Leadership — B Local Illinois

Meet the Board

The board members of B Local Illinois are committed to changing the world and being a force for good. They donate their time, energy and passion to build a community for our local B Corps.

Leadership Board

Avi serves as the Associate Director of Corporate Partnerships at the University of Illinois Chicago's (UIC) Innovation Office. With expertise in cross-sector partnerships, he forges connections between UIC and real-world innovation opportunities that create positive impact. Avi has an MBA from Loyola University Chicago's Baumhart Scholars program, specializing in sustainability and social impact. He is deeply passionate about cultivating partnerships that bridge academia, innovation, and the B Corp movement.

Avi Mayerhoff, Executive Chair

Emily is an impact investing professional and a social enterprise enthusiast who loves to find pragmatic ways for business to be a force for good in our communities. She is currently innovating new tools to expand employee ownership at the nonprofit Project Equity. Before that, she spent time in lower middle market M&A looking to buy a Chicago-area business to convert to a social enterprise. Emily worked for over a decade at McMaster-Carr Supply Co, a privately held industrial supply distributor much loved and respected by makers worldwide - the job that started her passion for the domestic manufacturing industry and for company profit sharing. As a Booth MBA, she is a data and operations nerd to the core. As a former Fulbright scholar in Nicaragua, she is a lifelong student of history and economics. She also loves hanging with her two sons, riding her bike, and building sangha with Insight Chicago Meditation Community.

Emily Bergstrom, Events Co-Chair

Jaclyne Hertzfeld (she/her) is a Principal at Pariveda, where she serves as the Enterprise Program Manager for strategic initiatives and leads efforts on the firm’s B Corp team. Jaclyne is passionate about building thoughtful programs and strategies that support employees and create positive impact. She was drawn to the B Corp movement for its bold vision of business as a force for good and is energized by the community of values-driven leaders it brings together. As Events Co-Chair, Jaclyne is excited to help expand the reach of B Local Illinois by creating experiences that engage, educate, and entertain—sparking new connections and collective action.

Jaclyne Hertzfeld, Events Co-Chair

Valerie has a dynamic background which reflects her creativity and commitment to purposeful business, holding experience in strategic consulting, brand identity, cultural programming and non-profit work. As a passionate enthusiast of the triple bottom line, Valerie hopes to encourage businesses of all shapes and sizes to value people, profit and planet equally. In her work as a strategist, she has had the privilege of collaborating with a broad spectrum of consumer, pharmaceutical, and B2B brands to champion consumer stories and set strategic direction. In her free time, you can find Valerie enjoying the great outdoors, exploring her neighborhood and likely in the company of her dogs. Valerie holds her Masters in Cultural Policy and Arts Management from University College Dublin where she was a Global Ambassador, and a double Bachelors in International Business and Theatre from St. Ambrose University.

Valerie Zawada, Membership Chair

Natika is the Founder & CEO of TOBY Agency, a certified B Corporation and a graduate of the LEVEL Program by B Lab. Natika's multifaceted background includes being a decorated war veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and having over two decades of experience in the U.S. Government, including being the Director of Global Programs for Secretary Clinton at the U.S. Department of State. In this role, she developed, implemented, and monitored programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity both domestically and internationally during the Obama Administration. She also served as the VP of Corporate Partnerships at Prison Fellowship and the Chief Development Officer at Polaris, a leading organization combating human trafficking. Now, as the Founder and CEO of TOBY (Tomorrow Owned By You), a bespoke social impact creative agency, she works tirelessly to empower marginalized communities through socially and environmentally responsible governance and creative strategy.

Natika Washington, JEDI Chair

Valerie is a Principal Technology Consultant who has deep experience in solving complex problems and delivering a variety of technical solutions by working with clients to understand their needs. She is passionate about developing people to their fullest potential by fostering a collaborative team culture. She is a lifelong Chicagoan who grew up in the Western suburbs, got her B.S in Computer Science at DePaul University, and now lives in Lincoln Park.

Valerie Hall, Growth Chair

Tovah is a purpose-driven professional dedicated to fostering connection, creativity, and impact. As a Traveler Services Specialist with MEJDI Tours (a B Corp), she supports transformative travel experiences that promote cross-cultural understanding and global connection.

With a background as a childhood music educator and songleader, Tovah uses the power of music to inspire and unite communities. A passionate advocate for B Corps, she champions sustainable business practices and can recommend a B Corp product or service for any occasion. Her work reflects a commitment to creating a better, more inclusive world.

When not striving to make a difference, you can find her in Highland Park but her husband, twin sons and Great Dane, Beau.

Tovah Razowsky, Marketing Chair