Association Leadership

For over thirty years, Adam Alonso has been a tireless believer in the power of service to youth and non-profits. As a graduate student in social work he founded Corazón Community Services, now one of Cicero leading youth development agencies – and followed that with roles as Director of Youth Services at Casa Central and Illinois Action for Children, Director of Community Engagement for the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, and Director of the State of Illinois' Welcoming Center for Immigrants and Refugees. In March 2015 he became the Chief Executive Officer of BUILD, catalyzing a period of dramatic growth at this venerable 55-year-old youth development agency on Chicago’s West Side. Building on the organization’s deep community roots and credibility, Adam led a rapid expansion of services for youth - including mental health care, in-school prevention counseling, and comprehensive services for victims of violence. BUILD’s Austin headquarters became a safe youth space, hosting out-of-school programs in the arts, sports, digital media, leadership, agriculture, and more.

Over more than ten years at BUILD, Alonso has led a transformation that has grown the budget from $2.3M to $22.3M and grown staffing from 35 to over 200, positioned the agency for long-term sustainability, and successfully executed a $28M capital campaign to build South Austin a new 56,000 sq ft youth and community hub. He opened this new cornerstone for the neighborhood in 2023, creating space for programs and infrastructure that will lift up youth and partners across the West Side. He holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago, a Master’s of Social Work from Loyola University-Chicago, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Notre Dame and a Certificate in Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management from Harvard Business School.

Holly Allen serves as Chief Development Officer for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, where she leads the organization’s fundraising, partnerships, and philanthropic engagement efforts in support of its mission to strengthen community by connecting all people to their purpose, potential, and each other. 

Holly brings more than two decades of nonprofit leadership experience, with deep expertise in advancement strategy, donor engagement, and organizational growth. Prior to joining the YMCA, she served as Chief Advancement Officer for Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, where she led comprehensive fundraising efforts and helped expand the organization’s reach and impact across the region. Before that she served as the organization’s Vice President of External Affairs. 

Earlier in her career, Holly spent more than a decade at Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, advancing through a series of leadership roles in development, corporate and foundation relations, and strategic initiatives. She also held a development role with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, overseeing advancement efforts tied to major events and volunteer engagement. 

Known for her strong vision, creativity, and collaborative leadership style, Holly has a proven track record of driving critical initiatives and building meaningful partnerships with community supporters. Her work is grounded in a goal-oriented approach to fundraising and a deep commitment to connecting individuals and organizations to opportunities that strengthen communities. 

Holly earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Shruti Sekhri serves as Chief Operating Officer of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, where she leads the systems, teams, and operations that enable the association to serve communities with strength, consistency, and care. Her work focuses on turning mission into execution across hubs, programs, and shared services so that families, youth, and members experience a Y that works for them every day.   

Shruti brings more than 25 years of executive experience across operations, finance, strategy, technology, and organizational design. She has served as a Chief of Staff, lead financial officer, management consultant, and entrepreneur, helping organizations align vision with execution and results across complex, multi-site environments. Her background includes leading multi-site operations, designing organizational operating models, building financial and operational systems, and guiding organizations through periods of significant change across both nonprofit and corporate settings.   

Holding dual credentials as a Certified Public Accountant and Licensed Professional Counselor, Shruti brings both financial rigor and human-centered leadership to her role. She believes that strong internal systems, clear ownership, and thoughtful leadership are essential for mission-driven organizations to deliver lasting impact in the communities they serve. 

Mike Sitkowski brings over a decade of mission-oriented financial leadership to his role as Chief Financial Officer at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. Prior to joining the Y, Mike served as Chief Budget Officer of Chicago Public Schools, where he led the development and execution of the district’s $10 billion annual budget. He also led the design and implementation of CPS’s equity-based school funding formula and the spending strategy for nearly $3 billion in federal pandemic-relief funding, both of which helped place the district among national leaders in student recovery and academic growth. 

Mike is known for his strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and deep expertise in long-term fiscal planning, public finance, and community-centered investment. His work has focused on improving financial stability and resource equity, strategically closing structural budget gaps while growing school funding by $1 billion to support community priorities. At the YMCA, Mike is committed to advancing the organization’s mission through sound financial stewardship and inclusive, impact-driven resource planning. 

Mike is a lifelong resident of the Chicago area. He is a graduate of Northwestern University (BA) and the Harris School at the University of Chicago (MPP).