Leadership and Staff
Veteran leader with 30+ years of experience to succeed longtime Executive Director Frank Portada this July
Park Lawn Association Announces Denise Rau as New Executive Director
Oak Lawn, IL — The Park Lawn Association Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Denise Rau as the organization’s next Executive Director, effective July 1, 2026. Park Lawn is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live with dignity, independence, and inclusion.
Denise Rau will succeed Frank Portada, who is retiring after more than four decades of dedicated service to Park Lawn, including the past four years as Executive Director. Frank’s leadership has played a pivotal role in advancing the organization’s mission and strengthening its impact across the community.
Denise brings more than 30 years of experience in the field and has served as Park Lawn’s Associate Executive Director for the past three years. During her tenure, she has been instrumental in supporting strategic initiatives, enhancing program operations, and furthering the organization’s commitment to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“We are confident that Denise’s experience, leadership, and deep understanding of our mission make her the ideal choice to guide Park Lawn into its next chapter,” said Maureen Reilly, Park Lawn Board of Director’s President.
The Board also extends its deepest gratitude to Frank Portada for his 41 years of service to Park Lawn. His legacy of compassion, dedication, and leadership has left an enduring mark on the organization and the individuals and families it serves.
“I am honored to step into this role and continue building on the strong foundation established by Frank and the entire Park Lawn team,” said Rau. “I look forward to leading the organization into the future while continuing to expand opportunities for those we serve.”
Park Lawn Association remains committed to empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live meaningful, independent, and inclusive lives throughout the Chicago Southland community.
Our Staff
Our Board of Directors
Maureen Reilly
President
Maureen has been affiliated with Park Lawn since 2006 when her son Kyle enrolled in Park Lawn’s vocational and residential services. From the start Maureen and her husband Charlie have been very involved and supportive of Park Lawn activities, especially tag days, A Rhapsody in Blue/Auction/dinner, and the Park Lawn Players performance group. They have a second son Matthew.
Maureen received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Eastern Illinois University and a Master of Arts from Northern Illinois University. She has worked with the Lyric Opera of Chicago since 1987 and became the Costume Director in 2000.
Some magic moments for Maureen were seeing the look on Kyle’s face when he brought home his first paycheck and watching him grow and mature under the care of the Park Lawn staff.
Maureen feels that since she is blessed with physical and mental health; she owes it to others who cannot help themselves to contribute in any way that she can to make their lives prosperous and safe. She knows that Park Lawn is their backbone and she is happy to be a part of it. It is her hope that more people will find time to be a part of it too.Philip Kujawa
Director
Phil Kujawa has lived on the southwest side of Chicago his entire life. He graduated from Nathan Hale School in the Clearing neighborhood and then went on to graduate from St. Laurence High School. Phil then attended Loyola University of Chicago and graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. The highlight of his college career was having the privilege of attending Loyola’s Rome Center in Rome, Italy for a semester. He then worked at Allstate insurance Company as a multi-line claim representative in Evergreen Park, IL for three years. He then resumed his education at IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law and earned his juris doctor degree in 1991. After graduating from law school and passing the bar examination, be began working at the Chicago based, National law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP. He has been at Hinshaw for 31 years and is a Partner with a practice focused on litigation.
Phil and his wife, Meggan, and two children, Elizabeth (19) and Philip (17), live in the Beverly neighborhood and are active parishioners at St. Barnabas.Dianne Parkman
An enthusiastic, motivated tech savvy and dedicated Human Resources Professional with over thirteen (13) years of extensive experience within Human Resources fostering Change Management practices, system integrations, Employee Relations, Ethics, EEO, Talent Management, Training and Organizational Development. Within my experience, I have worked within various industries, including non-profit, telecommunications, retail and more as the HR Director.
As a strategic partner, I thrive on delivery and execution of HR Creative Strategies and business goals. I am a visionary leader, self-started and a team player. I am currently the Director of Human Resources for Chicago Event Management that is more than an event production company, it’s a team motivated to connect the communities we serve through the events we produce. At the core of our organization, we believe in sharing best practices, using learnings to create unforgettable experiences and building lasting relationships that lead to new ideas and innovation.Pat Singler
Pat Singler is a Park Lawn parent to Gretchen and Beatrix Singler, a Community Day Services participants. She also has a grown son, Tim, an educator residing in Wisconsin.
Pat has her Bachelor of Science from Western Illinois University and a Master of Science from Southern Illinois University. She is employed by the Easter Seals Society of Greater Chicago and is involved in a number of areas within the agency, with a focus on parent liaison, support and early intervention. Pat is responsible for various educational outreach programs for parents of special needs children and their families, including identifying programs for their children, appropriate resources, funding and parent support networks.
Pat brings to the Board twenty plus years of experience in state funding, grants, workshops and community outreach. Pat is married to her wonderful husband John, a former Park Lawn Board Member. She and her family reside in the Beverly neighborhood.Bob Schwartzers
Bob was introduced to Park Lawn through his long time friend James Mommsen. ‘Jim and Bob’ were coworkers at an audit firm that had Park Lawn as a client during the 1970’s. Through this business affiliation Jim became an active volunteer and advocate right up to the present and reintroduced Bob to Park Lawn seven years ago when he invited him to participate in the annual Big Bikes Big Hearts Motorcycle Rally. Bob continues to participate in this event . For the past six years he also volunteers with Jim and other friends to sell pulltabs at Park Lawn bingo every Friday night. Beyond helping to run this important fundraising activity, Bob genuinely enjoys the friendships he has developed with the patrons and the camaraderie of the volunteer teams working for a good cause.
Bob is a Certified Public Accountant who holds an undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University and a Masters of Science in Taxation Degree from DePaul University. He formed his own accounting practice in 1986. While he maintains an office in Downers Grove, he has a clientele representing a broad base of industries located in Illinois and Indiana as well as accounts in Europe and Australia. Bob was the Chairman of the Illinois CPA Society’s Gift and Estate Committee for two of the ten years he served on that committee. He has also served as a board member of his church and has provided not for profit consultation throughout his career.
He says that his days off are “too few and far apart”, but on those rare occasions, Bob enjoys boating, motorcycling and attending sporting events, because “my personal sporting days are over…”
Bob looks forward to lending his considerable experience and business talents to the Board of Directors in furthering Park Lawn’s ongoing mission of service.
Our Staff
FRANK PORTADA
Executive Director
fportada@parklawn.com
Frank Portada
7530 W College Drive
Palos Heights IL 60463
Phone: 708-586-7260
Direct: 708-586-7270
Fax: 708-586-7282Denise Rau
Associate Executive Director
drau@parklawn.com
Denise Rau
7530 W College Drive
Palos Heights IL 60463
Phone: 708-586-7260
Direct: 708-586-7280
Fax: 708-586-7282Matt Polson
Director of Operations and Quality Assurance
mpolson@parklawn.com
Matt Polson
7530 W College Drive
Palos Heights IL 60463
Phone: 708-586-7260
Direct: 708-586-7278
Fax: 708-586-7282
BONNIE LAURENCELL, NHA
Director of Residential Services
blaurencell@parklawn.com
Park Lawn Center
5831 W 115th St.
Alsip IL 60803
Phone: 708-396-1117 ext. 223
Fax: 708-396-1186Amy Pitt
Director of community integrated living arrangement services
apitt@parklawn.com
Amy Pitt
5831 W 115th St.
Alsip IL 60803
Phone: 708-713-8220
Fax: 708-396-1186Kristina Cerney
Director of Development
Kristina Cerney
10833 S LaPorte Avenue
Oak Lawn IL 60453
Phone: 708-425-6867
Direct: 708-634-0528
Susan Poole
Director of Finance
spoole@parklawn.com
Susan Poole
10833 S LaPorte Avenue
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
Phone: 708-425-3344 ext. 2223
Direct: 708-634-0513
Fax: 708-425-3530Charles Carrell, MBA, SHRM-CP
Director of Human Resources
ccarrell@parklawn.com
Charles Carrell
10833 S LaPorte Avenue
Oak Lawn IL 60453
Phone: 708-425-3344 ext. 2233
Direct: 708-634-0538
Fax: 708-425-3530Kelly Ewing
Director of Community Day Services
kewing@parklawn.com
Kelly Ewing
7530 W College Drive
Palos Heights IL 60463
Phone: 708-586-7260
Direct: 708-586-7275
Fax: 708-586-7282SHARON BUTTERFIELD, MSW
Intake Coordinator
sbutterfield@parklawn.com
Sharon Butterfield, MSW
7530 W College Drive
Palos Heights IL 60463
Phone: 708-586-7260
Direct: 708-586-7277
Fax: 708-586-7282Rebecca Rush
Program Manager, Choice Crestwood
brush@parklawn.com
Rebecca Rush
4715 W 135th Street
Crestwood IL 60445
Phone: 708-385-8110 Ext 305Victoria Senerchia
Program Manager, Choice Chicago Ridge
vsenerchia@parklawn.com
Victoria Senerchia
6101 W 107th St
Chicago Ridge IL 60415
Phone: 708-907-8080
Direct: 708-907-8081
Fax: 708-907-8079Francesca Ampadu
Program Manager, Connections
fampadu@parklawn.com
Francesca Ampadu
10833 S Laporte Ave
Oak Lawn IL 60453
Phone: 708-425-3344 ext. 2254
Direct: 708-634-0536
Fax: 708-425-3530Brandon Wagemann
Program Manager, Discover Palos Heights
Shannon Krakowski
Program Manager, Discover Tinley Park
skrakowski@parklawn.com
Shannon Krakowski
17007 S Oak Park Ave
Tinley Park IL 60477
Phone: 708-840-1780
Direct: 708-840-1781
Fax: 708-840-1794Jackie Ryan - Svientek
Program Manager, Home Based Services
jryan@parklawn.com
Jackie Svientek
17007 S Oak Park Ave
Tinley Park IL 60477
Phone: 708-840-1780
Direct: 708-840-1783
Fax: 708-840-1794Sharon Seay
Program Manager, Supported Employment
sseay@parklawn.com
Sharon Seay
7530 W College Drive
Palos Heights IL 60463
Phone: 708-586-7260
Direct: 708-586-7262
Fax: 708-586-7282Rachelle Agent
Transportation Manager
ragent@parklawn.com
Rachelle Agent
10833 S LaPorte Avenue
Oak Lawn IL 60453
Phone: 708-425-3344 ext. 2301
Fax: 708-425-2417