Mary (she/her), a Principal at Penchina Partners, is a strategist and nonprofit organization management specialist, with over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and government sectors as an executive, a consultant, and as a coach of nonprofit and social justice leaders.

Most recently, Mary was Chicago Director of AARP, directing AARP's strategy for the Northern Illinois region. She was responsible for overseeing AARP's federal, state, and local advocacy and community engagement initiatives, particularly in the Chicagoland area, in issue areas ranging from healthcare and caregiving to financial security and housing. Mary also led AARP's national health equity strategy, implementing several projects to address healthcare access and prevention for older adults of color in dozens of states. In Illinois, Mary created and implemented AARP's Disrupt Disparities Initiative, using baseline research to build a coalition of 30+ organizations that passed state legislation to improve the health, financial security, and connectivity of older adults of color and LGBTQ+ older adults in the state. 

Prior to AARP, Mary was Managing Director of Mission + Strategy Consulting in Chicago, where she provided strategic consulting to nonprofit organizations with budgets ranging from $500k to $450M. There, she worked directly with foundation and nonprofit executive-level clients on projects ranging from strategic planning to cultural realignment to mergers and acquisitions.   

Mary also brings her considerable experience and talents to her consulting work as an accomplished executive and public interest lawyer. Mary's prior experiences include serving as Executive Director for Stand for Children Illinois, where she led the establishment of a 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) public education reform organization as well as a Political Action Committee. She has also had several senior government roles: Senior Advisor for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, where she led the Attorney General's critical issues campaigns; Deputy Inspector General for Policy and Legislative Affairs at the Illinois Office of Inspector General; and Senior Counsel for the Office of the Illinois Governor. She has also served as Staff Counsel for Business Professional People for the Public Interest, Staff Attorney and Skadden Fellow for The Law Project of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, and other roles. Mary clerked for the Honorable David Coar of the U.S. Northern District of Illinois.  

Mary has had significant Board governance experience, which she also brings to her work. Mary currently serves on the Board of Directors of Disability Lead, Solidarity Futures, and the LGBTQ Victory Campaign Board. Mary has also served on the Boards of Center on Halsted LGBTQ+ Community Center, Scouts for Equality, and Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice. Mary holds a Juris Doctorate from New York University School of Law; Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University; and a Bachelor of Arts with High Honors from Swarthmore College.