2026 Heroes Breakfast Selections Committee

Peggy Hardek
Immediate Past Chair, Greater Chicago Board
Committee Co-Chair

Frank Velez
Chicago OEMC
Committee Co-Chair

Karina Ayala-Bermejo
Instituto del Progreso Latino

Dr. Jay Bhatt, D.O., MPH, MPA
Deloitte Center for Health Solutions

Chief Brandon Campbell
Joliet Junior College

Mike Chensey
FEMA Region V

Sean Garrett
United Way of Metro Chicago

Verneé Green
Mikva Challenge

Allyson Hansen
Illinois Medical District

Jennifer Lyons
CBS Chicago | WBBM

Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt
Chicago Fire Department

LTC Loren Petersen
US Army, Commander 6th Battalion and Chicago MEPS

Steph Willding
CommunityHealth

Linda Xóchitl Tortolero
Latino Policy Forum