Our Board

Leslie Alvarez served as a TEFL Volunteer in Ecuador from 2016-2018. She led multiple G.L.O.W. camps around Ecuador and facilitated training for PCVs. Leslie is the Donor Relations & Events Manager at Women’s Global Education Project, a women-led, Chicago-based nonprofit that supports girls’ education, literacy, and leadership development in rural Senegal and Kenya. Leslie is originally from South Florida but is happy to call Chicago her home – even during the winter. Leslie is a lover of books, food, cooking, and travel. Leslie and her husband, Nico, are the parents of Heidy, the sassiest of all chihuahua mixes.

Joe currently resides in the Edgebrook neighborhood of Chicago. He works as a court clerk and legal specialist with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) at the Chicago Immigration Court. In this role, Joe assists immigration judges with their adjudications, and works alongside a variety of stakeholders to move individuals through their immigration processes. Joe earned his master’s degree in Public Policy from Northwestern University in 2022.

During his time in the Peace Corps (2017-2019), Joe worked in the Andean town of Junín, Peru, where he taught environmental leadership alongside the Peruvian National Park Service, and supported educators in the local elementary, middle and high schools. When not working, he enjoys reading books on history and policy, running along Chicago’s many trails and paths, and spending quality time with his wife (a fellow RPCV) and family.

Azerbaijan 2010-2012
James (Jim) is the Chief Financial Officer for Metropolitan Family Services (MFS), a human
services nonprofit in Chicago with over a $200M budget and a wide range of programming
including violence intervention, behavioral health, early childhood education, workforce
development, and legal aid.
Before MFS, James was CFO of Haymarket Center and Chief Accounting Officer of Heartland
Alliance. He is a CPA with extensive public accounting experience and received his MBA from
Loyola University.
He has served as the Treasurer for Chicago Area Peace Corps Association and the National
Peace Corps Association. James served as a Peace Corps Volunteer for over two years in
Azerbaijan where he primarily focused on micro-finance and consulting to farmer groups and
women-owned businesses.

Julie served in Nepal as a science teacher at an all-girls elementary school. Serving in the Peace Corps has always been her dream and she plans to go back into service once she retires. Since returning from the Peace Corps, she has taught English in Korea, owned a business in Chicago for 17 years, flew as a flight attendant for Jetblue, and is a licensed Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices. She currently serves her community as the Deputy Assessor helping taxpayers with property tax issues and have volunteered throughout the years at her children’s school and other community services.  During her free time, she loves to create art through sewing, baking, and pottery, travel as often as she can, and stay active cycling and snowboarding.

Leslie Piotrowski served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines from 1983 to 1985, where she taught literacy to sugarcane laborers. She served as an associate director for CARE’s Chicago office, where she coordinated major gifts fundraising and public relations efforts in several Midwestern states. She also worked for several public relations firms in Chicago and as the communications manager of the Lake County Health Department for 18 years. She is also a writer. Her first picture book, THE NORTHBOUND TRAIN, will be published by Abrams in 2025. One of her favorite hobbies is traveling. She has traveled to more than 30 countries.

Via Catinella served as a TEFL Volunteer in Comoros from 2015-2017. In addition to teaching, she collaborated with local school leaders to successfully acquire funding and then subsequently build bathrooms for the regional high school.

As a seasoned professional, Via has over 20 years of blended experience in marketing, fundraising, and consulting. Throughout her career, she has been committed to fostering collaborative partnerships and supporting nonprofit missions through sustainable and impactful fundraising strategies. Via holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Marketing from DePaul University.

Brian is currently serving on the CAPCA board and supports the RPCV community in the Chicago Area after returning from Mali over 30 years ago. He coordinates the annual ski trip, softball team, and camping trips. He has many other third goal experiences and wants to share those with current and newly returned RPCVs.

Brian is a full-time Human Resources Professional, graduated with a Masters from DePaul University, and is certified in business skills.

Brian enjoys playing Culture Shocks softball, bike riding, cross-country skiing, eating unique foods with RPCVs, and bowling on a men’s league!

Theresa Kozelka served as a Youth in Development Volunteer in Thailand, where she focused on youth empowerment, youth community engagement, and community health education. After completing her service, she spent several years in Washington, DC, working in international education and exchange programs, including the Professional Fellows Program, TechGirls, and the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, supporting students and partners across the Middle East and North Africa. Now based in Chicago, Theresa is completing a post-baccalaureate pre-health program at DePaul University with plans to pursue medical school. She is excited to support CAPCA’s mission by strengthening community connections, supporting service-aligned programming, and engaging returned volunteers in meaningful local impact.

Bio and photo coming soon.

Before pursuing the Peace Corps, Travis owned a DJ and events entertainment company for 15 years, performing all across Chicagoland. He left for Namibia in 2016 as a community economic development volunteer and was assigned to the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the small coastal town of Lüderitz. After he finished his service, he remained in Namibia for the following 6 years to continue supporting underserved and previously disadvantaged Namibian youth.  He received a grant from the US Embassy in Namibia to develop and teach a year-long virtual entrepreneurship course during the pandemic. He taught this course for 3 years to 250 students across the country and then returned to the US in early 2024. Since returning, he has been overseeing fundraising and technology for the National Peace Corps Association. He lives in Homewood, IL, with his wife and two young kids. He is excited to bring his passions for community-building, database management, and service to the CAPCA Board.

From Megan’s board application:

When my husband and I moved to Chicago after our service (Honduras 2010-2012), the number one form of support we found was CAPCA. It was through CAPCA and RPCVs that we found jobs, friends, and community. I’ve participated in many CAPCA events over the years, and now I’d like to contribute to that support network for others.

Bobbie served as a Community & Youth Development volunteer supporting 2 NGOs, thinking it would be a good opportunity to finally “study abroad”. Her career includes working for both for- and nonprofit organizations, and currently is a senior administrative assistant at Mercer in Health & Benefits.

Bobbie graduated from DePaul University with a BS in PE and elementary education. She has two sons (1 local and 1 in Atlanta), and 2 grandsons.