Board of Trustees

We are proud to have a dedicated Board of Trustees who are passionate ambassadors for Merit and music education. Business leaders, artists, innovators, as well as Merit alumni and parents—this group of dedicated volunteers supports our mission by contributing their skills in various ways.

Trustee Officers

Julie Baumeister
board Chair

Julie Baumeister*

Ernst & Young

What inspires you to be a Merit Board member?

I was introduced to Merit by another long-time board member who invited me to be his guest at the Merit gala. I will never forget how incredibly moving it was to listen to the talented Merit students perform and hear their stories of how the opportunity to study music and to be a part of the Merit community had changed their lives in sometimes dramatic ways. I instantly knew this was an organization that I wanted to become involved with and soon thereafter started my journey as a Merit parent and board member.

Charlie Huebner
Immediate Past Chair

Charles K. Huebner*

RCP Advisors, LLC

What inspires you to be a Merit Board member?

I’m inspired by a desire to perpetuate the amazing mission that has been followed for over 40 years; along with the opportunity to innovate and meet challenges that are unique to today’s environment.

Ryan Devore
Vice Chair

Ryan DeVore*

William Blair

What inspires you to be a Merit Board member?

Seeing young, talented, impressive musicians and students find success and pride and confidence in their abilities. Human spirit and finding the discipline to become great are truly inspiring.

Thomas Linguanti
Vice Chair

Thomas V. Linguanti*

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius (LLP)

Jennifer Montague
Vice Chair

Jennifer Montague*A

NiSource

What’s your favorite Merit moment?

My favorite Merit moment was at the Conservatory graduation in 2018. I got to award a college scholarship to a student I had driven to Merit for the past three years—a youth choir member at my church.

Michael Andrews
Treasurer

Michael Andrews*

Reynolds Consumer Products, LLC

How were you introduced to Merit?

While I was at PepsiCo, a colleague and I began discussing personal passions and we discovered a shared interest in music.  She had just gotten involved with the Associate Board at Merit and invited me to a fundraiser at the House of Blues.  After hearing students perform and talking with members and staff, I was instantly hooked! I joined the Associate Board a few weeks later.

Marisela Rosales Lawson
Secretary

Marisela Rosales Lawson*

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Andrew Scroggins
Associate Board Representative

Andrew Scroggins

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

What’s your favorite Merit moment?

As an Associate Board member, my favorite moment was the first Play On event, with a performance by The JuJu Exchange. This was a new event for the AB and generated a lot of positive momentum that continues to this day. As a Merit parent, my favorite moments include watching my son at piano recitals, playing with a jazz combo, and standing up to take his first solo.

Trustees

Susan S. Aaron

DePaul University; Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development

Duffie Adelson

Merit School of Music (ret.)

Sonia Antolec

The 1937 Group

David P. Bolger