Mission Statement

The Mission of Misericordia is to provide a continuum of care and support for children and adults of all faiths and cultures who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. We provide the highest quality of care designed to meet each person's changing needs and maximize his/her independence, self-determination, interpersonal relationships, and engagement in the community. The mission extends beyond the residents as we offer peace of mind to families. Through Catholic values and traditions, we strive to be a diverse and inclusive community of acceptance, respect, dignity, spirituality, and quality of life for us all.

Person in a wheelchair smiling with another person next to them in an indoor setting.

Meaningful lives, inclusive communities

What we do

At Misericordia, we believe that all people, disabled or not, should have an opportunity to be meaningful members of their community every day. To that end, our staff, volunteers and benefactors commit to providing the highest quality of life for our residents.

Two men together in an church setting with a plant in the background.

Five values. One Mission

How we live

Our life for our residents is built on five essential core values: Quality of Life, Connection, Responsibility, Diversity & Inclusion and Spirituality. These values are well winnowed and have sustained our work since our inception. The values are embedded in our culture and embodied in our staff.

About Us

Programs and Services

Whether on campus or off, our programs are designed to build and sustain a sense of community for our residents. Our robust social and recreational activities promote teamwork and build lasting friendships. While off campus, our residents are involved and engaged with all of that Chicagoland has to offer including parades, sporting events, concerts and neighborhood fairs. We are particularly proud of the number of residents who have jobs in and around Chicagoland. Our residents are proud to be a vital part of the Chicago community.

Learn More

Misericordia Home Board of Directors

Paul Carbone | Co-Founder and President, Pritzker Private Capital
Man wearing glasses and a suit with a blurred background

Paul Carbone is Co-Founder and President of Pritzker Private Capital. From 2012 to 2022, Paul was President and Managing Partner of Pritzker Private Capital and its predecessor. From 1999 to 2012, Paul was a member of the Executive Committee and Managing Partner of the Private Equity Group of Robert W. Baird & Co. Prior to 1999, Paul was a senior investment banker at both Robert W. Baird & Co. and Kidder, Peabody & Co. Paul was appointed to the Misericordia Home Board of Directors in 2023. Paul is a graduate of The College of the University of Chicago and he received his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Fr. Jack Clair | President and Executive Director, Misericordia
Priest wearing a black suit with a red cross pin on a formal event

In 2000, Father Jack began his ministry at Misericordia and served as Associate Executive Director and Chaplain. Prior to Misericordia, he served as vice president for St. Joseph’s Seminary (formerly Niles Seminary), and served as associate pastor for eight years at St. Hubert’s Parish in Hoffman Estates. Father Jack was appointed President and Executive Director of Misericordia Home in 2021.

Fr. Clete Kiley | Board Member
Priest wearing a suit and clerical collar with greenery in the background

Fr. Clete Kiley, D.Min., is a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago ordained in 1974. He has served in the Archdiocese as the Director for the Department of Personnel Services, as a seminary rector and pastor, and as a member of the College of Consultors. He also served on the staff of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and as President of The Faith & Politics Institute.

He currently serves as the Chaplain of the Chicago Federation of Labor, and as a Special Advisor to Cardinal Cupich and as a Senior Advisor for UNITE HERE International Union, particularly for immigration policy. Fr. Kiley is a Trustee of the UNITE HERE Health Trust (a Taft-Hartley Fund).

He was appointed to the Board of Misericordia in 2022 by Cardinal Cupich.

Mary Dempsey | President, DePaul College Prep
Woman wearing a light gray blazer against a purple background

Mary Dempsey served as the first Chair of the Board of Directors at DePaul College Prep from 2014 – 2016. In 2016, she was elected President of DePaul College Prep and President of the DePaul College Prep Foundation. She remains a member of the Board of Directors. Mary is an attorney and President of the Philip H. Corboy Foundation. From 1994 – 2012, she served as Commissioner of the Chicago Public Library. Mary was appointed to Misericordia’s Board of Directors in 2019.

John Dyer | CPA, Managing Partner, Peter Shannon & Company
Man wearing a suit and tie against a plain background

John has a BS in Accountancy from the University of Illinois Champaign, Illinois and an MS in Taxation from DePaul University. He has worked as a CPA since 1977. In 1990, John was appointed Managing Partner at Peter Shannon & Company. He is a long time volunteer and ’Thursday Sports Coordinator’ at Misericordia Home, and was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2005.

Rob Figliulo | President and CEO, SPR Inc.
Man wearing a suit and tie with a red pin on his lapel

Robert M. Figliulo, also known as Rob, serves as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of SPR Inc. and has served as its President and Director. Since joining SPR in May 1976, Rob has held numerous positions, including Programmer and Analyst, Account Manager, General Manager of both the Tulsa and Chicago offices and Vice President of Marketing. He was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Leapnet, Inc. in November 2000. Rob received a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Chicago in 1987 and was appointed to Misericordia’s Board of Directors in 2005.

Margaret Houlihan Smith | President, CapitolHall Partners
Woman wearing a black jacket indoors

Margaret currently serves as Director of Intergovernmental Relations for United Airlines. Previously she served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Intergovernmental Affairs in the office of Governor Rod Blagojevich. Prior to her appointment by the Governor, she served as the Chicago Director for United States Senator Richard J. Durbin, where her duties included managing Chicago staff operations, serving as a liaison to federal regional administrators and district directors, and coordinating with Washington, D.C. staff on all Chicago area issues. Margaret was appointed to Misericordia’s Board of Directors in 2014.

Sharon O'Keefe | Board Member
Woman with short brown hair wearing a suit and pearl necklace against a gray background

Sharon is the former President of the University of Chicago Medical Center and Chief Operating Officer of the UC Medicine health system. She oversaw a $1.5 billion clinical enterprise and integrated the patient care mission of the medical center with the education and research missions of the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division. Sharon was appointed to Misericordia Home’s Board of Directors in 2019.

Robert Soudan Sr. | President, Lock Up Development Group
Portrait of a person with a neutral expression, wearing a suit and tie.

Lock Up Development Group (an affiliate of BRB Development, LLC) is a family owned and operated company that has been in the self storage business since 1976. Continuing to be one of the most active and well-respected private companies in the storage industry, The Lock Up was started by Robert Soudan Sr. and Charles Sample Sr. who built their first self storage facility in Glenview, Illinois. With the help of his son and son-in-law, Bob Soudan Jr. and Rick Hielscher, Mr. Soudan has significantly increased both the number and quality of his self storage facilities. Currently, The Lock Up operates storage centers in eight states. Bob was appointed to Misericordia’s Board of Directors in 2007.

Liz Lombardo Stark | Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Gibsons Restaurant Group
Woman with a surprised expression in front of framed pictures

Liz Lombardo Stark is the Director of Marketing & Public Relations at Gibsons Restaurant Group (GRG) as well as a member of the family that owns and operates the group. GRG is the founder of Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House, LUXBAR, Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar, and Gibsons Italia. Liz was appointed to Misericordia Home's Board of Directors in 2025.

Kevin Knoll | General Counsel, Misericordia
Man in a suit and tie standing indoors with decorative elements in the background

Kevin has served as Misericordia Home’s General Counsel since 2024. He received a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University Chicago. Kevin was appointed to Misericordia Home’s Board of Directors in 2025.

Misericordia Foundation Board of Directors

Dan Walsh | Chairman
Portrait of a person with a red tie against a white background

Dan leads a fourth-generation family-owned business, Walsh Construction, one of the largest contractors in the United States.

Brian Battle | Vice Chairman
Man in a suit smiling in front of computer monitors

Brian retired as Managing Director at Performance Trust Capital Partners, a financial services firm that offers a wide range of financial advisory and investment banking services.

Gerry Keenan | Director
Man wearing glasses and a dark suit with a light shirt

Gerry has served as Chief of Parish Operations at the Archdiocese of Chicago since 2021.

Ellen Mulaney | Director
Woman in front of a bookshelf

Retired faculty member (2006–2025) of the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.

Jim Capraro | Director
Man in a suit thinking

Immediate Past Co-Chair of the Misericordia Family Assn. (MFA). 53 years of experience in community organization and revitalization. 37 years as the Executive Director & CEO of a non-profit community development.

Jennifer Fortner | Director
Woman with blonde hair wearing a dark blazer

Jenny retired as a Managing Director of Goldman Sachs in Chicago and is on the board of Special Olympics Illinois.

Kevin Connelly | Executive Director
Man wearing a suit and tie with a yellow background

Kevin is currently Misericordia Foundation’s Executive Director. He previously served as Misericordia Home’s Chief Financial Officer and an Assistant Executive Director responsible for Finance, Legislative Affairs, Information Technology (IT) and Purchasing. In 2015, Kevin was the recipient of the Annual Chicago CFO of the Year Award from Financial Executives International Chicago Chapter. He received his Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Marquette University and his MBA from DePaul University – Charles H. Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. Kevin has worked at Misericordia for 30 years.

Lois Gates | Director
Woman with short blonde hair wearing a red dress on a red background

Lois retired as Executive Director of the Misericordia Foundation in 2025. A graduate of DePaul University with a degree in nursing, Lois has been an integral part of the Misericordia staff in every department throughout her 50 years of service.

Vice Presidents of Misericordia Home

Steve Achilles

Vice President of Business Operations

Amy Boyle

Vice President of Finance

Bill Clucas

Vice President of Safety and Security

Geana Connelly, LCPC

Vice President of Strategy, People & Culture

Laurie Daugherty

Vice President of Residential Services

Chris Hegg Krackenberger

Vice President of Residential Services

Hayes Kennedy

Vice President of Human Resources

Tina Stendardo

Vice President of Program Delivery

Scott Thompson

Vice President of Information Services

John Tortorello

Vice President of Facilities

Madelyne Trejo

Vice President of Clinical Services

Fr. Bart Winters

Vice President of Mission

Vice Presidents of Misericordia Foundation

Carolyn Sheehan

Misericordia Foundation Chief Financial Officer

Caroline Su

Vice President of Advancement

Woman and man posing together in a social setting with other people in the background.

Become a part of our Community

Admissions

We don't take your child from you, we share your child with you - Sister Rosemary Connelly, RSM