Raised in an immigrant entrepreneurial family in an at-risk community, Neli Vazquez-Rowland was the first in her family of seven to attend college.  After graduating with a business degree, she established herself in the financial industry with a proven track record in providing the venture capital and management expertise to grow concepts into multimillion-dollar companies.  However, after a personal family experience with alcoholism, she and her husband, Brian Rowland, realized the tremendous need for supportive housing for people recovering from the disease of addiction, and in 1994 co-founded what is now A Safe Haven Foundation. 

Today, Neli serves as the president of A Safe Haven Foundation, whose social business enterprise model empowers individuals to transform their own lives and contribute to society. In this vein, Neli runs the world-class nail care line Be!® Products, which empowers women through meaningful employment and as proprietors of their own nail care businesses. 

A few recent awards include:
·      New York City Legal Momentum “Entrepreneur of the Year”
·      Chicago Magazine “Chicagoan of the Year”
·      Chicago United “Leader of Color”
·      Chicago Latino Network “Entrepreneur of the Year”
·      Chicago Association of Realtors “Good Neighbor Award”
·      National Environmental Hall of Fame “Social Sustainability Award”

For more information on Neli’s work, visit www.ASafeHaven.org.

Neli is a graduate of Loyola University’s School of Business and of the Minority Executive Management program at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.  She lives with her husband, Brian, and their two wonderful sons, Devin and Dylan.

Skip Land came to Safe Haven in June 2000 with over 20 years experience in the field of alcoholism and substance abuse treatment. This includes 11 years of experience providing management services and clinical supervision in residential treatment including halfway houses and inpatient residential facilities. In addition, Skip has 9 years of direct residential management experience.

From 1989 to June 2000, Skip held various positions within Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. These positions showed a pattern of increasing responsibility for additional programs and people. Skip is viewed as leader in the residential recovery field and has a strong history of providing staff training and implementing new treatment programs.

From 1995 to June 2000, Skip was the Program Director of Residential Aftercare Services. His responsibility included direct supervision for 6 Program directors at six residential facilities that was composed of 4 halfway houses, 1 detox program and a 30 bed treatment program.

From 1989 to 1995, Skip was the Program Director for The Residence for Men, South. Skip provided day to day operational supervision of a 24 bed halfway house. In this role, he supervised a staff of six and implemented countless new program services for targeted client populations.

Skip is a frequent lecturer and consultant to most of the major residential facilities such as Gateway, Serenity House, Guildhaus, Cathedral Shelter, Erie Family Health Center, Salvation Army, and Lutheran Social Services to name just a few.

Skip is accredited National Certified Recovery Specialist (1993) and a Certified Addition Counselor (1985). He is a member of the Association of Halfway House and Alcoholism Programs of North America (AHHAP) and a former chairperson of the national Conference Committee. He also has been the Illinois liaison for the National Certification Specialist Board. Also, he is a former President of the Illinois Association of Residential Extended Care Programs and a standing member of the Illinois Association and Drug Dependence Association (IADDA). He is also frequent appointee by the Office of Alcoholism and Substance for the State of Illinois to various committees.

Linda Mensch is recognized by her peers as one of the top U.S. firms for entertainment law with the highest ratings in her field with the highest (AV) rating granted by Martindale-Hubbell. According to Leading Lawyers, "Mensch has been Chicago's go-to lawyer for entertainment matters". She is the current president of Lawyers for the Creative Arts, the past president of the Chicago/ Midwest Chapter of the Recording Academy, a former Trustee of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, a founding member of the Chicago Chapter of Women in Film, a member of the IEAL (International Entertainment Lawyers Association), the American Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Association, and a practicing member of the New York and Illinois bar since 1977.

Mark Mulroe received a degree of bachelor of Business Administration from Loyola University of Chicago in 1985. He then went on to obtain his Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University College of Law in 1989. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar in November of 1989. He began his career working as a consultant to Arthur Andersen & Co. and later W.W. Grainger, Inc. In 1992, he operated his own legal practice concentrating on corporate transaction and healthcare. He joined A Safe Haven, LLC in March of 1998 as their in-house General Counsel and a participating Member. A Safe Haven, LLC is a largest provider of recovery home services in Illinois. Mr. Mulroe has helped implement and structure programs involving residential recovery homes, rehabilitative services and professional organizations including the Illinois Association of Drug Court Professionals. He has participated in various civic and charitable organizations and currently sits on several committees in the field of substance abuse services, legislation and education. Mr. Mulroe currently serves as the Vice President of A Safe Haven Foundation.

Abraham "Abe" Thompson, Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 22, 1951, one of seven children in his family. After graduating from Calumet High School, Thompson attended Carthage College in 1969 and then transferred to Western Illinois University where he graduated from in 1974.

In 1975, Thompson joined the staff of WVON radio in Chicago as a salesman, and quickly found success. He was hired by WGCI in 1980, where he became the local sales manager, and the following year he was named general sales manager. While at WCGI in 1984, Thompson met and married his wife, Launa Thompson, and in 1985, he became the vice-president and station manager of WCGI. Thompson moved to Detroit in 1986, taking over operations at WRIF while serving as vice-president and general manager, and during his two years there, he helped turn the station around. Returning to Chicago in 1988, Thompson was named station manager of WVAZ.

Thompson began marketing for films and international events in 1991, including the 1991 Cancun Jazz festival and the 1995 Sinbad's Soul Music Festival in St. Martin. In addition, he has been a highly successful motivational speaker. In 1999, Thompson became president and CEO of Partnership Radio, a group of radio stations in Northwest Indiana. In 2000, he published his first book, My Thoughts, Your Book, Our Journal, for his son, Phoenix. In 2003, Radio Ink ranked Thompson as one of the thirty most influential African Americans in radio.

 Fifteen years experience in Alcoholism and Substance Abuse program delivery.  Twelve years management of halfway Houses and Sober Housing Programs. National Certified Recovery Specialist, certified Substance Abuse Counselor, Regional Director, Association of halfway Houses Alcoholism Programs, Advisor to the Illinois Association of Extended Care.