Ellen Shepard

Ellen Shepard, Local First Chicago. As executive director of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and the Andersonville Development Corporation, Ellen Shepard provides marketing, technical assistance, and advocacy and policy initiatives in support of the commercial district in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Prior to her work in Andersonville, she was a PR and marketing consultant for a variety of nonprofit and governmental organizations, including the City of Chicago Department of Housing. Her experience with small businesses began at the League of Chicago Theatres, where she provided technical assistance to arts organizations. She spent many years before that as a stage manager and technician on assorted Chicago stages, including Steppenwolf and the Goodman. She serves on the BALLE board as well as that of its Chicago affiliate, Local First Chicago. In 2003, she was named a Chicago Fellow by Loyola University.