Meet the team

Steven Berry, Principal

Steven Berry is a passionate advocate of philanthropic partnerships, and strongly believes in helping organizations deliver on their mission and increase their impact. For over two decades, he has assisted non-profits in articulating their vision, devising strategies for progress, creating sustainable systems for growth, and fostering a culture of open and honest communication among staff, volunteers, and leaders.

  • Prior to Clear Horizons, Steven served as Chief Advancement Officer for After School Matters, overseeing development and marketing efforts to aid the organization in serving nearly 18,000 teenagers annually. He also held leadership roles such as Vice President of Development and Marketing at Merit School of Music, where he led the 40th Anniversary initiatives, and Senior Director for Development at the Green Music Center. Furthermore, he was the Director of Development at the Art Institute of Chicago, leading teams to achieve an annual fundraising goal of $30M. He has also served in critical development roles at the University of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and SFJAZZ.

    As a consultant, Steven has extensive experience in conducting development audits, feasibility studies, strategic planning, annual giving, direct marketing, board management and development, data strategy, major gifts, and grant writing.

    Steven earned a BA in History and Philosophy from the University of Dayton. He currently serves on the Board of Directors at CHIRP Radio in Chicago, where he also hosts a weekly DJ show.

Ann Kniola, Lead Consultant

Ann Kniola brings 15+ years of development, marketing, leadership and communications skills to the Clear Horizons team. Ann has dedicated her professional career to supporting young adults and teens through education and social service programs in Chicago. She started her career by honing her relationship management skills as a sales representative and event planner for Junior Achievement.

  • She went on to successfully manage fundraising teams as Director of Development at UCAN followed by After School Matters. Ann brings a keen knowledge of audience development and segmentation, persuasive writing, elegant design, and overall marketing strategy to the team’s diverse skill set.

    Ann was a member of UCAN’s Auxiliary Board for 3 years and has also spent time volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.

Cathy Wloch, Consultant

Cathy Wloch has enjoyed a 40-year career in non-profit work which began at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Cathy was drawn to the adventure and creativity of linking donors with programs they believe in and wish to support. Throughout her career, Cathy’s non-profit experience encompassed board relations and development, special events, grant writing, major gift campaigns, corporate sponsorship programs, volunteer management, and donor engagement.

  • While spending the majority of her career at Lyric Opera, she also worked on the development teams at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Brookfield Zoo, and Merit School of Music.

    Cathy is a member of the Guild Board of Directors at Lyric Opera and a director on her Homeowners Association board in South Barrington. A pianist since childhood, she actively performs with the Chicago Amateur Piano Guild and Chez Nous Piano Ensemble.

Charles Brack, Senior Advisor

Charles has two decades of experience building lifestyle brands at the intersection of entertainment and technology, with a successful track record of driving new user acquisition and customer engagement. He has held leadership positions in business development at CNET Networks, Federated Media, Dwell Magazine, Uncrate Publishing, and CBS Interactive. His expertise in strategy, development, and financial planning has contributed significantly to the success of entertainment and lifestyle business units.

Laura Stillman, Advisor

Laura brings 13 years of full-stack marketing experience, bridging high-level strategy with hands-on execution. She blends corporate agility from the tech and finance sectors with non-profit passion. During her time as Director of Marketing at Merit School of Music, she transformed the marketing function through data-driven systems, compelling storytelling, and creative multi-channel campaigns. Laura specializes in helping lean teams leverage the power of digital and content to scale mission-driven impact.