Originally from: Glen Ellyn, IL

Meghan Lee is currently Vice President of Ireland Network, and has served on the committee since 2021, leading brand development and membership growth initiatives. An active member of Chicago’s Irish-American nonprofit community, she has held leadership and volunteer roles with several organizations, including the Young Irish Fellowship Club, Irish American Heritage Center, Irish Fellowship Club, and The Ireland Funds Chicago Young Leaders. Professionally, Meghan is Creative Director for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, bringing more than 20 years of branding, marketing, and design experience to support community engagement and organizational growth.

Originally hailing from the suburbs of Boston, Kerrianne has found her home in Chicago. Her mother is from Ferbane, Offaly and her father is from Lettergesh, Galway. She is a proud dual citizen and is grateful to have spent many childhood summers in Connemara and tries to visit as often as possible. 

Kerrianne attended the University of Notre Dame, earning an undergraduate degree in Accountancy with a minor in Irish language and literature in 2018 and completing a master’s degree in accountancy with an emphasis in taxation in 2019. Although she was lucky enough to study Irish in the Donegal Gaeltacht and complete an internship at the National Folklore Collection at UCD - she regrettably admits that her Irish is now very rusty. 

She now works at EY as a tax accountant - specializing in private client services with an emphasis in individual, trust and partnership taxation. 

Originally from: Listowel, County Kerry

Julianne is the Director for Business Development at Invest Northern Ireland. Her role involves working closely with companies in the Chicago area and across the Midwest that are considering setting up an office in the UK or Europe, to complement their existing US operations.

Julianne grew up in Listowel, County Kerry but also has strong ties to County Roscommon.  Her husband, Martin, is also from Listowel and they moved to Chicago together in 2017. Julianne attended Trinity College Dublin and Queen’s University, Belfast.

Julianne is mom to Layla (4) and Adelina (2) and spends all her time outside of work at playparks, ice skate lessons, swim and gymnastics. Bringing her little girls back to Ireland to see family is very important to Julianne and they get back to Ireland at least 3 times a year.

Originally from: Dundalk, Co Louth

Dean Arrowsmith hails from Dundalk, Co. Louth (via Cavan) and currently serves as Senior Manager of Soccer in the Community for Chicago Fire FC in Major League Soccer. With 21 years of experience in professional sport, beginning with his hometown club Dundalk FC, Dean has built a career creating programs that strengthen connections between sports organizations and the communities they serve.

A passionate advocate for mental health and community impact, Dean founded Head In The Game in 2020, a sports-based mental health initiative that has gained international recognition. In 2025, Dean and his wife Emily founded the Charli Mae Foundation in memory of their first daughter, supporting families affected by child loss and parental bereavement. Dean lives in North Riverside with Emily and their daughter Fiadh and remains a proud ambassador for Ireland both at home and abroad.

Originally from: Crossgar, Co. Down

Originally from Crossgar, Co. Down, Ellen made the move to Chicago in 2021 and quickly found a home within its vibrant Irish community. A proud alumna of Queen’s University Belfast, she holds a degree in Food Science as well as a Master’s in Marketing. 

Ellen works at EverPass, where she helps bring live sports and entertainment to businesses in fresh, impactful ways. She enjoys blending strategy with creativity to build connections between brands and their customers.

Ellen is passionate about fostering a friendly space for Irish expats and friends of Ireland in the city. Whether connecting people, sharing stories, or celebrating Irish culture, she’s proud to help create a sense of home - even from across the Atlantic.

 

Originally from Belfast, Co. Antrim

From Belfast, Co. Antrim with family ties to Co. Derry and Co. Fermanagh, Rory grew up in Dubai, U.A.E. He moved to the U.S. in 2009 to attend the University of Notre Dame before moving to Chicago in 2013 to attend Loyola University Chicago School of Law. A member of the Ireland Network since 2013, he joined the Executive Committee in 2020. He is an attorney in the General Counsel’s Office of RSM US LLP specializing in Privacy, AI and Cybersecurity law. A rugby man, Rory played for the University of Notre Dame and continues to spend his summers playing for their alumni 7’s team the Krakens. Rory frequently travels back to Ireland to spend time with his family and attend Ireland and Ulster rugby matches.

 

Originally from: Co. Mayo, Ireland

Originally from County Mayo, Ireland, Frank Cosgrave relocated to the US in 2013. As an Account Manager at EOS IT Solutions, he has demonstrated a high level of technical sales expertise and a strong commitment to securing optimal deals for his global customers. Frank's experience in IT sales and negotiation, combined with his adept problem-solving skills, ensures clients consistently achieve the best possible outcomes.

His perspective, shaped by both his Irish heritage and his professional journey, adds a unique and beneficial dimension to his contributions. Frank lives in La Grange with his wife Jane and their two children, Mia and Darragh.

Originally from Olympia Fields, Illinois

Kristen is thrilled to be starting her fourth year on the Executive Committee of The Ireland Network Chicago as Chair of Community Outreach, leading outreach and continuing to support the fantastic work they do for our community. Kristen is a proud Chicagoan with deep Southside Irish roots. She has long been an active champion of the local Irish American community, having previously served on the boards of the Young Irish Fellowship Club and the Ireland Funds Young Leaders.

Kristen earned her M.S. in Public Service Management from DePaul University, a B.S. in Political Science and Pre-Law from Eastern Illinois University, and a Non-Profit Certificate from the University of Notre Dame. She also completed the Program for Management & Community Services at All Hallows College in Dublin. Professionally, Kristen serves as the Executive Director of Friends of Prentice, an organization committed to funding women's health research. With nearly two decades of experience in philanthropy and social impact, she has dedicated her career to community engagement, strategic partnerships, and public service.

Outside of work, Kristen can be found adventuring in the city, traveling, or just across the lake in Long Beach, Indiana (the Irish Riviera). She currently lives on the Northside of the city with her partner Tim and three dogs.

 

Originally from: Dublin

Proudly from the northside of Dublin, John is the youngest of six children. After completing a degree in Business Studies from the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) in Dun Laoghaire, he moved to America in 2007. 
 
 Following stints in Public Relations and Marketing, John landed in healthcare advertising working for Boston-based LehmanMillet which eventually rebranded as Precision AQ. Throughout his 14-year career at Precision John held roles in digital strategy, general management and omnichannel activation. 
 
 In 2025, John transitioned client side taking on the role of VP of Marketing at Elephas. A Madison, WI based oncology diagnostic company developing a predictive platform for cancer treatment. 
 
 A two-time member of IN Chicago since 2016, John lives in Lake View and is excited to help the IN Executive Committee in multiple areas to drive membership and support the Irish community throughout Chicago. 

 

Sarah Flaherty is a second-generation Irish-American with roots in County Galway. Originally from the Northwest Suburbs, she has resided on the Northside for over 10 years. A dual-citizen, Sarah cherishes her trips to Ireland to visit family and to explore the island’s beautiful scenery and rich history.

Sarah earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Butler University and is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist. She completed two years of residency with a specialization in Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership. Sarah is the Director of Pharmacy at a local medical facility.

Darren is from Warrenpoint, County Down, and now lives in Evanston with his wife and two daughters. He is part of the founding team and serves as CTO of Shift, a platform building a digital home for the global Irish community. Outside of work, Darren plays football (the soccer kind), coaches his youngest daughter’s AYSO team, and remains a passionate supporter of Gaelic games. He is still proud of his sporting peak: lining out for County Down’s U12 team.

 

To come.

Originally from: County Meath

Rian Lanigan is originally from County Meath, Ireland, and graduated with a degree in Marketing from DIT. Having lived and worked in Ireland, England, France, Australia, and now the United States, he now calls Chicago home.

Rian leads Healthcare Partnerships at The Baby Academy, partnering with hospitals and health systems across the country to improve access to maternal health education and support for expectant families. Since arriving in Chicago, he has been continually impressed by the strength of the Irish-American community and the reputation Ireland enjoys across the United States. He is proud to serve on the Ireland Network Chicago Executive Committee and help continue the strong relationship between Ireland and the Irish-American community.

Originally from: Boston area

Anna, a Boston suburb native, traces her Irish heritage to Counties Donegal and Mayo. Although her ancestors immigrated in the mid-to-late 1800s, generations of separation have not lessened her desire to stay connected to Ireland. A former Irish Step Dancer, Anna continues to embrace this passion through set dancing classes at the Irish American Heritage Center and the occasional step at local sessions.

Anna earned her master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western New England University. She relocated to Chicago in 2019 where she works as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at RUSH Kids Pediatric Therapy.

Anna is excited to further strengthen her ties within the Chicago Irish community and celebrate the culture that has always been such a meaningful part of her life.

 

Erin McCarthy is an associate professor of history at Columbia College Chicago with areas of expertise in sport history and oral history. This summer, she starts a year-long fellowship with the HistoryMakers, the largest digital repository of African-American oral histories, headquartered here in Chicago. McCarthy was born on the Southside (St. Philip Neri), and she and her husband, Ray, live in Wilmette where they raised their now grown daughter, JJ.

As an undergrad at the University of Illinois, Champaign, she spent her junior year studying abroad at Trinity College, Dublin; she received her doctorate from Loyola University Chicago. She can’t count the times she’s been to Ireland and has been a member of INC since 2023. Favorite event? The IN Ball, of course!

Originally from: West Cork

Hailing from a dairy farm in West Cork, Ireland, Timmy McCarthy has a strong agricultural background. He holds a degree in Agricultural Science from UCD and an MSc in Sustainable Food Development from UCC. Timmy moved to Chicago in 2025 and currently manages Sustainability for Synergy Flavors North America, focusing on sustainability as both a cost-saving opportunity and a value-added commercial proposition. He is also involved with the Padraig Pearses GAA Club in Chicago. He looks forward to serving on Ireland Network Executive committee. 

 

Denise is originally from Co.Clare and now based in Chicago, having spent the last 11 years in the US. She is the Director of Growth Science & Operations at Yelp where she leads initiatives that help people discover and connect with great local businesses. Her work blends strategy, analytics and AI to drive user engagement and business growth. She holds an MSc in Marketing from NUI Galway and a Bachelor of Business from GMIT. Denise is excited to contribute to the Ireland Network Chicago and support its mission of fostering meaningful relationships across the Irish community.

Oringally from: Derry. N.Ireland

Cahir O'Doherty now lives in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood with his wife, Meghan, and their four sons. His career has taken him across Ireland, England, and the United States, working at the intersection of technology, marketing, and business transformation.

Curious by nature and always interested in learning something new, Cahir enjoys staying connected to his Irish roots, keeping up with current affairs, supporting local community initiatives, and attempting to master the art of raising four boys while keeping a backyard pizza oven at a respectable 700 degrees.

Originally from: East Dundee, IL 

David is thrilled to be nominated to the Ireland Network Chicago Executive Committee for 2024-2025.  

David is the grandson of Robert & Patricia Flood.  They first introduced him to Ireland in the summer of 1997 where he traveled to the Emerald Isle with his grandparents and mother Colleen for the very first time.  It was on that trip where the love affair officially began. 

In 2001, David attended the Institute of Public Administration in Dublin, Ireland for a semester where he studied Irish politics and had an internship with John Perry, TD for Fine Gael party. 

Professionally, David is an Enterprise Sales Director at Everest Transportation Systems where he specializes in providing carrier capacity for drayage moves and full truckload shipments throughout the US and Canada.  He has held this role for almost 20 years with 3 different organizations during that time period.

During the summer months, you can catch David at Wrigley Field cheering on his beloved Cubs team or at a city street fest taking in the beautiful Chicago summer weather. He loves to travel and spend time with his 2 nephews and niece. 

Originally from: Vancouver, BC Canada

Ashley Summers-Baker is a Sales Enablement specialist and National Enterprise Resource Group leader at BMO US. Raised in Vancouver, BC Canada, Ashley has family in Strabane, County Tyrone and obtained Irish citizenship in 2007.

Prior to joining BMO US, Ashley enjoyed a global career in music performance, composition and education. She completed a Masters in Music from Indiana University in 2012 and moved to Chicago shortly after, where she expanded her focus to non-profit program management and continued teaching. She joined Ireland Network Chicago's Executive Committee in 2024 and has immensely enjoyed the opportunity to engage with our Irish community through thought-provoking events and unforgettable celebrations.

Ashley currently resides with husband Chris and their miniature schnauzer, Úna, in Harwood Heights.

Jackie is a lifelong Chicagoan whose Irish roots trace back to Counties Mayo and Galway. A committee member and Ball Co-Chair of the Ireland Network Chicago, she is passionate about building connections within the Irish and Irish-American community. Jackie has more than 20 years of experience leading construction, development, and operations projects across multiple industries and currently serves as a Senior Project Manager on the Construction Team at Foot Locker. She enjoys live music, community involvement, and celebrating Chicago’s rich Irish heritage.