Gina Stilp is the executive director of the Zilber Family Foundation. Gina 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 2010 as a Trinity Fellow to support local leaders and neighborhood revitalization efforts in three Milwaukee neighborhoods. Gina began her career at the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity where she helped facilitate recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Chicago and her Masters of Business Administration from Marquette University. A Milwaukee native, she lives in the city’s Riverwest neighborhood with her husband and son.

Lianna Bishop serves as the operations director for the Zilber Family Foundation. Lianna joined the Foundation in 2021 and advances 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 program director for the Zilber Family Foundation, where she supports the design and implementation of the Foundation’s grantmaking. She has primary responsibility for grants management and serves as a liaison to the board of directors. Erin has been with the Foundation since 2010, serving in the roles of program officer and senior program officer before assuming the role of program director in 2018. During her time at the Foundation, she has developed the Foundation’s capacity building strategy and grantmaking portfolio to include organizational effectiveness and leadership development opportunities for grantee partners. 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 senior program officer at the Zilber Family Foundation where she works to advance the Foundation’s mission to increase access to quality affordable housing, economic well-being, and quality of life in neighborhoods. She has held numerous roles in the nonprofit sector, from fund development and operations to programmatic oversight and executive leadership. She brings broad expertise in partnership development, systems thinking, community engagement, and program design and implementation. 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 associate 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.