AF Chicago is one of America’s Future Foundation’s most successful chapters. Between hosting lively debates and discussions, happy hours, dinners, and more, the AF Chicago has people interested in advancing the ideas of liberty in the Chicago region a place to gather.
Meet the team that makes the AF-Chicago chapter possible.
AFF-Chicago Governing Committee
Eric Kohn (eric@americasfuture.org) is Chairman of the Chicago chapter of America’s Future Foundation. He is the CEO of Curious Task Strategies, Inc. — a dynamic, aggressive communications and public affairs firm. He is a board member of the Institute to Reduce Spending and of Virtual Learning Solutions, a not-for-profit board that intends to open a charter school in Illinois. Eric has also served on the leadership team of the Chicago Tea Party Patriots as the organization’s spokesman and Communications Director. In addition to his work with AF-Chicago, Eric is a frequent political commentator on TV and radio and a regular fill-in talk radio host for The Guy Benson Show on NewsTalk AM-560 The Answer in Chicago and AM-1260 WRC in Washington, D.C.
John Giokaris is the Vice-Chairman of the Chicago committee of America’s Future Foundation. He also sits on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Young Republicans volunteering his time as Political Director. Born and raised in Chicago, John is a graduate from Loyola University Chicago with a double major in Journalism and Political Science as well as a Juris Doctorate candidate at the John Marshall Law School. John has six years experience working in writing/publishing, having previously worked at Law Bulletin Publishing, the Tribune Company, Reboot Illinois and currently at the Illinois Policy Institute. His works have been published in The Chicago Tribune, The RedEye, Reboot Illinois, The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, PolicyMic.com, Townhall.com, and elsewhere.
Bryant Jackson-Green is the Secretary of Chicago committee of America’s Future Foundation. He is a third-year undergraduate at the University of Chicago, double majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities and Political Science. He is also a Campus Coordinator with Students For Liberty, an organization whose mission is to provide a unified, student-driven forum of support for students and student organizations dedicated to liberty. Following his undergraduate studies, he hopes to attend law school and pursue a career in law and public policy.
Kate Piercy is the Treasurer of the Chicago committee of America’s Future Foundation. She is one of the founders of Chicago’s AF chapter, currently works as a freelance writer and editor for Hartnett Incorporated while staying at home with her son, Keith. Piercy has worked for the Illinois Policy Institute, Heartland Institute, American Enterprise Institute, and Federalist Society, and her policy experience spans a variety of fields, including government reform, transparency, health and welfare, education and foreign policy.
Chris Andriesen is a member of the Chicago committee of America’s Future Foundation. Chris joined the Illinois Policy Institute as the outreach coordinator after participating in the Institute’s Milton Friedman Internship program. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Hillsdale College.
Rebecca Kohn is a member of the Chicago committee of America’s Future Foundation. Rebecca presently serves as the Senior Manager of External Relations at the Illinois Policy Institute. In that capacity, Rebecca works to connect with and foster the Institute’s relationships with its supporters, as well as support the Institute’s policy and outreach events. Before joining the Institute, Rebecca worked as an associate director of advancement for a leading international relief and development organization.
Kara Mone is a member of the Chicago committee of America’s Future Foundation. She is the program director at CatholicVote.org, a public policy organization that seeks to apply Catholic principles to modern politics. In addition, Kara volunteers at and serves on the auxiliary board of Midtown Educational Foundation, a program that fosters the character formation and academic development of inner city youth.
Taylor Smith is a member of the Chicago committee of America’s Future Foundation. He is a policy analyst for The Heartland Institute, and a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Energy, Environment, and Agriculture Task Force. His work has appeared in several publications, including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Charlotte Observer, Detroit News, Washington Examiner, Washington Times, and elsewhere.
John Yackley is a member of the Chicago committee of America’s Future Foundation. He works as a futures and options broker for Rosenthal Collins Group in Chicago. He also has owned and run his own asset management firm, Be Free Investments. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Northwestern University and a Masters of Science in Finance from Loyola University. He ran for the Illinois House in 2002.
AFF-Chicago Advisory Council
Tim Campaigne is a member of AF-Chicago’s Advisory Council. He is the former chairman of AF in Chicago and part of the original team that brought it to town. Tim now works in the western suburbs.
Bob Costello is a member of AF-Chicago’s Advisory Council. He is a managing Director for BBW Capital Advisors. Bob has over 28 years of experience in the financial markets. Bob served as the President of Social Security Choice.org, a group dedicated to reform with personal retirement accounts. From 2006-2008, Bob held leadership positions with Americans for Limited Government and the Sam Adams Alliance. Bob currently serves on the Board of Directors of Wyoming Catholic College, U.S. Term Limits and he is Chairman of Liberty Markets Fund for Freedom. He has served on the boards of the Acton Institute, Chairvalle Montessori School, the St. Athanasius Parish School Board, Americans for Limited Terms, Free Market Society of Chicago, Americans for Limited Government, and the Evanston Police Pension Board.
Richard Lorenc is a member of AF-Chicago’s advisory council and serves as Senior Advisor to America’s Future Foundation. He is the incoming Director of Programs & Alumni Relations at the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), which educates future leaders with the economic, ethical, and legal principles of a free society. Richard is a participant in the Charles Koch Institute’s Liberty@Work program and serves on the board of directors of the Coalition to Reduce Spending. He has been published in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Chicagoist, The Illinois Review, The Rockford Register-Star, The Daily Callerand others. He is a graduate of Emory University and lives in Illinois.
Henrik Fogh Rasmussen is a member of AF-Chicago’s Advisory Council. He is the Founder and President of Rasmussen Public Affairs and specializes in the strategic positioning of clients as global and local agenda setters. An active writer and public speaker, Mr. Rasmussen has appeared in numerous media outlets in the United States, Europe and Asia, including theChicago Tribune, the Financial Times, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the South China Morning Post, and the Washington Times. He is currently working on a book on corporate statesmanship and economic competitiveness. Born in Denmark, Mr. Rasmussen was active in Danish grassroots politics and served as a platoon commander in the Royal Danish Army before moving to the United States. Mr. Rasmussen holds an M.A. in political science from the University of Pennsylvania and graduated summa cum laude from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 2010.
Todd Stump is a member of AF-Chicago’s Advisory Council. He is an a entrepreneur who has successfully created, developed, and sold a variety of media and entertainment businesses throughout the world, primarily in Central and Eastern Europe as those economies transitioned to free markets . He represented the world’s largest records management company in its negotiations with the strategic oil and gas sector in Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Norway. Active in conservative politics as an entrepreneur and consultant, he has published articles in political journals and served as Campaign Manager for a state-wide gubernatorial primary race in his home state of Illinois.