IVCA Foundation Board Leadership Update
As of January 1, 2026
As we begin the year ahead, the IVCA Foundation is pleased to share an update on its Board of Directors. The Foundation is guided by a highly engaged and committed Board focused on expanding access, strengthening talent pathways, and supporting the long‑term growth of Illinois’ private equity and venture capital ecosystem through education and workforce development.
We are especially pleased to welcome Kelly Zitlow, Water Street Healthcare Partners, who joined the IVCA Foundation Board this month, bringing valuable perspective and experience to advance the Foundation’s mission. We also welcomed Libby Baker, The Vistria Group, to the Board late last year and are grateful for her leadership, insight, and active engagement.
IVCA Foundation Board of Directors (2026)
- Joanna Arras, Baird Capital, Treasurer
- Libby Baker, The Vistria Group, Director
- Walter Florence, Frontenac, Director
- Kelly Zitlow, Water Street Healthcare Partners Director
- Shoshana Vernick, Avathon Capital, IVCA Vice Chair
- Christie Pruyn, IVCA Executive Director, President
Together, the IVCA Foundation Board provides strategic oversight for the Foundation’s core initiatives, including supporting the IVCA Scholar Program and partnerships that advance inclusive access to careers in private equity and venture capital across Illinois.
To view the full IVCA Foundation Board of Directors, visit:
👉 https://www.ivcafoundation.org/who-we-are
Save the Date: 2026 IVCA Invitational
The IVCA Foundation is also pleased to share that the 2026 IVCA Invitational will take place on:
Monday, July 13, 2026
Olympia Fields Country Club
The IVCA Invitational is the Foundation’s premier annual fundraising event, supporting the IVCA Scholar Program and the Foundation’s mission to strengthen and expand Illinois’s private equity and venture capital talent pipeline. Additional details will be shared in the months ahead.