From Global Reforms to Local Impact: Rena's Journey in Naperville

NAPERVILLE–Rena’s career and goals were mostly internationally focused, working for the American Bar Association (ABA), leading legal reform efforts in Africa, Asia and Latin America, interfacing with the UN, OAS, State Department, etc., which led to her role as the Director of the ABA’s Liaison Office.

She discovered her Naperville bubble was near perfect while she worked tirelessly to collaborate on rule of law with other developing  democracies and communities at risk.  Rena began to understand that the community she lived in also needed care and nurturing.  It worked well because someone was working hard to take care of it, so she redirected her attention inward and applied for the President & CEO position at Naper Settlement; not because she was a museum expert, but because she had the experience in nonprofit management, transformational work, philanthropy and employment management. 

Charitable organizations are key to thriving communities.  As such, Rena has also participated in Dancing with the Celebrities to raise funds for the Career Network Center; served as a mentor and speaker for Kids Matter, presented at meetings for Women in Business Committee of the Naperville Chamber of Commerce, and taught leadership and negotiations courses for the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE)

She believes everything around us is our story, our legacy, an output of our time on earth. It fills our chapters in our community’s History Book of Life. 

-Kristen Kucharski, Photos Submitted