Board of Directors

We are fortunate to have a volunteer Board of Directors to help guide the ALCA ‘ship’. These individuals come from many communities, have various backgrounds, and have different reasons for joining the Board of Directors. One thing they all have in common is their dedication to the students and staff. They all work hard to ensure we have adequate resources to advance our mission.

Dorie Hoevel

Dorie Hoevel

Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board

Dorie is the co-founder of ALCA and mother to Zachary “Alexander”.  Dorie is invested in the growth of ALCA and remains connected to the Board in order to ensure the original vision for the school.

Susan Zeeb

Susan Zeeb

Vice President

I have been in the Finance Industry for many years and am currently working as a Wealth Management Registered Client Associate for Merrill Lynch, a division of Bank of America.   I am a member of the finance team and also a member of the Ladies Aid Society of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Antioch, IL.  I am also a board member and the current Chair of the Valparaiso University Guild board, which helps to foster the student experience at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, IN.  I am married and have two adult children and a dog named Lambeau.  I joined the ALCA board in 2017 to help spread the word about this amazing school and staff and am privileged to volunteer my time with this great organization. I am currently serving as the Board Vice President.

John Hinks

John Hinks

Secretary

Hello, I’m John Hinks, board member and the current Board Secretary for Alexander Leigh Center for Autism. I have been a board member since 2016. Outside of ALCA I am a teacher and father of two. Autism is near and dear to my heart. I began working with children on the Autism spectrum in 2001 and that opportunity changed my life. What ALCA teachers and staff do for their students, families, and community makes an immeasurable difference and I am privileged to volunteer my time with this great organization.
Koka Kliora

Koka Kliora

Director

Koka Kliora joined the board in 2021. She is a proposal writer by trade and lives in Gurnee with her husband, son, dog, and cats. Koka has been active in the community for various causes, including adult literacy, mentoring, animal rescue, and LGBTQ advocacy. She became familiar with autism when her son was diagnosed on the spectrum, and she is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in all of its forms.

Bob Lueders

Bob Lueders

Director

Hello, I’m Bob Lueders. I am retired, having sold my company, Radicom, Inc. in McHenry, in 2021. I, simultaneously, moved to Cary and became further engaged in my greater community.

Prior to retiring, I served as Vice Chair of the McHenry County Workforce Network Board and as President of the Northwestern University Master of Science in Communication Alumni Association. Since 2021, I’ve served as a board member for the McHenry County Historical Society, for Not-for-Profit Resources, and as an Advisory Council member for Senior Services Associates. I’m also actively engaged as Ambassador for the Cary-Grove Chamber of Commerce.

I’m drawn to the mission of the Alexander Leigh Center for Autism as I’ve lived life with a family member diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and as a means to give back for all of the special efforts that have been made on his behalf.

Jessica Schneider

Jessica Schneider

Director

I am Jessica Schneider. I am the owner of Ye Olde Corner Tap in McHenry, serve on the Board of Directors for the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce & now also for ALCA! I had the pleasure of working at ALCA for 6 years total and held most positions within the school starting back at the Crystal Lake location to Zoom classes during quarantine days. I have been through the growing pains of ALCA and am so proud to have been a part of the growth that has been achieved. I have a perspective for the Board of being a past employee and working on the floor with some of the most inspiring students I have ever met. When I left to run my own business in 2021, I also decided that I could not leave my connections with those kiddos completely. In 2021, I hosted the first Taste of McHenry on Main with all proceeds benefiting  ALCA. This is my third year now hosting this street festival and it is getting bigger and better each time. I look forward to seeing the growth I can help ALCA achieve and to have the opportunity to keep helping these worthy kiddos!