The Arts of Life

Chris McLaughlin, Board President
Chris is founder of Oceania Design LLC, which is a sales and sourcing agency in the home décor industry. He has spent an extensive amount of time living abroad working with manufacturers in emerging markets, but has always called Chicago home. For the past eight years Chris has volunteered with various organizations supporting adults with developmental disabilities in the U.S. and abroad. In 2004 he was a coach for the Fiji National Disabilities Games and co-authored inclusion workshops for teachers working in the Pacific Islands. As board president Chris synthesizes his volunteer experience in this industry with his background in managing and running a small business. He has been involved with Arts of Life since 2007 and is looking forward to helping grow this dynamic organization.

Laura Barré Nadler, Treasurer
Laura is the managing director at J.P. Morgan, leading the team of trust professionals that serves affluent clients nationwide. She has worked in the financial services and wealth management industries for over twelve years. Prior to this role, she held a number of finance and strategy roles including serving as CFO of J.P. Morgan’s Private Wealth Management business for four years and leading the corporate Planning and Analysis group for predecessor-firm Bank One. Laura earned her M.B.A. in finance from NYU’s Stern School of Business and her bachelor’s degree in history from Williams College.

Laura currently serves as treasurer of the board of directors of Arts of Life. She is also a member of the board of directors of The Chicago Lighthouse. She has been on the Arts of Life board since 2004, inspired by her close relationship to her aunt with Down Syndrome. Laura resides in Chicago with her husband David.

Margaret Anderson, Board Secretary
Margaret is a licensed clinical social worker as well as a licensed massage therapist. She currently has her own massage therapy practice and works for Amedisys Home Health as a medical social worker. Prior to obtaining her massage therapy license, Margaret practiced professional social work for nine years with a primary focus of providing counseling to children and families. Margaret also worked for more than eight years with people with developmental and physical disabilities. She held both direct service and administrative positions in residential and workshop settings. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with physical, occupational, and speech therapists and was responsible for training and supervising direct care staff. In addition, Margaret has written training curriculum for individuals who work with/assist people with developmental disabilities.

Margaret has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in social work, and a massage therapy diploma.

Suzanne Heath, Board Member
Suzanne served as director of education and professional development for the International Interior Design Association, an educational and networking association for interior designers headquartered in Chicago, for several years. She has worked in the Chicago not-for-profit industry for over 10 years focusing on fund raising and association management with several different entities in the Chicagoland area. Suzanne has a bachelor’s degree in American studies from Lake Forest College. She continues to give back to her alma mater as she has volunteered over the last several years with the college’s student mentoring program. Suzanne is currently enjoying mothering her young daughter.

Rita Carroll, Board Member
Rita is a certified professional coach with her own private practice. She specializes in helping individuals discover and follow their life purpose and live inspired and joyful lives. Her previous career included over twenty years in information technology. She is the proud mother of two wonderful adult daughters. As the mother of an Arts of Life artist, she has a long history of volunteering and involvement in the world of developmental disabilities. Over the years, Rita has worked with numerous agencies, therapists, programs, and professionals in this field. She believes deeply in the mission of Arts of Life and in their unique, empowering program.

Bronwyn Kelly, Board Member
Bronwyn has 13 years of experience in the executive search and financial services industries. She is currently the Director, Executive Search at The LaSalle Network, a local Chicago search firm.   Prior to joining The LaSalle Network, Bronwyn worked for three years as the Chief Operating Officer at The Gerson Group, a financial services boutique executive search firm in New York.  Bronwyn also has six years of experience at A.T. Kearney Executive Search. She worked as a search consultant in the financial services practice and then as the North American Research Coordinator.  Prior to joining A.T. Kearney, she served as the Director of Research at The Whitney Group.  Bronwyn started her career working in Economic and Equity Research at SBC Warburg Dillon Read in New York and London. Bronwyn has an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University with concentrations in Economics and Management and her BA in Philosophy, Politics and the Law from Binghamton University.