Board Members

Mary Broderick

Mary Broderick is President of the Board and the parent member representative on the Board of Directors. Ms. Broderick has a Bachelors of Science from the University of Illinois Chicago. Ms. Broderick is the mother of three children and is the Owner/CEO of a market research company.

Briggitte Carlson

Briggitte Carlson, President Emeritus of the Board of Directors, is an Associate at Reed Smith in the litigation department.

Claudia Castaneda

Claudia Castaneda is Secretary of the Board of Directors.

Salvador Cicero

Salvador Cicero served as Chief for Legal Affairs for the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago from 1998 to 2001.

Louis Fogel

Prior to joining the board, he was instrumental in developing the FDC's pro bono program within Sidley and Austin.

Laurene M. Heybach

Laurene M. Heybach is the Director of the Law Project of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.

Laverne F. Hill

Laverne F. Hill is an Associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in the Corporate Restructuring group.

Michael O'Connor

Michael A. O'Connor is a 1970 graduate of DePaul University School of Law. He worked in federally funded legal services programs serving low income families from 1970-1990.

Deborah Pergament

Deborah Pergament is the founder and managing attorney of Children's Law Group.

Suzanne D. Sellers

Suzanne D. Sellers is dedicated and committed to child protection reform. She has been an active volunteer at the Family Defense Center for the past three years, having been voted to the board of directors in November 2008 and began a three-year term as Secretary of the Board of Directors in 2009. Ms. Sellers has been FDC's representative at a national policy and planning conference for child protection reform and has devoted time, effort, and ability as an active member of FDC's Parent Empowerment Program.

Helene M. Snyder

Helene M. Snyder, a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, has a background in both private practice and public interest law, including two years as a guardian ad litem with the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian representing children in abuse and neglect proceedings and supervising courtroom attorneys.