Board of Directors

Laurie Williams

Laurie and her husband Rick are the founders of Collaborative Community Housing Initiative. They have one adult son Zachary, who inspired them to form CCHI. Laurie is leading this grassroots movement for inclusive living options with a group of volunteer families and stakeholders throughout the country.   By collaborating with educators, organizations, housing specialists  and urban planners, CCHI is encouraging public dialogue regarding inclusion, as well as creating space for community problem solving regarding affordable housing for people with IDD.   By researching and visiting various living models around the world, they learned that creating neighborhoods where everyone can thrive is possible!  Laurie is committed to building a more equal, diverse, inclusive and welcoming community for people of all abilities.  In addition to working full time as an Executive HR Consultant, Laurie is involved in the National Fragile X Association as an event organizer, speaker and mentor.  

Anthony Bilotti, Ph.D.

Anthony has advised government and private sectors in the planning and implementation of health and environmental initiatives, property redevelopment, and educational curricula during his professional career of 40 years. He is an Adjunct Lecturer at Northwestern University, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. He was also Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has served on municipal and county planning commissions, and boards of professional societies. Anthony and his wife Emma Kowalenko enjoy involvement with the community and have been active volunteers in civic and community organizations. 

Richard Koenig

Richard has been the Executive Director of Housing Opportunity Development Corporation since 1997. So far he has completed over 30 affordable developments with over 500 affordable units. He has a PhD in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University and a Masters of Urban Planning from the University of Illinois. He is a member of Lambda Alpha and was selected as a Fellow by the American Institute of Certified Planners. Richard previously served on the board of Housing Options for the Mentally Ill and as Chair of the Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County.

Marla Davis Henry, LCSW 

Marla is the special parent of two young men and has been a part of CCHI for 4 years.  She is passionate about connecting with other families and discovering creative housing solutions.    
Marla is also a psychotherapist and has a private practice working with special families and caregivers. She has written and presented about raising kids with special needs including a program she created called Mindfulness for the Special Parent.   Marla lives with her husband and son in Deerfield and is also active in her congregation as an ordained officiant and teaching Sunday School.  
Marla has been managing CCHI's Membership Program and is thrilled to take on a bigger role working with our members and their families!

Jamie Hammond 

Jamie has devoted her 34-year career to teaching and providing enrichments for her school students and their parents. Jamie taught as a Diverse Learning Specialist in public schools in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Jamie has an adult adopted child from Bulgaria who has intellectual and social and emotional challenges.

As a single parent without nearby family support, Jamie knew that she would have to network and research alternative programs for her child. While networking and attending support services she found others who were seeking  alternative solutions for their children as they aged out of school. She found out about CCHI from a diligent parent who shared her knowledge. Jamie was soon attending meetings and volunteering for events. 

Even though her child has recently moved into a group home she is dedicated to the mission of CCHI to provide affordable inclusive housing with support services within a familiar community. While this is happening she is helping  to build independence for our adults through life skills, socialization and volunteer opportunities.

Mitchell Serota

Mitch spent the last 45 years of his life as an actuary, working in retirement planning and health care. He is a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and an Enrolled Actuary under ERISA.

Mitch opened an independent consulting firm in 1988 after working for two international benefits consulting firms.  Mitch and his wife Barbara raised two beautiful, loving young adults. Mitch served his local community as President and Treasurer of the Surrey Lane Civic Association for 20 years. He also taught as a substitute in French, History and Mathematics for at Glenbrook South H.S.

In late 2023, Mitch earned a silver medal at a national Olympic Weightlifting tournament in Tennessee. He is currently working on a book analyzing the diplomatic negotiations leading to the settlement of war debts after World War I.

Ari Butman 

Ari Butman has dedicated the past four years to volunteering and advocating for individuals on the spectrum, a cause close to his heart. Ari graduated from the University of Dayton with a double major in Finance and Management. He currently works as a financial analyst at the Illinois Housing Development Authority, where he leverages his expertise in financial modeling and forecasting to support the agency's mission of providing affordable housing solutions. Ari's unwavering commitment to professional excellence underscores his passion for serving his community in a meaningful way. Through his focus on volunteerism and his career, he continues to work towards a world where individuals on the spectrum have greater opportunities and support.