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"The world needs di erent kinds of minds to work together."
—Dr. Temple Grandin
“I was nervous at rst; I had never been a manager before. But I felt comfortable moving up as I knew that if I was struggling with something, there would be someone willing to help me gure it out.”
—Samantha Sayre, QA Lead
As we write this letter, it’s been one year since the Covid-19 lockdowns began. We had to quickly take action to keep our sta safe. Like so many businesses around the world, Aspiritech shifted to a work-from-home model. Our mission, however, never wavered: to support autistic adults in their quest for meaningful employment and social opportunities. We also made it a priority to continue to meet our clients’ needs as e ectively and e ciently as ever.
In 2020, we were Tested and Trusted. We chose this theme because it encapsulates many elements of this past year. It was a test to see if we could pivot to working from home, while maintaining project excellence and supporting employees’ new needs. Some of us took Covid tests, even as we carried on with our important QA testing work. Our personal and collective strength was tested as we faced personal challenges.
But we were also trusted. Our employees trusted us to keep them safe but also gainfully employed (we are proud that we didn't have to let go or furlough any sta in 2020 due to the pandemic). Clients trusted us to meet their project goals, even though the world had turned upside down, and we are pleased to say we delivered on that promise. We trusted that eventually we would nd our way through this “new normal” and not only survive but thrive.
We could achieve this thanks to our phenomenal employees, thoughtful leadership, and incredible supporters.
Our 2020 Annual Report re ects a momentous snapshot in time. While we celebrate our successes of the last year, our happiness is tempered by the reality that it was an extremely di cult year for so many, including those in the neurodivergent community. A recent study found that one in ve independent adults with autism reported that the Covid-19 pandemic has severely a ected their mental health.
That statistic reminds us that our work is never done. We did not give up when the pandemic hit because the work of supporting neurodivergent adults in the workplace is too important. Our employees amaze, delight, and inspire us every day—even when our communication is virtual instead of in-person.
We also continue to be awed by supporters and friends like you. Thank you for your continued belief in our mission, for your time, for your generosity, for your talents and for cheering us on. None of this would be possible without you. We are so grateful!
What will 2021 bring? No one can say for certain, but we feel hopeful. In 2020, we were tested and trusted. The result? We stayed true to our mission and goals. Read on to learn more about how we did it.
With gratitude,
David Rappaport Chair, 2020 Board of Directors Brenda Weitzberg Executive Director Moshe Weitzberg Chief Executive O cer“What’s been so di erent for me about working at Aspiritech is the atmosphere of encouragement. Whereas at another company, a person might get written up or reprimanded for being di erent, Aspiritech helps me put my special talents to work.
“As a multi-client senior manager, I have the chance to recognize the talents in my team members and use the a rming management techniques that I learned from my managers. Together we grow the culture of con dence that is Aspiritech. I think nurturing people to use their talents and recognizing the value that each team member contributes doesn’t just help people on the spectrum work better and be happier, but it’s what makes people better people in general.”
—Michael J. Ashburne, QA Multi-Client Manager
Aspiritech empowers individuals on the autism spectrum to ful ll their potential through meaningful employment combined with social opportunity.
About 85 percent of adults on the autism spectrum are unemployed or underemployed. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Many neurodivergent individuals possess unique talents, such as intense focus, attention to detail, strong visual processing abilities, superlative technical expertise, and lack of boredom with repetitive tasks. We’ve found that these are the precise talents that make our employees ideally suited to providing software quality assurance (SQA) services.
Companies rely on our neurodiverse team to perform regression testing, data migration, test design, compatibility testing, design consistency, and other SQA services. Our clients trust us with critical work that directly impacts their bottom line.
Aspiritech is proud to produce best-in-class deliverables while helping to ll a critical employment gap. The end result? Extremely satis ed clients and professionally ful lled sta .
As the rst and largest social enterprise of this kind in North America, we take our leadership role seriously. We strive to be a resource and model for other companies around the world.
Aspiritech is a safe and welcoming space for our employees. Sta members tell us that Aspiritech is unlike any other place they’ve worked; it’s a place where they can be their full selves. We strive to ensure our employees feel supported and valued, not only as sta mem bers, but as people with interests and passions outside of work. It’s inspiring to witness our team members experience independence and self-con dence, day after day.
Aspiritech’s business model excels because we match the unique strengths and interests of autistic adults with jobs in the SQA eld, while also providing support for individual needs in the areas of organization/executive function ing, social skills, and emotional regulation.
Through programs such as Stepping Up & Out, the Women’s Empowerment Group, and the ACE FUND, Aspiritech provides social, emotion al, and professional sca olding to ensure our neurodivergent employees succeed inside and outside the workplace (see page 12).
Brenda and Moshe Weitzberg founded Aspiritech in 2008 with the goal of providing gainful employ ment for adults with autism. They were inspired by their son, a college graduate with Asperger’s syndrome, who struggled to nd job opportunities commensurate with his skills and education.
After learning about a Danish company that successfully employed autistic adults in the software QA testing eld, Brenda and Moshe decided to create something similar in the U.S. From a kitchen table startup, Aspiritech has grown to become a leading voice in the neurodiversity advocacy space.
In 2020, Aspiritech employed more than 130 neurodiverse adults and worked with numerous corporate clients. Aspiritech is a global leader, showing by example the personal, societal, and business bene ts of employing this talented and capable population.
2009
The company launches its pilot program, a hands-on software testing training program.
2011
New services o ered; autism specialist hired.
2013
Aspiritech continues to thrive.
2008
Aspiritech is incorporated.
2010
First test engineers hired.
2012 Business development director hired;
Stepping Up & Out launches.
2014
Client revenue doubles over prior year.
New o ce and service o erings; client revenue exceeds $500,000.
Three-year strategic plan launches; client revenue reaches $2.2 million.
First full year o ering the ACE FUND, an emergency fund for sta in need; 115 neurodivergent sta ; client revenue reaches $5.5 million
Number of neurodiver gent sta grows to 50; client revenue exceeds $1.2 million.
2018 Downtown Chicago o ce opens; neurodivergent sta numbers nearly 100; client revenue exceeds $3.8 million.
Eleven professionals join the Board of Directors in late 2019 and 2020, bringing unique expertise and nearly doubling the total number of board members. They help guide Aspiritech as we confront the Covid-19 pandemic with updated support systems for employees and new business practices that ensure client needs are met. Client revenue exceeds $6.2 million. Read on to learn how we did it.
Last year was a tough year for everyone. But despite the hardships and uncertainty, Aspiritech stayed strong. We are proud to share these highlights from 2020, which are a testament to Aspiritech’s unshakable foundation. In 2020, we learned that we can grow, improve, and lead, even during a pandemic!
Aspiritech employs more than 133 sta , 115 of whom are neurodivergent.
Approximately 57 percent of our sta work full time.
Nearly 82 percent of our leads and job coaches are on the autism spectrum, and most rose up through the ranks.
Two out of three QA managers are on the autism spectrum.
No employees were laid o or furloughed during the pandemic in 2020.
At least 20% of our team are now certi ed as Section 508 Trusted Testers (for accessibility compliance and conformity testing) through DHS's O ce of Accessible Systems & Technology–OAST
“The environment is so unbelievably supportive, that if you are having a rough day, they try to make it better, and not just tell you to shake it o and get back to work.”
—Doug Norton, Bose QA Lead
To help employees feel safe, connected, valued, and productive during 2020, Aspiritech adapted infrastructure, launched new sta trainings, increased social services, and more.
Employees starting working from home in March.
•
Aspiritech’s team of Employment Support Specialists provided crisis intervention and home health check-ins, including a daily survey where employees could report stress levels and request assistance. This provided a global picture of companywide stress levels, allowing the team to ramp up support during high-stress periods.
•
Virtual support included Slack check-ins, phone calls, and Google meetings. Additionally, employees joined virtual lunch group discussions, a Covid/Cur rent Events group, a Women’s Empowerment Group, and Happy Hours.
•
Aspiritech helped ensure employees’ physical comfort by providing reimbursement for ergonomic workspaces (such as lumbar pillows) and sending pop-up reminders about stretching, self-care, and taking time o .
•
We also created a food pantry for employees in need.
Later in the year, Aspiritech transitioned to a hybrid remote/o ce model, depending on each employee’s needs and comfort level with being in the o ce. A health and safety committee was formed to ensure the o ce would be kept as safe and clean as possible.
In early June, Aspiritech sent out an important message regarding racism in the U.S. The email read, in part, “We’re rendered speechless … by the overt shows of racism that are just the most recent in a long history of pointed violence and discrimination towards Black lives in America.”
Autism doesn’t discriminate. People of all races, ethnicities, genders, and religions are a ected by autism. We need to do more to support and
represent the whole autistic community. To move forward, the Board of Directors established a Diversity and Inclusion Committee. This commit tee created an actionable plan for our company to reach out to and be a resource for minority and underserved populations. Along the way, we vow to interrogate our biases; listen to our Black neighbors, friends, and colleagues; truly hear their critiques and suggestions; and further diversify our Aspiritech community.
The Board of Directors launched a new committee, the Business Diversi cation Committee, to prepare Aspiritech to meet new needs in the IT industry (such as accessibility testing and data annotation) and expand our capabilities and services.
We recently hired an experienced CTO, Winston Tsao, to further enhance our security policies and processes and increase our ability to meet future needs in the following areas:
• Automation
• Web and mobile app development
• Load and performance testing
Thanks to a generous two-year grant from Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, we will be creating AREA (Aspiritech Remote Employment Academy): a more formal virtual training academy for neurodivergent individuals, with a focus on youth. We look forward to sharing more information about this program soon.
We are excited about our capital campaign, “A Home of Our Own.” Our new corporate headquarters will be speci cally designed to meet the needs of our neurodivergent sta . As we continue to grow, a new building will allow us to hire even more autistic adults, broaden our client base, expand our social services, and connect with a wider community of neurodivergent adults, organizations, and companies.
In 2020, we received a generous lead gift from The Coleman Foundation, which will help us turn our dream into reality (hopefully this year!). We are proud to call The Coleman Foundation our partners as we plan our capital campaign goals. Their longtime support has been foundational to our success.
We also want to thank the Goldman Sachs Social Impact Advisory, who assisted Aspiritech with nancial analysis and real estate advisory on a pro bono basis. A team of six Goldman Sachs employees guided Aspiritech and their e orts were much appreciated. A big thank you as well to JLL for their continued real estate guidance.
You can help us reach our Capital Campaign goals this year! To learn more or make a gift, please contact Brenda Weitzberg, Executive Director, at brenda@aspiritech.org or (847) 528-8470.
“Ever wonder who ensures Aspiritech’s autistic employees are successful?
“Our team of Employment Support Specialists assists our employees in developing life skills and independence. This team includes sta with diverse expertise in the fields of counseling, autism, behavioral therapy, and psychology.
“We feel our success is in part due to understanding that supporting all aspects of our employees’ strengths and needs leads to focused, supported, and enthusiastic team members.”
—Bonny Goldin, LCSW, Employment Support Specialist
An important aspect of Aspiritech’s mission is our support services. Social outings, clubs, leadership training, job coaching, and an emergency fund help our employees (and, in some cases, neurodiverse members of the general public) to thrive.
Our support sta includes a social worker, autism specialists, counselors, and ve job coaches. In 2020, support sta took on addition al responsibilities as they assisted employees with the transition to working from home, implemented virtual job coaching and online social activities, and provided enhanced support for employees feeling heightened anxiety.
More than 50% of the costs of funding our support services, including technical job
coaches and the emergency-grant ACE FUND, come from our generous philanthropic partners.
The following foundations have supported our wraparound services over the years: Barnsley Fund, Modestus Bauer Foundation, Alvin H. Baum Family Fund, Helen Brach Foundation, Fred. J. Brunner Foundation, Debicki Founda tion, Finnegan Family Foundation, Julian Grace Foundation, Grandy Foundation, Christopher L. and M. Susan Gust Foundation, Health Care Foundation of Highland Park, Taki Family Foundation, Sweeney Family Foundation.
We are also deeply grateful to the many other donors who have contributed to the success of our support services. Thank you!
Developing and implementing accommodations for sta .
Developing and implementing accommodations for sta .
Holding regular “check in” meetings with analysts.
Yoga and life tness sessions at both o ce locations and now virtually.
Lunch sessions on focused topics, such as work-life balance and how to engage in small talk.
A weekly Women’s Empowerment Group.
Leadership training opportunities
Technical job coaching for sta .
the
Leads, led by an autism consultant, to provide insight into best practices
managing a neurodiverse team.
Daily stretch/exercise breaks to recharge, midday meditation breaks, and team building activities.
“I want to address the stereotype of people on the spectrum not wanting to deal with social interactions. If the stay-at-home orders ended tomorrow, I would be excited to return to the o ce because even though there are distractions, I miss the community.”
“Covid is a pandemic that was designed for my personality. I have no problem abiding by the social distancing. I’m good!”
—Unnamed QA Analyst
“IF YOU’VE MET ONE PERSON WiTH AUTiSM, YOU’VE MET ONE PERSON WiTH AUTiSM.”
– DR. STEPHEN SHORE
The Stepping Up & Out (SUO) program, which was launched in 2012 and continues to be made possible thanks to the generous support of the Grandy Foundation, brings together autistic adults from Aspiritech and the larger community. Through workshops, team building, and fun activities (such as game nights, arts and crafts, and group meals), SUO helps reduce social isolation and improve participants’ social skills.
Alex Dudasik joined Aspiritech as a Software Tester (now called QA Analyst) in 2014. Today, he serves as Aspiritech's Happiness Coordinator and as SUO Coordinator, helping to plan events and activities for neurodivergent employees and community members. Learn more about Alex and SUO in 2020 in the interview below, which was conducted by fellow sta member Katie Levin.
How has Covid a ected the SUO program? How have you evolved along with those changes necessitated by the pandemic?
COVID has a ected the SUO program in that we had to switch to all virtual events (although we do hope to get back to in-person events as early as later this year). I have evolved with the changes, adding more programming, adapting existing programming to a virtual environment, and even nding places that o er virtual experiences, such as a lm fest, an escape room, and a museum tour. I have also teamed up with a few employees with speci c skill sets, to help facilitate certain events.
A special skill I bring to the role is that I’ve interacted with people on the spectrum for a long time, and that, combined with being on the spectrum myself, makes me pretty attuned to the wants and needs of the community and its members. For a long time, I’ve felt that it was important for people on the spectrum to have access to social, educational, and vocational programming targeted to them, so I have a commitment to providing these opportunities. I also like to think I’m pretty good at planning fun events and activities that participants nd value in and enjoy.
What accomplishments are you most proud of with SUO and what are your future goals for the program?
One accomplishment I’m most proud of is how much I was able to grow and evolve both myself and the SUO programming at Aspiritech. It’s been great to go from having programming once a week to being able to o er programming nearly seven days a week.
Some future goals for the SUO program would be to continue to grow the program, add even more events and activities, and increase participation among sta and the larger community.
The ACE FUND is an emergency fund for sta in need. ACE FUND grants are often pivotal to a recipient’s ability to maintain meaningful and gainful employment at Aspiritech, and thereby lead a healthy, independent life. All grant applications are reviewed anonymously by an independent committee.
In 2020, the ACE FUND distributed more than $20,000 in emergency grants. This resource was a lifeline for many employees facing unexpected hardships due to the pandemic. Sample grants included*:
· Rent relief for an employee whose newly unemployed partner and disabled father were facing homelessness.
· Emergency funds to provide food for the family of an employee who was sick with Covid.
· A grant to help an employee purchase a scooter since he was told by his doctor not to take public transportation.
Funded by the generous contributions of community members and foundation partners, the goal of the ACE FUND is to assist, change, and empower sta :
ASSIST with transportation, housing, or short-term unexpected medical, family and other emergency expenses
CHANGE the quality of life by funding programs or services incorporating tness, health and wellness, and independent living
EMPOWER through funding continuing education opportunities, advocacy programs and navigation of resources and bene ts
To learn more about the ACE FUND or to make a contribution, please contact Brenda Weitzberg, Executive Director, at brenda@aspiritech.org or 312-945-8378 ext. 1.
*Identifying details have been changed.
Aspiritech’s dedicated Board of Directors plays a critical role in our success. The Board volunteers their time tirelessly to ensure that our goal of providing meaningful employment for individuals on the autism spectrum is met. In 2019-2020, we greatly expanded our Board to include leaders in technology, law, healthcare, communications, and social services.
Get to know our 2020 Board members below (new members in 2019 and 2020 are marked with an asterisk):
David Rappaport, Rappaport Reiches Capital Management; Board Chair
Ester Stein, Director of Corporate Reimbursement, Abbott; Board Vice Chair, Secretary
Alan Berkowitz, Retired; Treasurer
*Vladimir Anastasov, Division Leader, PuraShield at Filtration Group
Ron Brix, Retired from Wrigley
*Janice Block Chaddock, Former Chief Legal, Compliance and HR O cer at Kaplan, Inc.
*Vivek Chopra, Executive Chair, Knolskape; Board Member; Strategic Advisor; Mentor at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
*Daniel Contreras, Director, Technology Strategy at Microsoft
*Kyle Cramer, Diverse Partner Development at Microsoft
*Michael Du , Executive Director, Technology Engineering and Execution, CME Group
*Maureen Dunne, PhD, Co-Founder, Managing Partner, Autism Angels Group
*Roman Eisenberg, Head of Digital Channels Technology, JP Morgan Chase Consumer and Community Banking Jay Farrell, Retired Marketing Executive Bud Glick
*Steven Henkels, Retired Senior Technology Executive
Rachelle Jervis Chopra, President and CEO, Executive Service Corps
*Jerry Kane, Retired Business Owner
*Rachel Loftin, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Ben Prozinski, Business Transformation Architect, Salesforce Delivery Leader
*Katie Rosholt, Senior Strategic Brand Marketing Leader
*Veronica Scotto, Digital Innovation and Transformation Leader at Accenture
Beverly Shapiro, LCSW, Retired from JCFS
Moshe Weitzberg PhD, CEO, Aspiritech
*Brad Zelinger, Founder and CEO, Stride Autism Centers
Brenda Weitzberg, Executive Director
*Joined the Board of Directors in 2019 or 2020
“I’ve learned that the Aspiritech team has a great ability to look at things from a di erent angle. If I ask them to test a page in a certain way and de ne certain things that I need to know, they may well come back and tell me about other things that are broken on the page—things I didn’t know to ask about. They bring a very creative approach to these tasks.
“Our work with Aspiritech is about making it possible for more people on the autism spectrum to nd meaningful work. But it’s also about giving our organization access to talented individuals who can perform our testing tasks with a level of attention and creativity that we would be hard-pressed to nd anywhere else.”
—Bruce Horner, VP, Digital UX Engineering, Transaction Banking, Goldman Sachs
Aspiritech takes great pride in providing tremendous service for our clients. In 2020, earned revenue reached an all-time high, exceeding $6.2 million. This revenue helped cover 50 percent of our mission-related expenses, providing our sta with the support they need to succeed. Client revenue supports the wages and bene t packages of our QA analysts and technical managers (wages alone for sta on the spectrum exceeded $3.5 million last year), as well as our signi cant overhead, including rent and technical equipment/systems.
The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted every industry in 2020, but Aspiritech employees went above and beyond to keep things smooth and e cient for our clients. We maintained our extremely high dedication to quality, and our clients noticed and appreciated this top-line service. One client told us, “We’ve stopped work with all our vendors—except you!”
Thank you to all of our clients for continuing to trust Aspiritech to manage your SQA needs, even throughout the uncertainty of last year.
• Banking and nancial
Consumer electronics and professional
Pharmaceuticals
• Functional, E2E, and UI/UX testing—mobile and web-based
Hardware/software
Comprehensive 508 and WCAG
Clients in 2020
and
We partner with our clients to deliver best-in-class service, and 2020 was no exception. The client success stories below are just a few examples of how Aspiritech employees provide value and expertise, even under tight deadlines.
Aspiritech was selected to provide accessibility testing for Source America as it migrated to a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. Of particular concern was the ability for its vision-impaired users to be able to e ectively navigate the new system using their preferred screen readers. Aspiritech leveraged its knowledge of accessibility standards to provide comprehensive feedback to both Source America and its outside development. Aspiritech exceeded all expectations and the contract was extended more than once as Aspiritech provided such insightful feedback that the scope of the project grew.
Aspiritech partnered with the American Medical Association as it digitized its guide for practitioners. Aspiritech ensured that the content for the digital guides matched the book word-for-word to ensure an equivalent experience. Originally designed as a small one-time project, Aspiritech has now engaged with AMA three times to support migration to cloud or digital environments.
Outvote, a cloud-based mobile phone texting application, was on a very short deadline to build out capacity and usability before the 2020 election. The organization turned to Aspiritech for UX and UAT testing on multiple mobile phone devices. Aspiritech provided the capacity and scalability to roll out new capabilities and functions on an extremely short timeline.
“My husband and I give to Aspiritech because we love and cherish a person who lives with Asperger’s. We know that people with neurological di erences are just like anyone, seeking to nd happiness and purpose. People living with ASD can be the most compassionate, hard-working, capable employees, even if these attributes are not readily apparent.
“Aspiritech provides a path for many people on the spectrum to nd purpose and be productive. We are all better, as a society, if we can nd the value and potential in each individual person. We feel that in supporting Aspiritech, we are making a small di er ence for people with neurological di erences who should not just be accepted but celebrated.”
—Kelly Hart, MINDS monthly donorOur supporters make a major impact with each and every gift. While revenue earned from Aspiritech’s software testing and other SQA services covers the costs of running the business, philanthropy supports our socio-emotional programs, initiatives, and sta .
The generosity of Aspiritech’s donors funds our team of social workers, counselors, autism specialists, trainers, and job coaches; creates social opportunities through the Stepping Up & Out program, which is open to sta and other community members with autism; and provides grants to employees in need through the ACE FUND.
Aspiritech extends its heartfelt thanks to the following donors who graciously supported us in 2020.
$500,000 - Capital Grant
The Coleman Foundation
$100,000 Anonymous
$50,000-$85,000
Grandy Foundation
$20,000-$49,999
Alvin H. Baum Family Fund
Fred. J. Brunner Foundation
The Coleman Foundation
Health Care Foundation of Highland Park Julian Grace Foundation
$10,000-$19,999
Barnsley Fund Helen Brach Foundation Michele and Don Cronin Christopher L. and M. Susan Gust Foundation William McIntosh, in honor of Condre Koepfgen
Modestus Bauer Foundation Anonymous
Taki Family Foundation
$5,000-$9,999
Eric and Laurie Chern Debicki Foundation Finnegan Family Foundation Christopher and Cynthia Galvin
Arthur O. Kane Charitable Fund
Phyllis and Perry Schwartz Foundation
Sweeney Family Foundation Brenda and Moshe Weitzberg Drs. Hong Zhang & Xian-He Sun
$1,000-$4,999
Alan Berkowitz and Andrea Mann
Mrs. Sharon and Dr. Robert Bielski Robert and Linda Braun Carolyn and Ray Burton Rachelle Jervis Chopra CME Group Community Foundation
Brad and Jakee Cohen John and Laleen Doerrer Michael Du and Chantal Forster Roman Eisenberg Nora Epstein Jay and Alicia Farrell Mike Farrell Andrew Feldman, AJ Feldman Financial Julie and Brian Finerty Jill and Brad Gordon Family Foundation James and Kelly Hansen HBK Engineering, LLC Steve and Elise Henkels Cathy Kahn
MB Real Estate
Marc Mar-Yohana Rae Jean and Wolfgang McKeown
David and Stephanie Mortimer Veronica Norton Elizabeth Pross Maria Race
David and Karen Rappaport The Roslyn and Joseph Perlman Foundation, in honor of Brenda and Moshe Weitzberg Joyce and Jonathan Sapir Patricia Sayre
Beverly and Myron Shapiro Ester Stein and Bruce Belrose Gerald Taglia Fernando Torre Trillium Foundation Walter S. Mander Foundation WebIT
Dr. Gene and Mrs. Sharon Weiss James and Minerva Weiss Foundation Zhang Yun and Ping He
$500-$999 Abbott AbbVie
Action Electric Sales
Jennifer Amdur-Spitz Aon Foundation
Vlad Anastasov
Karen Beres-Haring
Leon and Marcia Bernstein
Janice Block Chaddock
Vivek and Bernadette Chopra George Collias
Linda and Bob Cutler
Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Cyzner Joann Dinneen Richard and Sarita Dyrda Tim Farrell
Lisa A. Foreman
Yuji and Rika Fukunaga Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Leo S. Guthman Fund Craig Hallenstein
Mr. and Mrs. Merrill Hoyt, in honor of Beverly Shapiro Lindy Hudson
Ida Kersz, in honor of Daniel Belrose Erin Lehmann Michael and Karyn Lutz Family Foundation
Annette and Bill McClellan Michael McCutcheon Andy and Nancy Mills Todd and Lori Newberger Brian Pacejka
Alap Patel
Patricia Sayre, in memory of Anna and Ferdinand Golenko
Drs. Debbie and Larry Segil Mitchell and Barbara Serota, in honor of Brenda and Moshe Weitzberg Donald and Carmella Tozzo Doug Walker Gary Wood
$200-$499
Anonymous
Shikha Aggarwal Mel and Donna Alexander James Almas
Clara Anne
MJ Crabbe-Barberis and Mark Barberis, in honor of Nicholas Barberis
Mary J. Bauling
Gray Benoist
Anurag Bhatia Ben Bielski
Bindy Bitterman
Michael and Nina Blechman Mary Jo Bollero, in honor of Rachelle Jervis Chopra and Sid Chopra
Ron Brix
Jim Budish
Dr. Duke and Mrs. Claudia Cameron
Suzan Caspell
CDW
Joan S. Chase Sunil and Maria Chopra
Richard Clark and Laura Whiting Clark Julie Colbrese Kyle and Chandra Cramer Leslie Davis Claudia Deia Je rey Diemand Dr. Ira and Mrs. Amy Dolnick Alex Dudasik
Teri and Dennis Dudasik Donald Du y Maureen Dunne, PhD Joseph Farrell Ryan Farrell Don and Lisa Foster Janet Freed Irwin and Adrienne Friedman Harvey and Bonny Ga en Thomas and Carol Gilbert Debbie Glienke
Bonny and Rick Goldin Gail and Donald Goldstein Teresa Goubeaud Louis and Suzanne Greenwald Sanjay Gupta Vikas Gurugunti Mark Hess Scott, Sarah and Harry Hirsch Charitable Fund Brenda Jansen Peter and Margaret Jung Joe Karam
Dale Kehr Jill and Bob Klein Vered and Israel Klinghofer
Bessie Kodros
Arieh Konigl, PhD
Marcia and Tom Korman
Larry Kramer
Samir Kumar
Harriette Kurtz
Lake County Alpha Phi Alumni Association, in honor of Rachelle Jervis Chopra and Sid Chopra
Jerry Leugers
Barbara Levine
Toby and Moshe Liebowitz
Rhita Lippitz
Marcel Lisi
Joan Martin
Jim and Marie McCallister Kevin McCarthy Microsoft
Ronald and Patricia Miller Lynn Mohr Joy Murawski
David Nehmadi
Maria Niedos and John Edinger Sreemanth Pagadala, Continental Engineering Corporation
Ganesh Pai Karen Parker Linda Parker John and Val Paro Tory Peña
James Perkins John Piegore Linda Piegore, in honor of Patrick & Colin Piegore Jan Pilarski and Jay Tidmarsh Deborah Quinn Maria Race, in honor of Brenda and Moshe Weitzberg
Barbara Raiden
Steve Rasof
Sean Reardon
Ashwini Reddi
Sashi Reddi
Manu Rekhi, in honor of Maya Rekhi Matt Riebel
Terry Rose
Stuart Sadick, in honor of Bernadette and Vivek Chopra
Gail Sehler
Mitchell and Barbara Serota, in honor of Sheila Serota Elizabeth Shanahan Beverly and Myron Shapiro, in honor of Rachelle Jervis and Sid Chopra
Don and Peggy Shearn Val and Raymond Sherer, in honor of Condre Koepfgen Kanwar Singh, in honor of Raybur Singh Julie Solomon Byron (Buzz) and Jean States Stacy Stone Casey and Dennis Sulit Julie Tracy Akhil Verma Scott and Betsey Wills So Za
Donald Zabelin and Barbara Sered-Zabelin Dr. Moshe and Yonatan Zamir Tracy and David Zirin
Lore Baker Richard Baso n Margie Behrends Ruth Bittner
Janice Block Chaddock, in honor of Rachelle Jervis Chopra and Sid Chopra Maryjane Bunzol Chicago Bread LLC Wendy Cole Theresa Collins Diane Corbett Leslie Corn Lisa Courts
Dorothy Cronin Kelly Cullison Betty Dayron Aybars and Tracy Emsun Elena Engel Therese and Moses Eshkenazi Erin Farrell-Moroni Jeanette Fermin Sabina Filipovic Mary Flanagan
Shayna Bailey Foley Erik and Margaret Ford Elaine Shafer
John Garcia
Janice Gilligan
Barbara and Charles Gitkin
Melanie Cole Goldberg Susan Goldman and Jim Pellegrino Amy Greenebaum Paul Guggenheim Lauren Hagan
Holly Hansen Dawn Hembd Jim and Kelly Hickey Ellen Ho berg Ellen Holtzblatt
John Hughes Anne Johnson
Gwen Jordan
Dr. Douglas and Mrs. Sheryl Kalvin
Terry Katzman-Rosenblum Dariusz Koryzna Arlene and David Koenigs
Diane Kramasz
Lauren Krieg Annalise Kristine Jonah Lefholtz Christian LesStrang Amy Levin Brittney Lynn Gail Lovinger Bob Luedtke Brittney Lynn Alba Makely Carol Malzahn Emily Marlow and Rob Brooks Margaret McDonald Joy Mix Kathy Mommsen Caroline Morrell Susan Murphy Carolyn C. Nelson Rodney and Joy Onusaitis Sioux Oshee George Osika Cheryl Perry Sonu Philipose Danielle Pontarelli Elliot and Rachael Gray Ra Gary Ristow Stephen Rose Lorra Rudman Stephen F. Salinger, DDS
Ruth Sang David Schafer
Elaine Schafer
Edward Severini
Shireen Seif and Gary Moore
Alexandria Simms
Thomas Sinsky Ronnie Sokol Karen Sochacki
Carole and Richard Spreitzer
Teri Steinberg
Brenda Strege Roberta Thomas Carole Tobin
Kim Tobin Victoria Tobin Andrew Topus Edye White eld-Schwarz
In-Kind Donors
Aberdeen Tap Joey Africa
Babydreams
Barnaby's of Northbrook Liz and Michael Bearwald Somer Benson
Bent Fork Bakery
Boka Restaurant Group Ron Brix Carol's Cookies
Jim Carroll Chicago Cubs Chicago Dogs Chicago Bears Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Botanic Garden Chicago White Sox Chicago Wolves Mitch Conti CorePower Yoga Country Kitchen Peter Monk Craig Jessica Deans
Christy DePue Ray DeThorne
Jill DiLara
Julia and Matt Doherty Jim Doroba Enaz
Jay and Alicia Farrell Field Museum Four Corners Restaurant
Dave Flanbaum
Gena Page Designs
Chef Dillion Graham
Chris Hain
Heaven’s Door Whiskey
Hidden Creek Aqua Park
HP Tops
Kevin Hughes
Jill Alberts Jewelry
Jo rey Ballet
Keisha Jordan
Sara Katz
KitchenAid
Koval Distillery
Le Bouchon
Le Sardine
Lotus Nails
Lou Malnati's Pizza
Renee Mahoney
Maze Home Store
Michael McCutcheon
Wolfgang McKeown
Chris Mitchel
New Balance North Shore
Norton's
Paper Source, Highland Park
John and Val Paro
Cas Perez
Perfect Blend
Kenn Peterson
Pinstripes
Piven Theatre Workshop
Old Irving Brewing Company
Oliver Poilevey
Danielle Pontarelli
Danny Romano, Power Distributing
RocknRags
Trevor Rose-Hamblin
Sagamore Distilleries
Pat Shanley
Glenn and Susan Snyder
Piccolo Sogno
Je and Karen Stelmach
Steppenwolf Theatre
Casey and Dennis Sulit Sun ower
Grace Sweeney
Mark Swislow
Sweet Ali's Gluten Free Bakery
Tamales Mexican Restaurant
Teddie Kossof Salon
The Barbers
The Claim Company
The Pet Impressionist
The Spice House
The Stationary Station
Tamales
Taco Vida
Terra & Vine
Dallas Ann Tomlin
Trattoria D.O.C.
Donald and Carmella Tozzo
Sonny Veneracion
Viaggio
Moshe Weitzberg
Yogaview Chicago
Yummy Bowl
Turan Yon
We apologize for any errors or omissions that we may have inadvertently made.
Please notify us of any errors or omissions at info@aspiritech.org.
Ester Stein, Board Chair
Michael P. Du , Board Vice Chair
Alan Berkowitz, Treasurer
Veronica Scotto, Secretary
Vladimir Anastasov
Ron Brix
Janice Block Chaddock
Vivek Chopra
Kyle Cramer
Maureen Dunne, PhD
Roman Eisenberg
Bud Glick
Steven J. Henkels
Rachelle Jervis Chopra
Jerry Kane
Rachel Loftin, PhD
Ben Prozinski
David Rappaport
Katie Rosholt
Beverly Shapiro, LCSW Moshe Weitzberg, PhD Brad Zelinger
David Rappaport, Board Chair
Ester Stein, Board Vice Chair, Secretary
Alan Berkowitz, Treasurer
Vlad Anastasov
Ron Brix
Janice Block Chaddock
Vivek Chopra
Daniel Contreras
Kyle Cramer
Michael P. Du
Maureen Dunne, PhD
Roman Eisenberg
Jay Farrell
Bud Glick
Steven J. Henkels
Rachelle Jervis Chopra
Jerry Kane
Rachel Loftin, PhD
Ben Prozinski
Katie Rosholt
Veronica Scotto
Beverly Shapiro, LCSW Moshe Weitzberg, PhD
Brad Zelinger
Brenda Weitzberg, Executive Director
Moshe Weitzberg, PhD, CEO
Winston Tsao, CTO (2021)
Ann B. Brownell, PhD, CTO (2020)
Brad Cohen, CMO
Joan Costello, Human Resources Director
Michael Ashburne, QA Manager
Donna Dungca, QA Manager
Maxwell Hu man, QA Manager
Tory Peña, QA Manager
Julie Finerty, Finance Manager
Reanin Stone, Manager of Employment Support Specialists
Nancy Trudell, Board Liaison and Fundraising Coordinator
Ed Asner
Brian King, LCSW
Bennett Leventhal, M.D.
Dan Mayo
Danielle Moushon
Marc Noland
Louise Pearson
Keita Suzuki Hong Zhang, PhD
Alan Berkowitz, Co-Chair
Beverly Shapiro, Co-Chair
Teri Dudasik
Michael P. Du
Joel Hurvitz
Barbara Levine
Lynette Newman
Louise Pearson Perry Simms
Christian Dorantes, Employment Support Specialist
Bonny Goldin, LCSW, Employment Support Specialist
Jennifer Goubeaud, Employment Support Specialist
Robin Kacyn, Employment Support Specialist
Harvy Ackermans Faiza Alam Lauren Birnhak Stephen Braun Rachael Brusic Dariusz Koryzna Jason Lehmann Neah Nieto Doug Norton
Nora Rose Samantha Sayre
Eric States
Ian Strahan
Vincent Tonelli
Brian Tozzo
Kyle Verbeke
Joe Vidal
Sean Anderson Daniel Auerbach Brent Austin Mitchell Bandes Irojemi Banks Andrew Beckerman Daniel Belrose Aaron Berkowitz Jacob Bielski Michael Bjornson Jamari Briggs Annie Brinkman Joshua Buchhop Jared Bunzol Bradley Burton Paul Chancey Dustin Chiasson Christopher Coe John Colao John Collins Tim Collins John Cooley Zach Davidson Sam Diamond David Domeier Alexander Dudasik Robert Educate Richard Excell Aaron Fernando Jacob Foley Michael Frederick Patrick Gallehugh Isaac Gibson
Nick Barberis Alexander Bowers Nathan Dieck Robert (Bobby) Dowling Chris Horning Justin Jungst Brian Sundh
David Glass Joseph Goldberg Sebastian Haake Rider Hallenstein Matthew Hemauer Gail Henjum William Hickey Brent Hornig Brandon Johnson Tim Kim Jacob Klein Condre Koepfgen Nicholas Kurek Eric Lawson Jonah Lefholtz Katina Levin Alex Lopez Theodore Mazola Wolfgang McKeown Sarah Meehan Alicia Moore
Tye Mortimer Ryan Murawski Jason Nelken Andrew Nelson Sam Newman Christopher Newton Jeremy Nixon Gage O'Laughlin Kyle O'Shields Julia Opalinski Jack Opiela
Nicholas Papageorge Casey Parker Anthony Pease Colin Piegore Patrick Piegore Aaron Pizarek Jason Polako Titus Quarles Paul Raasch Ian Race Matan Ra Colin Raiden-McRae Leah Rappaport Alaine Ross Jake Sapir Brandt Schafer Donald Schickel Nathan Schram Sheila Serota Troy Slager Alan Stahl Anna Suiter Alan Sun Grace Sweeney Je rey Therens Fernando Torre Matthew Turner Alec Van Der Karr Austin Van Der Karr Oran Weitzberg Maria Yunovich Eri Zamudio
Aspiritech Corporate Headquarters 1893 Sheridan Road, Suite 103 Highland Park, IL 60035
Aspiritech Chicago O ce 550 W. Van Buren St., Suite 330 Chicago, IL 60607
312-945-TEST (8378) info@aspiritech.org aspiritech.org
Designer: Laurie Wurster Writer/Editor: Kelsey Schagemann