youth Program Director, Volunteer Coordinator
Pam first began as a volunteer at Roberti Community House in 2013. Upon understanding the importance of the connections made in the After-school Program, she took a greater role and eventually became the first Youth Program Director. Hoping to expand RCH’s impact on our community children, Pam developed our Summer Reading & Math Camp. As Pam’s involvement grew, so did her duties, taking charge of volunteer management and teen volunteer recruitment. Pam joined the Board of Directors in 2017 as the RCH mission expanded to include the Roberti Culinary Pathway, yet another opportunity to help our community feel valued and recognized. Pam holds a BS in Accounting from DePaul University, but feels her two kids are her greatest achievement.
Danish Ismail
Board of Directors
Danish Ismail joined the Board of Directors of Roberti Community House in early 2021. Danish has a background in IT and Operations, having worked in corporate America and runs his own business, Synergia Corp. for over 25 years. Danish has been described as a "Perpetual Optimizer," who is constantly looking to optimize systems, time and funding. He utilizes his strengths developing systems and processes to help Roberti Community House reduce costs and sustain its growth. Danish comes to Roberti Community House with over 25 years of experience working with not-for-profits. He founded the Chicago chapter of The Citizens Foundation, USA, and has served as a board member of two charities. Danish holds a degree in Operation Management from the University of Illinois. He has been a resident of Lake Forest for 23 years.
Katie Gentry
Secretary, Board of Directors
Dr. Katie Gentry has dedicated her life to the care and well-being of animals, combining her expertise in veterinary medicine with a deep passion for rescue and rehabilitation. With a Bachelor of Science in Biology from UW-Madison and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University, she has built a career centered on providing compassionate, high-quality veterinary care. Beyond her work at the Animal Medical Center at Fort Sheridan, Dr. Gentry is committed to making a difference in the lives of at-risk animals through Starlight Farm Animal Sanctuary, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit she leads as president. The sanctuary specializes in rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming, offering a second chance to animals in need. Her dedication to service extends beyond animal welfare. Since 2011, she has volunteered with Roberti Community House, supporting youth programs, community health initiatives, and family-centered development, including pet care. As the organization's secretary, she remains actively involved, ensuring her impact is felt across multiple facets of the community. Dr. Gentry's work exemplifies a lifelong commitment to education, advocacy, and compassionate care, fostering healthier, happier lives for both people and their pets.
Manny Hernandez
Board of Directors
Manny Hernandez is the Director of Operations with Family First Center of Lake County. In this position, Manny oversees programs with focus on Infant, Child & Youth Literacy, Senior Services, Emergency Resources Assistance, Mental Health & Trauma Education, Women & Men Health Literacy and Access to Services, and Community Health Workers Development which addresses the needs of the community by facilitating access to services. Manny started his career in community services as a Community Health Worker and has been able to obtain numerous certifications that has allowed him to recruit and train over 60 members of the community to become certified Community Health Workers, expanding the capacity to deliver culturally sensitive medical information to the people in need. In addition, Manny has had the opportunity to be part of Lake County’s Community Health Improvement Plan, by taking a leadership role within the Diabetes, Behavioral Health, and Health Literacy Action teams, which eventually led him to be part of Lake Forest Hospital Community Engagement Council and the Lake County Community Health Center Governing Council.
Edgar Navarro
Board of Directors
Deputy Chief Navarro joined the Board of Directors of Roberti Community House in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, April 2020. Edgar is Deputy Chief of Police for the city of Waukegan and has over 22 years of law enforcement experience, having been with the department since 1999. Edgar has led a very successful career in law enforcement, not only in his current role but as a Detective, a lead investigator, as well as in an undercover capacity. His bilingual skills have been a huge asset to the police department, enabling him to connect with the community. Edgar has been an enormous supporter of RCH since its inception. He has had a consistent positive presence at RCH and RCP. He has been an amazing ambassador for RCH and RCP, connecting us with community leaders, and other social agencies. Edgar holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Columbia College of Missouri. He is also a graduate of Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command.
Mike Nuteson
Board of Directors
After 30+ years in business, Mike is semi-retired and dedicated to helping not-for-profits and small businesses with their process and technology challenges. Having worked in technology his entire career at companies such as Microsoft, Hitachi, Underwriters Laboratories, Leo Burnett and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Mike brings a professional and methodical approach to improving business operations. As the co-founder of a 501c3, Project RELO, dedicated to educating the business community on the value of hiring veterans, Mike understands first-hand the unique aspects of running and directing a not-for-profit organization. Mike lives in Highwood, IL with his wife, 2 children, and 2 parrots. He is enthusiastic about giving back to the community and eager to dedicate his time and energy to the Roberti Community House and Roberti Culinary Pathway.
Community Advisory Board
Miguel Camacho
Advisory Board