Leadership Team

Kathleen A. Silverman, Founder & President
As the Founder and President of ELL, Kathleen Silverman launched the national not-for-profit organization in response to the many challenges involved in ensuring safety in the foods that allergic children consume and the environments in which they learn.

As part of a 25-year career in corporate marketing, Kathleen spent 11 years as Partner of a Chicago-based strategic marketing consulting firm assisting Fortune 500 clients. Following her son’s diagnosis of severe food allergies and anaphylaxis, Kathleen redirected her entrepreneurial talents and efforts with the launch of a locally-based organization, Market Position Research (MPR), a strategic marketing research firm.

ELL was later launched in 2008 to provide education and training services to address the obvious shortcomings of current legislation regarding food safety and safety for food allergic children throughout US-based schools.

Roberta H. Clarke Jenero M.S., R.D., L.D., Board Member
As the founder and CEO of Figure Facts, LLC, Roberta H. Clarke Jenero M.S., R.D., L.D. has achieved impressive credentials that will provide an invaluable contribution to the ELL Foundation. Roberta is the author of Figurefacts for Life: Learn to Fuel Your Body for Health and Weight Management!, the founder of Figurefacts.com and the PDA-compatible and mobile phone versions of Figurefacts.

Roberta is a registered dietitian with more than 20 years of expertise, including past experience as coordinator of The Nutrition Clinic at Rush University Medical Center and as clinical dietitian at University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago.
Roberta received both her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in nutrition and medical dietetics from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Roberta holds a Director position on the ELL Board and will manage the ELL R.D. Consultant Network.

Philip Schmidt, Board Member
Phil Schmidt is a 25 year seasoned business executive with a wide area of business and finance expertise, including contract negotiations, sales operations, complex business systems and finance/treasury operations. He is currently Director, Business Planning & Management for AT&T’s Application Management group. Prior to this role, Phil was Vice President of Finance for USi, a leading Application Service provider purchased by AT&T in 2006. He joined USi in 1998 as part of its initial management team and was instrumental in establishing and managing the contracts, billing & collections and sales operation areas of this fast growing start-up. Phil has also held senior management roles in the computer software, telecommunications and consumer finance industries during his career. In addition to his proven business acumen, he possesses strong management, communication and organizational skills. Phil holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Maryland.

Phil and his wife, Susan, were first introduced to the world of food allergies in July 2005 when their son Joshua, then 1 ½ years old, had an anaphylactic reaction to peanut butter.

Tammy Studebaker, Board Member
As a corporate-level manager and trainer of retail personnel employed by establishments including Bombay Company, Kay Bee Toys, Ann Taylor and Rand McNally, Tammy Studebaker has spent well over 20 working in the retail environment.

Tammy’s exceptional presentation and selling skills have proven successful in working to support the ELL Foundation and its Protect Allergic Children (PAC) food allergy safety training program. Tammy’s skills are also leveraged as a key asset of the Studebaker’s custom home building & remodeling business, Studebaker Contracting.

Tammy and her husband David are parents to Parker and sister, Emily, who suffers from severe food allergies. Over the past seven years, Tammy has become a devoted food allergy advocate.

Robert Silverman, Vice President, Board Member
As a co-founder of the ELL Foundation, Robert provides technical knowledge developed through a career spanning over 20 years in the field of software development. Having fulfilled numerous board level roles for a variety of organizations, Robert provides procedural guidance to the organization and acts as a liaison with ELL’s professional services vendors.

Advisory Board

Frederick Leickly, MD.
Specialist in Pediatrics and Allergy & Immunology
Riley Children’s Specialists (IN)

Theoharis Theoharides, MD.
Professor of Pharmacology & Internal Medicine
Tufts University (MA)

Lee Sonin, MD.
Specialist in Allergy & Immunology
Advanced Allergists, Ltd. (IL)

Joshua Davidson, M.D., M.P.H.
Specialist in Pediatrics and Allergy & Immunology
Joshua Davidson, Ltd. (CA)

Lara Field, MS RD LDN.
Pediatric Dietitian
Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
The University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital

Valerie Daley, RD CD-N.
Apple A Day RX (CT)

Deanna Leach, ARNP
Tampa General Hospital (FL)

Rose Boynton
ELL Government Initiatives Liaison
PAC Consultant/Food Allergy Support Group Leader (NY)

Kim McGreivy
PAC Consultant/Food Allergy Support Group Leader (CA)

Aleasa Word
PAC Consultant/Food Allergy Support Group Leader (DE)

Trisha Maled
PAC Consultant (IN)