Lynell Oyen is an account executive at MDC Wallcoverings, with a background that includes advertising, real estate, education, and interior design.

Lynell received her diploma from Trinity College, and spent time at the Harrington Institute of Interior Design. She has also served on the board of the Network of Executive Women in Hospitality.

Even before becoming a board member at New Moms, Lynell has been dedicated to serving those less fortunate than herself. She has worked with Friends, taking kids from the Cabrini-Green area on field trips, and Santa Claus Anonymous, providing Christmas parties and outfitting Cabrini-Green children with much-needed winter clothing.

Lynell began serving New Moms by doing various volunteer jobs, including decorating for the New Moms Christmas party each year. After volunteering at New Moms, Lynell noticed a need: with moms and children moving around so often, decorating can be difficult, so homes do not feel permanent. With the help of several area interior designers, Lynell began the "Designing on a Dime" program, teaching moms how to make spaces feel like home, with projects including quilts, pillows and pictures.

For many years a single mother herself, Lynell dedicated her energy to her son Blake, who is now grown. She now wants to channel that dedication toward others in the same position, and New Moms is the best place for her to do that.

Mr. Ross is the Vice President of Business Development and Marketing for Creative Printing Services, Inc., the largest African American owned and operated full service commercial printing company in the United States.
He has advised clients in several industries on business development, M&A, and supplier diversity strategies. He is a constant advocate for Minority Supplier Development and also owns Hospitality Solutions Corporation (MBE) in Florida.

Mr. Ross is a native of Boston, Massachusetts and graduate of Williams College. He has completed Executive Management Programs at the Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan. He has over 25 years of domestic and international sales, marketing and distribution experience with companies like Scott Paper, Central National Gottesman, LP Thebault, and Cristina Foods

Mr. Ross is married to his lovely wife Kristin. He is a Deacon at Park Community Church and is also very active in sports.

He volunteers in the Chicago Public School System at the De La Cruz Math and Science Academy. He is the President of the Williams College Chicago Alumni Association. He also serves on the Boards of New Moms Inc. , Alumni for Chicago Public Schools and the Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance (MFHA)

Sheldon Ross serves others for the glory of God.

Sandra Holder is a Senior Human Resources Manager for Motorola, Inc. She partners with senior leaders of global organizations to provide value and add high-impact solutions for their HR strategy requirements, such as: leadership development, managerial and organizational effectiveness, talent management and selection, and human asset planning. Sandra has held various HR positions since joining Motorola in 1995, and has also worked in the areas of employee relations, employment/staffing, and operations. In addition, she has also participated in many Motorola-sponsored community outreach programs, including the Global Day of Service, Bring Your Child to Work Day, Junior Achievement, and Bright Horizons’ Early Childhood Programs.

Sandra is a Chicago native, who graduated from the Chicago Public School System. She attended the University of Illinois (Urbana), and is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, and a concentration in Accounting. Sandra first entered the workforce as an accountant for the Canadian Branch offices of Borg-Warner Acceptance Corporation. Before accepting a position with Motorola, Sandra honed her accounting and human resources skills in the insurance industry, with Allstate Insurance Company and Interstate National Corporation.

She participates as a local school volunteer with School District u-46, and began volunteering at young age with a local community organization co-founded by her mother—Morgan Park Community Roots Organization. She has also volunteered with the Streamwood Youth Basketball Association.

Through the phenomenal services and educational programs offered by New Moms, Inc., Sandra is proud to serve a population that often falls between the cracks, and feels blessed to have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of teen moms and their children.

Sandra and her husband, Keith, reside in the northwest suburbs with their two sons – Kyle and Blake.

Veronica Herboth is a Senior Director of Marketing and Strategic Planning for Corn Products International, Inc. Veronica grew up in Honduras, where she began her faith journey in the midst of a natural disaster. A graduate of St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX, with a degree in Business Administration, Veronica continued, to attend Nova Southeaster University in Ft Lauderdale, FL, where she received an MBA.

Veronica joined the New Moms Board of Directors in 2009, with a desire to use her gifts and experience to help New Moms plan for future growth. In the past, Veronica and her husband have focused their work and ministry abroad. However, Veronica recently felt the pull to serve locally, in her area of need.

Veronica and her husband believe deeply in the inherent value of every child’s life, and acknowledge that the young women New Moms serve have made a decision that has difficult long-term consequences. Veronica feels compelled to serve these mothers, enabling them to overcome the challenges of choosing life, and helping them to prepare to face the future with the greatest odds of success.

Karen Allen is a Realtor with Baird & Warner. Recently she earned the Accredited Staging Professional Realtor designation. She is a graduate of the Baird Warner Career Institute and specializes in excellent client service. Karen has been honored with the President's Club Award from the Illinois Quad Cities Realtor Association and the Mel Foster Co. While working for Younkers, she broke a 20 year record for one day sales.

In the past Karen served on the boards of The Jr. Board of the Quad City Symphony, Christian Women's Club Board and many others. She is founder and past president of GoMinistries QCUSA, and currently serves as CEO of Contemporary Initiatives.

In addition to serving on the New Moms Board of Directors, Karen is a member of Elim Evangelical Free Church in Oak Lawn where her husband is pastor.

Paul Wong is a Certified Public Accountant for Crowe Horwath LLP, who serves as an auditor and consultant for Not for Profit, Higher Education and Governmental clients. He is a graduate of DePaul University, who heard about New Moms through a classmate who is now on the New Moms staff. Her passion and excitement for the organization was contagious, and he began researching New Moms' programs. Immediately, he was intrigued by New Moms' approach to service, and found the organization's programs helpful and productive for the young mothers served-many of whom have faced abusive situations.

Reading about the Chicago community's response to a March 2008 fire in our shelter building, Paul was inspired to lend a hand, and is pleased to join the Board of Directors. He is excited to use his experience in the public sector to serve New Moms, an organization which he believes has great potential for growth.

Ellen Kogstad Thompson founded New Moms, Inc. in 1983, after three years of working with single teenage mothers. She had noticed the rising epidemic of "kids having kids," and felt compelled to help, beginning a grass-roots effort to serve the moms in any way she could.

Ellen began by visiting teen moms at the hospital soon after they delivered their babies, giving them someone to talk to who respected them. Ellen expanded her ministry by creating "drop in" groups from her apartment and visiting the homes of consenting moms, who became New Moms' first participants.

In addition to serving on the New Moms board, Ellen now works as a Spiritual Director, and serves as an adjunct professor at North Park University. She lives in Glenview with her husband and son.