CHA Board of Commissioners Bios

Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott, Chairman

On November 22, 2011, Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott to the CHA Board of Commissioners succeeding James Reynolds, Jr.

Zaldwawynaka “Z” Scott is currently a Partner at Kaye Scholar LLP. Previously, she was the Executive Inspector General for the Office of the Governor of Illinois, where she established and managed an internal compliance and investigative agency for Illinois government and Illinois public universities and worked closely with the state’s internal auditor and the Illinois Auditor General in matters related to integrity of state government functions.

Previously, she was a federal criminal prosecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office from 1987–2003, where she held various management positions, including chief of the General Crimes Section.

Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, she served in the Office of the Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago. Scott was named to Illinois SuperLawyers in 2009-2011.

Deverra Beverly

On July 22, 2009, Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed Deverra Beverly to the CHA Board of Commissioners.

A public servant in the City of Chicago’s Department of Human Services for over 30 years, Commissioner Beverly stresses that great accomplishments require teamwork, relationship building and open communication. Since retiring from CDHS in 1997, Ms. Beverly has held numerous resident leadership positions, including president of ABLA Homes’ Local Advisory Council, vice-chair of the Central Advisory Council from 2002 to 2008, interim CAC chair from 2008 to 2009 and CAC treasurer in 2009.

Commissioner Beverly, a lifelong resident of ABLA Homes, has researched public housing infrastructure and private management across state lines and worked with the mayor and CHA leadership to implement progressive programs for residents.

Over the years, Ms. Beverly has received countless awards in recognition of her efforts to improve the quality of life in public housing. She is founder and chair of the National Public Housing Museum and a widowed mother of six successful children.

Adela Cepeda

Adela Cepeda is president of A.C. Advisory, Inc. 

and has led the company to a national leadership position in municipal financial advisory services. In 2005, Cepeda founded a full-service broker dealer, Alta Capital Group, LLC, focused on the municipal markets.

Cepeda serves on the boards of Window to the World Communications, Inc. (PBS Channel 11 WTTW); Ravinia Festival Association; and The Chicago Community Trust.

Cepeda also has 12 years of service as a commissioner for the Public Building Commission of Chicago.

Cepeda received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and earned her MBA from the University Of Chicago Booth School of Business.

 

Mark Cozzi

Mark Cozzi currently is a Senior Managing Director for The Electrum Group, the investment arm for the Kaplan Family.

He is involved in numerous civic and charitable activities including: treasurer, West Lakeview Neighbors; board member, Equality Illinois; board of regents, the Point Foundation; and member, the Society for Contemporary Art, part of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Cozzi received his MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and his BBA in accounting and finance from the University of Wisconsin.

 

Dr. Mildred Harris

Commissioner Mildred  C. Harris is a retired schoolteacher, mentor, and ordained minister. She was first appointed to the CHA Board of Commissioners on July 7, 1999, and has since received three reappointments due to her exemplary leadership and continued commitment to CHA improvement.

As a commissioner, Dr. Harris has pioneered and contributed to various CHA-related efforts. She created the “Adopt-A-Senior Building” program, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to refurnish the sitting areas in more than 57 CHA senior buildings. As a result, CHA received an award lauding the program from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. Dr. Harris is Founder, President and CEO of God First Church and Ministries, which has contributed well over $40,000 in scholarships for CHA students. She also established a food pantry for CHA senior residents.

Commissioner Harris participates in numerous civic and religious organizations. She serves on the Advisory Board for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and on the Advisory Council for Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford; she sits on the Women’s Board of the Goodman Theatre, is a life member of the National Council of Negro Women and is an Honorary Board Member of Windows of Opportunity.

Commissioner Harris earned a B.A. Degree in Education from DePaul University in Chicago; an M.A. in Early Childhood from Columbia University in New York ;  an M.A. in Human Development from Governor's State University in Park Forest, IL; an M.A. in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Chicago; and a PhD in Ministry from the International Bible Institute and Seminary in Plymouth, Fla. She has also completed studies in Real Estate Management.

Myra King

On July 22, 2009, Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed Myra King to the CHA Board of Commissioners.

Since moving into Lowden Homes in 1991, Commissioner King has been an active and vocal advocate for CHA residents. As president of the Trumbull-Lowden Local Advisory Council, Commissioner King has facilitated working group meetings as part of the Plan for Transformation, including working with other LAC members to monitor rehabilitation and redevelopment projects under the Plan.

Commissioner King was instrumental in the opening of the U-Learn Computer Center at Lowden Homes in February 2009 and is a proponent of residents building their technological and computer skills. That same year, Commissioner King was elected Chair of the Central Advisory Council.

A mother of two and grandmother of five, Commissioner King holds a bachelor’s degree from Chicago State University and a master’s degree from DePaul University.

M. Bridget Reidy

On July 22, 2009, Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed M. Bridget Reidy to the CHA Board of Commissioners.

Commissioner Reidy currently serves as Senior Vice President & Chief Supply Officer at Exelon Corporation, where she is responsible for supply operations and sourcing for Commonwealth Edison, the Philadelphia Electric Company and Exelon Generation.

Prior to her current position, Commissioner Reidy served in a number of leadership positions at Exelon Corp., including senior vice president of Customer Operations at Exelon Energy Delivery, deputy general counsel of client services for Exelon BSC legal services and senior vice president of Exelon Business Services and operations.

From 1999 to 2001, Commissioner Reidy served as the chief operating officer of the Chicago Housing Authority, where she led the negotiation, planning, coordination and implementation of the agency's Plan for Transformation.

Prior to her work at CHA, Ms. Reidy served as deputy chief of staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley, where she coordinated major projects including Millennium Park, McCormick Place expansion and Soldier Field negotiations.

Commissioner Reidy holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Illinois and a juris doctor degree from DePaul University College of Law.

Sandra Young

On July 7, 1999 Mayor Richard Daley appointed Sandra Young as a resident commissioner to the Chicago Housing Authority, and was reappointed twice - once in 2004, and again in 2009. Since her tenure as Commissioner, Ms. Young has served as the chairperson the Tenant Services Committee.

A dedicated leader and resident of the Ida B. Wells development for the past 25 years, Ms. Young has served as Local Advisory Council President of the Wells Development for six years. As LAC President, Ms. Young has fought tirelessly for a construction job agreement, mandating that Wells residents be hired during redevelopment at that site. She was instrumental in obtaining 25 Youth Build positions for Wells residents in addition to negotiating the hiring of 25 residents by the private property management.

Over the last four years, more than 800 seasonal Christmas positions were granted to CHA residents by the Chicago Post Office due to Ms. Young’s involvement. Commissioner Young helped secure $35 million for the redevelopment of the Wells/Madden Park community, negotiated the use of $8 million for redevelopment of the Darrow Homes site and secured construction of 446 new housing units scheduled to start in 2002. She obtained commitment from the Chicago Park District to improve neighborhood parks and secured $39 million for new infrastructure.

In January 2002, Ms. Young was elected to the Central Advisory Council’s Executive Board as Treasurer. Ms. Young is a member of New Testament Full Gospel Church and co-founder and a former CEO of UJIMA, Inc., an organization that promotes economic self-sufficiency for families in disadvantaged communities.