Board of Directors

Sunny Penedo Chico, President

Sunny Chico is President of SPC Consulting, providing consulting services to school systems and providers of educational services in the areas of diversity, reform, administrative innovation efficiency, staff development and training, and compliance with federal, state, and local education law. SPC works with clients to place their educational products or services in schools and school districts. It undertakes strategic planning, education plan assessment and training projects. It develops communications strategies for clients, facilitates the process of creating charter schools, and serves as education programmer in the design and construction of new or renovated school buildings. SPC is experienced in working with public, private, parochial and alternative schools and districts.

She also served as Executive Director of Institutional Advancement for Waubonsee Community College, and as the Assistant to the Lieutenant Governor for Education for the State of Illinois where she led the state's School-to-Work effort. In that capacity, she worked with legislators to initiate educational reforms. She created the Governor's Human Resource Investment Council and served as its co-director.

She is the former Region V director for the U.S. Department of Education for Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Sunny holds a M.ED from DePaul University and a Bachelors of Arts (Special Education) from Northeastern Illinois University.

Nely Bergsma, VP & Treasurer

Nely Bergsma is VP of Operations for SPC Consulting LLC, where she is responsible for evaluating the contractual and financial relationships of SPC and its clients. Her efforts are directed to assure exposure to risk is evaluated, that insurance standards are met, any possible liabilities are identified and set pricing considerations accordingly.

With over fifteen years of marketing experience, Ms. Bergsma’s responsibilities also include handling organizational functions such as media, community, consumer, industry, and governmental relations and employee and investor relations. Focus is placed on an understanding of the attitudes and concerns of community, consumer, employee, and public interest groups and establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with them.

Nely holds a Bachelor of Science/Marketing and Management Degree from the DePaul University College of Commerce.

Michelle Abello, Director

Michelle is a recent graduate with a Bachelor in Liberal Arts and Sciences. She is currently a graduate student working on a Masters in Education from DePaul University. Upon completion, Michelle will be certified in Elementary and Special Education. In past years Michelle has done volunteer work with educating children by tutoring.

Trina Fresco, Director

Trina M. Fresco is VP Operations for smarTECHS.net, a full service IT firm. Fresco manages sales & marketing within private sector, and compliance & engagement within public sector. Fresco offers large-enterprise expertise through her tenure as a National Account Manager and Paint Chemist within the chemical industry for nearly a decade.

Eleni Hountalas, Director

Eleni Hountalas oversaw daily operations including hiring, annual performance appraisals and SEC compliance for a mutual fund company for over five years. She is an entrepreneur who launched Elso Bags, a successful handbag business that served many clients from 2003 to 2007. Eleni has also done extensive volunteer work in educational institutions where she oversaw operations, fundraising, special programs, cultural events and personnel. Eleni holds a Bachelors of Commerce degree from DePaul University.

Eva Nickolich, Director

Eva is a senior consultant at, SPC Consulting LLC Eva currently supervises and monitors 12 field consultants responsible for visiting and coaching Read 180 Teachers in 100 schools. She is a retired teacher, high school principal, Region 1 Officer, overseeing 94 schools) and Deputy Chief Education Officer for CPS.

Amy Boli Nunes, Director

Amy Boli Nunes has extensive professional experience in the government sector, as well as private sector work experience. She has worked as a Cartographer and has worked in demographics research. Her most recent work experience was as a community planner. Among her various volunteer activities she served for 3 years as an officer of the Beaubien School PTO and is currently serving as President of the Brooks Park Advisory Council. She is a graduate of Northwestern University.

Laura Solomon, Director

Laura Solomon is an educator for over 15 years, currently employed as a Chicago Public Schools teacher in Rogers Park. She is a graduate of DePaul University's School of Education, and has taught in both the parochial and public school settings.

Peggy Chiampas, Director

Judge Chiampas was appointed as an Associate Judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County in April of 2007and is assigned to the first municipal district. Judge Chiampas has presided over Traffic, Misdemeanor and Domestic Violence cases. Judge Chiampas is currently assigned to Central Bond Court at 26th and California. Prior to her appointment, Judge Chiampas served as an Assistant State's Attorney for over 17 years. She was the Supervisor of the Preliminary Hearings, Special Grand Jury Unit of the Cook County State's Attorney's Narcotics Prosecutions Bureau.

Her assignments in the State's Attorney's Office included serving as a First Chair in the Narcotics Complex Drug Prosecution Unit, Felony Trial Division, Sex Crimes Prosecutions Unit, Public Integrity and Juvenile Justice Bureau. Judge Chiampas attended Helgue A Haugan Elementary School and Theodore Roosevelt High School in Chicago. She received her Bachelor of Science Degrees in both Management and Marketing from DePaul University and her Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School. Judge Chiampas is active in the Hellenic Community of Chicago and is a Board Member of the Hellenic Bar Association.

Jenny Floros, Director

Jenny Floros is a Senior Account Executive at Celebrated Chefs, a Rubicon Interactive Company. Jenny is responsible for launching Celebrated Chefs dinig program in Chicago by partnering with top area restaurants and local non-profit organizations. As a former VP of Marketing & Consulting for Ticketmaster, she has extensive experience in sales and marketing, client/ consumer retention, and strategic planning for the Art, Music, and Sports events. Throughout her 17 year career in live entertainment industry, Jenny developed and excuted marketing programs for various promoters and venues such as Broadway In Chicago, House of Blues, Jam Productions, Feld Entertainment, Live Nation, Chicago White Sox, Allstate Arena, and the NBA. Jenny holds a Bacheor of Arts/ Marketing Communications degree from Columbia College.