Victories of the Heart

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Robert Mark, Ph.D., Co-Founder, Wisdom Years Weekend Leader. Bob is a clinical psychologist with a successful private practice. He also serves as a consultant to the executives of Fortune 500 companies. Through innovative programs, like Mindsprouts (creative problem solving) and Psycho-Chi (mind-body-spirit awakening), Bob has helped individuals, couples, and corporations for over 35 years. He and Buddy Portugal co-founded Victories of the Heart, which is one of the earliest groups in the men's movement. They continue to lead the Wisdom Years workshop together. Bob has been married for over 37 years and has two married children.

Buddy Portugal, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., Co-Founder, Wisdom Years Weekend Leader, is a psychotherapist who counsels individuals, families, and groups in the Chicago area. He also acts as a consultant to businesses and organizations and has lectured internationally. Buddy and Bob Mark co-founded Victories of the Heart in 1985 and have led countless workshops together. They continue to co-lead the Wisdom Years weekend, which is probably the only program of its kind specifically designed for men over 50. Buddy has been married for over 28 years and has two grown children.

Kurt Schultz, Board Chair, BreakThrough Weekend Leader, is a senior litigation partner with the law firm of Winston & Strawn LLP and a current or past director of other civic and charitable organizations. Kurt attended his BreakThrough Weekend in 1991, has staffed or facilitated all of our workshops, and has also attended a variety of other men's experiential trainings. Kurt has been married for over 32 years and has four grown children.

Bob Chodos is a principal with the commercial real estate firm of Colliers
Bennett & Kahnweiler. He is a director of Junior Achievement and the Chicago
Central Area Committee. Bob attended the BreakThrough and Shadow weekends, staffed weekends, and led one of our follow up groups. Victories has had a profound impact on his life. Bob is married and is raising three sons.

Leighton Clark, LCSW, Wisdom Years Weekend Leader, is a Body Psychotherapist, Organizational Development Consultant, Executive Coach, Educator, and Registered Yoga Instructor. He is on two non-profit Boards: The Midwest Institute for Somatic Psychotherapy and Victories of the Heart. Leighton is currently the elected “coordinator” of Wisdom Years Weekend Leaders as well as being an enthusiastic one! He is most pleased with his relationship with his 86 year old father, who has joined him in all the VOH programs. Leighton and his wife, Mary, have been married 31 years and reside with two cats and a dog.

Steve Curry, BreakThrough Weekend Leader, is a medical insurance professional who heads his own brokerage firm in the Chicago area. Steve has attended and staffed numerous Victories weekends for over ten years and currently co-facilitates the BreakThrough Weekend with Joe Seldess. In addition to his work with Victories, he has participated in many native American spiritual programs that promote health and self-awareness. He has also developed expertise in massage therapy. Steve is married and has two children.

Leonard Dam is a certified public accountant and founding partner of a firm that bears his name. He is chairs the College of Lake County's Advisory Council and teaches succession and business planning. Leonard attended the Wisdom Years workshop. He has been married for over 36 years and has three grown children.

Henry Feldman is a financial services professional with more than 40 years of experience as an investment advisor and manager. He is the founder and former CEO of two firms serving the trust industry, small institutions, and high net worth individuals. Henry has been married since 1969 and has two children. His passions include mentoring, teaching, and writing.

Kevin W. Fitzpatrick, L.C.S.W., BreakThrough Weekend Leader, Shadow Weekend Leader, has been in the mental health field since 1973. He counsels individuals, couples, groups, and families and also consults with schools, businesses, and hospitals. As part of his mission to empower through healing, Kevin has a particular interest in and commitment to working with men. He and Paul Kachoris have co-facilitated the BreakThrough Weekend for over 15 years and have led numerous advanced workshops. Kevin has been a presenter at all of the Chicago Men's Conferences, Oakton Community College Men's Day, and the Second International Men's Conference in Austin, Texas. Kevin has been married for over 25 years and has two children.

BreakThrough Weekend
January 18-20
March 7-9
April 25-27
June 6-8
Sept 5-7
October 24-26
December 5-7

Wisdom Years Weekend
March 7-9
May 2-4 (Chicago)
May 2-4 (Boston)
October 10-12
November 14-16

Shadow Weekend
TBA

Basic Staff Training
February 8-9
September TBA

Annual Dinner
October 17

Building BreakThrough
Container
March 14-15

Victories Forum
May 10
June 28
September 6
September 27
November 8

Paul J. Kachoris, M.D., BreakThrough Weekend Leader, Shadow Weekend Leader, is a board certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who has been in private practice for over 35 years. He has treated individuals, couples, families, and groups. Paul has worked in hospitals and has been a consultant to school districts, businesses, and courts. He and Kevin Fitzpartick have co-facilitated Victories workshops since 1991 and lead Advanced weekends. Paul has a passionate interest in fostering personal growth and development in men. He was one of the founding members of the Chicago Men's Council and has been a presenter at numerous men's conferences. He is married and has three grown children.

Alan Levin, Wisdom Years Weekend Leader, is a senior name partner in a labor and employment law firm in Chicago. He is past president of his synagogue and a current or past director of several business and civic groups. Alan has attended the BreakThrough, Shadow, and Wisdom Years weekends, has staffed our workshops, and has led follow up groups. Alan and his wife, Diane, have co-facilitated our spouse programs in connection with BreakThrough weekends.

David Multack is president of a North Shore real estate development and
management firm and active in many civic and charitable organizations. David
attended the BreakThroughWisdom Years weekends, staffed many of
our workshops, and chaired our 2004-06 fundraising events.

Tom Ostler is an information technology specialist who has attended and
staffed many BreakThrough weekends. He is also a Wisdom Years graduate. Tom is our resident technology expert and has also undertaken responsibility for our community service efforts. He is married and has one son.

Edward S. Ravine M.A., LCPC, CRADC, Wisdom Years Weekend Leader. Ed has been in the behavioral health field since 1970 and in private practice since 1990. He has a B.A. from Northwestern University and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. Ed has in-depth and comprehensive experience treating the full range of family, marital, and adolescent counseling issues. His specialties include work with adults and adolescents recovering from depression, addictions, divorce, and school/ work related problems. Ed was the recipient of the 2005 Victories of the Heart “Service Award” and has been volunteering at Victories weekends for the last 8 years.

Rick Sangerman is a senior marketing professional with the Ogilvy agency. He
has attended the BreakThrough and Wisdom Years workshops and has
staffed many of our weekends. Rick is on the Board of Directors of the
Multiple Sclerosis Society. He is married and has three children.

Joe Seldess, L.C.S.W., BreakThrough Weekend Leader, has been a mental health clinician for over 30 years. He counsels individuals, couples, families, and groups and has been active in Victories of the Heart as a participant, staffer, and leader for well over a decade. Joe and Steve Curry co-facilitate the BreakThrough and the Shadow weekends. Joe is married and has three grown children.

Rick Simon is a principal with a Chicago consulting firm that specializes in
nonprofit marketing. His volunteer work includes service on the boards of
The Old Town School of Folk Music and the Garfield Park Conservatory
Alliance. Rick attended the BreakThrough and Wisdom Years Weekends, has
staffed both programs, and h as led lead follow-up groups. Rick recently re-married and has two grown children.

Donald L. Spitzer-Cohn, M.D., Wisdom Years Weekend Leader, is a board-certified psychiatrist, organizational consultant, group facilitator, and educator. He has been in private practice since 1984, consulting to individuals and families. He has organized and led men’s retreats since 1993. Don has been married since 1980 and is an involved and passionate father. The core of his life is his family. Biking and sailing help ground him to the physical, while music, which he uses in his psychotherapeutic work, helps him reach deeper into the heart and soul. Don received his psychiatric training at Northwestern University, his family therapy training from the Family Institute of Chicago, attended medical school at New York Medical College, and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin.

Gerry Walanka, JD, Wisdom Years Leader is founder of The Trade Center, a marketing company that has brought next generating couponing and partnership concepts to the banking and retail industries. Previously he founded Counsel’s Aide, which served major law firms and practitioners throughout the country in the preparation of legal briefs and memoranda. In 1993, Gerry started the Omega Project, a mentoring program that now serves more than 1,000 children at 9 Chicago high schools.

Curt Wille is the owner and chief executive officer of a building materials
firm in Chicago. His volunteer work includes service on the board of The
Evergreen Park Ministry. Curt attended the BreakThrough and Wisdom Years weekends. He serves on several other boards and is our financial advisor. Curt has been married for over 28 years and has three daughters.

Victories of the Heart, NFP is an Illinois not for profit corporation. Donations are exempt from income, gift, and estate taxes under Section 101 of the Internal Revenue Code. Victories of the Heart does not offer professional services that would subject it to regulation or registration by any state or professional licensing body.
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