Board OF DIRECTORS
Kelly A. Krauchun | President
Litigation Attorney , Rock Fusco & Connelly, LLC
Kelly Krauchun is an attorney at Rock Fusco & Connelly, LLC and is one who cares about her clients and her community. Her professional and personal philosophy includes giving back in ways that make a meaningful difference. As an associate for RFC, Kelly demonstrates that same care in the general litigation group, representing clients in numerous matters including commercial litigation, employment litigation, defense litigation, insurance coverage, and appeals.
Prior to joining RFC and while at the Herbert Law Firm, Kelly served as lead counsel in numerous jury trials and has extensive experience litigating a wide range of cases in state and federal courts and before various administrative agencies. Her broad experience enables her to advocate effectively for her others.
Kelly earned her B.A. and Juris Doctorate from DePaul University where she received numerous awards, including the Benjamin Hooks Distinguished Public Service Award, the President’s Award for Service, the Kott Legal Scholarship, and the Dean’s Merit Scholarship. As a law student, she clerked at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, externed for the Honorable Anne M. Burke of the Illinois Supreme Court, served as a Pro Se Advocate at the Cook County Domestic Violence Courthouse, participated in DePaul’s Criminal Appeals and Asylum and Immigration Clinics, and interned at the Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL).
As a Co-Founder of Bank the Blue, NFP, Kelly uses her advocacy and communication skills to serve the law enforcement community. She is a long-time advocate and volunteer for non-profit organizations and is committed to using her skills to help others.
Janice Dillon | Vice President
Janice Dillon comes from a third generation Chicago Police family and proudly served the City of Chicago for over twenty-eight years. She holds an Associates Degree of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Criminal Justice. Janice started her own security company,
HLSA, Inc. in 2013 and employs retired law enforcement officers and off-duty officers. She works closely with Blue Star Security, Ltd. to provide support and resources to officers and their families. Janice is a dedicated, career public servant.
Anthony Escamilla | Treasurer
Chief Investigator, Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court
RETIRED POLICE COMMANDER, CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT
Anthony Escamilla is currently the Chief Investigator for the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court(CCC). His duties as the Chief Investigator include security and risk assessments for CCC facilities, monitoring chain of custody impounded evidence movements from facility to the facility, and supervising a team of investigators who conduct all investigations outside of the scope of the CCC Inspector General’s Office.
Prior to joining the CCC, Anthony had a distinguished 29-year career with the Chicago Police Department. During his tenure with CPD, he achieved the ranks of Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Commander.
As a CPD Detective, Anthony’s interest piqued in psychology. He completed two Master’s degrees in the field (MAP and MACP) and was an adjunct professor at Wright College, where he taught Intro to Psychology.
Anthony is a father of two children, ages 19 and 17. He prides himself on being a good father and role model to his children-especially to his son, who is on the Autism spectrum. Anthony wants to use his former CPD experience, extended education in psychology, and his own personal and family experiences with trauma and loss related to being on CPD to help other active and retired officers find better ways to deal with their struggles.
Joe Cook | Secretary
Joe Cook currently works as a Principal Attorney at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Joe previously served as a Cook County State’s Attorney in the Gang Crimes Unit, the Narcotics Prosecution Bureau and the Criminal Appeals Division. Joe also serves as a Major in the United States Air Force JAG Corps, where he is currently assigned to the WI Air National Guard and drills out of the 128th ARW. Joe was elected the Democratic Committeeperson of the 41st Ward of Chicago in March of 2020. Joe was born and raised on the northwest side of Chicago, where he and his wife Jenny are now raising their four young daughters.
George D. Alpogianis
MAYOR OF NILES, ILLINOIS
CO-OWNER AND OPERATOR, KAPPY’S AMERICAN GRILL
VICE PRESIDENT, TAG RESTAURANTS
George D. Alpogianis is the current mayor of Niles, a village directly neighboring the City of Chicago’s far northwest border in Cook County, Illinois. A resident of Niles for over 20 years, Alpogianis was sworn in as mayor on May 11, 2021 after serving two terms as Trustee on the Niles Village Board (2013-2017, 2017-2021). As Trustee, Alpogianis served as the Chairman of the Finance Committee as well as Chairman of the General Government and Information Technology Committee. He also served as a Commissioner on the Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals from 2001 to 2009.
In addition to his mayoral role, Alpogianis is the co-owner and operator of Kappy’s American Grill in Morton Grove, Illinois. Representing the third generation of family owned and operated restaurants across Chicago, Alpogianis is a highly skilled and renowned chef who graduated from the prestigious Kendall College of Culinary Arts in Evanston, Illinois. He has worked alongside several legendary chefs within Chicago’s prolific restaurant scene.
Alpogianis is actively involved with numerous community support initiatives throughout Niles and speaks out locally to address such issues as teen violence and substance abuse. He maintains strong connections to St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church in Niles, where he has served as Parish Council President, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. In 2008, he founded Boy Scout Troop and Cub Scout Pack 821 and serves as Scoutmaster. Alpogianis also works alongside veterans as an S.A.L. (Sons of the American Legion) at Post 134, which serves Morton Grove and Niles. He is currently the president of the Niles Sister Cities Association, a 501(c)3 organization committed to developing international partnerships and networking through municipal, business, educational and cultural exchanges. In 2011, Alpogianis was named as the recipient of the prestigious Man of the Year award at Niles’ annual Night of Roses Awards Banquet, an honor for which he was nominated by the citizens of Niles.
He and his wife, Sophia, live in Niles and have five children – Evangeline, Costa, Kiki, Maria and Anna.
John P. Capesius Jr.
Owner and Executive Director – Edison Restaurant Group, LLC DBA Tavern on the Point
Co-Founder and Director of Operations – CSM Capital, LLC
Co-Founder and Managing Director – CS Development Partners, LLC
League Director – Park Ridge Sports Inc.
John P. Capesius Jr. is a Chicago-based entrepreneur and business owner with extensive multi-sector experience in the financial, real estate, construction, technology, marketing, and hospitality industries. He is the Founder, Owner, and Executive Director of Operations at Tavern on the Point, a high volume 7,500 square foot tavern located in Edison Park, Illinois which features the community’s first rooftop outdoor space along with a street level patio. John and his brother, Joseph Capesius, built the tavern themselves and dedicated it to first responders and the community. Throughout nearly 30 years in the hospitality industry, Capesius has held management and ownership roles at several successful Chicago area dining establishments.
In addition to owning and operating Tavern on the Point, Capesius is the co-founder and Managing Director of CSM Capital, LLC, a private capital organization that he founded with his brother following the financial crisis of 2008. With a multi-million-dollar portfolio, CSM Capital provides real estate investors, builders, and developers with the timely capital they need to acquire real estate and complete various construction and development projects. After the success of CSM Capital, the Capesius brothers then formed CS Development Partners, LLC, a private equity company investment firm focusing on joint venture investments. CS Development Partners targets overlooked and undervalued assets in emerging and high demand locations and transforms them into strategic real estate developments. In this capacity, Capesius currently owns and manages a portfolio in the tri-state areas of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin and previously held locations in Miami and Los Angeles. CS Development Partners also provides fully integrated in-house resources to quickly execute all facets of various real estate transactions, including legal, architectural, construction, and asset management departments.
Capesius is also a League Director and Board of Directors member for Park Ridge Sports, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has served Park Ridge, Illinois, and neighboring communities for over 50 years. The organization has helped tens of thousands of young men and women to discover and develop their passion for football and cheerleading with an emphasis on developing strength of character and building self-esteem. Capesius has been involved in the program as a coach and trainer volunteer since 2012. Capesius also coaches the community youth in other sports including baseball and basketball.
Capesius graduated from Chicago’s Saint Patrick High School and attended Northern Illinois University. His diverse interests also include sales, advertising, marketing, sports medicine, and public services.
Patricia Casey
RETIRED POLICE COMMANDER, CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT
CERTIFIED PEER SUPPORT MEMBER
CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINED & M.A POLICE PSYCHOLOGY
Patricia ( Patty) Casey is a retired police officer who served over thirty-two (32) years with the Chicago Police Department. Her assignments ranged from working in patrol, to working on both a gang and tactical team, to working in the Detective Division where she spent much of her career .Her last six years on the department were dedicated to working with youth. She spent time as both the Commanding Officer of the Juvenile Intervention and Support Center and the Special Investigations Unit, where cases of sexual abuse against children were investigated. Her last two years were spent as the Commander of the Youth Division, where she was tasked with working on challenges that our youth currently face including poverty, being at risk of incarceration, and human trafficking. She also worked closely with many community groups who advocated for children.
During her time in Youth Investigations, Patricia was involved in the training of new detectives, newly promoted supervisors, and officers in Crisis Intervention classes on Youth related subjects, including signs of abuse, recognizing troubled youth, and services which were available.
Patricia has been a certified Peer Support Member for over twenty years and is the Co-founder of the Chicago Police Department’s Peer Support group for Families with Special Needs. She volunteers at Lurie’s Children’s Hospital Parent-Wise and Project Doc programs and is a contributor to the Parent Strong organization’ Project Child’.
Patricia is the matriarch of a Police Family with her husband and three of her four children following her lead to all become Police Officer’s. Her youngest daughter has special needs which has provided Patricia motivation to use her experience to help others.
Patricia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law Enforcement Management from St. Josephs Calumet College and a Master of Arts degree in Police Psychology from The Adler School of Psychology. She is a graduate of The Police Executive Research Forum in Boston, Massachusetts.
Craig L. Cheston
Vice President, Employee Benefits Consultant
Craig Cheston has been involved in the Human Capital Management space in Employee Benefits for over 28 years. He joined USI in July of 2018 and is responsible for continued growth and retention of Employee Benefits clients. His primary area of focus is employer groups of 100 to 2,000 employees.
Craig originally broke into the employee benefits arena as a sales representative with Aetna Inc. in 1994 and graduated from the ‘Aetna Group School’ training program. Craig gained knowledge and understanding in underwriting, hospital/physician reimbursement and network contracting methodologies of the employee benefits industry. This background helped prepare him for sales positions at other ancillary, voluntary benefits and reinsurance carriers, a Population Health Management company, two start-up HR Technology companies and a global HR Consulting & Outsourcing services firm.
He is a dedicated, enthusiastic Benefits Consultant who is passionate about fixing the broken healthcare system and is a valuable extension of the client company he represents as well as the USI Employee Benefits Practice.
Craig continually seeks professional development opportunities by attending local and national HR Councils and Organizations, attending conferences and seminars, collaborating with benefits related professionals from varying institutions, and educating himself through trade periodicals, and association’s such as the HRMAC, SHRM and WEB.
Education
Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Marketing from the University of Delaware.
Direct: (312) 925-7363
Email: Craig.Cheston@usi.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigcheston/
Jennifer W. Russell
Senior Partner, Piiq Risk Partners Inc
Jeffrey T. Salvetti
Vice President of Finance, Blue Star Security, LLC
Jeffrey T. Salvetti is the co-founder and partner of Blue Star Security. Jeff was born and raised in Chicago, attended Notre Dame High School in Niles and graduated from DePaul University in 2000. In 2005, Jeff joined the Chicago Police Department and was assigned to the 25th District where he worked for 12 years before being assigned to the Canine Unit. Jeff is a licensed private security contractor and licensed private detective in the state of Illinois.
In January 2020, he retired from the Chicago Police Department after 15 years of service to focus his efforts on continuing the growth of Blue Star Security.
Currently, Jeff holds the positions of Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Blue Star Security and oversees all back office and financial operations for the company. Jeff’s daily duties include maintaining and analyzing the general ledger, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of account reconciliations and financial statements, managing the annual insurance audit, analyzing balance sheets and income statements, handling payroll, and providing financial support to various Blue Star Security departments so they can continue to operate as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Anthony F. Varchetto
President , Blue Star Security, LLC
Anthony F. Varchetto, Co-Founder and President of Blue Star Security, has over 20 years of law enforcement experience and is currently a Sergeant with the Chicago Police Department assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) task force.
Over the course of his extensive law enforcement career – which has included assignments to specialized units such as gang, tactical and narcotics – Anthony has developed expertise in risk assessments, investigations and more.
With over 13 years of experience in the private security industry, Anthony is both a licensed private security contractor and a licensed private detective in the state of Illinois. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Safety Management from Calumet College of St. Joseph.
As the President of Blue Star Security, Anthony oversees the company’s day-to-day field operations as well as administrative tasks, including licensing, insurance and compliance procedures. He believes in building trusted client relationships and communicates regularly with all clients to ensure that they’re consistently receiving the finest security services in the industry.
As a Volunteer Coach and proud sponsor for the Park Ridge and Niles Baseball Programs, Anthony is committed to serving his community.