Meet our Board of Directors
Francis X. Sherman, president
Frank retired from corporate life in 2012 after a 35-year career with Akzo Nobel n.v. He served as president and general manager of the $1.3 billion global surface chemistry business unit and participated on the boards of various trade associations. Shortly after retirement, Frank joined the adjunct faculty of Cardinal Stritch University College of Business & Management and coordinated the training for the SE Wisconsin chapter of SCORE, the volunteer arm of the US Small Business Administration. In 2016, he became the Executive Director of Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment (SGI), a coalition of 35 faith-based and values-driven institutional investors located in the Midwest. He also served as Chair of the Board of Governance of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, a national coalition of over 300 faith-based institutions, asset management companies, unions, pension funds and universities that collectively represent over $4 trillion in invested capital. Frank gives back to the local community by volunteering for the Capuchin Community Services for the homeless and the League of Women Voters. He has a B.S. and M.E. in chemical engineering from Cornell University and an M.B.A. in marketing from the University of New Haven. Frank and his wife Terry have 5 adult children and a growing number of grandchildren and are residents of Fox Point, WI.
Petra Schindler, board member
Petra is co-owner of Kenmode Tool & Engineering, Inc., a metal stampings company in Algonquin, IL. The family-owned business was started in 1960 by her father. While she no longer keeps office hours on a day-to-day basis, she maintains an active interest in the company’s operations and strategic planning. Petra attended Loyola University of Chicago, majoring in chemistry. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology and a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree from Logan University in Chesterfield, MO. Petra’s first career was as a chiropractic physician. After 13 years, she left practice to be home with her three children. She then switched gears and worked in cabinetry design for Heartland Cabinet Supply in Crystal Lake before settling into her final career as an account manager at Kenmode. She currently babysits her grandchildren 2 days a week and leads a women’s circle. Petra enjoys gardening and travelling in her free time.
Margaret Valladares, secretary
Margaret Valladares is a local Crystal Lake Resident who is passionate about volunteering and helping her community. She is a former elementary, middle school, and college-level National Board Certified teacher with over 13 years of experience in the classroom. She most cherished her time while working in Honduras for four years as a fifth-grade teacher and still travels there frequently with her family. She has worked alongside administration as support staff for Crystal Lake School District 47 as a bilingual teacher, support staff, and bilingual parent liaison. She is a mother of five children ages 7-17, and she and her husband have raised their children in a bilingual household. She is very passionate about being an advocate for the Hispanic community in Crystal Lake, as her children have been members of the dual language program since they started school. Margaret currently volunteers as a member of the Crystal Lake Service League and in her children's schools.
Sarah Werhane, treasurer
Sarah Werhane has worn many hats in her lifetime including accountant, financial and HR manager of a commercial farm, and beloved math teacher of middle school students in her hometown of Belvidere, Illinois. Sarah takes pride in her spreadsheets while at the same time can manage a room full of adolescents or a conference full of midwestern generational farmers with ease and good humor. Sarah has led women’s circles as well as participated in them for over 9 years, with grace and self-reflection as well as leadership. While not in the classroom, Sarah can be found at home snuggling her son or conversing with her teen daughter over the days many events.
Elizabeth Krotser, board member, executive director
Elizabeth Krotser opened Nurturing Village, LLC in August of 2017 as a sole proprietor with a vision of creating a non-profit one day. Starting as a single therapist renting one small office, Elizabeth slowly grew her team to the Nurturing Village of today. Elizabeth continues to build on her vision to create a community center that encompasses what it means to be a village supporting families in the community. She serves as the Executive Director of Nurturing Village Center Inc and is a play therapist and clinical supervisor to pre-licensed clinicians. When she isn’t playing at work with kids, Elizabeth is playing taxi for her teens at home. She lives in Crystal Lake with her husband, three children, and giant Great Dane puppy. If you’d like to read more about Elizabeth as a therapist, please visit the “Meet the Team” page for more information.