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.

Andy Adelmann, the Chief Technology Officer at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, is a visionary leader in the world of technology. With over 20 years of experience in IT at the YMCA, Andy has been at the forefront of driving innovation and digital transformation. As the head of the Information Technology and Reporting and Analytics Departments, he orchestrates strategic initiatives, including digital strategies, to propel the organization forward. His expertise extends to cybersecurity, where he ensures the safety and integrity of YMCA’s digital assets. Andy’s unwavering commitment lies in leveraging cutting-edge technology to empower the YMCA in fulfilling its mission.

With more than 20 years’ experience in the social-service field, Danette Connors is recognized as a strong relationship-builder and visionary leader, specializing in strategic program growth to ensure individuals and families have adequate and equitable resources to reach their full potential.  

Danette joined the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago in 2023 as Chief Learning Officer, where she focuses on youth, teen, and adult education, enrichment, and development. In this role, Danette oversees all aspects of the Y’s Learning portfolio, including early learning, before- and after-school care, adult-learning programs, Community Schools Initiative, and day, overnight, and family camp programs. Danette’s portfolio and partnerships at the Y comprise hundreds of schools, colleges, universities, extension sites, and other institutions of learning across the Chicagoland region and Midwest. 

Most recently, Danette served as Chief Youth and Family Potential Officer for the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, an organization she joined in 2000. There, she led all Youth and Family programs across the Chicagoland area, including more than 150 team members in programs including Teen Reach, Head Start, Preschool For All Expansion, Prevention Initiative, Parent Mentoring and Home Visiting, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Child Care Resource and Referral, and Child Care Assistance Program. 

Danette is an active leader in a number of Illinois and local civic and philanthropic efforts, including serving as President of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies and previously as the President of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Association of Education of Young Children – DuPage Chapter.  

Danette obtained her BA in Business Management from Aurora University and her MBA from National Louis University.  

Jill Doerner serves as Chief Employee Empowerment Officer for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, one of the largest nonprofit organizations in Chicago, overseeing all HR functions and services, including the areas of talent acquisition, employee relations, employee experience, and total rewards (compensation and benefits).

Jill Doerner is a high-integrity senior executive with proven success in leading the growth, evolution, and advancement of a customer-centric, learning organization and is known for her ability to envision and create successful results in complex situations across multiple sectors. She is an innovative thinker with specific expertise in operations and performance management with a proven ability to quickly analyze key business drivers and develop strategies to grow operations through optimizing processes, implementing infrastructure, and creating a learning environment. Jill has the expertise to inspire teams to work collaboratively to exceed organizational goals using human-centered thinking design to achieve measurable outcomes and leverage collective impact. Jill has expertise across all business drivers, including corporate leadership, organizational analysis, budget management, strategic planning, advocacy, capital projects, and board development.

Jill began her career with the Y as a Youth and Family Director at the Irving Park YMCA. Since joining the Y in 1998, Jill has served as the Executive Director of the Irving Park Y, Lattof Y, and High Ridge Y, as well as interim Executive of the Indian Boundary Y, Foglia Y, Sage Y, and McCormick Y.  Jill has also served as the Vice President of Operations for Suburban North and West Y’s, Vice President of Membership Experience, Vice President of Performance, Senior Vice President of Operations, and Chief Learning Officer.

Jill has served externally as President of the Association of YMCA Professionals of Illinois, Chair of the State Alliance of YMCAs, Vice Chair of the National Women's Leadership Resource Network, Steering Committee Member of YUSA Strategy and Innovation, Board Member of the IL Anti-Racism and Equity Committee, Member of the City of Chicago Department of Human Relations Task Force, Board Member of local LSC, and has been nominated for the American Red Cross Hero Award, Young Non-Profit Leadership Award, and recipient of the IL Alliance Leader of the Year Award. Jill earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with Middle School Endorsement, master's degree in Education and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Education with a concentration on Adult Learning and Organizational Design.

Jill brings tremendous energy to all endeavors and has an insatiable intellectual curiosity that drives her to research and experiment with new approaches to learning and education.  She is passionate about working within the social sector and thrives in environments of challenge and change. She is committed to transforming people’s lives and firmly believes that an organization is responsible for creating an environment that allows individuals to pursue their full potential as lifelong learners.

Rebecca Lahr serves as Chief of Staff for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. She stepped into this role in early 2023 after most recently serving as the Association’s Director of Executive Operations.

Rebecca has worked for the Y since 2015, and is known by her colleagues as a strategic leader who successfully executes on the organization’s mission, vision, and values to foster an inclusive culture and generate high levels of organizational performance. She continues to manage senior leaders’ business portfolios, ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic and operational objectives. Rebecca also oversees the development and implementation of organizational policies and procedures for efficient, standardized events and business operations. Early in her tenure, she was instrumental in planning and managing the Association’s complex, multi-stage move to the Crown Family YMCA — its headquarters in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood.

Rebecca blends her sound business expertise with her passion for social impact to help strengthen communities both through her work at the Y and in her civic life. She currently serves on the Executive Council of Women United, a cohort of women leaders working to further the impact of the United Way of Metro Chicago and its local partner agencies.