Stewart Cottman, President
Stewart is principal and owner of Stewart Cottman Design, a visual communication company. His primary roles include creative director, designer, accountant and mail clerk.

Project:Philanthropy, Stewart’s brainchild, and the tireless partnership of the committee, has helped nonprofit and charity organizations realize their vision by creating identities, marketing and educational materials that carry an organization’s message farther than their capabilities had allowed before.


Phil Truesdale, Vice President
Phil is art director at gripdesign, a Chicago graphic design firm. While at grip, Phil has played the primary role in the brand development of numerous companies and organizations. Phil has been a proud member of Project:Philanthropy’s organizing committee since the group’s inception in early 2000.


Kelly Kaminski, Treasurer and Secretary
Kelly is principal and co-founder of gripdesign, a design firm in Chicago’s West Loop. Her primary roles include creative director, designer and CFO.

Since Project:Philanthropy’s inception in early 2000, Kelly has been a member of the founding committee. She also serves as a court-appointed Special Advocate for the foster children of Cook County and is assisting in the set-up of a new nonprofit organization, Tools for Teachers. Kelly has volunteered with Lawrence Hall Youth Services, the Avon 40 Mile Walk for Breast Cancer, Meals on Wheels, Red Cross, University of Chicago’s Childrens Hospital, LifeSource, and several tutoring programs.


Elizabeth Bagby
Elizabeth, a freelance writer and editor, has been working in the design world since 2000. In her four years with Towers Perrin’s Creative Media group, she collaborated with designers to create cohesive themes, developed editorial standards, and wrote copy to accompany graphic concepts. As an independent contractor, Elizabeth writes and edits print and web copy for clients in a wide variety of industries—design, education, law, health care, construction, and hospitality—as well as numerous nonprofit organizations. Her fiction and nonfiction have appeared in Conversely, Dramatics, The Writing Group Book (Chicago Review Press, 2003), and The Tap, and she serves as managing director of Sansculottes Theater Company, a nonprofit company of playwrights.

Elizabeth participated in Project:Philanthropy’s inaugural charrette, and has written or edited for nearly every charrette since. In 2002 she joined the board.


Jeremy Bokor
Jeremy is principal and owner of nifty inc, a new media and communications firm in Chicago. Previously a new media designer for Pivot Design and copywriter for Boller Coates & Neu in Chicago, Jeremy has created websites and written for clients that include General Motors, Boston Market, Northwestern University and Children’s Memorial Hospital.

Jeremy has participated in Project:Philanthropy charrettes since the group’s inception and joined the board in 2002. He contributes his web and writing experience to various nonprofit organizations as well as Project:Philanthropy.


Kevin McConkey
Kevin is a principal and co-founder of gripdesign, a design firm located in Chicago’s West Loop. Primary roles include Creative Director, Copywriter, Photographer and Strategist. Kevin regularly lectures nationally on the impact of design on business.

Prior to serving Project:Philanthropy as a founding board member, Kevin has assisted several charitable organizations with his time, volunteering everything from design and marketing assistance to meal delivery for senior citizens. Kevin’s skill in fundraising and sponsorship marketing has been utilized by several area businesses seeking to bridge the gap between commerce and charity.


Virginia Tevere
Virginia, who previously worked as a Senior Designer at Paragrahs Design in Chicago, has relocated to NYC where she has joined the team at Decker Design. Primary roles include art directing, designing and client relations. Cab dodging and shopping are also now part of her daily routine.

Virginia has participated in Project:Philanthropy charrettes since 2004 and has joined the board that same year. She has also volunteered for Y-Me, Susan G. Komen Race for Breast Cancer and Rock for Kids. Virginia is responsible for bringing a chapter of Project:Philanthropy to NYC (aptly named P2NY), which plans to be up and running before 2006.