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Meet the Development Team

Maureen Kelly
Vice President of Advancement
Direct Line: (773) 413-3509
Email: [email protected]

Maureen has been with Christ The King since September, 2014, when she joined in the role of Assistant Director of Development. She has spent her 20+ year career in development working to advance the missions of organizations she cares deeply about. Maureen came to CTK from Chicago Children’s Museum, where she served as Director of Individual Giving. Prior to that, she held roles at Old St. Mary’s Parish and School, and The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, where she served in integral roles in each organization's capital campaign. She earned a B.S. in Psychology and Speech Communication from University of Wisconsin – Platteville. Maureen earned certificates in Nonprofit Leadership and Nonprofit Fund Development from Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame. LinkedIn

Jeff Smart
Director of Advancement
Direct Line: (773) 413-3513
Jeff joined Christ the King Jesuit College Prep in August 2024 as Director of Advancement. With over 35 years of experience in alumni relations and fundraising for Catholic education, Jeff is deeply committed to the Jesuit mission. He spent 17 years with the Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus, including the pivotal years when Christ the King opened in 2008 under their sponsorship. Jeff has also served in  development roles at several other Jesuit institutions including John Carroll University, St. Ignatius College Prep, and Loyola Academy.  
 
In addition to his work in education, Jeff is a current and founding board member of the School of Hope Foundation, which supports St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School in Nairobi, Kenya, providing education to HIV/AIDS orphans. Jeff holds a B.A. in French and Business from John Carroll University. Linkedin 
Tony Azu-Popow
Database Manager
Direct Line: (773) 413-3504
Tony has been with CTK since 2008, the year our school opened its doors. He has over 20 years of experience in database work, managing donor and development information systems for local non-profit organizations. Prior to his role at CTK, Tony worked with the Alexian Brothers Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. He received a BA in Politics from Lake Forest College and is a product of Jesuit education – a graduate of St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. A Cleveland native, Tony currently resides in Oak Park with his wife Lisa and 2 sons. He is an avid runner and biker and has completed multiple marathons and half-marathons. Linkedin 
Michael A. Smith
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Direct Line: (773) 413-3577
Email: [email protected]
 
Mike joined the Christ the King team after an extensive career in advertising working for a variety of agencies in Chicago, most recently at HY Connect as EVP, Client Services & Operations. He has led agency teams in the development of effective communication plans for local, regional and national clients including Burger King, United Airlines, Sears, McDonald's, Museum of Science and Industry, Notre Dame Executive Education, and Peapod. Originally from Cape Cod, Mike graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a BA in Economics, and also received a MBA from Duke's Fuqua School of Business. He and his wife Linda are the parents of three children.  LinkedIn
Sotero Barraza
Stewardship & Special Events Manager
Direct Line: (773) 413-3588
Email: [email protected]
 
Sotero started in his current role at Christ the King in March 2023. He is a 2020 graduate of Dominican University with a bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications and Spanish. With a passion for making a difference, Sotero interned at the Big Shoulders Fund and Catholic Charities, where he developed skills in community outreach, marketing, event planning, scholarship management, program management, and public speaking. His non-profit internships led to a full-time position at St Joseph Services as a Youth and Advancement Manager. Within that same year, he was promoted to the role of Mentoring Advancement and Community Outreach Manager where he oversaw programs, budgets, and reporting, and established strong relationships with community partners. Sotero is a competitive soccer player, and founded an adult soccer team in 2018 that has had success throughout the Chicagoland area with many first-place and runner-up finishes. LinkedIn
Sarah Gibbs
Director of Foundation Relations
Direct Line: (773) 413-3597
Email: [email protected]
 
Sarah joined Christ the King in 2018 as a Development Officer and is currently the Director of Foundation Relations. Sarah has worked in various development roles across the Chicago area in Catholic education, a mission she is passionate about. As the Director of Foundation Relations, Sarah cultivates meaningful partnerships between CTK and philanthropic entities to drive positive change. Sarah is a product of Jesuit education and holds a BA in Public Relations from Marquette University.
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