Our Team
Meet the passionate individuals driving our mission forward and empowering the next generation of leaders.
Driving Forward Board Members
Marvin Richardson
Co-Founder and Board Chair
Daytime job Advisor, Investor, Entrepreneur, Technologist. Formerly SVP & Chief Information Officer for HCSC, the largest member-owned health insurer with over 17 million members.
"As a 'farm kid' and first-generation Canadian college student, I learned about the corporate world through internships that provided the financial, experiential, and relationship pathway to a meaningful and rewarding career. That experience makes Driving Forward's mission very personal … I want to help ambitious and energetic college students advance their career journey through internships and professional connections."
Fun Fact: I love to travel, and though I didn't take my first flight until after university, I've enjoyed visiting 6 continents, 42 countries, and 48 states.
Claire Pederson
Co-Founder and Vice Chair
Daytime Job: Director, PricewaterhouseCooper’s Cloud and Digital Practice
"I feel like we all have a personal responsibility to give back and help others. I am so grateful to be able to do that through Driving Forward and appreciate the growth that I get through every staff, volunteer and intern interaction."
Fun Fact: I love cooking and enjoy picking random 'mystery' ingredients at the grocery store to learn how to cook them.
Bhoopendra Singh
Board Member
Daytime Job: Partner and Midwest Geography Leader at Trexin Consulting
"I grew up in India in a lower-middle-class family with very limited resources. So as I reflect on my life, from my early days of struggle in undergrad to a meaningful career now, I can point to certain people who came into my life to guide me and support me along the way. I am grateful for those mentors and now that I am in position to help others, I find DrivingForward to be the perfect opportunity to Pay-It-Forward!"
Fun Fact: Last summer I got into boating, got my license and had a blast (32 trips in season). Now I am eagerly waiting for summer again to I can hit Lake Michigan again.
Susan Ben
Board Treasurer
Daytime Job: Chief of Technology & Administrative Officer of Lions Club International
"Sharing my experience to support our operations and working with and seeing the growth of our students throughout the program is the reason this matters. This program changes the world one life at a time."
Fun Fact: I am a certified yoga instructor, do flower arranging as my hobby, and have been in 49 of the 50 states.
Scott Metcalf
Driving Forward Executive Director
Daytime Job: Driving Forward Executive Director. Adjunct Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, UChicago Booth School of Business.
"It is an honor and a privilege to lead Driving Forward on its mission. I have been involved in undergraduate career exploration and development for 15 years, so appreciate the enormous value our program provides students."
Fun Fact: Scott is a fan and a practitioner of improv comedy, completing a year of training at the Second City Theater in Chicago.
Karen Adamson
Head of Technology Delivery
Daytime Job: Head of Technology Delivery (Finance and Corporate Services) and IT Enablement at HCSC (Health Care Service Corporation)
"I have a passion for connecting people, including helping family, friends, colleagues and students who are job searching. Making connections is key to getting "a foot in the door" with a prospective employer. I'm thrilled to support Driving Forward's mission to provide First-Gen students with essential access to the connections needed for success!"
Fun Fact: I'm fluent in Spanish and recently traveled to Seville, Spain to reconnect with my host family sister from my college study abroad program (a long time ago!).
Arijit Das
Head of Digital Asset Innovation Technology
Daytime Job: Head of Digital Asset Innovation Technology, Northern Trust, Chicago
"I grew up in a small town in a remote part of India and could never have made it this far without numerous helping hands and many acts of slefless kindness by so many people. I feel blessed to have been given an opportunity to give something back. I look forward to working with the students to try and positively impact the trajectory of their lives."
Fun Fact: I have seen what the Grand Canyon looks like from the bottom, looking up.
Yuri Goryunov
Head of Digital, Data, Analytics
Daytime Job: Head of Digital, Data, Analytics, and Technology Strategy at CVS Health, former Partner, McKinsey & Co
"As an immigrant coming to the US, I went through the full educational journey - starting off in a Community College, continuing at a four-year university, and ultimately going to a graduate school for a Masters degree. Higher Education opened a lot of doors for me and I’m excited to give back."
Fun Fact: I’m a life long learner and am fascinated by technology history and engineering. I collect and restore vintage electronics with the oldest working piece in my collection a 1959 tube audio amplifier.
Geni Harclerode
Assistant Vice President
Daytime Job: Assistant Vice President for Career Services, Loyola University Chicago
"Making career readiness more accessible and ensuring every student can confidently achieve their career aspirations are what I am most passionate about – personally and professionally. I am so proud to help further the mission of Driving Forward!"
Fun Fact: Growing up, I moved 7 different times but now I am very happy to call Chicago my home, especially for its amazing arts and culture. I especially love attending live theater performances alongside my family.
Karen Oliver-Behee
CEO & President ON-RIVER Consulting
Daytime Job: CEO & President ON-RIVER Consulting
"As the child of a first-generation college graduate, who went on to earn a Master’s in Education Administration, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact that education combined with access to diverse professional networks can have."
Fun Fact: Each year, my college roommates and I pick a city - then fly in from wherever we are - to spend 3-4 days exploring, laughing, and making new memories together. We are up to 25 cities and counting!
Dan Schuffert
Divisional Vice President
Daytime Job: Divisional Vice President, HCSC Strategic Sourcing and Risk Governance
"I am passionate about people. I am a first-generation college graduate and feel the responsibility and obligation to help others realize their potential through supporting Driving Forward."
Fun Fact: I am an Apiarist - a person who keeps and raises honeybees.
Doug Smith
PwC (Principal)-Cloud & Infrastructure Operations
Daytime Job: PwC (Principal)-Cloud & Infrastructure Operations
"I’ve been blessed throughout my career to work with some of the most passionate, kind, and caring leaders in our industry. Those interactions have had a deep and lasting impact on how I approach my work, my clients, and my life. It’s with that same passion that I’m excited to now pay it forward—helping others find and create the same opportunities that shaped my own journey. I look forward to continuing to make an impact through my work with Driving Forward."
Fun Fact: Outside of work, my passions are simple: travel, sports, and family — ideally all three at once.
Kate Neal
Co-founder, Board Member Emeritas
Daytime Job: Head of Early Talent at AbbVie
“As someone who financed my way through college, I learned the challenges of working multiple jobs while navigating academics and positioning myself well for the job market. It is a difficult balance at that age. It has been so rewarding to create an experience for students in similar scenarios - providing them with a meaningful experiential opportunity that empowers them with professional development skills, makes them stand out candidates, and prepares them for paid internships via our corporate sponsors. Seeing them excel in the program and beyond has filled the entire Driving Forward community with joy and pride.”
Fun Fact: My hobby is triathlons, and I have completed an Ironman
Randi Kelley
Executive Director Emeritus
Daytime Job: Happily retired as of April 19th, 2024!
"It was an incredible honor for me to work with and support our interns. I was rewarded everyday as I saw our interns grow and gain meaningful business and professional skills. I was appreciative that I could share my many years of professional experience and help students along the way."
Fun Fact: Randi loves yoga and spending time in northern MN at her family cabin.