Leadership

Bernice Weissbourd, Family Focus Founder,

is the creative force behind the family support movement. Through her work with Family Focus, Bernice is credited with focusing national attention on the critical first three years of life and the importance of family support. In 1976, Bernice opened the first Family Focus center for parents and young children in Evanston, IL. With her guidance, over the last 35 years Family Focus has grown to eight direct service centers, this year serving over 37,000 children and parents. She is the author of two highly regarded books, America's Family Support Programs: Perspectives and Prospects, and Putting Families First: America's Family Support Movement and the Challenge of Change, and many articles in the academic and popular press. She has served on many national boards and advisory committees and is a well- known lecturer on the topic of family support.

Administrative Staff

Merri Ex, President and CEO,

joined Family Focus in 2011. Previously, she was president of Philanthropic Solutions, Inc., 2007-2011, providing consultation to donors and nonprofit organizations. She was vice president for philanthropic services at The Chicago Community Trust, 2000-2007. Ms. Ex helped to open Family Focus’s first Nuestra Familia program for Latino families. She has a B.A. in Latin American Studies and Spanish from Newcomb College of Tulane University and a M.A. in Ibero-American Studies from the University of Madison, Wisconsin.

Caterina Varvaro, Director of Finance and Administration,

joined Family Focus in 2004 with 32 years of increasingly responsible experience in the area of finance and administration, including seven years as Chief Financial Officer of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. A CPA with an MBA from Loyola University Chicago, Ms. Varvaro has been involved in almost every aspect of Family Focus, including personnel recruitment and management, day-to-day operations and long-range planning, budgeting, grant application and administration. She served as Interim Executive Director at Family Focus from March 2010 to February 2011.

Carolyn Nopar, Director of Development,

joined Family Focus in June 2011. She comes to Family Focus with experience as the executive director of The Enterprising Kitchen in Chicago and held senior development positions at YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, Alzheimer’s Association and Habitat for Humanity. She holds a master of management from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Michigan State University.

Keisha Farmer-Smith, Director of Programs and Quality Assurance,

has partnered with organizations dedicated to supporting safe, healthy spaces for youth for over 12 years. She was a Manager at Alternatives, Inc., from 2005-2011 and a Coordinator at Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network from 1998 to 2001. Ms. Farmer-Smith has a Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis from the University of Illinois. Ms. Farmer-Smith is a 2010 Berkowitz Award winner for Outstanding Service to Children and a founding board member of the Chicago Freedom School. She currently serves on board of directors of Chicago Adventure Therapy. 

Center Directors

Gonzalo Arroyo, Director, Family Focus Aurora,

has been the Aurora Center's director since 1998, and has worked at Family Focus since 1996. He previously served as Prevention Program Director for Family Focus, and as the Youth Programs Community Outreach Specialist for Waubonsee Community College. He has a B.A. in international business and an M.A. in liberal studies/leadership from North Central College in Naperville.

Loretta Barriffe, Director, Family Focus Englewood,

became the director of Family Focus Englewood in August 2002. She was previously with the Ounce of Prevention Fund for eight years, most recently as a Program Adviser for 18 sites. She also served as Assistant Director of Family Focus Our Place in Evanston, Illinois from 1991 to 1994. Loretta has a bachelor’s degree from Kendall College and an M.P.A. from Roosevelt University.

Jordan Friedman, Director, Family Network,

became the director of Family Network Director in 2005. Prior to coming to Family Focus he worked as a senior clinical social worker at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago for five years, and as a clinical social worker at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, WA. Jordan has a B.S. in Social Work from Eastern Michigan University and earned his M.S.W. from the University of Michigan. He is a licensed clinical social worker and a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers.

Sherneron Hilliard, Director, Family Focus Lawndale,

has been director of the Lawndale center since 2008. Before taking this position, she was the Project Director of Adult Services for eight years at the Lawndale site. Prior to joining Family Focus she was an Individual and Family Therapist for ProCare Centers. Sherneron has a B.A. from Jackson State University and a M.S.W. form Loyola University. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Education Counseling Psychology.

Mariana Osoria, Director, Family Focus Nuestra Familia,

has been the Nuestra Familia center director since 2007, overseeing the Hermosa and Cicero centers. Previously, she was Assistant Director of Nuestra Familia at our Cicero site. Before joining Family Focus in 2006, she was a Program Manager for Project S.T.R.I.V.E. at Youth Guidance. With 15 years of experience in the field, Mariana has been a national trainer and facilitator for nine years. She received her A.M. from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration.

Dr. Dorothy Williams, Director, Family Focus Evanston,

has been director of the Evanston center since in 2008. She earned a Ph.D. in Education from Union Institute & University and an M.A. from Northeastern Illinois University. Dr. Williams has been a teacher in reading and language arts, and was Education Specialist and Research Associate for WGN and WLS TV. Most recently, she served as the Director of Operations at Universal Family Connection, Inc., for 13 years before joining Family Focus.