Open Books :: About

Collectively, we can make a quilt, throw a grenade, rock the house, play the bass, play the saxophone, bake bread, and write books. Individually, we are:

	Stacy Ratner (Founder / Executive Director) has spent the last decade as a serial entrepreneur in key executive roles at Snapdragon Technologies, Wired Business, Ionospeed, Driveitaway, Picoesque, and Sittercity. She is a past recipient of PhillyTech's Thirty Under 30 award, a graduate of Boston College Law School and Brandeis University, a 5-time Winner of National Novel Writing Month, and an annual volunteer monitor for Blogathon, and has served on the Boards of Directors of Literacy Chicago, The Nanotechnology Alliance, and OperaModa. She also makes awesome cupcakes.
	Dani Brzozowski (Director of Development) puts the FUN in fundraising. Dani comes from a background in higher education development and is thrilled to find a place where her love of reading and writing can come together with her passion for matching the right giving opportunities to the right donors. Dani holds BAs from Purdue University in Creative Writing and Religious Studies. She loves baking, her husband, and Jimmy Choos, and is learning (slowly, poorly, and without adequate motivation) to play the acoustic guitar.
	Becca Keaty (Director of Marketing and PR) comes to Open Books after years of experience in marketing and public relations for the American Cancer Society, Funnel Incorporated, Woodfield Mall, OperaModa, and Sittercity. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison, she has been a proud saxophone-playing member of the United States Army National Guard Band for over 10 years and volunteers with literacy and marketing groups across the city.
	Erin Walter (Literacy Director) is thrilled to be able to combine her life's passions -- reading, writing, and teaching-- at Open Books. A Northwestern University journalism graduate, she has worked as a reporter for the Austin American-Statesman, an editor for the Texas Legislature, and a first grade teacher at her beloved public school alma mater, Travis Heights Elementary. She plays bass and sings in the Chicago band The Hidden Mitten and volunteers for 826CHI.
	Dustin Walsh (Book Manager) comes to Open Books as a recent graduate of Columbia College, where he majored in Marketing Communications and minored in Product Design. His past experience includes working with Washington Mutual's Mortgage Division, working with Brandtrust on product development as a class representative at Columbia, winning the Ryan Marketing Creative Marketing Challenge, and tutoring faculty and students in computer fluency. Dustin spent much of his time growing up volunteering with numerous organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters, PADS, and Students of Service. He is an outdoor enthusiast as well as an avid cyclist who enjoys spending his time camping, traveling and boating.

	Max Barry (Literacy Intern), a native Chicagoan turned Evanstonian turned Middletownian turned second time Chicagoan, comes to Open Books from a long road of varied pursuits. He begun his education at Evanston Township High School and continued on to study English at Wesleyan University. Since then, he's applied himself to the study and writing of poetry, the Spanish language, latte art, and the creation of audio documentaries. He is very excited to join Open Books in their varied pursuits in the world of literacy.
	Christine Blaine (Literacy Intern) is excited to take part in Open Books' effort to promote the love of reading in Chicago. After studying English at the University of Michigan, she spent a few years serving communities through AmeriCorps programs on the east and west coasts. She is currently working at a farm in Indiana, where she plays in the dirt all day. When not at Open Books or in a greenhouse, she is riding a bike, baking bread, or attempting to fold one of those impossibly tiny origami creations.
	Jasett Chatham (Marketing Intern) is a senior at Northwestern University, majoring in history. Originally from New York, California, South Carolina and Oregon, she has yet to adapt to Chicago's winters. One of her favorite places in the world is the Oregon coast ((Lincoln City, specifically). She has previously interned for Obama for America and Northwestern University Press. A self-described bookworm, she hopes to become a published author in the near future.
	Erin Dostal (Marketing Intern) is a journalism and history double major at Northwestern University. Originally from the western suburbs, she comes to Open Books after a year of nomadic adventures. She's lived in three places -- Evanston, Prague and Indianapolis -- during the past ten months. She has interned for Chicagoland Gardening magazine, The Chicago Reporter and The Indianapolis Star. When she's not at Open Books, you can find her reading the Trib, sunbathing on the lakefront, or attempting to learn Czech.
	Becky Eisinger (Literacy Intern) is really excited to be a part of Open Books, since it will allow her to share her love for reading with her native (sort of – she grew up in a suburb) Chicago. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College, and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Affairs at Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. During her undergrad years, she had the opportunity to study and volunteer in many developing nations, which inspired her to pursue a career in the nonprofit world. When not working, studying, or of course reading, you can find Becky rock climbing or pursuing other outdoor activities.
	Marie Elliott (Literacy Intern) is thrilled to be working at Open Books. She was born in Houston, but moved to Ann Arbor Michigan at the age of 7. She is currently pursuing an Art History degree from DePaul University, and after graduation she hopes to spend her life traveling, volunteering, and having as many adventures as she can. Marie believes strongly in the power of words and expression, and is excited to learn as much as possible working with everyone at Open Books. When she's not working for literacy, she is probably doing one of the following things: 1) playing an instrument 2) listening to music, 3) making travel plans she can't afford, 4) getting lost in Chicago, or 5) attempting to cook like Bobby Flay (and most often failing fantastically).
	Alex Heimbach (Literacy Intern) is a third-year English and Anthropology major at the University of Chicago. This means that she spends a ridiculous amount of her time buried in books. Fortunately, this has pretty much always been the case, even growing up in the scenic Rocky Mountains. She has attempted, with varying levels of success, to further the cause of literacy in the wider world by volunteering as a tutor and at the public library in her hometown of Boulder, Colorado, so she's very enthusiastic about contributing to Open Books' larger vision. When not engrossed in literacy-related pursuits, Alex spends most of her time taking pictures, exploring the city and trying out new languages.
	Lane Imberman (Literacy Intern) is happy to be part of the Open Books team. Beginning as a volunteer at Schiller School, he loved reading with the students and quickly became an intern. For his first project, Lane oversaw the planting of a reading garden at Schiller, and is excited to expand the garden come fall. Born in the northern suburbs of Chicago, he attended Tulane University and currently attends Northwestern in addition to working nights part time in a restaurant. Lane loves to read a variety of things from Harry Potter to The Economist. When he is not working, he plays rugby, golf, and barbeques with the best of them. Lane looks forward to helping students across the city.
	Ashley Keyser (Literacy Intern) has read hungrily and written creatively for a long time, and she has the pasty skin and strained eyesight to prove it. Originally from Philadelphia, she now lives in Evanston where she attends Northwestern for gender studies and journalism. She enjoys writing poetry, forests, gender issues, tambourines and trail mix. Her favorite books are (at the moment) The Unbearable Lightness of Being and Eros the Bittersweet.
	Vanessa Lee (Literacy Intern) hails from Northwestern, where she is a rising sophomore studying Psychology and Economics. She is very excited to indulge her inner bookworm this summer working for Open Books as literacy and education have always been passions. However, she continues to volunteer with other organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Asian Youth Services, and has also worked with Room to Read in the past. When not working, Vanessa can be found dancing, exploring Chicago, or watching episode after episode of Friends.
	Krista Ravenscraft (Development Intern) comes to Open Books in the midst of a career change, having had a solo law practice in the Loop many moons ago. She's a second-year grad student seeking a Masters in Nonprofit Administration at North Park University, and previously graduated from Northwestern University (Anthropology and Journalism) and John Marshall Law School. Originally from Kentucky, she lived ten years in Chicago before moving to St. Charles in the western suburbs. She's sung in an adult community chorus (Elgin Choral Union, 2nd Alto or 1st Tenor as needed) for 20 years, and just completed her term as President of the Board of Directors. An obsessed, wide-ranging reader, Krista finds it hard to comprehend what life would be like without the ability to read. She volunteered as an English tutor at Rogers Elementary while at Northwestern, and received training as an ESL tutor from the Literacy Connection in St. Charles. Krista has written newsletters for her chorus, and as a writer has had several short stories and a poem published (not including the novel and three-quarters in the drawer at home). Her husband David is supportive of her internship, particularly if it means getting rid of some of the books threatening to take over the house. She has three sons, ages 19, 22, and 24.
	Joia Williamson (Literacy Intern) is from Belleville in southern Illinois. Currently a senior at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, she plans on attending Columbia College for her masters' in Journalism. She enjoys different kinds of music and wants to be a music journalist. She has always admired Chicago and hopes to reside in the city in the future.
	Shara Zaval (Literacy Intern) is a rising senior at Northwestern University majoring in American Studies and earning a Certificate in Service Learning. Originally from Boston, she is very excited to remain in Evanston over the summer and have more time to explore Chicago. She has recently interned at Teen Ink Magazine and co-taught a Writers' Circle workshop through Literacy Works, and is looking forward to combining her loves of writing/literacy and community development once again with Open Books. She enjoys creative writing, exploring new places, (fruitlessly) learning to cook, and after spending the fall studying in Argentina, India, and China, has a newfound love of travelling.

Interns Emeritus: Matt Johnson Hayley Kahn Nathan Kosky Suzanne Marlatt Clare Riesman Annie Rooney Want to get in touch with a previous intern? Ask Erin.