Lianna Bishop serves as the executive director for the Zilber Family Foundation. Lianna collaborates with the board of directors to guide the Foundation’s strategic planning and grantmaking and oversees its programs, community affairs, and operations. She joined the Foundation in 2021, helping advance the Foundation’s mission through her contributions to communications, strategy, and operational excellence, driving philanthropic initiatives forward. She previously held leadership roles in philanthropy, fund development, and foundation relations in Milwaukee. Lianna earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Marquette University and is a Trinity Fellow alumna. Her free time is dedicated to her family, most notably her two kids, and her love of hiking and the natural world.

Erin Frederick serves as sector supports director for the Zilber Family Foundation, where she will lead the Foundation’s organizational effectiveness and capacity building work to strengthen both individual nonprofits and the broader nonprofit ecosystem. This work ensures organizations have the tools and resources needed to operate effectively, build resilience and sustain strong programs. Since joining our team in 2010, Erin has fostered connections, shared knowledge and built the Foundation’s capacity around organizational effectiveness to catalyze long-term impact. Erin graduated from Miami University with degrees in communications and Spanish and has a master’s in nonprofit management and leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Demetria Smith serves as program director, where she will lead the implementation of the Foundation’s Milwaukee grantmaking strategy, with an emphasis on the economic stability portfolio. Since joining the Foundation in 2023, Demetria has played a key role in advancing our mission to expand access to quality, affordable housing and increase social and economic opportunity. Her contributions around partnership development, systems thinking, community engagement and program design continue to amplify the Foundation’s impact. Demetria is an alum of Northwestern University where she was trained in asset based community development, an approach that continues to inform her work. In her free time, you’ll most likely find her at the library or biking with her husband and two daughters.

Yalanda Ludtke serves as program officer for the Zilber Family Foundation, where she works to advance the Foundation’s strategy around economic stability, especially its access to cash and capital portfolio. Throughout her career, Yalanda has championed equitable outcomes, improved opportunities and increased representation for Black and brown children. She is skilled in relationship building, nurturing meaningful connections and listening for diverse voices in decision-making.

Meredith Trockman is a program officer for the Zilber Family Foundation, where she focuses on grant development, providing technical assistance and fostering relationships with partners in Hawaii. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2016, Meredith was an educator at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in communication theory and public speaking, where she also worked with the Center on Aging and Ha Kupuna (the Native Hawaiian Elder Resource Center). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication and a Master of Arts in communicology from University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Joel Firkus, finance director, began working with the Zilber Family Foundation in 2017. He also serves as the tax director of Zilber Ltd. Joel advances the Zilber Family Foundation mission by ensuring our financial resources are effectively managed and aligned with our strategic goals. Born and raised in Waukesha County, Joel has spent the last 20+ years working in downtown Milwaukee. When not in the office he can be found enjoying all that Wisconsin’s outdoors have to offer.