Laura Muriello
President & CEO
Laura is thrilled to join the Pitch In team as the President and CEO. Laura is a Latina, first-generation college graduate and grew up in Bolingbrook, IL. Laura’s entire career has been focused on giving students like her voice and agency to write their own stories and forge their own paths. Laura has been a middle school teacher in the Chicago Public Schools, a school leader at a charter school in Chicago, and led multiple nonprofit organizations to grow and scale while focusing their models, defining and measuring their impact, and gaining support through fundraising and awareness. Laura previously led Pitch In as the Executive Director from 2018-2021. Laura holds a Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in Education and Social Policy, and a Masters degree in Teaching from Dominican University. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband, three daughters and two dogs (and two guinea pigs..and a gecko…), and loves spending time with her eight nieces and nephews.
Jon Arndt
Director of Finance + Operations
Jon is a non-profit professional with over 20 years’ experience working in the sector of education, arts, and culture. Born and raised in Ohio, Jon has been a Chicago resident for the past 23 years and is a 6 year resident of Jefferson Park on the northwest side. Jon earned his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from The Ohio State University and has dedicated his career to being in service to the power that the arts have in the development of young hearts and minds. Jon has worked across the non-profit spectrum, providing operations leadership and financial management to organizations that serve in providing access and opportunity to teach, nurture, and inspire young communities from across all parts of the Chicago landscape, including Chicago Public Art Group, Chicago Children’s Theater, and The Chicago Academy for the Arts.
Jon believes that access to quality education for all young people is imperative to create a just and equitable future where we all thrive.
Quinnetta “Quinn” Daniels
Director of Program
Quinn is a native Chicagoan, National Board Certified Educator, Coach, and Consultant. Quinn is a Golden Apple Scholar, George Pullman Scholar, and graduate of DePaul University and the University of Illinois at Chicago, aiming to correct generational cycles of miseducation. Driven by life’s purpose, she coaches through thoughtful, authentic leadership that empowers others to do the things they once thought unimaginable. Former Chicago Public Schools middle school teacher, with over a decade of experience and funny stories surrounding adolescent education and development. A kid at heart, Quinn enjoys being brave and curious. This has led her down wondrous paths towards her mission to provide meaningful educational experiences for young and adult learners alike by promoting education equality, taking a holistic approach to teaching and learning, and using data driven strategies–that sometimes look more anecdotal.
Samantha Gualito
Program Manager
Samantha joins Pitch In as Program Manager after teaching high school in Chicago Public Schools. As a product of CPS and a first-generation college graduate, she knows the challenges that come with having a successful school life and personal life. She believes that with a strong community inside and outside of school, every student can achieve their version of success. She is a proud Mexican immigrant and Chicagoan. She holds a Bachelor’s in English and Master’s in Secondary Education from Roosevelt University.
Brynne Mancuso Krein
Development Director
Brynne joined the Pitch In team in 2018 to lead the organization’s growing Development work until 2021. She is thrilled to return on a part-time basis to help ensure that more Chicago middle schoolers know that middle school matters, and have the resources and support they need to thrive.
Before joining Pitch In, Brynne served for nearly a decade in a variety of fundraising roles at OneGoal. Most recently she was Senior Director of Development Training + Support on OneGoal’s National Development Team, where she coached OneGoal’s six regional fundraising teams to devise and implement high-impact revenue-generating strategies.
Brynne holds a BA in English Language & Literature and Spanish Language from Northwestern University. She owns a nonprofit fundraising consulting business, and is passionate about supporting youth-serving organizations that are making major impact on the communities they serve. You can catch Brynne walking her mini Australian Shepherd, Rigby, or browsing the Chicago Public Library stacks on a regular basis.
Annie Mattea
Program Manager
Annie is excited to be part of Pitch In as a program manager. Annie grew up in Grayslake, IL and received her bachelor’s degree in journalism at Marquette University. She recently spent a year in Sitka, a rural island in southeast Alaska, where she worked to help young people with substance misuse disorders and other challenges. She believes that every young person should have access to quality education and supportive adults in their life, regardless of their background. She truly believes in the power and success of every young person.
Outside of work, Annie enjoys being outside in any way possible, such as running, biking, hiking, swimming and more. She also enjoys cooking and baking as the months get colder.
Allison Shackelford
Director of Community Engagement
Allison is the Pitch In Director of Community Engagement. Allison comes to Pitch In with over 5 years of experience planning, coordinating, and facilitating youth programs in CPS and the Chicagoland community in topics ranging from performing Shakespeare to civic engagement. Allison’s approach to working with youth is rooted in a social justice youth development framework that is restorative, healing centered, facilitates critical thinking and agency, and celebrates culture and identity. Allison feels her approach is in alignment with the Pitch In program’s mission of giving students the range of tools they need to thrive in middle school, high school, and beyond. Allison graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a B.A in Theatre Performance in 2014 and from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a M.Ed. in Youth Development in 2021. Her hope for the future is in young people.
Isamar Valentin
Program Manager
Isamar is a proud Chicago native who has an immense love for the city and its rich culture. She received her BA in Spanish language studies with a communications minor from Monmouth College. After graduating she joined City Year where she discovered her passion for working with students. Being a product of the Chicago Public School system herself has given Isamar first hand knowledge of the challenges that students face when it comes to continuing their education. She believes that one of the many opportunities that every individual should have regardless of their social economic status, zip code, and background is an equal opportunity to a higher education. Isamar is excited to be a part of the Pitch In family and looks forward to continuing to empower students with the necessary skills to be confident in themselves in order to reach their full potential.
Aaron Vogel
Program Manager, Yates Elementary School
Aaron earned a B.A. in Political Science From DePauw University and an M.A. in Secondary Education from Lewis University. After teaching for six years, he brought his corny sense of humor and passion for working with young people to Pitch In.
Aaron lives in Chicago with his wife and three young children. He is an avid runner, frequent traveler and pickle aficionado.
